New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-12-03
THE PROCEEDINGS.


Refore the time for business, devotional eX-
rcses were held when the blessings Of Heaven were
impored upon the action about TO be taken The busl
ness session being called to order the Right RcY Bshop
George David Cummins, ID. D., read the circular letter
in response to which the meeting was held, and which
sets the chief points which distinguish the Prayer
book of l735 from the use, in the following
words:
/ Tho word priest" does not appear in the book, aud
there Is no counteuance whatever the OF Sicer
dotalism. 3 The baptismal offices the coInrinatlon
office the Catechsm. and the order Of the adunlstrJ
tion Lords supper contain no sanction or the
the Body amt Blood of Christ in the clements OF thc
Communion and OF sacrifice offered by priest IN that
sacred feast.
temporary organization was effected by the election
OF the Rev b b. Leaeock President and H. y. Turner
"a Secretary The Bishop then read the declaration Of
principles which was referred to committee OF five,
consisting of Bishop Cummins, the Rev. Marshal
smith, Dr. S. A. Sabine. Albert Crane, and Charles d.
Kellogg. After short recess, the committee reported
the following, which was adopted:
Re5Jiued, That we whose names are appended to the
call lOr this meeting presented by the Presiding
Bisnop do, here and now, IN humble reliance upon
known by the style aud title OF Reformed Episcopal
Church In conformity with the following Declaration OF
mins, ID. d.. as Presiding Bishop
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES
T. The Reformed Episcopal Church, holding the faith
once delivered to tho SAINTS declares it's belief in The
Holy Scriptures OF the Old and New Testamens as the
the Creed commonly called the Apostles Creed in The
divine institution OF the saeramens Of baptism and the
Lords Supper, and IN the Doctrines 0f Grace substan-
tally they set forth in the Thrtynne Articles OF
Religion
pacy not "a Of divine right, but very ancient aud
desirable form OF Church polity.
Ill This Church. retaining a Liturgy which shall not
be imperative rcprosyc OF freedom prayer accepts
the Book Common Prayer as 1t was revised proposed
and recommended for by the General Convention OF
The Protestant Episcopal Church, A. ID. 1855. reservng
full liberty to alter aDridge enlarge ana amend the
same IA NAV most conducive TO the edicatiOn Of
the people provided that the substance of the ith be
kept entire -, $500, ,-. -,
erroneous ana strange doctrines as contrary to Gods
Word: a..
order OF form OF ecclesiastical poty.
Secondly: That Christian ministers priests IN an
other than that in which ali believers royal
TIrdiy: That the Lords table ia an altar on which
an oblauon of the body and blood OF Christ Is offered
Pourthiy: That the presence of Christ in the Lords
supper is presence IN the elements OF bread WINE
FifthIy: That regeneration ia iuseparaby connected
with baptism ....,,.. o,-.-....-. o.
MARSHALL u. SMITH, CHARLES ID. KELLOGG.
ALBERT CRANE,
The President then said By the unanimous vote Of
ministers and laymen present, now declare that on
this second day December, in the year OF our Lord
1879 we have organized ourselves into church 10 he
known by the style and title of the Reformed Episcopal
Church. conformably with the Declaration Of Principles
adopted this day and with the Right Rev. George David
Cummins. ID. d.. as our Presiding Bishop.
Prayer was offered and the Bishop delivered the fol
lowing address,
ADDRESS OF BISHOP CUMAnNs.
Brethren, beloved in the Lord Grace he unto YOU
and peace from God the Father and from Lord Jesus
Christ, and grace be with all them that love Lord
Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
Wa have met to-day under circumstances OF deep
solemnItv Profoundly do we realize the overwhelming
responsbiity SIich rests upon us. as In the OF
the Lord we set up orr banner Were 1t not in hs
and in simple uufaitering trust i'm Him, our
hearts would indeed faint witip US gat In God alone
is all our trust In consciousness OF loyalty to Christ
is only confidence In entire dependence rpo: the
Holy Spirit is only hope II the WORK We inaugurate
to-day be of men, may 1t to naugbt II 10 he of
God, may He grant US more abundanty the Holy
Ghost and wisdom" 10 make us valiant for the truth
and strong TO labor and faithful in every duty and
rejoicing TO be counted worthy to suffer shane
for His name" We have not Inc. 10 de
strOy but to restore not TO pull down but TO
reconstruct, We would build again the old waste
places and raise up the foundations of past genera
old path dwell in" isaiah, chap viii. verse la
Aho ont M IH Very bcsnnS on h WIN our iheTs
nation sought 10 mold and fashion the ecclesiastical
Church Of England by indicous aud thorough revision
the Book OF Common Prayer, return to their posi-
copalians OF the days Immediately succeeding Inc
American Revolution, aud through these persons our
ances tOrs. claim unbrOken historical connection
through the Church OF England with the Church OF
Christ from the earliest Christian
PATH.
The Prayer Book OF A. D. 1885, is the old path 10 which
we return and basis upon which we take our stand at
the beginning OF work. What is then the history of
that book and what its claims to regard Let
US answer these questions briefly possible on Sept
1913 the treaty Of signed Paris the con.
summation aud result Of long years
OF struggle and suffering Of our Reyolu-
onary Fathers 10 achieve their national
But even before this event the Epscopal clergy, who
had before the Revolution been known as the 'lergy
OF the Church OF England" began to take measures
looking to such organization OF their ecces
system would be rendered necessary by the nd.pend
ence OF the Uniied States, Tue clergy Of Maryland
seem been among the nrBt to move 10 thls mn
Ter GA the 18Th day OF August 1885, uieeting