The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1870-02-18
Jlistrllallrous.
What COngregatiOnalist can
say of the Church and the
Prayer Book.

THE Rev. DIR. Thomas X. Beecher,
of Elmira, N. Y, lately delivered an
address in that city upon the Protestant
Episcopal Church. We take the follow
ing from full report in the local pa
per:
Let another man praise thee; not thine own
mouth strangerand not thine own lpS.-Prov
XVII =.
Ifany man, however deserving, be.
gin to show off and brag, speaking Of
ten of his past record and public servi-
ces, he make himself offensive.
But when General give credit to
his brother generals, and ascribes vic
tory to their wisdom and valor of the
army, then all are pleased. Such words
are twice useful-they profit him that
speaks, and them of whom they are
spoken.
In something the same way, we are
offended when we hear or read the
words which churchmen speak, in
praise each of his own church or demon.
ination. They seem conceited, arro-
CANT, offensive. They promote vain
glory at home and i'll will abroad.
But it has seemed to me that Christ
ian pastors and prelates might be at
least as courteous one to another as
army officers are! And if we would
note and praise the beauty of our sister
churches more, and silence our own
boastfulness, there might come to pass
among Christian people smiling char
ity and peaceful rejoicing.
invite you, therefore, this evening,
to view the beauty, the uses, and the
truth that belong TO those Christians
among US who are popularly called.
EPIsCoPALIAN3.
In this city there are four kinds of
churches that have bishops, and there.
fore may call themselves Episcopal.
Roman Episcopal.
Protestant Episcopal.
Methodist Episcopal.
American Methodist Episcopal Zion.
But only one of these is generally
known as the Episcopal Church, viz,
the p. +. Church, represented in this
city by two parishes and mission.
This Episcopal Church in America is
in fact continuation of the Church of
England AS gardeners lay down a
branch of vine and stake it fast and
cover it till it takes root, and then cut
it off and leave it TO grow by its own
roots; so the Episcopal Church in this
| land ,,f an l'h,u,l, #
England, which was laid down and
rooted; and by our revolutionary war,
was cut off to grow ever since with roots
of its own.
The Church in America differs from
the Church in England in those matters
chiefly that must needs have been
changed because these States ceased to
be colonies and became nation
with differing political Constitution.
The American Churchman, omits,
too, the Athanasian Creed, which is
long and true, but has dry and funny
rattle to it that makes irreverent people
smile.
OF all Protestant churches the Episco
pal DeSl DESERVES lllc iliIlc, itEfOltMFb
She preserves so many of the usagcs and
excellencies Of the Roman church, and
so few of her errors, that 1t Is quite easy
to perceive that she is reformed
Church. All other Protestant churches
seem revolutionary rather than reform
ed.
The reformation in England was NOR,
than two hundred years long, There
were no volcanic convulsions; no one
brilliant Fourth of July day in whicl
the great reform was proclaimed. No
was the reformation purely and disin
terestedly religious.
After giving an cpitome of its history
which is familiar to our readers, he pro
ceeds:
And thus from reign to reign tn
Church of England came down, acquir
ing little by little her present shape
and laying Off the corruption and un
reason of the Roman Church as theI
existing and administered in that rud
, age.
! The Prayer Book may be called sub
! stantially complete as we now have II
I In the seventeenth century (l66l.) Thu
this Reformed Church of England fill