The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-11-15
Resignation OF Bishop CumEnins-
RituaIistic Question in the Eriseo-
pal Church.

pal Church.
The following circular letter announce
the resignation for the causes given of the
Right Rev. George David Cummins, assist
ant bishop of the Protestant Episcopal
| Church for the Diocese of Kentucky. Bishop
Cummins has been known in the Episcopal
Church rs one of the prominent teachers Of
that division Of the communion commonly
known as Glow Church." and as opposed
| to the ritualstic practices and beliefs OF the
High Church." His decision TO resign
| the charge of his Diocese will be received
| with surprise: Bishop Cumnins was con-
secrated to the Episcopacy in 1855, and as
signed as an assistant 10 Bishop Smith, Of
Kentucky. Previous to his conservation he
| was rector of st. Peters church, Baltimore !:
NEW YORK, November 10, 1873.
To the Right Rererend Benjamin Bosrorth
Smith, D. d., Bishop Of the Protestant
Episcopal Church an the Diocese Of Ken
lucky:
Right Reverend and Dear Bishop,-Under
| solemn sense of duty, and in the fear OF
God, have to tell you that am about to
retire from the work in which have been
engaged for the last seven years in the Do
cese Of, Kentucky, and thus to sever the re-
lations which have existed so happily and
tremendously between us during that time.
1t is due to you and to my many dear
friends in the Diocese of Kentucky and else
where that should state clearly 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
so as to symbolic and to teach the people
doctrines subversive of the "truth as it j. i'll
Jesus" and as it was maintained and de-
| Tended by the Reformers of the sixteenth CEN
fury.
On each occasion that I have been called
upon to olficatc in those churches have
been most painfully impressed by the COLI
vction that | was sanctioning and endorsing
by my presence and official acts the danger
Gus errors symbolZed by the services custo-
mary in rituaiStiC churches.
l can no longer by my participation in
such services be "a partaker Of other mems
SINS" and must clear my own soul OF all
completely in such errors.
,. have lost all hope that this system of
error now prevailing SO extensively in the
Church Of England, and the Protestant
Episcopal Church in this country, can be or
will be cradicatcd by any action of the au-
| thorities OF the Church Legislature or Execu-
tive. The only true remedy, in my iudg-
ment, is the juuicious yet thorough revision
Of the prayer-book, eliminating from it all
that gives countcnance, directly or indi-
rectlv. to the whole system Of sacerdotalism
| and rltualSm-a revision after the model OF
| that recommended by the commission APP
pointed in England under royal authority in
| 1899, and whose work was endorsed by the
great names of Burnet, Patrick, TiIoison,
| and StiIlingfleet, and others Of the Church OF
En"land-a blessed work, which failed, alas
| TO receive the approval Of Convention, but
was taken up afterwards 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 Tor Use in this country.
propose to return to that praycr-book
sanctioned by William White, and to tread
in the steps Of that sanity man as he acted
| from 1885 to 1889.
3. One other reason for my present action
| remains 10 be given. On the last day OF The
late Conference Of the Evangelical Alliance
| participated in the celebration Of the
Lords supper by invitation in the Rev. DR..
| John Hall's church, i'll the city OF New York,
! and united with DR.. Hall, DR.. William Ar
not of Edinburgh, and Professor Dorncr
of Berlin, in that precious feast. 1t was
| practical manifestation of the real unity oil
1.-THE blessed company of all faithful people
whom God ''hath knit together in one com
munion and fellowship in the mystical body
of His Son Jesus Christi
The results OF that participation have been
such as to prove to my mind that such step
cannot be taken by one occupying the posi-
ton | now hold without sadly disturbing the
peace and harmony of "this Church, and
Without impairing my influence for good
over large portion Of the same Church,
very many Of whom are within our own
diocese.
As [ cannot surrender the right and priyi-
lcrc thus to meet my owChristians OF
| other churches around the table OF our dear
| Lord. must take my place where can do
50 without alternating those Of my own house.
hold o! faith.
therefore leave the communion in which
| have labored in the sacred ministry foI
over twenty-eight years, and transfer my
work and Office to another sphere Of labor
| have an earnest hope and confidence that a
basis for the union of all Evangelical Chris
tendon can be found in 4 communion which
shall retain or restore primitive Episco'
pacy and pure Scriptura Liturgy, with q
fidelity to the doctrine of justification by
faith only-articulus stdntis rel cddenti:
eccleap-a 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 remain
ING wears of life, content if / can only see
the dawn of that blessed day of the Lord.
l an, dear Bishop, faithfully yours ir
| Christ, GEORGE DAVID CUMMlSS.
NV address for the present will be No.
| T,rl-