The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-10
r,c,ous uoyEnEET EXTRAORDINARY.
H0ects Of acknowledgements Schism In the
Protestant Episcopal Church-Withdrawa i
of Rev. j. w. Cracraft-His Letter TO
Bishop McIivaines Of Ohio.

Protestant Episcopal Church-Wnhdrawa
Of Rev. j. w. Cracraft-Iiis Letter 10
Bishop McIlvaines Of Ohio.
REV. MR.. CRACRAFT TO BISHOP M'ILvAINR
GAMBLER, Ohio, August ~, lsoo.
DEAR BrsHop-In accordance with deep and ear
nest convictions OF duty have concluded 10 COLL
try and m aU Of the Protestant Episcopal
Church. l. therefore, after long ana paillui con-
same leaving you TO take the course your position
requires in dissolvlng the relations OF an eccesas-
tcal character have heretofore held.
In taking this step need not conceal that In con-
nection with the mental process through which
have passed In reaching the conclusion have an
nounced have encountered deep feeling and heart.
1t Is not however, the pain of doubt as to duty.
nor the memory Of events through which have
passed. partaking OF the nature OF conflict with
who hold important relations to the Church from
which now retire. l admit there have been times
when the latter has been cause OF great inward
unrest, and often OF grief, not from conscousnes
of error in the positions have been compelled to
assume nor of wrong In maintaining them, but from
various considerations OF ecclesiastical social and
been permitted to assume consequence that could
allow TO prompt the action and suggest the course
am now induced TO take.
The aenSibilitieS aroused are OF different cha
racter or these the feeling called forth by my
zion to you as my bishop, as one greatly beloved and
honoreu in the Church OF God and in my inmost
heart, is not the least nor last In doing what do
cannot and would not obliterate the recollection
OF what you have done for and what you have been
10 me- Nor Will the step which here take operate
% change the feeling or consciousness in which all
u
The life associations in the Church also that have
been formed and that cannot cease to be tenderly
regarded furnish another part. Yet trust friend
shiDs IN Christ have been created and associations
formed that no conscientious action In regard TO
Church relations will ever inuriousy anect or
change
Pardon me for the personal illusions In which
nave here INDUCED. could not do justice to my
ieeiings, nor could properly indicate what is now
worAing within me without this utterance.
But considerations of feeling merely
have been compelled TO put aside In deciding my
present course. regard to consistency and con-
5cientlous convictions compels me to say / can no
longer continue in the relations which have hereto
Tore sustained to the Protestant Ep scopa Chlrch-a
decision cannot but believe will be adequately sus-
ealned by the consideration which think should be
given to the ground they VIII be found 10 occupy.
Ia the first place. cannot consent to continue the
Church ana the world as minister in the Episcopal
sUhurcn, When the functions claimed for that posi-
Ton are considered.
The plain, literal and historical teaching of the
oinces OF the prayer book, am compelled believe
pace ne III tie H9ht, not or an ambassador for
Cnrlst merely, but OF priest In the sacerdotal
sense.
beg, however, to say that in remarking upon this,
Win otdef points may present. shall not argue
any question OF construction OF the PRAYER book or
the offices 1t presents, or Of iturgca Interpretation
put oIer simply my own convictions to their bear
Ing upon my individual course in refusing further TO
bold the relation that involves the claims that have
Just indicated. For with me the conviction is ire
sstlbe that the minister In Church Is considered
priest In this anti-Protestant sense
Ihls think, Is made manifest In the coordination
Service for Priests" The bishop lays his hands upon
tne candidate and says:-"Recelve thou the HOW
Church OF God, now committed unto thee by the I'M
position OF our hands. Whose sins thou dost for
tain they are retaned That this is to be undee
stood as comforting priesty character and enlon.
