New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-07
EEpISCOPAL REFORM IN VIRGINIA.


STAUNToN, Va, Jan. 297-In no part OF the
United States is the Protestant Episcopal Church more
firmly established than in Virginia and West Virginia
and nowhere IS there branch the church firmly
grounded in the thrtynne articles or more attached 10
the old and cherished forms and traditions ofthe dehoh
nation Founded by cavaliers from Old England whose
descendants pardonably boastfu their geneaOgy now
till the soil granted to their ancestors by some Hney
defender OF the faith the Episcopal Church in this do
cese Is composed In the main OF people who may
be said to have inherited their religion with their
lands, but who excel many Of their progenitors
az much n piety as the latter exceed them
in intolerance With such denominationa
lineage it might be expected that the Virginia
church would be o High Church; but 1t Is not. The
Bishops Dr. Johns and Dr. Whtle are by other demon
nations called evangelical, and chufchmen call them
Every low" The clergy and laty generally walk In
their footsteps High Church here would be Low Church
in the North cannot recall the namCj OF more than
two ministers In the diocese who prefer to be- called
priests In general there Is most fraternal feeling
between Episcopal ministers and their brethren OF other
denominations The alternate form OF DECLARE
ton OF absolution is the one usually fol-
lowed and rituastic practices Ike those in vogue at
ST. Adams in NewYork, or St. Luke's In Baltimore are
entirely unknown II "a said that Bishop Johns throws
his head far back possible when the namo OF Jesus
occurs in the creed; Bishop Whittle would assuredly
rather stiTen his back than yield TO this common GUS
TOM and one Of the most estimable ministers in Rich
mond has narrowly escaped mild rebuke from The
State Council for nttle extravaganza IN the way OF
choir.
1t is not uncommon for Episcopal ministers in rural
parishes 70 allow those OF other churches 70 occupy
their pulps. and know OF an Instance IN which the
sessions Of presbytery were held In the Episcopal
church (St. Peters, New-Kent County, in which Gen
Washington was married.. 1t is notable fact, also
that several Methodist preachers Virginia have since
the war become Episcopal ministers and are honored
and useful in their fields OF labor.
THE LATEST ADHERESr OF THE NEW MOVEMENT
In such soil as have briefly described it may well be
supposed that such seed as has been sown
in the letter OF Bishop Cummns and the organ
ization OF Reformed Episcopal Church wonld
not fall without taking some root This movement has
indeed created profound impression and It is not 10 be
disguised Bishop Cummns has here not few open
and many sympathZers The first fruit was seen
in letter from the Row ]. A. Latsne D. d.. eminent
and universally beloved minister and pastor Of stanch
and prosperous ehurch-a letter in which that gentle
man. aectionatey addressing the Senior Bishop of the
diocese, announces his withdrawal from the ministry
and membership OF the Protestant Episcopal Church.
The mere fact Of Laanes withdrawal announced
I'm telegram THE TRIBUNE about 0days ago. and the
excitement which that announcement created induced
me TO make inquiries the sentiment Of the church
tain his antecedents and the probable effect OF his
ton. 1 find the latest seceder to be man of high
scholarship and culture but renowned for unaf
fected pety and undivided attention TO the work Of the
ministry is 10 respect sensational and in church
councils he has been known conservative. Though
not the man one would choose for the leader
OF great religious revolution, bis lack
OF an aggressive spirit is perhaps the only thing that
disqualified him for such Office. But a recruiting
officer for the new army he would be conspicuOusly
efficient; he the very to bring TO the standard OF
the Reformed Episcopal Church the host throughout the
South who are weary OF the ruastc controversy.
who are ready 10 hnd rest where except OF
Episcopal body.
DR.. Latane was for fourteen years rector OF the
church in this city, city sometimes called the Hdb"
OF Virginia. Here he has many friends who would fol
low bn with aacrity, but he Is also known and beloved
throughout the State. At the time his letter writ
ten he was rector OF ST. Matthew's Church ia the popu
lOus city of Wheeling, which, though in the State OF
West Virginia. is in the Virginia diocese There also lie
had become endeared many and great the sensa
tion when he took the decisive step which placed him
without the pale OF his church.
Dr. LATASE's LETTER.
The letter OF DR.. LataDe long publication in
The TRIBUNE but brief statement OF the position
which he therein assumes will be read with interest.
After On of pain In view OF the for his
withdra earthly consideration being against
i-and the remark that he has reached his conclusion
" without communication directly Indirectly with
Bishop Cumpins any OF his adherents," he gives
these succinctly stated reasons for his action
l. The unhappy division OF the Church INTO what are
known as the High Church and the Low Church parties
Under this head he remarks that the Church
is an army with banners justification by the sacra
ments inscribed the one and Justification by faith on
the other This division is, he believes that cannot
be healed.
III. The cOunteDance apparently given by certain
pressOns in the PrayerboOk those erroneous and
strange doctrines contrary Gods word OF which
the division OF the Church has grown. These doctrines
pertain 10 the effects Of BAPTISM to the OF the
Lords Supper. and to the Office OF ministry. These
expre ssions teach baptsmaI regeneration and give
c0untenance the notion Ola priesthood In the Church
and OF sacrifice IN the Lords Supper, which teaching
and Implication Dr. Latane believes to be unscrptura
Ill The absolute impossibility OF getting rid OF
these Objectionable expressions In the services OF the
1t is remarked here that the expression
absolute mpossibility" is used advisedly aud the
writer alleges that he indebted for its to Bishop
Potter Of New-York. DR.. Latane says, referring to
Bishop Potter's pastoral letter.
For / honestly believe that IN this matter
Bishop Potter has stated nothing but the truth When
At the last General Convention baltimore, Is7lJ the
majority voted down every that could be- framed
against Rituasm In the Church-when respectful petit
for alterations in the Bsptsmal Service in the
we're easily disposed Of, without even
the formslty OF diseasson-and especially when such
modest and reasonable proposition that OF the nine
bishops, not really altering one word In the Prayer
book. failed sgnay accomplish anything and tho
movement ended, Bishop Potter confidently pre-
dcted II would end In notifying discomnture- can
not hope for tue success OF any that
direction.
" The attitude which the Episcopal Oh urch stands
In the present day TO other Protestant churches Allu
sion is thus made the theory Of Apostolic Succession
which the writer says he has faithfully sought TO bring
to the test Of Scripture with result Overwhelmingly un
favorable to that theory There IA long argument on
this point Dr. Laane then speaks OF the patience and
passYeness OF the Low Church membership under their
trials and expresses the earnest belief that fprther