New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-06

fessed their faith in the perpetuty Of the one holy
Cathoc APOSTOLIC Church, which consstssof the assem-
bly, of ali believers among whom the Gospel pfeacpgn
accordanc herewith the ministers ordained accord
ing 70 TIE divine Tsey eeyers as the
sorptural basis for the particular priesthood on Tue
ministry not as indellibe order OF occlesasucs as
held by Rome hut as an office OF service IN the Church
transmitted the laying Of the hands or tho pres
hvtery according 20 the apostolic example. Consrega-
lions OF believers were thus organized and pastors set
fled over them in various localities ana dncrent JANUS
ticnar; but internally bound by the unity OF the faith
they constitute the Church catholic Ana TINS uhly
dii consist in absolute uniformity in doctrine, w0r-
ship, government and usage but in agreement in the
reception OF the fundamental doctrines OF the Gospel
rs i9'' the sSxoa reformers promulgated at first
independently. and their presentatives: Bronigle
formally adopted them at the Marburg Conference Oct
1922 the S68d anniversary of the signing OF whose ar
day. They rcafrned in their coloquies and con-
authortatyely declared in formal treaties And While
sure of peculiar circumstances and temptations, acted
Inconsistency with the catholic principles adopted by
Them nevertheless they not thereby repeated put
remained in full force 1t also be admitted that
some PrOtestans have infriDged upon them by unduy
magnifying their UNCONVENTIONAL peculial
while such an acknowledgment reveals the fabiity OF
man. and the tendency 10 sectlrian excluslVehess ~
does not destroy the force OF the historic ~
Protestant unity and catholciy DE- Dornei, IN us 20 i
tory OF the development OF Protestant Iheoogy, w., h
titles that he wrote II to show tiiali Catboilcitv
guidance OF the spirit of Evangenca,i
! in spite Of the variety or natlonainlJIS po %
we'll the manifold concentrations OF sh baye
eStant Christianity among toSo P9op Representations OF the
appropriated the blessings OF the helorl ~, VI
sixteenth century-ln spite OF the hnS Eyaneeles
usaees and habits, as well as IN lls r., r'rroh
Protestant chrisendOm forming unlV ,,rIa niHy
Grafton OF this distinguished witness, Blele -, - q
Higns says: ihe cathocity OF the Reformation IL
noble feature in its character Inc uci "a 10 r ,t,nes
men from England and Scotland pass over 10 the Co
tnent and doctors from the continent t tis rin
grta Tbe Reformers in the different countries spring
mn almost independently OF each Other Dut no
are they born than they hold out the mana OF leoWSu
I fh.ftn Efla
it mas been all error, IN cur opinion to write Tue history
OF the Reformation for single country. me WORK Is
form a whole body htly joined together. -, a., ~.
In other words unity and caholieity Of the Prot
esant Church. together with the gravity and validity OF
the ordination of her ministry were acknowledged as
tbe cardinal ecclesiastical principles, accordance with
which interchange pulpits pTacticed as occasion
presented itself ana circumstances rendeIed u proper
and 6enefca; and the consistent development of the
same principle demands free interchange OF pupits
now such interchange has been fOsered by the organ
T,ton of the Evangelical Alliance. 1t originated IN the
hanging awakened by tho Holy spirit for the realization
Profestant unity and cathoicity. Consistency requires
that the denominations represented IN 1t recognize the
Christian character Of their members the doctrhal
sonndness OF their minister's and the validity Of tine
ordinances administered by them. The articles OF
seeks Expression in sacramenta fellowship at the
tabe of the Lord, ana eliminates In ministerial
fellowship by an interchange OF pupits Mhat lhnu,
ence the eetegs ana publications OF the Evangelical
Alliance IN England aud on the Continent have had
i'm fostering interchange OF pupltS We leave 10 our
Fnropean brethren to tell US; but assure them
Ihat rs influence has rendered such exchanges common
in fbe limited States Ministerial exchanges
toary in all parts Of country and among the great
| majority OF the Protestant denominations pass over
MO another readily adapt themselves TO the change
invoked, and labor with honor ana success III tner
Iterchange OF pulpits has had tendency to root and
ground believers in the truth, to confirm their faith,
to Increase their brothery love- and to prepare them to
acknowledge each other at the saerameAtal Doard as
