New-York tribune., 1873-12-13
THE REFORMED EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Hac- York. Dec. 10, 1913.

NOT A sCHIsM, But MOVEMENT TO HEAL 4 sCHIsM
TO fhc Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: THE TRIBUNE report of the proceed
ngs OF the Convention which the "a Of December
to organize "the Reformed Episcopal Church" was the
most complete and correct OF any OF the daily press
But in giving report and in noticing the event in
your editorial columns, you placed as heading the
words, "The Episcopal Schism." viii you allow
the sgners OF tho call and member OF that Con
yention briefly to your attention TO the rationale
of this movement, and % explain that 1.-THE word
schisn" does not apply TO ti The direction OF tho
Apostle Paul is. "MaTk them that cause divisions and
avodlthem" You will that this Injunction Is fol-
lowed in the present endeayor TO "restore the old
paths" and "repace tho ancient landmarks"
The innOvators and schismatcs in the Church
of England were those who caused that
Church TO depart its primitive faith and practice.
and its usage to fraternzng with Presbyterian and
Continental RefOrmers. For than 100 years the
Reformed Church Of England recognized the validity Of
the orders OF the Presbyterian and Reformed Minis
terra Of Scotland, Holland. &c deputaon OF clergy
OF the Church OF England attended the Convoclion Of
the synod bort" CDordrechtJ Holland, in 1913;
voluntary deputton attended the meetings OF tho
Evan ngeca Alliance lately held In NewYoik and frat
ernized other branches OF the Church OF Christ IL
was not until after the restoration Of the monarchy
under Charles H. thathe PRIEST party obtained tho
control Of Episcopal bench and drove out the Puri
Charles H., with his llcentous mobiles and time
serving preates. could bear the presence of
the piOls and conscientious ministers still remaining
the Church of England. On the anniversary OF the
martyrdOn OF the Hugucn0s of France. ST. Bsrtholo-
mcwi, Day Aug "a 1902 100 OF devoted min
isiers OF the Church of England were simultaneously
elected from their rectorshps ycarages outacies aud
professOrship, 10y tho Act OF Uniformity"
Those noble men, the most godly and conscientious por
ton OF The clergy accepted poverty PTIalons ana per
secutions. with cecment from ther Vlngs rather than
conform % liturgy and rubrIcs containing restrictions
upon their freedom OF worship ana depriyng them of
liberty OF conscience Upon the pielhies OF Inc Re
storaon rests the guilt of driving out the best OF ther
minister ana Eakpg ine @
science sake who caused that chsD but the lordy and
arrogant prelates who prosecuted Them
Had any bishop been willing 10 aid in purifying the
Church OF s dross at either of the great epochs when
delivered TO the santo the hstory OF The past 800
years would have been very different But neither
the Restoration during the great evlvsls OF the
eighteenth century uader he preaching VI Wesley aud
Wnitefeld any bishop found willing 10 unite with
the multitudes OF clergy and aity who ready
establish Reformed Episcopal Church" Wesiey's
great executive power however gathered his followers
into permanent organlz.ation which in the United
States has adopted the Episcopal form OF government
without tho ard Of Dshop Ia or,ehatlng inc Essco
spectacle OF Protestant Episcopal bishop voluntarily
resgping. for conscience sake the position. honors and
e@olunents attaching to nS GSuri%s I,eane rank to
primitive Epsoopate, and a scripturai liturgy pur
sd rites and Ine y Bshop
the days OF Edward vi who has renounced the yoke
9e e qfs Ssf3y Il n 5 Gs. GSss
Having enjoyed the communion with saints"
In other branches OF the Church OF Christ
bo dared not again fetter himself with the
eoelesasIlcsl chains which bind the conselences
Of tho clerical orders in prelatc churches He has ac
cordngy done what Cranuer, John kogers. Hooper,
L,tiIner, Ridley. and other martyrs and confessOrs
wished but had not tho opportunity VIZ. to leave
communion Of the Churches OF christ IL Is scarcely
necessary inform the readers OF IiE TRIBUNE
the event you chronoled last week is for which
hundreds thousands Christian ministers and peo
pie have prayed and labored during tho past three
centuries VIZ, tho possession OF primitive
Christian Epscopate through the channei Of the
Church of England. This. then, Is the cl-
mination OF tho lOngprotracted AntiPreatical
contest begun In the reigns OF Edward
NowEDgand NOnconformists and their descendants so
long suffered and labOred. The constant opposition
Epsoopaey tho part OF the Protestant denominations
CHIEFLY from the bgotod hnd unchufVnlng dogmas
held by Prcatists Prosby Lerians, COngregationats
and Bapsts formerly and lattery the Methodist and
other Reformed branches have been forced Doa state OF
England as the result the triumph OF the Priest party
under Charles Id IL Is the spirit of bgotry and
exclsveness In the Episcopal churches which repels
the other Branches and not the fact OF an Episcopal
form tho use OF liturgy. Now. however. IL
there be any possible benefit In preserving tho
historical connection from tue Churchj OF England the
Reformed Episcopal Church has It. and with reformed
liturgy hope the work OF reuDiying tho churches
OF Christ may 10 on toward completion trust that
this brief statement may satisfy your readers that
not schsin that we have IN view, but inc heang OF
long and fearful scsn. Now that the Reformed Epls-
cOpal Church has Joined tho Evangelical host the entire
reformed Church, thus completed In all It's branches,
10 win the world TO Christ Those who love tho
ancient liturgy with ali ITS hsilowed associations
now DO Grained by its use, while interchanging fra
the harmony or illuminate accommodation against
them - ...... .. InE0 BOURNE.
Hew-Rork, Deo. H. 1875