The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-12-31
LRALous OF EACH oTnRR.
The Cummins.Cheney Movement.

The Cummins-Cheney Movement.
From tho Christian Register, Unitarian paper
(PublIshed by lRequestl
Bishop Cummins, by the laying on oil
his Episcopal hands, has made Charles
Edward Cheney bishop! The thing Is
done, and the doing Of 1t has been sen.
sation, TO say the least, in our city. Cum
minis came to town recently, and was
interviewed by the reporters of our daily
papers, and has spoke out his heart with
a genuine Southern irankness. He says
he is-very sanguine of q great following
and that numerous clergymen OF divers
denominations are "only waiting for
congregations TO be formed before leav-
ing their present folds 10 enter the new
one.
II this movement grows into q useful
denomination OF Christians, 1t will be the
first time in the history Of the church
that a sect has had such q beginning.
Neither Bishop Cummins nor Mr. Che
ney lett the Episcopal Church in the spirit
or BY the method great, earnest souls
start out to reform the world.
Bishop Cummins Is well known In
Chicago, he having been for some years
rector Of Trinity Church in this city, and
is known to our community as rather
sensational, flowery and Eighty preacher,
and as fond Of high living and easy work.
He lett bis church here to become As
sistant Bishop of Kentucky; he LETT a
wealthy and indulgent congregation to
travel the length and breadth Of border
State where Episcopal societies are few
and for between, and where the pay was
inadequate TO keep up the old habits Of
luxury and ease, and diacontent and
chatting came upon him, and this spirit
has characterized the prelate's admins.
tration OF affairs In his diocese 10 such a
degree that the senior bishop had init
mated that he might be compelled to
present charges against his assistant p
.at Mr.. CHENEY
had already been deposed from the min
istry for violating his ordination VOWS, as
he should have been, and since which
time he has been "playing last and loose"
with the Episcopal community, calling
himself an Episcopalian, and at the same
time conducting oil the affairs OF bis con-
gregation on q purely Independent basis
Heis a.man Of forty years of'age, under
five feet six inches In height, and weighs
about hundred and thirty pounds; he is
blond, with enormous side-whiskers
He rides on horseback through the
streets, usually wearing brimleSs hat
and, as one beholds him dashing along al
rapid, speed, looks as though he ought to
spread 10 the breeze an American flag IA
make the picture complete. With our old
conservative ideas Of bishop there l.
something comical In the thought OF his
being one.
BE Is a great worker, and has built up
large congregation Of people devoted &c
their own and their minister's interests
he takes no rank here as either thinker
writer or preacher. No doubt, Mr.
Cheney Is o sincere man, aud has CON
scleuti0usly entered into bis new work
and taken upon himself the office OF a
bishop. -....,.. .-....- 49,.
Tho outside religious world hero takes
but little stock in the new scot, and nc
man Of knowledge Of the situation, car
conjecture from what quarter converts
are 70 be made. There seems 70 DO nc
opening for 90 unradical a sect. People
nowadays caro- very little for few such
words N 6dptisnt and priest when the
whole "scheme Of salvation" with which
they arc historically associated Is retained
III the revised prayer. book. ~ W.
These gentlemen could have been indc.
pendent like CBeeCher, and used any
sort Of ritual or seyYice.book their respect
i've congregations sanctioned. Tho whole
affair looks TO outsiders as personal, and
therefore temporary. But no harm car
come Of Tho split In tho Episcopal Church
and some good may DO tho result, though
tho split be only splinter thrown of. II
ID agitation and diScuSaion. II sets folk
thinking, and oil thought and inquiry
upon religious subjects do good, II 10 1
great thing 70 got people ID the habit o
throwing Of tho old when really Il Il
worn out and oiGhoWIhg hands all round