Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1873-12-13
ECCLESIASTICAL.
DIR. Cummins Organizes the Reform.
ed Episcopal Church.
A Liberal and Broad Greed.

[ New YORK, December "A meet
ing of Clergymen and others was he'll
to-day in Association Hall, in respons
to call issued by Bishop Cumming:
] to organize Church, based upon tn
: principles of the Prayer book of 17S5
Among the clergymen present wer
Rev. Mason Gallagher, of New jersey
Rev. Dr. Cheney, of Illinois; Rev
Marshal B. Smith, of New Jersey
Rev. DIR. Prime and Nathan Bishop
The meeting was opened with prayel
by Rev. DIR. Cummings, after which ;
hymn was sung. Rev. DIR. Chene!
then offered an earnest prayer for tht
prosperity of the new Church whiel
was about to be organized.
Colonel B. Ayeregin, of New Jersey
was appointed chairman, and Herbert
b. Turner, of New Jersey, Secretary
DIR. Cummings read the declaration
of Principles under which this church
is TO be organized, and offered a sug-
gestion that it should be referred to a
special committee, consisting of Charles
d. Kellogg, of New Jersey. Albert
Crane, Illinois, Rev. Marshal B. Smith.
New Jersey, Rev. j. A. Sabine, New
York. DIR. Cummings was appointed
chairman of the committee. The COM
mittee after short consideration made
the following report:
Resolved, That We hope the names
appended to the call for this meeting
as presented by the Presiding Bishop.
do here and now, in humble reliance
upon Almighty God, organize ourselves
into church, to be known by the
style and title of The Reformed
Episcopal Church.
In conformity with the following de-
claratiOn of the principles, and with
Right Rov. George David Cummins.
ID. d., as our Presiding Bishop, the
declaration Of principles
First. The Reformed Episcopal
Church, holding the faith once deliver
ed unto the Saints, declares its belief
in the Holy Scriptures of the New
Testaments as the word of God and
sole rule of faith and practice in the
creed, commonly called The Apostle
Creed" In the divine institution of
the sacrament of Baptism, the Lords
Supper and the doctrines of grace,
substantially as they are set forth in
the thirty articles of relig-
ion.
Second. This church recognizes and
adheres to EpiscOpacy not as of divine
right, but as very ancient and deSlr-
able form of church policy.
Third. This church, retaining a lit
fnI ,r-oR,,-,
pressive of freedom in prayer, accepts
the book of common prayer as was re
vised, prepared and recommended for
use by the General Convention of the
Protestant Episcopal Church, A. d.,
17S5, reserving full liberty to alter, en-
large, abridge and amend the same, as
may seem most conclusive to the edi-
fcatiOn cf the people, provided, that
the substance of the faith be kept
entire.
Fourth. This Church condemns and
regrets the following erroneous and
strange doctrines as contrary to Gods
words
l. That the Church of Christ exists
only in one order or form of Ecclesias-
teal policy.
2. That Christian Ministers are
Priests in another sense than that in
which all believers are royal Priest
hood
3. That the Lords table is an altar
on which an OblatiOn of the body
and blood of Christ is offered
anew.
4. That the presence of Christ in
the Lords Supper is a presence in
the elements of bread and wine.
D. That regeneration is inseparably
connected with baptism.
Signed GEO. DAVID CUMMINS,
MARSHALL p. SMITH,
ALBERT CRANE,
GUSTAVUS SABINE,
CHAS ID. KELLOGG.
The report of the committee was
adopted, after which DIR. Cummins
made a short address, dwelling on. the
history of the prayer book.
The Gloria in Excelsis Dec was sung,
and prayer was offered, when DIR. Cum
minis announced that the meet
ing was regularly organized, as the
first council of the Reformed Episcopal
Church.
The Council was then thoroughly or
ganized.