The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-11-28
Bishop Cummins' Withdraw.
al from fIle Episcopal Church.

ATLANTA Conetitution.l
The withdrawal of the Right Rev.
George David Cummins, assistant |
Bishop from the diocese of Ken
lucky, will be apt to attract the at
| tention of the country. The Eplsco-
| palians of that State seem to be dl-
| vided on the subject of his official
action some cengure aud some ap-
/ prove the step he has taken, but all
agree that he is brilliant, vigorous
and influential preacher. He is
man of rare energy and inspiring en-
thusiasm, in the prime of life ana
fitted to endure the most arduouS in
tellectual labors. .-...
And he has such before him If the
reports that come to us from Louls-
| vile are true. In severing his con-
nection with the diocese of Ken
lucky, DIR. Cummins by no means
laws down his Episcopal duties. he
: is still Bishop, and can only be de-
; posed by a majority of the House OF
3 Bishops. Il is believed in Louisville
, that he intends to piece himself al
| the head of new church organlza-
, ton, with his headquarters at New
' Y ork, and his jurisdiction extending
0 over the whole country.
al His action in the joint communion
: service held in DR.. Halls (Presoy'
} terian) church during the meeting OF
o the Evangelical Alliance at New
# York was ouly elimination of MI
. | course for several years past. 1t Il
not q rare occurrence for Episcopal
e ians and members of other denoml
e nations to commune together. Bu
'e the Bishop had strongly set his fac
IT against all phases of what is gener
ally called ritualism. His structure
upon boy-choirs, choral services
D. genufiections and other like innova
10 lions have been so severe that som
"A of his churches have declined t
avail themselves of his episcopS
20 yisitations, and have sent for bishop
at of neighboring States to otticlate
of the right of confirmation. lie Dt
s. iieves that the services of the ritua
: istic churches are conducted so as
symbolic and to teach the peopl
ne doctrines subversiYe of the "truth s
he II ia in Jesus" and as it was malr
X tanned and defended by the reform
ers of the sixteenth century. lie ht
"lost all hope" that such things wi
be eradicated by the authorities
lib the church. He believes that tt
by true remedy is a thorough revise
,rv of the prayer-book; and he propos'
,ns to use hereafter the prayer-boc
he sanctioned by Bishop White in Il
- latter part of the last century.
Wv The whole truth probably is Tn
the obosa of EDiscopac
ND based upon the ideas prevailing
the Low Church or evangelical Sc
ton of the main body. 1t is div
ion that has been brewing for sever
no. wears. The bishop defends in /
,1r letter his action in DR., Halls churC
and expresses the earnest hope a.
an confidence that basis for the unl
led of all evangelical Christendom W
the be found-a position, says the blshC
CIV towards which the Old Catholics
Europe are rapidly tending, a
his which has already taken 8 dehn
ale form in the "Church OF oesuS
Mexico.
tIv We have thus endeavored to SITS
I'M the situation. Dr' ~uulhllie "".i
will doubtless hasten settlement
the differences long existing IN I
Episcopal Church of this count
ON without approval or condemnatl'
on we give the reasons that have ind
her ed the Doctor TO take such bold
ax- positive step. What he will be a
on to accomplish is hid in the tutu
90 The movement is certainly an int
The esting one to people of all denoI
Oh nations and shades of opinion.
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