Smyrna times., 1873-11-19
RsCm the New York Tribune
Important Letter fr0m BisOp Cum
minS.--A New R eligi0us Movement.

mins---A New R eligious Movement.
The ctn'roversy on the Joint Communion ques.
tion has led the following letter shows. to some
important and unexpected results. Bishop Cummins
OF Kentucky has resigned his office in order TO de.
vote himself to a reform la the church which will
promote, ss he believes, the fraterna union Oi
Christians of various denominati ms, and accom-.
plsh among EpiscoPalIans a result similar to that
at which Bishop Reinkens and his associates are
aiming at IN the Church of Rome.
New YoRK, Nov. 10, 1879
To the Right Reuerend BENJAMIN BoswoRrH Smith
ID. D. Bishop Of the PrOtestaat Episcopal Chureh
IN the Diocese Of Kentucky.
RI. Rev AND DEAa BIsHoP: Under solemn
sense of duty and in the fear Of God, have to tell
you that ! am about to retire from the work in
which have been engaged for the last seven years
in the Diocese Of Kentucky, and thus 10 sever the
relations which have existed happily and harmo.
niously between us during that time.
1t is due to you, and 10 my many dear friends in
the Diocese of Kentucky and else~ here, that /
should stste clearly the causes which have led me
TO this determination.
l. FIRST, then, you well know how heavy has been
the trial OF having to exercise my office in certain
churches in the Diocese Of Kentucky where the
services are conducted so az to symbolic and to
teach the people doctrines subversIve Of The truth
it is in Jesus" aRd it was maintained and
defended by the Reformers of the Sixteenth Cen.
tury.' '-...}
On each occasion that have been called upon 10
ohciate in those churches l have been most pain
fully impressed by the conviction that wa sane.
toning aud indorsng by my presence and official
acts the dangerous errors symbOzed by the services
Customary in Ritualstic Churches.
l can no longer, by my participation in such ser
vices, be "a Partaker Of other mems sins" aud must
ear my own soul OF all completely in such errors
2. have lost all hope that this system Of error
now prevailing SO extensively in the Church Of
England, and the Protestant Episcopal Church in
thus country. can be or will be eradIcated by any
action of the authorities 0 the Church legislative or
executive. The only true remedy. in my judgment,
Is ths judeIous yet thorough revision of the Prayer
boz, eIimin I,ing from It all tina gives coune. C:
drecJ or indirectly, 10 the whole system Of Sacer.
dotasm aHd RIIualism; revision after the medel OF
that recommended by the Csmmisso appointed IN
England under royal authority in 1859. whose
VIZ VS. indorsed by ths great name. of Burner,
Patrick TIllotson, aud Sullingaleet, and others Of
the Church of England-s blessed work, which
failed, alas! 10 receive the approval OF Convocation,
but was taken up afterwsrd by the fathers of the
Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States,
and embodied in the Prayer book Of 1885, which
they set forth and recomme nded for use in this
country.
propose TO return to that Prayer book sanctioned
BY William White, and to tread in the steps of that
sanity man as he acted from 1885 to 1888.
3. One other reason tor my present action e.
MAINS TO be gwen. On the last day of the la lie
Conference Of the Evangelical Alliance particioa.
ted 10 the celebration Of the Lords Supper by
invitation, IN the Rev DIR. Jehn Halls Church in
the City of New York. aRd united with Dr. Hal
DR.. William ArnOt Of Edinburgh, and Prof. Dorner
Of ;flIn, in that precious feast IL was cticaI
manifestation of the real unity Of "ihe blessed
Company OF all faithful people" whom God sshath
knit together 10 one communion and fellowship in
the an ysiical body of His Son Jesus Christ"
The results Of that participation have been sueh
as to prove 10 my mind that such a step cannot be
taken by one occupying the position now hold
without sadly disturbing the peace and harmony o
"this church" and without impsring my infiuenc,
for good over large portion Of the same church
very many Of whom wIlhin our own diocese.
As I cannot surrender the right and priyiley,
thus to meet my Christians Of other churebe.
around the table Of our dear Lord must take IN,
place where can do so without alternating those o
my swn household Of faith.
therefore leave the communion in which hsv
Iabored in the sacred ministry for twenty eigh
years, and transfer my work and Office 10 anothe
sphere Of labor. / have an earnest hope and conf
dence that basis for the union Of all Evangelica
Christendom can be found in a communion whicl
shall retain or restore a Primitive Episcopacy and
pure SeriPturai Liturgy with fidelity TO the doctrin
Of just lhcaton by Faith oniy-ArfieuIus stanfis
eadsntis Ecciesie-a position toward which the O.
Catholics Ia Europe rapidly tending, and whicl
has already taken definite form in the "Church O
Jesus" in Mexico. .kLl.l+t -
To this blessed work I devote the remsinin,
years Of life. content II can only see the dawn
that blessed day of the Lord. I am. dear Bishop
faithfully yours in Christ
My address for the present will be NJ. Q Bibl
House, New York. tll fHf q, e