The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-23

denial that serious difficulty doctrinal
one, too-does exist within the bosom of the
Protestant Episcopal Church in the United
States. And, as we have also seen, the pre-
latical and ritualistic spirit is becoming 80
rampant that it threatens to drive out of that
Church the most spiritual ministers and men,
bers, as Its prototype in Great Britain did
century ago. Last Sabbath we took occasions
to comment freely upon the issues in this con-,
troversy, as set forth in an interview between
the Rev. Mr. Tying and reporter Of this jour
nal Our comments on that occasion have
drawn forth some correspondence from Epis-
copalians who think that Messrs. Cheney and
Tying are altogether wrong and that the ritual
istic party are altogether right. We do not
think 30, and for several reasons.
The trouble, as we have said, and as the
Rev. Mr.. Tying has declared, is doctrinal
one, and consequently cannot be settled by
silencing or deposing one, two, ten or more
Low Church" presbyters. 1t is too deep
seated to be thus disposed Of, and every act OF
repression or oppression-like those applied
to Messrs. Tying and Cheney and their breth-
ren-will but stir up stronger resistance to
the spirit which seeks to crush out of them
that manly independence which every minister
Of Christ should feel in himself. We contend
that liberty is not libertnism, and that
very large degree of ministerial indie
pendence of congregations and of bishops
is necessary and is consistent with
true obedience to ecclesiastical authority
While, therefore, we defend the Independents
action of Messrs. Cheney and Tying, we do not
defend that liberty which sets itself above law,
nor men who seek martyrdom by rushing madIy
on to death or disgrace.
Now, what are the doctrinal differences.
which so disturb the Episcopal Church and
which seem likely to cause division of that
body, already small enough in this countrya
They are the doctrine of regeneration by bap-
tism characterization In the elements of the
Eucharist or Lords Supper; the gift of tho
Holy Ghost by the laying on of Episcopal
hands in ordination, &c. These things the.
ritualistic or 'High Church" party hold to
most tenaciously, accepting the language Of
the Common Prayer Book literally, and even
stretching that language to serve occasions.
Upon these doctrinal propositions are based
certain assumptions, among which may be
named that of apostolic succession, whereby
the ministry of the large body of Methodists.
Baptists, Presbyterians and other evangelical
Christians, composing more than nne-tenths
of the population of this country, are wholly
ignored, and "the American Church." as
those ritualistic aspirants affect to call them
selves, attempt to usurp spiritual authority
over the land. And acting upon this assump-
ton the General Conventions, composed for
the greater part of High Church men, district
the Union and send out their missionary bish-
ops-mainly ritualists-to take possession.
We do not object to this in itself; but when
the newly elected prelates undertake to drive
out ministers who have been on the ground
before them, and who have gathered large and
fourishing congregations together whom they
love and by whom they are loved, to make way
for men who have less of manly and spiritual
independence and more of the spirit of subser-
viency than of true obedience, then we think
the highest censure and condemnation should
be poured out upon such prelates.
Another assumption is that the elders or
presbyters in the Church have the power, by
virtue of their calling and elevation to the
ministry, to declare and pronounce to the
people being penitent the dissolution and re-
mission of their SINS" There are other
assumptions of lesser note, such as that the
houses of worship of other denominations (save,
of course, Catholics), are not properly dedi-
Gated, and are, therefore, meeting houses, and
not churches; and hence, while the Rev. S.
H. Tying, Jr., was convicted three years ago,
technically, Of violating section 6, canon IL,
title of the Digest of Canons of the Protestant
Episcopal Church, the pith of the evidence
adduced by the prosecution went to show that
he had preached and read service" in
Methodist meeting house in New Brunswick.
The section cited prohibits one presbyter of
the Protestant Episcopal Church from oficiat-
ing in the parish of another without the
others consent; and under the assumptions
already noticed the entire population and area
of New Brunswick belonged spiritually and
legally to Rev. Messrs. Stubs and Boggs, the
Episcopal ministers of that town. Very little
testimony was adduced on Mr.. Tyng's trial to
show his disregard of DR.. Stubs notification
against trespass, but great deal was intro
duced to show how he was dressed, what
prayers he read, what hymns were sung, and
whether in reading or reciting the prayers he
altered this phrase or omitted that altogether,
and whether he knelt or stood. These were
the little details upon which the counsel and
the court spent most of their time during that
memorable trial 1t ia hardly necessary to-
comment upon them further. The spirit and
purpose Of that trial were too apparent then,
and the same spirit is now following Mr..
Cheney in Chicago, and is seeking other vic
tins elsewhere Mr.. CheneY's CONGREGATION,