American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-12-20
THE REFORMED CHURCH -.

States, Is attracting considerable
attention in tire religious world, as
we'll as being made the subject of
general comment by the press.
Various views are entertained as to
the feasibility of the proposed plan
some think it will carry sufficient
weight 20 insure success, while 9TH
ers contend that it will have but a
short-lived existence. Our opinion
is that it does not go far enough to
constitute distinct religious organ
ization.
When Mr.. Wesley resolved to
change the Episcopal service and
establish a new Christian Society,
his first purpose was to lop off the
outward forms and ceremonies which
obtained in the mother church. and
reduce the exercises to a simpler and
more transformations system of wOr-
ship, thus imparting to it greater
vitaIizing energy and power. The
cold and lifeIess state of the Church
of England at that time, was at
tributed by him, in part, to the OBJ
servance of those useless forms and
ceremOnials which had been permit
ted to smother its vitality and crush
/ out its very life blood. The plan
devised and executed by MIR. Wes-
ley met q great public need, and be-
ing much better adapted to the
spiritual wants and outward circum-
stances of the masses than was that
of the mother church, both in its
simplicity and organic economy. it
eventually gained favor in England
and America, until now it has as
samed proportions of magnitude
commensurate with its usefulness.
and standing proudly out in the
light of a public benefaction, is re-
cognized as second to no evangelical
denomination in power and influ-
ence.
The mere rejection of a few Oh
jectionable dogmas in creed, is
not sufficient for the purpose con.
templated by this new departure.
While the external forms and cere-
monies, and other features of the
church, ara retained, the simple re-
pudiation of three or four question
able articles of faith will not furnish
an adequate basis upon which to
erect distinct and enduring organ
ization; and, in our judgment, the
movement-being wanting in an
essential element of stability-must,
sooner or later, become pOwerless
for good, and, as a consequence,
abandon it's distinctive form.
A similar effort was made, many
years ago, in the Methodist Church,
bnt a comparatively short time only
suficed to show its falIacy. A few
discontinued innOvators, becoming
dissatisfied with certain established
usages of the church, resolved to
withdraw from its fellowship and
build up new organization to be
denominated the Protestant Metho-
dists. The effort, at first, like all
new and strange enterprises. found
ready advocates, and, for a time,
promised success. Many members
of the mother church, male and
female. gave in their adhesion to
the movement, and like all proselytes
to new faith, became Jealous in
the promotion of it's interests. So
soon, however, as the novelty of the
change wore of, and the passions
and prejudices of the membership
had cooled down, upon examination
it was found that the differences
between the two denominations were
not of themselves sufficient to justify
longer separation, and, one by one,
they returned to the communion and
fellowship of the old church, until
now it is rare thing to hear of a
Protestant Methodist.
Such may be the result of this
new departure of Bishop Cummins.
Like the Protestant Methodist Or
ganization, it bears too close re-
semblance to its mother to main
tain a separate existence for any
considerablereriod. Time, however,
will determine whether it is des-
tined to increase in power and use
fulness until it shall take its place,
side by side, with other stable
church organizations; or whether,
after a brief career of prosperity, it
will gradually decline in strength,
decrease in membership, and being
bereaved of all influence for good.
return, at last, to the bosom of its
mother.
The declaration of principles set
forth by this new church will be
found in another column.