The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-27
NEW JERSEY EpI. COPAL CONVENTION
Are the Salaries Of the Clergy To
Be Equalized?
Important Questions To Be Discussed-New
Testament Precedents Teachings Of synods
and Abuses in Observation-Disclosures
Of tho Episcopal Syllabus.


The Episcopal Convention OF New Jersey which
assemblies at Burlington to-day, excites more and
more interest, because questions the most momen-
tous for the Episcopal Church throughout the
country are to be canvassed. II is not merely the
division OF the diocese that excites interest; the
prime question is the "Sustentation FUND.- for the
benefit OF the poorer clergy As the latter are in
large majority in New Jersey the debate Ii likely to
be lively when this topic is brought up. At the last
Convention committee was appointed to report
on the feasibility and expedlency OF this plan, and
this committee will report at this C0nven-
ton. representative or the HERALD has
called upon many prominent clergymen and
laymen during the past week to ascertain their
views on the subject Most Of those interviewed
are strongly In favor Of the project, while the MI
nority express doubts as to its feasibility. One
clergyman in Hudson county, who Is candidate
for bishop, states that he will cheerfully surrender
half his salary to help his poorer laborers in the
vineyard. He says 1t Is o gross injustice to
keep some worthy and jealous clergymen
in poor parishes on the miserable pit
lance Of one thousand or fifteen hundred
dollars year while other ministers, whose
labors are no more arduous and whose merits are
not SUPERIOR are clothed in fine linen and feast
sumptuously on $4,000 or $4,000 year.
The leading topics for discussion then are, first,
whether the diocese shall be divided into two,
three or even four d0ceses; secondly, whether the
salaries Of the clergy shall be equalized thirdly,
whether many OF the existing abuses In discipline
shall be remeded. TIE following points are to be
submitted In support OF the proposed changes,
and they are based in the first place on the prece
dents IN the New Testament for the control OF the
istry; in the second place, on the teach
ings Of the first six Ecumenical Synods,
se the cSuT re Of hnsna s
peril OF ldOlatry, speak OF as "those six councils
which were approved and received OF all men,"
and thirdly, the alterations OF the ecclesiastical
discipline OF our age and country from the Scrip
tural and primitive form. We md in the New
their administration in the hands OF the Apostolate,
with the aid Of the Presbyterate and the Diaconate
In proof o. which reference Is made to Acts w.,
that lacked; for as many as were possessors OF
lands or houses sold them, and brought the price
at the apostles feet; and distribution was made
unto every man according as he had need"
a s oce the 9naas chapter Is Called VERSE ee Asss
'blshopric," and also (verse 26) 'apostle.
ship" And that this Office called apostleship and
blshopric was to be permanent Is evident from the
TACT that 1t was the only order Immediately COM
missioned and sent by Christ alter his resurrec-
tion that no intimation is given that at any time
it would cease; that on the contrary, it is tue ony
order with which Christ promised to be to the end
Of the world; and that in the New Testament alone
after Chrst's ascension and expressly called in the
Greek "apostles''-namey, Matthias l., IS, 20;
Junias, Romans XVI, 4; sllvanus and Tlmotheus,
/ Thessalonians l, l., compared with !. Tnessa
rs. Peter, the apostle, warns the elders not to
which shows conclss've'y that they mus, must
The passage To which alllsion is made is mis-
translated In our common English version
Literally translated it reads as lollows:-"Not
DOSSaHSiOns.O i. ". g.
Acts vi proves conclusvely that the Diaconate was
Instituted by the Apostolate to ninster 70 the
portion OF the temporaities which was to be set
apart for the M, needy. Moreover It Is recorded
1t was sent to Jerusalem by 'the hands OF Barnabas
and Sauln to the apostles and elders. on the
single denarius OF church property. THIS
the divine i Precedent p Moreo Ss' the Second
chapter OF the Epistle OF James in
our rented system
giving to the rich better place in church than to
the poor This of course, condemns al our rented
churches and all who manage them on the rented
principle as wrong and abhorrent in the sight OF
God. Now, with regard to the teachings on these
topics OF those first Ecumenical synods alluded
to. 1t should be remarked that the thrty-hIth
article OF the Anglican Church AYERS that these
homilies contain o cody and wholesome doc
trine, and necessary for these times" Now, what
is this godly and wholesome doctrine We find in
the Scriptures the ADostolate exercising supreme
authority over the Presbyterate and DiacOnate, and
having the supreme control over the temperate
ties. These divine precedents were followed by
the first tour EcHmenical SynOds the only ones
which made canons, for the Apostolate by those
canons, retains the same power over the Presby
terate and the Diaconate,. and canon 20 OF
Calcedon makes 1t the duty Of every bishop to have
steward Of the temperatures OF his diocese,
which steward 1t was further ordered by the same
canon, should be "chosen from its own clergy"
These are the facts SO lar as the Ecumenical
canons are concerned. Moreover, we never
find any authorization in them for con
tradicting and setting at defiance the
order OF the Holy Ghost in James II. by
giving the back seats or the side aisle seats, or
ionabie churches turning them out oil doors alto
getner or into so-caled missionary chapels, the
last an enormity to which those guilty Christians
who are rebuked In that chapter had never de-
scended.
Now for tAe alterations Of the ecclesiastical dis
cipline of our age and country from the Scrptural
and primitive discipline, and the remedies needed.
The remedies may be summed up in single ex-
preston. Let us conform all our management OF
| to the precedents and example set before in
| Gods Holy Word. How stall we do this
ps the pang all 81 the
| Apostolate, and let us give the Presbyte
subordinate and Delegated control over the tenn
poraties. so they shall be the Bishops agents and
amenable to him. And next. let us have deacons
to administer the aims to the poor This will secure
some general control and discipline Third let sum
be fixed by the Bishops in their provincial synods
which the fifth canon OF Nice orders TO be neld
twice year, as the uniform allowance for every
presbyter to be increased II he be married, accord
nc 20 MS lsnIlv; and, in order that none or Gods
money be spent foofshIy or criminany,
let all the clergy be compelled by the
Bishop to dress and live very plainly
and very frugaly, as becomes disciples OF Him
whose robe was without seam and who had not
where TO lay His neadu How unlike their Master
do we find many Of the clergy with their wives and
dren, when they follow the ponps, the gaieties, the
foies and the fashions OF this wicked world And
let the Bishops VINO profess he followers of poor
fisher