Ing sacerdotal functions Is made, as l conceive, |
more and more apparent at every step as we pro. |
coed In this development OF official character In the
"Onice of Institution" 1t is specifically asserted in
w e' a ee Sere 70 e to be ns
authority to perform the ONCE Of priest in the -
parish or church, possessed full power 10 perform
every act OF sacerdotal function among the peoplen
The proper accompaniment Of the Character here
defined is, consider, obviously furnished-an altar
In the grouping Of the ocating characters in this
service 1t Is said:-"The wardens for in their ab.
sence, two members Of the vestry shall stand on the
right and left OF the altar, without the rails. sc
and the minister after institution being, as pre-
scrlbed by the Rubric brought within the rail- en-.
the ATARI
What remains now is an Offering, which think |
no one can reasonably doubt IL furnished In the |
communion once portion Of which Is expressly
called the collation." All, suppose, clearly under
stand oblation 10 mean orering-a sacrifice.
Taken In Its natural and historical sense this oba-
ton prayer can only be understood to teach that the
nee In glancing back over this we shall ind,
think, fully presented nrst, priest, in the sarcer
rs to be offered; and finally, an Offering, to DO pre-.
sented to Colin the sense OF o sacrifice.
ind this sacerdotal character sustained In the exc
cuton OF these functions-the exercise Of the power
o. assGrion In furnishing hing the proper forTIary
''The Declaration OF Absolutio6 or Remission Of
sins'-and In the ordination service for priests,
already quoted, this is presented as the first and
most prominent priesty act and duty which in the
Rubric here is expressly assigned to the priest |
hlone'-not laynlan, not q deacon, but one only |
who has been invested with the presty character.
hese Offices and teachings, think make 1t plain,
that, as minister in the Episcopal Church. 1 am |
practically claiming TO be a sacerdota character pro-
1essny tiese priestly Notwithstanding up sacri
give sins.
second-In some portions Of the prayer book, lite
ray and historically interpreted, the doctrine OF
act fOrtb no
70 be doubted. First, In the baptismai office 1t Is
clearly apparent In the prayer OF conservation for
sanctiei to the mystical washing away Of sim
words expressive Of magical efficacy. The sacra- |
manifest In the prayer offered after baptism In the
case OF the infant, 10 wit:-"we yield Thee hearty |
thanks, most merciful Father, that IL hath pleased
Thee TO regenerate this infant with Thy Holy Spirit
70 receive him for Thine own child by adoption"
that the sanctihed water, having been applied, a
work OF grace has been simultaneously accomplished
a% po tim to true spiritual Regeneration ,s
claim is set up In baptism, IL the language we have
SET forth In the catechsm The child Is there made
TO speak of himself as having been made, in bap-
tsm, "a member Of Christ child OF God and an In
heritor Of the Kingdom OF heayen.n NO softening
eXegesis can. TO my mind, conceal this doctrine
here. The Guild H. as see, before baptism, not q
member OF Christ, not child OF God, not an inner.
itor Of the kingdom or heaven; now, by baptism, all
this is instantaneOusy changed. A sinful infant be-
comes member OF Christ;r a child OF corruption
and death becomes ''chlld OF Cod" child OF
demnauon ana wrath Is made an "inheritor OF the
Kingdom OF hCaven.u
But as 4 10 preclude the possibility OF otherwise
understanding the position OF the Church In this
feNGtH tue catecnisn proceeds, didactcaiy, 10 set
fOrth the claim that the grace OF sacrament Is q
constituent part, without which IL would not be a
sacrament. Thus IN answer 20 the question, GLOW
many parta are there IN sacramento IL answers:--
''Iwo-the outward visible sign and the inward
spiritual grace Then In regard 70 baptism In de
fDing this Inward spiritual grace, IL saws II IL 20
death unto SIN and new birth unto righteousness:
for being, by nature, born In sin ana children OF
wrath, We are hereby made the children OF grace.r
This leaves us no discretion as to the acceptalion we
are to receive. This onward and spiritual arace'i
Is part OF baptism. The sacramento theOry-the
outward sign and the inward grace Essentially
coherent-is here fully sustained.
This authoritative teaching to the efficacy OF the
sacrament II applied In the same way to the Lords
Supper. We not LETT 10 infer II from gene
InrlnrnIlnn- huf hnNn tod IA