Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-10-26
rnn EpIscopAL CHuRoH.

The general convention OF this church,
now In session In Baltimore, has been
characterized by dignity and a spirit Of
forbearance worthy Of highest commends-
ton and imitation by other religious
bodies. While refusing to amend or tam
Ger with the Common Prayer Book"
that beautiful compilation Of pure Eng
fish and simple prayer and praise, 1t has
reconciled the apparently i~rreconcilsble
differences between its members with q
spirit Of charity, concession and Keen
sighted discrimination between essentials
and trihes that is really prsiseworthy.
| The spirit OF Christ-love and harmony
seems to pervAde this body Of Christians,
and from the first day they seem to be
sctusted by but one spirit, |. e.-that the
unity, which is the bond of peace, should
not be sacrificed to pscify any mere
| clique or compose q fsctious minority.
! Ritualists and high and low churchmen
| alike manifested q willingness to 'give
and tske;" there YVES, therefore, but little
difficulty in healing supposed wounds,
reconciling supposed differences and
strengthening the supposed weak places.
Would that q similar spirit pervaded the
body polite Of the United Ststesl The
New York Tribune finds many things In
the work of this convention TO applaud.
A case most notably in p5int is the reso-
luton that an enlightened, practical plan
should be adopted for the training, sup
port and organization of women free to
engage in work outside their homes, SIS
nurses, teachers and domestic mission
sries-"such women not to be bound by
irrevocable vows, and to be able to return
to the house where they were trained,
when disabled, with the assurance of q
comfortable support through life" Upon
this the Tribune comments thus:
Christianity, after all, is nothing If 1t Is not
the practical application iof the divine
truth which Jesus taught, Of love TO God and
our brother, to the new phases n exigen-
cles Of eaeh sueceeolng age. Ine alsease
domestic life now is the forced insctlon and
morbid unrest OF women. By her action, the
church approaches this difficulty not only
with the highest christian purpose, but with
sound common sense. Thetdle, needy, p1ouE
woman, 81 present q loose thread in the body
polite, ls to be woven into the web; given,
first, an honorable means of earning her own
bread and butter, RfterWard a home, COM
Rsniops security for old sge, and exercise in
which he has given her. She forms, too, q |
link, now very much wanted, between the
poor. We should be glad to find other Pro-
testant churches following the example OF
the Episcopalians in this matter.
The Tribune also makes a suggestion
that the convention should take hold of
the vice Of intemperance and by some di-
rect movement having the authority and
of the church, seek to suppress
what has invaded many otherwise respect
able households, and threatens the peace
OF society. "While two-thirds of the in
Of our prisons and victims of the
gsllows are sent thereDs liquor, and one
half of the active diseases of the country
are outgrowths from the same cause, we
know no subject more worthy the careful
and wise consideration of our best men,
The difficulty In the way Of reform lies,
rs we believe, In the fact that intern
has hitherto bSen approached
rs q crime, and not a disease. Its pre-
is to be found not in frantic
to the will and moral sense of the
1runksrd, when both are enfeebled by
means, but in the clear, intelIi-
gent comprehension by the people, espes
,islly parents, that the thirst for alcohol
5 an hereditary disease, to be combated,
of, and cured as scrofuls or con-
sumption would be. The Episcopal con-
7~sntion, q body of men pre-eminent for
heir moderation and love of truth
stripped Of fansticism, can find no social
vii more terrible in its exigence than
his; no matter in which they can render
heir church and the world more service
~ a well considered verdict. Their sect
) composed for the most part of that Gull
ured and influential class, under the di- {
ection oftheir pastors to an exceptional i
whose every forward movement
n reform has weight. A few simple au- /
horitstive words of warning on this mat 5
or, or the endowment of an inebriate t
by the convention, would be a G
york for humanity whose heRlthful effect
annot be estimated in words" I