The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-01-08

The GREEK CATHOLIC AND ANGLo-CATHoL1C
CHuRcHEs.- Baltimore American.]-F the
past three years the Church of England and
the Episcopal Church, in this country have
been much interested in bringing about
friendly feeling and to establish intercom-
munion with the Holy Orthodox Church of
the East. At the last General Convention of
the Episcopal Church held in this city in
1871, resolutions were adopted cordially re.
ciprocaling "the expressions of fraternal
regard, sofrequently received within the past
three years. from the most Reverend the
Patriarch Of Constantinople, the Most Revcr-
end the Patriarch of Jerusalem, the Most
Reverend the Metropolitan of Athens, and
the Holy Governing Synod of the Orthodox
Church in Russia, by digbitaries of the
Church OF England, and by members of this
Church." 1t also thanks them for the burial
of our dead. These resolutions were sent to
the East, and the following interesting letter
received in reply:
Anthimus, by the Grace of God Archbishop
of Constantinoplc, New Rome, Gcumeni-
cal Patriarch: .-,.
To the Reuerend Charles r. Hale, Rector OF
ST. Johns Church, auburn, Neto York,
Secretary Of the Committee, etc., Greeting
in the Lord:
We received with pleasure your letter,
with the resolution of the General Conyen-
ton of the Church in the United States OF
America, and for the pious sentiments eX-
pressed through you towards our most Holy
Ecumenical Throne rendering you no ordi.
nary thanks, we offer praise to God, the
Author of peace, that of His boundless love
and goodness He hath deigned to smooth for
Us the way toward nearer approach Of our
two Churches, matter which first began to
be agitatcd three years since, during the
ptriarchate of our revered predecessor
Gregory VI. who so well arranged for the
administration Of holy rites at the burial OF
the dead Of your communion, and lately
made more plain through the manifestations
of brothcrly kindness toward the Most
Reverend the Archbishop Of Syria in his re.
cent visit to England.
Now, when the base designs of evl-minded
men surrounding the Church of God do not
cease OH every side to hurl against her the
poisonous darts of unbclief, it seems to Us
that the present is the fitting time to quench
by mutual concession the feelings of division
| OF the churches, one from the other. which
have till now held sway-for reasons known
only to the Lord-on account of dosmatic
| difference, and that we should hold out
! friendly hands in order to join together, by
the help of the Almighty, what have been
separated, and to fulfil the words of our
Saviour which He spake, calling upon His
heavenly Father just before His willing
death, THAT all may be one."-St. John,
| xvii, u.
Announce, then, these things, and bring
them before the right reverend bishops, and
the Others, clergy and laity, composing the
Synod of the Anglican Church i'll America
| and be an interpreter Of our desire for mu
tuaI conference through writing, and that
we shall not cease, so far as in Us lies, to
strengthen and draw closer, by nearer fel-
| lowsbip, the holy bond of love; for we are
persuaded that thus, and by evangelical love
toward each other, we shall come, by the
gift of God, to the God-Wrought miracle OF
| the unity of the Churches.
Since toward the original and archetype
of our Orthodox Eastern Church your
Church has shown reverence beyond all
| other, we also, heartily loving it, give to its
reverend members, rs also to you, beloved
our prayers, and bless you with both oul
hands, invoking the best and saving bless
| ings from God the giyer of oil good, whose
| grace and boundless mercy be with YOU
September 9-21, 1872.
t[rhe PATRIARCH of Constantinople, your
| fervent well-wishcr III Christ.