o. flo s neeosn da Oh the tue o ofi9
standing of Protestant ministers, reveals their
produces mutual Affection and promotes their cordial
cooperation In the common work OF me Lord IL places
essential and nOp essential truths IN iher true relative
position, and is calculated TO correct iSapprehensions
andremOyo preudces IN regard TO other denominations
well as to diminish the occasions IoI anu 10 soften
tue asperites Of religious controversy 1t accOrds with
the Scnptual constitution OF the Church and the ONCE
relations and provocative OF the ministry; ~ IS enforced
by the analogy OF faith and II practically illustrates the
unity and cathOsy OF Professionalism over against the
inv set up by the Church OF Rome Objections are OF
course to be expected against the practice Of inter-
change of pulpits. 1t is alleged:
That Interchange OF puplts consistent with fidelity
vered to the saints" AL truth has its IN Christ
aud is important. But some truths are more important
than others, because OF their intrinsic excellence and
their relative position ana nnuehce III the system OF
Christian doctrine. To this class belong the undamen
tai truths OF the Gospel all OF which are held by the
orthodox Protestant oenomnatlohS To the discussion
topics involving these essential truths Protestant
ministers, by kind OF comnon ecclesiastical law con-
fine themselves in exchanging pulps with each other
They furnish wide field from which to select pull
pit themes and the strongest incentive against the lntro-
ductiOn of disputed points on such occasions. And
| faith cometh by hearing and embracing the cardinal
Protestant ministers when officiating for each other
terchange OF pulps IS consistent with bearing witness
nesty contending for the faith once delivered to the
q IL is alleged that interchange Of pupts renders the
ministers OF one denomination responsible for the doc
trna statements of the creed OF another Confessional
obligations only Do assumed by the voluntary sub
scTiptOn of Creed and they cannot be rghtfuly i'm
nosfd bv mere Implication In this manner the minis
tiers of Protestant denominations become responsible
doctrines set forth in their respective confessions,
according to the import Of the formula Of subscription
! Interchange OF
pulpts they merely acknowledge the soundness their
Several crecds regards fundamentals while By with
holding formal subscription to them they indicate that,
in their Judgment their respective confessions are new
ertheless deficient, Imperfect, In
their doctIinal statements But they do not by such
exchanges tndorse what they regard error, bid
1t is alleged that interchange Of pupits deprecates
II not ignores UNCONVENTIONAL differences. In c0nse-
quence OF tue huOrh character OF IeVeat0n, the de-
terOratiOn OF the human reason. the impeTecuOn Of
mans spiritual Development and the diversified nflu
ences 10 WhCh Le Is exposed ia ms religious training
the attainment OF absolute agreement in the interpreta
ton of Scriptures has been found impossible and
dOctnnal uAletehces hdNo accQIdlhgly arisen among
Professionals These differences have been regarded as
| izlng their respective denominations. Now, in.
| tercnange OF pulpts recognizes the existence
acteristcs Of the Protestant denominations Eccesl-
astica instinct, Christian courtesy, well Scripture
| each others pupits They are neither ignored nor
thrust forward they neither Deprecated ex-
| may consequently, Justify the orignation of their
respective denominations in their organizations and
regard their peculiarities sufficiently important
! perpeuate them. BY Interchange Of pupits they
their differences to the sphere OF nOnfundamen-
tails and confess That their nOn-receptiOn does
destroy the Christian character of the members, the
official standing OF the ministry nor the validity Of the
| ordinances OF their respective organizations.
A. 1t alleged that interchange of pupi is calculated
10 confuse the minds Of Christians, aud unsette their
ecclesiastical opinions This objection is based upon
suppOsitiOn that whenever Protestant minister
would occupy the pulpit Of another he would seize the
opportunity assa the doctrines and usages OF the
denomination to whose members he preaching and
to set forth and defend those OF his Church But
a.
doubtful disputatiOns, aud the discussion OF "ques
lions which gender strle glazing improperly
narrowly conceivable; and as matter OF fact We have
never heard that Protestant minister thus abused
the privilege accorded him, that any members have