New-York tribune., 1874-03-19
LJBERAL CHURCHMANSHIP.
LECTURE BY THE REV. DIR. q. b. PoRTEUs-AN INTER
RUPTION.

LECTURE BY THE REV. DIR. g. d. PoRTEUs-AN INTER
RUPTION.
The Rev. DR.. G.. B. POrteus lectured last
evening at the Hail Of the Young Mems Christian Asso
citation, In Brooklyn, upon the three parties IN tno
Church OF England the Broad, the High, ana the 10"
Church He gave the different views OF these parties
and then In very strong language ana with eviden'
feeling spoke OF the Rtualisto branch as one which
should DO considered unProtestant and entirely wrons
He also touched upon the condition OF the Church III
this country and his own experience. Inc audehce
though not very large seemed to be in accord with the
speaker though considerable disturbance was at one
time caused by one person who loudly denounced tnc
remarks as 40 many slanders upon the Church.
DR. Porteous began his lecture with the statement that
I'm order to understand the subject Of the eveningthe
three parties the Church Of Engand-religous his
tory must be traced from the time OF the Reformation
Before that time, he said the earth had fallen into
sort Of stupor, from which 1t was awakened by the
Reformation. But as all negative movements are fo'
lowed by reactions, was this followed by another
period Of deadness Wesley became convinced that he
was destined to vitahze the general relig
ious tone of England. In his reaction
he taught that religion consisted mainly OF
feeling and from this ont the three parties In the
English Church. At oxford there was feehng tha'
nero seusibity was not by any means test OF CHRIS
tian change At the same time with this grew the feel
ing that faith and reason should be joined ana that 10
dsseyer wOuld mschicvous to the church hs
IL was vicious to the individual. The view was auVo-
Gated that the Church should dogmas creeds
TO exclude any kind Of Christian thought Ii was fortn
nate that they had broad platform
that would suit everybody. The High Church
party declared that they did not depend
upon feeling and certainly did not recognize reason
they wanted their doctrines declared Tor then ana sau
there could be only one Church for them, and that
Church in tradition In England the High Church Ia
church of young women. Professionalism Is religion
for thinkers The Protestant Episcopal Church IN this
country, he thought, simply phenomenon as IL
had nothing to back in England and he feared II
would never take root The Americans were not lovers
OF institutions and therefore, could have no taste fo
He was speaking In this strain OF the apostolic sue
cesson and rituals, when some ono IN the au9enco
loudly called Order order IL is a scandal upon
inc Church." Commotion ensued; men were calling TO
have the elected and amid his retors the speakes
endeayO to proceed and Suggestions from nearly every
one, the man was expelled from the hall.
When quiet restored. DIR. Porteous proceeded
saving that was time, in speaking OF the inhu-
ences which were tending leaven the Church when
etiquette should be laid aside. Ihe Churcn here' ne
SAD had lately taken a phase which had only
been unpopular but at variance with episcopacy In En-
gandhey had laws whchenforced ecclesiastcal oTOer'
The people here should not allow their bishops 10 20
without some kind OF cOeTclve criticism. Ihls last
phase was VICIOUS rs IL unconstutona and hollow
as it was false He said lie dd not speak OF himself in
what be had done he had only hurt the dignity OF GER
tain individuals who would keep him confined with
circles Of elegant respect The High Church here was
not Protestant and. far from Bishop POtters pro-
testing against Rtualism by his very silence he en-
couraged it, II transaction the speaker SAID. had
been having lighted candles, processl0nai hymns nice
colored vestments and eursng his brother rfesDy'
erians, the oiense would have Deen extremely par
donable. He advised Episcopaans, though their religion
had noninay succeeded to purge II OF the tendencs
which were eating its life so long they believed
in the Apostolic Succession, they would be giving en-
cOuragement to hideous sham lie reminded those OF
other denominations that the Broad Church party
favored liberal principals and concluded by saying hat
that party entitled to the respect and reverence oi