The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-17
HIGH AND LOW CHURCH.
Ct. Clements in philadelphia-The Questions In
volvsd Law aud aospel"-A ST. Adams
Edition OF Ritualism In the Quaker
City Bishop Stevens and st. Paul
IAN Things to all Men"

PHILADELPHIA, Apri Is, 1871.
In this goodly city OF the QuaSers contest is now
going on IN one OF the Eplscopalian churches .St
Clements between what is generally known as
HIGH AND Low CHURCH
factions, which promises great scandal TO religion
fat fees for the lawyers and trouble IN the Church.
Some fifteen years ago the parish Of st. Clements
was organized In the northwest section OF the old
c.ty-Twentieth street, above Arch. 1t was a new
field OF labor for the Episcopal denomination, and
was open TO missionary work. The parish was
new, the church weak and the clergy poor, the
faith like that OF the old church at Philadelphia
which St. John told OF In mis- vision. After
going in debit having no money, being visited by
the sheriff liabilities changing its pastors 1t was
found that ST. Clements was sinking into the deep
waters
About two years ago II. G. patterson, ID. D., and
W. II. N. stewart LII. D., were invited to take the
church and 1t their ideas of regeneration, both
as TO the church as corporation and its
members as spiritual sheep. They did so with GER
tain conditions, among which were that salaries
were Of no moment, provided the vestry, which
was OF no account either as faith. brains cash,
would let the pastors alone. Anything to save the
church building fro q forced sale for debt was
agreed TO- and these reverend doctors went to work.
DR.. Stewart IL o learned. earnest scholar. and
most able speaker. Dr. Patterson is great admin
istrator, and the services Of 81. Clements were
put on the high church basis Choral services, pro-
cessional and occasional hymns banners and "holy
guildsn and daily services, and weekly c0mmuni0ns.
and fine preaching and good singing, made
the church o great success. IL was nlied az all
times 0y the most thinking and innuential and
leading citizens Of philadelphia, as well as by
families OF earnest churcnmen. The vsstry
became amazed that no room was to be had by
veslry never went there to church, some were not
COMMITMENTS, some never were baptized.
everything that was not common was unlawful.
The vesty began to open their eyes, then their ears,
and the element asJ In the
the nOthngs In forms, which, IN this case, grew
into nothing gs,,.,n in a9nything-fstn belief
Clemsnt's. The vestry. which was composed Of
men who formed no clear idea OF the spiritual slgnn-
canoe or their faith, mad fixed opinions to tho
forms which taught their faith under the symbols
which reveal it. the clergy had both. TEe contest
try meetings, and ended ON Easter Monday last at
the vestry election. Some OF the city papers were
filled with articles by cnurchmen, parishloners and
..FUN AND FORMS"
of st. Clements. One side charged that the clergy
Of st. Clements advocated aurlcular confession,
penance dissolution, prayers for the dead anu what
iney the true Christian spirit tried 10 stgmatize
Charges, but insisted that oil the teachings were
found In the Prayer Book, all OF which they inti-
SOME OF THE vEsTRY NEVER READ,
or II they did, could not understand. The fight be-
came furious, the bulletin Doirds OF the press con-
tanned the latest news from the scene VI this
"Churcn-miiltantr warfare. The vestry laid their
case before the Right Reverend Bishop, who delv-
cred an opinion on one-sided Case to which the
rector DR.. Patterson, replied with much spirit and
according to the almost universal opinion. has
The besl OF the dispute. Then the election Tor
trymen came OH. and held Easter Monday, April
TO- last 1hc candidates OF the vesJry party werc:-
Morris. Henry henderson, Henry Norris, George n.
Allen, Henry Y. THOMPSON, james Dougasrt y,
| Charles s. Pancoast, FRANCIS H. ABBOTT EDWARD
| Ilarnp nd
| Those Of the rectors party were:-Waltcr II. TIL
den, Charles b. Stewart j. Douglass Brown, Charles
| u. Sloan, Henry N. Barnes William A. ROn, John
HugQard, Elias L. Baudnot, Michael Arnold, Jr.;
! Francis u. Wetherill Samuel Richie aud William
were raised conteslng votes and OBJ ecung TO votes
1t was ricn scene-lne veitry with ltJ lawyers,
and the clergy with their lawyers.
THE FEMALE QUESTION
was the first Pewhoiders are members OF the con-
gregation BY charter some OF 'he pews were held
a female, married, had a VOTE though sue had u seat
and q soul. The single women voted. lhe non
resident male pewh0lderS voted, but against the
clergy. The vote stood ON the count-l7 Tor clergy,
10 tor vesry with several OF the vestry votes
tested. The vcsuy then the high church party,
Tor The members elect were In high glee over this
great victory OF two votes. The clergy side were
confident in Its law Us they were confident In their
on Monday an information In the nature OF q
'.QUo wARRANTon
will be filed in the Supreme Court against tho
vestry. The yestry say they VIII close the doors VI
The church. The clergy party viii 20 Into The church
Dr. patterson and DIR. Stewart will not recognize
tainted title, as they CLAIM the vestry elect mold,
aud SO
DEAD LOCK Is ON ST. CLEMENTS,
as at Albany and HARRISBURG The clergy party VIII
break the JOCK II II Ia put ON the door.
These doings are rather "hi2h' ami rather "lown
for religious body. but the clergy thus far
tanned by those who have carefully aud calmly con-
sidered the whole case
The next move will be important The readers Of
the HERALD WIN be Kept posted regarding the latest
developments In this latest church scandal.
Verify, iiiladelphia laketh the lead In little
ecclesiastical settos," aud the Inhabitants thereof
are vainy cndeavorng to solve how this last ques-
ton VIII do for "hign.v