The New York herald., 1873-12-14
rlc Religious Press on the Religious
and Other Topics or the DAY.

the absence Of any fresh or novel texts upon
which to base their editorial discourses renew
their discussions upon the Cumra;ns move
ment towards the founding Of the new Re-
formed Episcopal Church, enlarge upon tho
split among the Congregationalists in Brook
lyn and the founding of another new sect
called ''Beecherism.' while the chief Univer
salist organ ventilates certain malepractices and
deceits among sham Unlversalist clergymen
and pretended missionaries. The restoration
of the barbarous custom of corporal punish
ment in the public schools is also the subject
Of animadversion by some of our brethren Of
the religious press.
The Observer remarks that there was no un-
seemly haste in the proceedings Of the Re
formed Episcopal Church Council last week.
They moved slowly, and adjourned without
any demonstration to challenge public attsn-
ton. What will come Of the movement re-
mains to be seen. The Observer has no doubt
it will work for good. ''It will,' it says.
'arouse the Church to inquire into its causes.
and if it be true, as Dr. Tying, Jr., alleges.
that the tendencies are Romeward, every hon.
est minister and man in the Church Will set
himself against the current"
"The occasion which has led to this move
ment," AYERS the Evangelist "bespeaks cur
sympathy. But what is the exact basis Of this
new Church? 1t is, concisely stated, evan
gelical Low Churchsm, repudiating the OBJ
iectonable phrases and features Of the Prayer
Book, and assuming, or perhaps we should
say retaining, Episcopal organization The
Evangelist has no reason to surmise that
Bishop Cummins or his adherents have any,
even the slightest, Romeward tendency; but
if, says the editor, con leaving his former con.
necton he had renounced all the Episcopal
virtue thence derived, or assumed to be de-
rived, and insisted on holding no Office to
which he was not duly elected, we believe that
in the end his success would have been better
assured"
The Independent treats of ''Arraignment Of
the Plymouth Church, and asserts that it is
very common thing for churches to drop
from their rolls the names of those who have
voluntarily withdrawn from Church obliga-
tions. 1t knows of q Congregational church
in Brooklyn, OF unquestioned strictness, which
three years ago dropped fifty names for this
reason. The Independent supposes ''that the
chief object Of discipline is to protect the
Church against those who are using their con-
nection with it as cover to wrongdoing, and
not to pursue those with censure whose volun-
tary withdrawal has relieved the Church Of
responsibility for their character and repu-
tation.''
The Baptist Weekly, referring to the Cum
Minis movement, remarks that its most SAN
guine friends can hardly feel encouraged
from the numbers or influence of those who
have espoused it. ''There are doubtless many
people in the land,' says the editor, 'who
desire liturgical worship, like that of the
Episcopal Church, and who, if they can crafty
their desire without sacrificing their conscien-
tious scruples, VIC aid gladly make use Of
prayer book. But tt open door which per-
nss ministers OF all denominations, without
reordination, to become ministers of the new
Church, is such complete surrender of Epis-
copal ideas of the ministry that it will be diff
cult for many Of the lowest of Low Church
people to bring themselves to accept the basis
which has been adopted"
The Reformed Church Messenger (Phladel-
pha) thinks the new movement will at least
have the effect of ''adding one more to the
already too many divisions in Professionalism"
The Christian Inteuigencer, referring to the
determination of Plymouth church to prevent
an investigation into its affairs, suggests that
if silence ''is the policy now resolved upon,
the unfortunate subject of it should procure
at once brain OF marble and nerves Of steel,
for no man Of human mould can long endure
public life upon such terms The Intepi-
gercer earnestly trusts that the effort to restore
the use of the rod, that relic OF barbarism in
our public schools, will not succeed.
The Christian Union does not presume to
judge of the "wisdom or uIwisdom Of the
step which Bishop Cummins and his friends
have taken. Their right to form o new
Church in accordance with their own convic-
tons will be generally admitted. The new
Church certainly offers middle ground be-
tween ritualstic episcopacy and the nom
prelatical orthodox denominations, and may.
therefore, meet the wants of large numbers OF
people who desire to form religious assocla-
tons in more entire consonance with Their
feelings and convictions"
The Christian Leader is Of opinion that it
only requires q little persecution to make the
Reformed Episcopal Church an assured sue
cess. This promises to be done in the trial Of
Bishop Cummins by the Episcopal Church
for breaking the rules and violating his vow.
The Leader also touches upon what it calls
"Cerical Filibustering' to show how some
sham missionaries and clergymen protesting
TO be Universalists impose upon true adhe-
rents Of the Church in distant places.
The Liberal Christian characterzos the last
week as ''a,week Of schisnls," and af1irms that
o Roman Catholic might say II told you so