Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-06-14
Issue in the Episcopal Church.

OF wednesday, there was an item which,
those who have been conversant with the
movements and controversies in the Epis-
copal Church Of late, will no doubt regard
a. of grave concern TO that important body.
This item was to the effect, that the Rev.
:. II. Tying, Jr., of New York city, had,
in disregard Of Bishop Whitehouse's inhi-
bition OBLIGATED for, andi in connection with
the Rev. Mr.. Cheney, of Chicago, whom
Bishop Whitehouse has deposed from the
ministry.
As this is an age in which ecclesiastical
affairs are of general interest, and as the
Episcopal Church occupies an important
place in the land, ! suppose your readers
will need no apology from me for devoting
an article or two toa statement of the crisis
which this case of Chicago will probablys
develop into some decided action
The case of Mr.. Cheney does not stand
alone, on its simple, individual merits. If
it had thus stood, it would have excited
only local and temporary interest. 1t is
its connection with the history of the past,
and with a growing divergence of parties
in the present, that clothes it with 'signifi-
canoe. What is that history? What is
that divergence ? 1t is well known to read
ers of history that the English Reforma-
ton was distinctively Protestant and
Evangelical movement. 1t was move
ment in close sympathy with that of the
Reformation on the Continent the leaders
on both sides being i'm habituai conference
and brotherly communion. The chief diff
ference between the English and the Con-
tinental churches was i'm the retention of
the Episcopate and the Liturgy in Eng
land, which were Providentially lost TO the
other reforming churches.
The Reformers only by degrees emerged
into the free light of Evangelical truth,
but as theydid come TO this light, they
threw off in succession the errors of doe
4
had been educated. The distinctive Pro-
testant and Evangelical character of the |
Reformed Church continued, somewhat
irregularly, indeed, but seriously inter-
rupted only by the reign of the ''Bloody |
Mary, " for about one hundred years The |
influence of Archbishop Daud, chiefly, led to |
the "act of uniformity which was passed |
il the year 1862. That act was not only |
conceived in prosecuting spirit, to drive !
from the church q large number of nom
conforming divines, but it was connected |
with certain cancellations in the Book of
Common Prayer that took off many of |
the sharpest angles of Evangelism in the |
devotional Offices
From this time, two schools of biological |
thought and sympathy took more distinct |
shape in the church, and have descended |
through all the fluctuations of history to |
the present day. There have been High |
Church" and Broad church, eras alti- |
tudinarian and latitudinarian ages, but at |
all times these schools or parties have eX-
listed. The fact that the Prayer Book was
in large measure the result of compro-
misses, has led to general federation and mu-
tual forbearanee. The Evangelical School, I
though fully aware of its heritage as the !
legitimate successor of the Reformers' |
was yet content, for the sake of |
comprehensiveness to recognize the other |
school, though diligently laboringto coun-
teract its exclusive ecclesiastical policy !
and corruptions of doctrine. There was a |
general adherence TO the authoritative for
mularies of the church, and on either side |
a large measure of liberty 10y general con- |
sent in line of affinities
This state of feeling and action was
from the Engl sh to the |
American Episcopal Church, at first as a |
colonial church, and finally as the PRO |
testant Episcopal Church in the United |
States" During the earlier periods of this
church in America the controversy was
not holly pursued. In fact, the issues be-
tween the parties were not very clearly
made. Spirituality was at a low ebb, and
Indifference to the questions
involved in the controversy was the
natural result. But, as evangelical life be-
gan 10 revive, the two schools showed their
distinct traits and tandenciesc and soon
developed a certain measure of divergence.
Until about thirty years ago, the spirit
of separation was not very strong. Modes
of presenting Christian truth were clearly
and the sympathies OF the two
classes showed themselves i'm legislative
action, and i'm all elections, whether of
Bishops for Dioceses, or Of Rectors for indi-
vidual parishes; but general harmony pre-
vailed. and even mission work was carried
on in the association of the two schools.
The beginning OF that total separation of
action and sympathy, which seems now to
be rapidly reaching its contamination, dates
from the appearance Of the celebrated
Tracts for the Times" These were
series OF short treatises, by certain writers Of
the University OF Oxford, on the various
subjects that separated the Reformed
Theology from that Of the Roman Church.
With great subtlety, under the guise OF an
obscure style, filled with equivocal phrases,
these writers controverted the entire sys-
tenn of reformed doctrine and advocated
the entire Romish system.
From the appearance Of Those papers the
controversy OF the last quarter o; :. century
began, and we only now see the fruits Of
those publications in the prescription of
Evangelical truth 10y the party that has
become dominant.
In another article ! propose to give
tref statement Of the course or ecclcsiasti
cal events that have brought US so rapidly
10 the grave position now occupied.
a JEALOUS young husband in Baltimore
tried TO brighten his flirting spouse into
decOrum by threatening suicide lie sent
her note containing words 20 that effect