The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-11-19
of Bishop Cummins -Ritualistio
Questions in the Episcopal Church

The following circular letter announces the res
gnation, for the causes given, of the Right Rev
George David Cummins assistant bishop of the
Episcopal Church for the Diocese of Kentucky.
Bishop Cummins has been known 10 the Episco
pal Church as one of the prominent teachers Of
that division of the communion commonly known
as Low Church, and as opposed to the ritual.
istc practices and beliefs of the High Church"
Bishop Cummins was consecrated to the Episco-
pacy in 1866, aud assigned as an assistant to Bish
OPP Smith, Of Kentucky. Previous to his conse
Grafton he rector of St. Peters church, Balti-
more:
New YORK November 10. 1873
10 the Right Reverend Bepj1n,in Bos'oOrth
Smith u u, Bishop of the Protestant EpiscO
pal Church IN the Diocese of Kentucky:
Right Reverend and Dear Bishop,-Under
solemn sense of duty and in the fear Of God, L
have to tell you that | am about to retire from the
work in which have been engaged for the last
seven years in the Diocese of Kentucky, and thus
to sever the relations which have existed so hap
PLY and harmoniously between US during that
time.
1t is due to you and my many dear friends in the
Diocese of Kentucky and elsewhere that | should
state clear the causes which have led me to this
determination:
First, then, you will know how heavy has
been the trial of having to exercise my office IN
certain churches in the Diocese of Kentucky, where
the services are conducted as to symbolic and to
teach the people doctrines subversiVe OF the truth
it is in Jesus, and as it was maintained and de-
Tended by the Reformers of the sixteenth century.
On each occasion that | have been called on to
oficiate in those churches | have been most pain
fully impressed by the conviction that | was sane
toning and endorsing by my presence and official
acts the dangerous errors symboized by the servi.
ces customary in ritualistic churches.
can no longer by my participation in such ser
vices be "a partaker of other mems sins, and
must clear my own soul of all completely in such
errors.
3 l have lost all hope that this system of erro
now prevailing so extensively in the Church OF
England, aud the Protestant Episcopal Church in
this country, can be or will be eradicated by any
action of the authorities Of the Church, Legislative
or Executive. The only true remedy, in my judg
ment, is the iudcious yet thorough revision of the
prayer book, eliminating from it all that gives
countenance, directly or indirectly, to the whole
system Of sacerdotalism and ritualsm-a revision
after the model of that recommended by the com
missioner appointed in England under royal au-
thority in 1859, and whose work was endorsed by
the great names of Burnett, Patrick Tillotson, and
"a blessed work, which failed, alas to receive the
approval of Convocation, but was taken up after
wards by the fathers of the Protestant Episcopal
Church in the United States and embodied in the
prayer-book of 1885, which they set forth and re-
commended for use in this country
propose to return to that prayer book, sane
toned by William White, and to tread in the steps
of that sanity man as be acted from 1885 to 1889
g. One other reason for my present action re-
L. h. lor, 80 - loka
Conference of the Evangelical Alliance | partici-
pated in the celebration of the Lords Supper by
invitation in the Rev. DR.. John Halls church, in
the city of New York and united with DIR. Hall,
Dr. William Arnot of Eiinburg, and Professor
Dorner of Berlin, in that precious feast. 1t was
practical manifestation of the real unity of =" the
blessed company of all faithful people whom
God hath knit together in one communion and
fellowship in the mystical body of His Son Jesus
Christ.
The results of that participation have been such
as to prove to my mind that such step cannot be
taken by one occupying the position | now hold,
without sadly disturbing the peace and harmony
OF " this Church" and without impairing my in
fuence for good over large portion of the same
Church, very many of whom are within my diocese.
As | cannot surrender the right and privilege
thus to meet my fellow Christians of other church
es around the table OF our dear Lord, must take
my place where | can do so without alternating
those of my own household of faith.
| therefore leave the communion in which have
abored in the sacred. ministry for over twenty
years. and transfer my work and Office to another
sphere of labor. have an earnest hone and con.
6dence that basis for the union of all Evangelical
Chrstendom can be found in a communion which
shall retain or restore primitive Episcopacy and
pure Scriptural Liturgy with faith only-drtic.
ul,S StaatS vel cddentS eccIeSie position towards
which the old Catholics in Europe are rapidly
tending, and which has already taken definite
form in the Church of Jesus - in Mexico.
To this blessed work devote the remaining
years of life, content if | can only see the dawn
of that blessed day of the Lord.
am, dear Bishop, faithfully yours in Christ,
GEORGE DAVID CUMMINs.
My address for the present will be No. Bible
House, New York.