Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1873-11-29
RELIGIOUS NEWS.
OF BISHOP CUM.
MINIS.
And Iaetirement From, the Episcopal
Church.

which have been engaged for the last
seven years in the diocese of Kentucky,
and thus to sever the relations which
have existed so happily and harmoni-
ously between us during that time.
1t is due to you, and to my many dear
friends in the diocese of Kentucky and
elsewhere, that l should state clearly
the causes which have led me to this de-
termination.
heavy has been the trial of having to
exercise my office in certain churches in
the diocese OF Kentucky where the ser
vices are conducted SO as to symbolic
and to teach the people doctrines sub
vsersive of the truth as it is in Jesus"
and as it was maintained and defended
by the Reformers of the sixteenth CEN
tury.
On each occasion that have been
called upon to Officiate in those churches
I have been most painfully impressed
by the conviction that / was sanctioning
and endorsing by my presence and Off
cial acts the dangerous errors symbol
lied by the services customary in Ritu-
listic Churches.
L can no longer, by my participation
mems sins," and must clear my own
soul of all completely in such cases.
2. have lost all hope that this sys-
tenn of error now prevailing so extern
sively in the Church of England, and
in the Protestant Episcopal Church in
this country, can be or will be eradica-
ted by any action of the authorities of
the Church legislature or executive
The only true remedy, in my judgment,
is the judicious, yet thorough Revision
Of the Prayer Book, eliminating from
it all that gives countenanoe, directly or
indirectly, to the whole system of Sac
erdotalism and Ritualism; Revision
after the model of that recommended by
the Commission appointed in England,
under Royal Authority in 1859, and
whose work wae endorsed by the great
names Of Burnet. Patrick, Tillotson and
Stillingf1eet and others of the Church
of England-a blessed work, which
failed, alas! to receive the approval of
ConvOcation, bat was taken up after
wards 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 recon-
| mended 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 ma II
as he acted from 1856 to 1888.
8. One other reason for my present
| action remains to be given. On the last
day of the late conference of the Evan
gelical Alliance, I participated in the
celebration of the Lords Supper, by in
| vitation, in the Rev. DR.. John Halls
| Church. in the City of New York, and
| united with DIR. Hall, DR.. VIM. Arnot of
Edinburgh, and Prof. Dorner of Berlin,
| in that precious feast. 1t was practi-
| cal manifestation of the real unity of
| ''the blessed company of all faithful
| people" whom God sshath knit together
in one communion and fellowship, in
the mystical body of His Son Jesus
| Christ"
| The results of that participation have
been such as to prove to my mind that
| such step cannot be taken by one occti-
pying the position now hold without
sadly disturbing the peace and harmony
of s'this church," and without impair
ing my influence for good over a la-ge
| portion of the same church, very many
Of whom are within our own diocese.
| As l cannot surrender the right and
privilege thus to meet my fellow Chris
tians of other churches around the t;-
BILE of our dear Lord, must take my
place where l can do so without aliena-
ting those of my own household OF
| faith.
! I therefore leave the communion in
which have labored i'll the sacred min-
istry for over twenty-eight years, and
| transfer my work and Office to another
sphere of labor. have an earnest hops
and confidence that basis for the union
of all Evangelical Christendom can be
found in q communion which shall re-
tain or restore Primitive Episcopacy
and pure Scriptural Liturgy, with 8
| fidelity to the doctrine of justification
by Faith Only-ARTICULUs sTANTIS VEL
CADENTIs ECCLEsIAE-a position towards
| which the Old Catholics in Europe are
rapidly tending, and which has already
taken a definite form in the ''Church Ol
Jesus" in Mexico.
To this blessed work ! devote the re-
manning years of my life, content, if
can only see the dawn of that blessed
day of the Lord.
am. dear Bishop,
Faithfully yours in Christ,
GEORGE DAVID CUMMINs.
Ny address for the present will be No
2, Bible House, New York.
The following we clip from the Church
man:
| In his letter of remuneration, DIR. Cum
minis states that one reason for his aban
donment of the Church is, that in tn,
Diocese of Kentucky services are con.
Quoted so as to symbolic and to teach
the people doctrines subversive of the
"truth as it is in Jesus" We do no
know what these services are, or i'm how
many Churches In Kentucky they are
held. We do know, however, that i
there are such services. OH DIR. Cum
Minis himself must rest the responsible
ty. No change has been made by thu
Church in her Doctrine, Discipline, anC
Worship, since the first, and, of course
none since DIR. Cummins was ordained
Bishop. The Diocese of Kentucky
elected him, and at it's request, thu
Church consenting, Bishops ordained
him, that he might ''banish and drive
away from the Church all erroneous ant
strange doctrines contrary to God.
Word" For nearly the whole of hi
episcopate, certainly in the last years, he
, has had, we believe, sole charge of his
diocese. If, then, such services ar,
held, why did he not see that they wer,
checked? Most certainly he cannot al
lege as a reason for leaving the Church
state of things which the Church doc
not warrant, but which she specially ap
pointed him to prevent. Ii he failed IL
that duty, the fault was not hers.
4 We are concerned rather with his as
persion against the Church when h
!, uses the following language: "I canno
surrender the right and the privileg'
, thus to meet my fellow Christians o
, other Churches around the table of oul
dear Lord" 1t seems incredible, al
most, that any one holding the office o
a Bishop could use such language. Is i
possible that DIR. Cummins could hav,
: been seven years Bishop, and be igno
rant of the universal practice of tn,
Church's ministers? Did he not know
: that throughout the length and breadtl
of the land, whenever.and wherever tn,
Lords Supper Is celebrated, the Church
!, ministers, by her express provision an,
: command, invite all those who trul,
, and earnestly repent them of their s,ns
, and are In lave aud charity with thei
t neighbors, aud intend to lead new
} life, following the commandments o
, God, and walking from heuoeforth il
, His holy ways, to draw near with faith
, and take that Holy Sacrament to thei
! comfort? Did he not know that al
such were gladly welcomed to ''tha
| Eaa - that that RloSSad Son