The New York herald., 1873-12-14


been actuated more by restless ambition than
from conscientious conviction OF the necessity or
his actn Now, as am also a layman IN the Prot
estant Episcopal Church, will gladly endeavor 10
enlighten my brother "Churchman" with lew
very grave reasons why Bishop Cummins and the
clergy and laity united with him IN MS glorious
work were fully justified In pursuing the course
they have taken. On turning to the Book
OF Common Prayer we nnd, almost ON
the first page, that compromise be-
tween Popery and Professionalism between
truth and faIsehood-entitled "The declaration Of
absolution, or remission OF sins, to be made by
the priest aone.n This monstrous assumption OF
priestly power is merely the legitimate outgr0wth
OF the doctrine lncucated in the ordina service or
the Prayer Book for the bordering OF PRIESTS" and
reads as ollows:-"Receive the Holy Ghost for the
ofice and work OF priest in the Church OF God.
now committed unto thee by the imposition OF our
hands. Whose sins thou dost forgive, they are for
given, and whose sins thou dost retain, they are
retained And be thou a faithful dispenser
OF the Word OF God and OF his holy sacra-
ments in the name OF the Father and OF
the Son, and OF the Holy Ghost. Amen"
weak old man like Bishop Potter can impart to
sinful mortals like himself q prerogatiye that be-
longs to God only. That this is the grosscst super
stition II not shocking blasphemy, what enght-
ened Christian who loves the Lord Jesus Christ IN
sincerity and truth can for moment doubt
doctrine Of transubstantiation is openly and un-
blushingly taught by very large minority at least
country, l have myself seen inserted In the COL
umns OF the HERALD public notices for the
churches in tnis city and that, too without word
or rebuke from any of her bishops. Perhaps this
was scarcely to be expected from Bishop Potter,
since ne has shown his preferences very decidedly,
both by sending mis- daughters to a Romish lnstl-
tuition to be educated and GSn by appearing & few
the Virgin, rObed in purple gown and
lace .pettlcoat, borrowed from the .,.scar
scrbed In Holy Scripture as being "arrayed In
purple and scarlet COLOR and drunken with the
tyrs OF Jesusn But as see it stated in yesterday
mornings HERALD that he encourages the use OF
the confessional in the Protestant Episcopal Church
1t were needless to write any more on this subject
Again. we have the monstrous doctrine or bap-
tsmal regeneration, so plainly repugnant to Gods
clergy OF the Episcopal Church in England and the
United States We are expressly taught in Holy
into the Kingdom OF God.n lie who is not thus re-
generated by the Holy Spirit, whether he De minis
the Church OF Christ; and 1t were most horrible
blasphemy to affirm that the 'Iaying on OF hands,''
Of all the Po9ess, and bishops and priests, from
those Ok the wicked and Infamous old Pope Hide.
brand and all his successors" down to the pres
ent time, could effect such a blessed translorma-
ton. have thus far confined myself to the grave
doctrinal errors OF the Protestant Episcopal
Church, and which. all evangelical Christians agree,
are utterly contrary TO the Word of God
might-did time and your space permit me-go on
to consider the pernicous effects produced by the
superstitious mummeries practlsed IN Trinity
Christ church, ST. AlDans, st. Ignatius, st. Marys
the Virgin, the Annuncation and score of
us eS By eodess ssss eSos te nae
the ears Of congregations pretending to praise
and worship God, the candies, the colored vest
ments the altar cloths the incense the thuribles,
the crosses, crucxes and crossings, the p0stures,
the turnings TO the east and to the west and espe
clergy turning their backs upon the people; the
bowings the genunexions, the professionals, &C.,
&c, practised by hundreds OF churches throughout
the Anglican communion; but l merely suggest
them to "Layman as food for profitable
reflection and instruction. or the IS Episcopal
even 0ne-outside OF the Evangelical or Low
Church party-where some all OF the abuses
specified above are not habitualy practised. Is it
any wonder, then, that in Church where such
strange and false doctrines are constantly taught
and sanctioned some 500 OF the English clergy have
recently petitioned their bishops TO restore the
Romish confessional to the Church,
The Anglican ana American Episcopal Church. as
church, and .aow Church." "broad church''
and ''rtuaistsh SO that there Is no
as % Sas BEEN os TSe s
tory OF centuries amply testifes that reformation
can never be brought about within the Church.
The Anglican communion Is becoming more ana
more ROmish and ap0statc each succeeding year,
and is far more SO to-day than she was at the time
confess that they are utterly powerless to correct
the abuses have named even if they had the de-
sire to do SO, which majority OF them certainly
have not, and yet many OF these clergy are con-
stantly prating about the beauty'of .'unity'' and
forsoothi tr 9TH Can this Church be more divided
than she Is at present And And. we all
faith. Is it not much better and nobler, then in
Bishop Cummns and the evangelical clergy and
with unfaltering trust in God, and in the glorious
strength of Protestant Christian manhood to sever
their connection with this unhOy alliance than to
stine the convictions OF conscience and fidelity to
God, as greatly fear some have already done for
the sake Of filthy, lucre" and 'because OF the
II the reasons assigned above are not sufficient
to convince "Layman' OF the necessity for the
act, of Bishop Cummins feel constrained to be-
lieve that "neither viii he be persuaded though
one from the deadn
The 'logic" of "Layman'' as regards the inconsis-
tent position which he alleges Bishop Cummins
occupies III relation to parity OF orders Is quite as
defective as his gratuitous structures on q pious
and faithful man uncnarltable and unchristian.
Ii "Layman" Is at all acquainted with the Greek
language he must know, as all Greek scholars
know, that the word ''prcsbuteros," from which
Presbyterian Is derived, and the word 'episeapos''
or Overseer or bishop. from which Episcopalan is
obtained are all synonymous terms, OF precisely
has never been denied by any Intelligent clergy
man or layman Of the Protestant Episcopal
Church. 1t follows, therefore, that members OF
the Presbyterian Church might, with just as
much propriety and with just as much
authority, style themselves Episcopaians as may
members OF the Protestant Episcopal Church.
Surely, then Bishop Cummns may claim as much.
But IL by General Council OF the Reformed Epis-
copal Church, authority is delegated to her
bishops-aG;. &c 20 0tiicfs-scr the performance OF
certain specific duties, as Overseers In that
Church-and which has been done in the case OF
Bishop Cuminins-it Is neither true, nor logical"
that 'he can claim no higher authority in his
Church, than the humbest presbyter or laymanIi
that has been received into it, Nor is it 1ogicay"
true that ''a are on parity, or that the "BishOp,
as Bishop Is no more essential to its existence, or
to give validity to any OF its Ofces, or ordinances,
than is plain MI. Smith, or simple Mr.. Brown
But it is logically true that the bishops. pres
byters and deacons OF the Reformed Church can
each and severally perform the specific duties
assigned them, and at the same time and with
perfect consistency maintain their belief in CON-
plete parity OF orders among all Christian minis
ters.
The disingenuous thrust AIMED SO covertly and
yet SO plainly, by "Laymann against the Metno-
dist Church and other Evangelical denominations,
is utterly unworthy OF any Protestant Christian.
10 tho pous influence OF these DOwertu hOdtes q