The New York herald., 1869-06-18
THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL COlFEREXCE
In CHICAGO.
The Proposed Alterations Of the Prayer
BO0k-Ancient Teachings and Church Dog.
unns IIeuOuuced.

The Proposed Alterations Of the Prayer
Book-Ancient Teachings and Church Dog
Denounced.
CHICAGO, June IT, 1862
The Protestant Episcopal Conference met at nine
O'Clock this morning, when the subject OF the re-
vision Of the Prayer Book was again taken up.
Rev. Mr. CowGILL said he had read in the papers
that tnis meeting means secession rom the Church.
This he denied. 1t meant reform. He believed that
The time had come when the men who teach doc
trines subverslve of the principles of the Church
should be actively opposed; when the friends Of the
Church pure and undefled should, instead of stand
ing the defenslve'all the time, assume the Ofen-
sve and bring these nnovators to trial. He believed
that this reform.coud be readily effected, and until
all peaceful measures taken In the body of the
Church had failed he was not in favor OF secession.
The alteration Of some twenty words in the Prayer
Book would he believed, satisfy everybody. lie
wished the words "priest'' and "atar" especially
eXpunged.
reply to the protest. and concluded with the follow
ing resolutions
Resolved, That all matters faith worship doctrine
the decisions Of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the
Sass S be q me- % @ o G the
from the pure faith doctrine long esab shed rtes ceremo
sscond use senes E every available
proper onr church ali those who depart
our pure faith doctrine worship long established rites
that by the grace Of we sii Will show s"ch
BY each through evil and report this our
work work .. of faith faith and . labor aud love
all necessary we also promise them our cordial
preserve Tah doctrine long established rites
ceremonies and uages by the Church, as DELI cred unto
Apostolic Inheritance.
The chair decided the resoutians out Of order
Rev. DIR. ANDREWS entered upon an elabar ate dis
cusson as to what Is conscience with respect TO the
proposed alteration In the baptsmal SERVICE and
a 10 hal m al
Dr. BOWEN, OF ohio. thought 1t as necessary TO
to rid the Prayer Book OF It's dogma Of apostolic
succession as that OF spiritual baptismal regenera
tion. No eXpurgatlOn OF twenty words would suit
him. He was tor correcting the faith, not the
words. The prayer which contains this miserable
doctrine OF apostolic succession should be revised
entirely.
Rev. DR.. NEWTON took about the same view, as
also did Rev. Mr.. Ross OF Kentucky.
Rev. ]. CRoCKER WHITE, of Massachusetts, said If
ne could not get liberty in the Church he would get
Rev. Mr.. CHENEY said Bishop McIlvaines letter
had but two points:-Flrst that the Prayer Book
should not be revised, because it by its au-
thors the RefOrmers proposed to teach the doctrine
OF spiritual baptsmal regeneration In the baptlsmal
service. II this was true they had made most un-
fortunate selection OF language, Tor 1t undoubtedly
does teach that very doctrine, and its use COM
pels the minister to teach On error which
have no right to revise that Prayer Book
The Relormers. who prepared that book
revision would be necessary. This book must be
revised, so as to be in accordance with the Bible
the Bible Is Gods book, the Brayer Book mans
work, and is not SO sacred but that it may be
touched. By and by the bishops will be with US In
this work; and they now admit that revision is
needed, but claim that this is not the time for 1t.
Even now one of them was SO far on our side tnat
his letter was suppressed from those published In
the Official Episcopal organ OF the Diocese of Ohio
Rev. Mr.. NEWTON offered the following resolutions,
which were unanimously adopted:--
Resolved As the opinion of this Conference that careful
best interests of the Protestant Episcopal Church
Resolved That all words seeming teach that
the Christian ministry pr estho1d, the Lords Supper
sacrhce nseparable baptism,
should be removed from tie PRAYER Book.
The Conference then took recess.
The Convention reassembed at three O'Clock and
the question OF the method Of revising the Prayer
BOOK was discussed. The President Thought the de-
sired changes could be effected without ANY extreme
measures.
The chairman Of the Committee on Resolutions re-
ported the following which were adopted:-
Resolved, That in the opinion Of this conference
duty OF evangelical men in the different dioceses to take
to inform the ai OF Church. oy Of the
pulpit and the respecting the vital questions watch
Resolved That in the opinion this Conference either
the American Church Missionary Society should extend its
the voluntary principle TO conduct that work.
Resolved That this Conferences recommend the evangelical
clergy Of Church avail themselves all
they deem best promote fraterna Christian
relations with the ministers OF other Churches especially by
uniting with them In such great national institutions the
American Bible Society.
Remarks were made by Rev. DR.. Newton, Rev Mr..
Clements, Rev. Dr. Andrews and others upon the
subject matter Of the resolutions.
Rev. DR.. COOPER offered the following, which was
adopted
Resolved That there shall be now appointed committee
Of = clergyman and = laymen, 10 be denomnated the
Standing Committee Of the Chicago Conference which
pedlen, be body perpetuy for the promotion
Of the general objects contemplated by this Conference
Adjourned sine die.