The New York herald., 1872-09-21
CATHOLIC CHRISTIAN UNION.

Friends OF Religious Instruction I'm
Russia Are Dofng-Thc Abbe Michau ud's
Opinion on Union.
1t may be remembered that for many years there
has been movement among members OF the
Established Church In England, the Episcopal
Church In this country and the Eastern or Greek
Catholic Church to form a union, and to present to
the Roman Catholic world an undivided 'front.'
Four years ago the Protestant Episcopal Conven-
tion which met In this city appointed Committee
on Union to correspond with other bodies OF Chris
tians. This committee, after reporting progress,
were continued in office by the last General Con-
vent0n. A similar committee exists In England
whose movements are in harmony with the
American churchmen. The "Old Catholic" move
menti in Germany has given new life and prominence
to the union movement which has been silently
working and spreading itself for some years. The
schsm has, however been confined chiefly to the
clergy but recently the laity have taken it up and
in Russia the fortress Of oriental Christianity,
society exists known as the Society of the Friends
OF Religious Instruction. This society was organ
lied and incorporated in Moscow in 1862 and more
recently In ST. Petersburg, where
TIE GRAND DUKE CONSTANTINE,
brother to the Emperor, has taken deep interest
in the purposes and aims OF the society and has
become It's founder and president. The society has
branches I'm different sections OF the Empire and it
aims to Its Sy the
calls &C., in the vernacular of the people OF the
whole country. and by lyoeams and lectures on the
t!an life. 1t summons to its aid the clergy
and the laity alike to- debate gene
religious disabilities and to remove ecclesiastical
inc)ngruties. Its principles and main objects are
to bring about closer relation between the Rus
sian clergy and laity, and to promote the inter-
change OF ideas between them and others in regard
to the doctrines and usages OF the orthodox
Church; to further tho distribution of sound opin-
ions thereon by making the history and the present
position and necessities OF the orthodox Church
more familiar to the general public ana to- to keep up
and champions of the truth in foreign lands and In
terchange publications with them and give such
moral aid as may be required fhe holy govern
ing Synod has given its blessing to the society and
God-speed to its undertaking. The society is, in
short tract society and Christian union asso-
citation. ~
Such society became an absolute necessity.
since many persons, breaking away from the Latin
Church by the study OF the sources OF Christian
truth and ecclesiastical history and turning their
faces toward the orthodox Eastern Church, had
no encouragement and neither public organ nor
association to direct, counsel and receive them.
1t was the increasing numbers OF such applicants
here and there. every year that first prompted the
SOCIETY FOR RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION
In Russia; and with the present "Old Catholic"
and more numerous every month. A committee
of Old Catholics In France recently applied to
the St Petersburg society for information In regard
between them and the Oriental Church. The coun-
Gil Of the Russian society considered the matter
oniciai authority to act for the Oriental Church,
and stated that the questions now being ventilated
IN Europe Iegarding g union o1 Win the KussoGteeK
the authority OF the whole Church in concert;
but In the societys opinion there could be no union
nor intercommuniOn between the Old Catholics and
any other branch of Weston Christians and the
Oriental orthodox Church. unless there be complete
identity in the dOgmas and an unconditional &c
ccptance by the incoming body of the authority and
acts OF the first seven Ecumenica Councils, held pre-
y!ous to and including A. D. 7s3 before the Latin
ecclesiastical authority. This is a conditfo sine Qua
non, from which the orthodox Church cannot move
step nor devlate one line from the dogmatic truth
handed down to her rom the Apostolic Church |;
nor can She at the same time permit anything TO
DC added to these sv AtnSa Al Ss Ing
Oriental Church neither asks nor requires uniformity
in rites by local churches and congregations She
in contradiction to her own doctrines and teaching.
but she does demand unity and uniformity in the
vital matters connected with the holy sacraments.
In regardtO
ECCLESIASTICAL GOVERNMENT
the orthodox Church. say the st. Petersburg soce-
ty, has everywhere and at all times respected the
AUTONOMY OF individual churches as soon as the
traditions and elements necessary to the develop
nna U1 themselves in such autonomy. pro-
vided that such Independent existence do not con-
fict with the fundamental institutions OF the
Church. This answer Is published at length in
pamphlet form in French for general distribution,
and Anglican and American Church unionists viii
readily see rom u WnaI Lnelr cnanceS are lor swal,
lowing up the Oriental Church or being swallowed
up by IT.. -. -.uN r.l
The AbbG Michaud made similar application to
the Society at Moscow on his own behalf, and said
the unity OF the Churches was not only possible,
but very probable, as soon as II became known
among Western Christians that the Greek Church
approaches more nearly the Apostolic Church thai
does the Latin. This fact, the Abb6 adds, sis more
| deeply impressed on my mind the further go on
Then relating to particulars, he asserts that the
return to the administering OF the Lords Supper
IN both forms, the introduction Of the peoples Ian
10 "y or lie c,ero, cre generally desired together
with ether reforms AZ TO INC 'flioIue" the Able
says:E"Accordng to my opinion there viii arise
ccptance OF rse Hlioque; doctrine may be left to
the option of the orthodox Greek Church." The
union OF the old Catholics and tue frotes'anIs
considered very doubtful.