The New York herald., 1871-03-12
THE EASTERN CHURCH
Its Doctrinal Teaching and Ec-
clesiastical Framework.
Revival Of the Agitation for the Interc0m-
munion Of the Episcopal and Eastern
Churches-Interesting Letter frcm
the Eastern Bishop OF Jerusa-
lem % Christian Unity.

If there be one thing more than another tina t
marks the religious sentiment OF the age We live In
IL is beyond all doubt an intense longing among all
''who profess and call themselves Christians, for
visible reunion OF Chrlsendom. And the anlmating
principle OF their almost universal yearnng is
equally PLAIN. Catholics and Protestants alike pray
TO God and appeal TO men, In behalf OF Christian
unity, on tne ground OF the eyer-spreading growth
OF most dangerous form OF dbelief-that speci es
OIL inhdelity which springs no in the minds OF
thoughtful honest and good men, who, having
searched Tor truth in the realms OF external nature
have attained so fixed belief in the region OF GER
tain universal aud uniform laws as 10 be unable 10
consoientiously accept the possibility OF revelation
or of any miraculous interference the part OF
Dety in the affairs Of men.
Ii is true that obstacles apparently insuperable
stand in the way OF such
REUNION
But, perhaps as time runs on and the ranks OF
conscientious dsbeevers still increase, for the pro-
lection OF those grand essential articles of faith
which are common 10 all the churches, Christians
VIII at last have to join together and present n
solid front 10 the enemy. That is what De Tocque-
vilie-the same ar-seeing Frenchman who, In 1880,
foretold the war for the Union--predcted as the
religious future OF civilized nation sa division OF
men into two hostile camps, believers in Christ and
dsbelievcrs. He also thought that all believers
would be IN some way ultimately absorbed In the
Catholic Church
The initial movements toward reunion, there
fore, are OF the greatest interest. And among
these none have been 80 long pending or seem
TO be more likely 10 be ultimately successful
than that for union OF the Episcopal ana Greek
Churches Such unioh would only be partial, and
would, in fact, merely consist OF mutual recogn
tion OF tie validity OF The sacraments administered
by both and OF freedom to members OF both churches
TO partake OF them In either At present the Ep,s.
cpa Church does not pretend to dispute the validity
OF tne orders OF either the Church OF Rome or the
Greek Church. so the main difficulty Is a difficulty on
one side only. ft
This suggested union was first agtated as far
back as 1920. and has been frequently revived since
II has recently however, certainly grown more and
more probable and 1t viii be remembered that a
few years ago Russian priest was per-
mited to celebrate mass in Trinity church. Only a
month or TWO since a small Greek chapel was
opened at 95l Second avenue, and 1t is now pro-
posed TO build large and handsome church on
Lexington avenue An accomplished and pious
Russian priest, Father Bjerrng, who speaks Eng
llsh nuentiy and well now offciates at the chapel
and every Sunday morning there is service in
English, the avcwed object OF which is to famarize
Episcopalians with
THE GREEK RITE
and demonstrate how closely the liturgcal worship
Of the two Churches is alike. The services at the
chapel are as vet private, owing to the limited ex-
tent OF the accommodations, but when the large
church Is built there win be public worship in Eng.
lish according to the Greek rite every Sunday. While
this infant church, therefore, serves as place of
worship for the Russian and Greek element of our
New York population, it is also intended TO fulfil
the her purpose OF breaking down the prejud,ces
that hinder the union OF the Greek and Episcopal
Churches
But when we come to look over the
DoCTRINAL BELIEF OF THE GREEK CHURCH,
we are puzzled to see how the two Churches could
ever fully and cordially come together. The differ
ences between the Greek and the Roman Churches
with the exception OF the ..1logue clausen In the
creed. are almost all mere matters Of discipline.
And In the iogue dispute the Episcopal Church has
adopted the same reading the Church OF Rome,
though many OF its priests ayowedly deem the
Greek Church in the right.
The general character OF the aching OF the East
ern Church may however, be fairly understood by
the following abstract OF the Longer Catechism OF
the Orthodox Catholic Eastern" Church, approved
schools
The Catechsm begins by stating that the doctrine
Of the orthodox faith is derived from Divine revea-
hon and that IL is spread among men ind preserved
In The true Church by the two channels OF
HOLY TRADITION AND HOLY SCRIPTURE.
Holy tradition thus mentioned first because Of its
being the more ancentl is stated to mean the doc
trine or the faith, the law OF God, the sacraments
and the ritual as handed down BY the true believers
by word and example, from one to another ana from
generation TO generation. All true believers, united
by the holy tradition OF the Iaitn collectively and
successfully by the will Of God compose the Church.
and she is the sure repository OF holy tradition In
regard to Holy Scripture, the Catechsm enumerates
as the canonlcal books the list as Win
be found III the ordinary Protestant English Bible.
IL adds that the fathers approved also the read
and certain others. This is the same teaching In
regard TO the Apocrypha as that OF the Episcopal
Cnurch. The Greek Church lnculcates the
READING OF THE BIBLE,
and has lately published an authorized version in
Russian, but gives warning that its words must
be taken and understood in such sense agrees
with the interpretation Of the orthodox Church and
the holy fathers.
The catechism having thus established the basis
Of It's teaching branches OF into three parts, the first
relating TO the doctrine OF faith, the second that
OF hope and the third 10 that or charity.
Under the head OF faith the believer is taught to
accept the "Ecumenicar creed III the same words as
are used in the Roman and Episcopal Churches
with the important change in the eighth article that
Instead OF reading "And believe in the Holy Ghost
the Lord. the Gver OF Life who proceedeth from the
the Father the 'llo que clause being omitted. The
various articles OF the creed then separately en-
larged upon. The Trinity is stated TO be mystery
not 10 be fathomed by the human intellect but TO be
taken on the nfallibe testimony OF the Word OF Cod
IN regard 70 '.all things visible and INVISIBLE, In-
vlsble' is laid down as meaning the spiritual world
10 which belong the angels or messengers, whom
God sends to announce his WILL Every human being
Is watched over by guardian, good angels, and also
by evil angels. The story OF the creation is taken
from the Drst chapter OF Genesis and there is no
Tempt TO explain away the literal meaning OF the
word day. In regard to
PREDgsr1NATIoN
A. is laid down that God has predestlned TO give 10
al men, aud has actually given to them preventln
grace ana means sunicient for the attainment OF
eternal happiness; but this is qualified by quota
tion gwen Immediately after from the Eastern Pa
ir1arcns, which reads, LAS He ioresaw that ssme
would use well their free viii. but others H. He ac-
cordngly predestiDed the former to glory while the
latter DE condemned.n The Eastern Church here
proposes the well known subtle distinction between
toreknowedee Of and predes tinalion to eternal
misery. The existence OF Divine Providence-gen-
eral ana pal'l-Ear. ls also Insisted upon.
Tue Eastern 'nurch does not hold the immaculate
conception OF the Virgin but declares that she re-
mained and remains before during and after the
Dirtn OF Christ virgin, that she Is Most Holy,
Mother OF God, and excelling IN grace and nearness
% God AND SO also IN dignity every created being.