New-York tribune., 1873-12-13
JOINT COMMUNION.
PROF. FISHER REPLIES TO DIR. DRUMM.


To fhr Editor Of The Tribune
SIR. have to acknowledge the courteous
tone OF the Rev. Dr. DrumD's communication In which
he makes another attempt TO disprove the statement
that Presbyterian ministers were once admitted to par
tsbes m the Church of England without reordnation.
Rut after having read his acute and learned argument
must si decline comply with his invitation TO
tract the assertion for the that fully con-
vnced OF its truth The testimony of Lord Bacon which
Dr. Drumm does not notice. of Bishop Cosin-I know OF
no for questioning The genuneness OF his letter
of Bishop Fleetwood, of Bishop Burnet and of srype
not speak OF other proofs appears to me quite suf
cen to establish the fact Tho circumstance that the
witnesses do not mention the of persons and Of
parishes only shows the absence OF all anticipation that
at day their statement would be called in
question am confirmed in the opinion that they are
correct from the fact that the validity of Presbyterian
ordination questioned In the Church of England
at that time, and that the relations OF England with
Scotland and with the Continent especially after the de-
feat Of the Protestants Ia Germany by Charles w. and
during the Marian period, such would naturally
bring into England ministers who had received ordna
ton in tho Protestant Churches abroad am further
strengthened in this opinion by the authority of such
historians as Hallam and Macaulay to say nothing OF
Lahbury ana Others of loss note and by the
of Episcopal heologans who have studied the subject,
like Keble.
| have no occasion TO engage In debate with Dr.
Drumm about the merits OF English historical writer's
would only remind him that Haam published his last
revision the Constitutional History the best and most
thorough OF all his works. in 1916 Dir. Drumm Is mis-
taken IN saying that Halau offers evidence OF his
regard to the admission OF Presbyterian
ministers parishes Dr. Drumm probably referred to
the second passage in which Iaam makes this asser-
ton and overlooked the first with which the marginal
references are connected Everybody knows that Ma
Cauay paints in strong coors; but few instances or
error when he cOnfOunds George Penn the pardon
broker with william Penn the Quaker only set i'll relief
the miraculous etentveness and almost unfang accu-
racy his memory AS to Burnet think Macauay right
who says the charge of naccuracy brought against
believe the charge to be altogether unjust. He
appears be snguary inaccurate only because his mar
ratve has been subjected to scrutiny singuary severe
and unfrendly." Burnet was born in Scotland about
the beginning Of the civil in England he was per
sonaily familiar with both countries ald with the
churches abroad: and he was an honest man. When,
therefore, explaining the Act OF Uniformity of 1901,
he says On the History OF His Own nme) " Another
point fixed by the Act of Uniformity, which was
more at large formerly those who came to England
from the foreign churches had not been required TO be
ordained among but all that had not Episcopal
ordination made incapable OF holding any eceles
astical benefce"--I believe that he tells the truth
DR.. Druum seems 10 differ from Inc in relation to the
date when the jue drino doctrine of EpscOpacy began
70 be promulgated in the Church OF England. He at
tributes this doctrine TO Whitgft Archbishop OF Caner
bury the closing years of Ezabehs regn In this Dr.
Drumm is surely If the passage which he quotes
warranted the inference which he draws from 1t, II
would stand fragrant contradiction to the whole tenor
OF Whglfts writings and TO his explicit aflrmatiOns.
b. the jure dirn0 doctrine is meant not simply that
Episcopacy existed in the Apostolic age, under the
OF the Apostles but that perpetual and ndis
pensablc form of poty. Whitgft believed in the Apos-
tOc origin OF EpscoDacy, and that 1t ought TO be
tnued but he did not deny that churches. with law
ful ministry could exist without it. In the Letter TO
Beza from which DR.. Drumm has quoted, which was
written late 1898. he " There is mortal
studious of the peace Of the church than my
self; who. from his SOUL truly wisheth that
every particular church would mind its own business. and
prescribe the laws OF rites and the OF gov
ernment others" This practice it is, he adds (which
briugeth forth that unhappy estrangenent of souls
among brethren" He agrees with Beza that liberty
was be left every church. in rites and sucn
nals that they DO made to editcaon" pray" he
SAYS 81 that you would 20 on by your daily prayers
poured forth God 10 help and the whole Church of
England, which do diligently for you and your
church settled there with you" In the Let
ter Whtgift says that Surcit's book published III
159l the first attack that had been made in
England against the Presbyterian system as it
existed abroad and that this provoked by
the ongcontined aspersOns cast upon the English sys-
by the Purtans and by their foreign abettOrs. In
the preface to the Defense" against Cartwright, Whit
Gift says Of "the order of things external touching
government of the church and administration of the
sacraments:' ave do not take upon US (Is SLAM
for such orders they have received most or their
estates" Elsewhere he THAT one kind Of
government IS necessary that without IL the church
cannot saved that it may not be altered into
other kind thought to be more expedient. utterly
deny" He cites with approval the declaration OF Cal
win that "n ceremonies and external discipline, He
IGodl hath not in Scripture particularly determined
thing left the to his church, TO make abrO
gate, 70 alter continue 10 add or TO take away,
shall be thought from time to time most convenient for
the present state OF the church" Wherein" says
whgift "do agree with the Papists or wherein do
we dissent the reformed churchesl With these
have all points of doctrine and substance common from
the other we dissent the part both of doctrine
ana ceremonies" The Episcopacy which Whtgifs advo
Gates superiOy OF one minister over other ministers
In Office OF degree. arrangement OF government,
for the sake OF union and discipline. Rome 10 him Is
st and the foreign churches OF The Prot
estants are recognized and honored they were by
Cranmer and Parker.
The ie doino theory dates from the era of Laud 1t
is intimately connected with the sacerdotal idea Of
Episcopacy which. prior 10 that date however 1t may
have been suggested had not gained foothod IN the
Church Of England, and had been repudiated in the
teaching of her greatest reformers and dyines IL was
one item in that accusation against Laud which cost
hin nj be sen Church % Of a Engand he had broken of
ulnion with the Protestant churches abroad ana had
tre 10 lead Bishop Hall 20 lay down theory OF Epis
cnnacy that would exclude them from fellowship.
CirendOn describing the causes OF the civil war; states
how few years before Its commencement, the foreign
churches in England. which had before been cherished
and protected broken the ostensole ground
oherwise 10 the Puritans Ths harsh OF the
Government he explains by the fact that the power OF
cburchmen grew transcendent, and, indeed, the
faculties OF the lay-cOunselors more dull, lazy,
and inactive" Then he relates how new policy was
adOpted by the Elglish ambassadors abroad, winch
turned the foreign Protestanis against the English
King ~ .,., fine. n. ym,,,,,so,, and ali sopn Min.
isers employed from England into parts where The re-
ie oouuensBce profession aud held correspondence with The