The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-12-13

surely he Is mistaken now. II he Is right
now, he was three times mistaken before
Where then, Is the ground Of faith In
either declaration The Lords call new
er contradict themselves! They never go
back on one another. And the man who
finds himself thrice mistaken in tho very
gravest acts OF his lie, must not be sur
prised If others believe him mistaken the
fourth time too And then, 1t must be
borne In mind, that all this time, the
Church remained just as 1t was. Its
spirit Is not changed. It's doctrines arc
not changed. Nothing in 1t or about 1t Is
changed. 1t stands where just It was.
But will 1t be said that DR.. Cummins has
got increasing lights on these points, In
the meanime2j Perhaps SO. But how
do know he will not get more light and
abandon his present position, and those
II any there are--=who 60 with himl For
one, must be pardoned, IL j believe that
the Lord, who, he says, put this thing into
his heart, has had nothing to do with IL |!
They are not His footsteps trace here !!
But theiC Circular Letter proceeds thus;
ION Tuesday, the I'd day Of December
1878, a meeting will be held in Associa-
ton Hall, corner Of 23d street and 4th
Avenue, in the city Of New York, at 10
o'clock A. NJ, 10 organize an Episcopal
Church on the basis OF the Prayer Book
oil 1855; q basis broad enough, etc.
Why, sir, do q read erighta I" Organ
lie" q new Church. 4. q, q church on a
new basis And this Is proposed by an
ex-blshop of our Church to loyal Pres
byters Of our Church Did we not prom.
ise to fuse all faithful diligence to ban
ish and drive away from the Church all
erroneous and strange doctrines, contrary
TO Gods WordY And would leaving the
Church be q fulfilment oil that vow -?
Suppose there are errors In II? False
practices itg Am not bound by my Or
diuation VOW to protest against them !
To fight against them? To seek by all
means to drive them outP lam bound
to do this, and then calmly leave all re-
suits with the Lord. My faith Is, that He
will take care Of His Church.
Dr.. Cummins must not forget that he
also made this promise-with this most
significant addition-"and both privately
and openly TO call upon and encourage
others 10 the samer' Has he done SO ?
he complains that.there are certain ritu-
alistic practices, In certain churches in
Kentucky, and that he can no longer bear
the load OF them on his conscience. He
cannot be partaker Of other mems sins!
He must escape by leaving the Church.
Docs DR.. @. know, that he would be
partaker Of the Sin against which he
boldly and openly protests? And he had
a right 10 protest. He could do so by au.
His position as bishop gave him
that suthority. His yowof conservation
bound him TO its exercise. he had the
right by authority "both privately and
openlysto call.upon others to" aid him,in= !
drying them out. He had the right,
clear and undisputed, TO insist that the
services Of the churches in his jurisdic-
tion be conformed 10 the order laid down |
in the Prayer Book Has done so y
And were there not loyal enough hearts
In the churches of his late diocese to aid
him and prosper him in this work? The
Church committed this work to his hands.
And In 1t the Head Of the Church gave
him the grandest opportunity man could
desire 10 stand up for the truth as It Is In
Jesus, That opportunity he has thrown
awey. And II should he no matter ofsur-
prise, If others should think 1t has an
ugly look for the Shepherd to make 1t q
matter Of conscience 10 leave the fold
when the wolf is among the sheep.
And this new Church Is absolutely de-
on. I am told that "the pur-
pose Of the meeting Is to organize and
not to discuss the expediency Of organic
ing" 1t Is all settled. But for one, I
doubt the leadership, and am content to
remain battling for the truth until the
Master comes. Till then do not expect
to find a pure Church; and should not look
for 1t even under this new organization,
and with the Prayer Book of 1885.
50 = q PRRsDUTERos.