Smyrna times., 1874-05-20
Reported for the Smyrna Times"
The Reformed Episcopal Church.

The Second General Council of this new
body convened ia their church at 47th st. and
Madison avenue, New York, last Wednesday.
Seventeen clerical, and nineteen lay delegates,
besides many who signed the call for the Origi-
nal council were present, as also number OF
visitors not connected with the movement.
The new church has the following organized
congregations: Two in Chicago, two in Phila-
delphia and one in each of the places men.
toned, viz: New York city, Brooklyn, Peoria,
LII. and Ottawa, Canada.
After Sermon by Bishop Cheney of Chi.
cagO, on " The Spiritual Kingdom, the Model
of a Visible Church, the Sacrament of the
Lords Supper was administered, and then
formal organization of the council was had.
Bishop CumminS was made permanent Chair
man and ii. B. Turner Secretary. A telegram
OF cOngratulatlOn was received from the Free
Church Of England, which also proposed
thorough organic union of the two bodies.
The latter is body OF considerable numerical
and financial strength aud includes the organi-
zltion formerly known as Lady huntingdon
Connection, OF which the celebrated George
Whiteheld was the ApOstle-and the heavenly
minded Jay, author Of Morning and Even
ing Exercises" the great Welch divine How
ell Harris and other ministers of renOwn were
earnest supporters. 1t was found that the
different governments of the two churches
would not permit the fusion of the two bodies
into one, but articles providing for the inter-
change Of delegates between the annual cOun-
ellis Of each, permitting Bishops of each TO
take part in, or to administer the right of or
dinatOn Of ministers OF The other, receiving
! the communicates of one into the other by
certificate, granting temporary or permanent
use of the churches OF each to the ministers
of the other, and pledRing the two churches
to mutual cooperation were adopted by
rising vote.
The Constitution, and Canons. as prepared
by the committee appointed last December,
were brought before the Council through the
report of that committee. The Constitution was
taken article by article. The title of Right
Rev. before the name of bishop, was warmly
objected to but the motion to drop it did not
prevail. An article was adopted forbidding
any ceremonies calculated to teach that the
Christian ministry possesses a SacerdOtal char
scter, or that the Lords Supper is sacrifice.
The spirit of this article is opposed to church
decorations, ornaments, vestments and pos
lures. No communion table is to be con
structed in the form of an altar. The ''surplice
stood narrow chance for its life, but was
permitted alter a strong Debate to remain III
use.
Having disposed OF the Constitution and
Canons, the revision Of the Prayer Book
engaged their attention, the aim seeming to be
simply to divest it of doctrinal wrong, and
ritualsm. The Ltany was retained with few
unimportant changes, and the Latlmer sentences
for Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Good Friday,
Easter, Assertion, Whit Sunday and lnnocents
Day were read aud passed. All that part Of
the Protestant Episcopal prayer book, relating
to saints days was omitted, making a con-
siderable hiatus in the corresp ponuence Of the
two books.
In the order of the Lord s supper a Rubric
was adopted enjOiniDg upon the ministers to
invite members of other branches of the
Christian church to the communion. In the
baptismal service all references to comfirma-
, ton and regeneration was stricken out, as was
also the words ''SaDcti6cation of the water to
the mystical washing away Of sin. A child
must be presented for baptism by at least one
} cOmmuncant of the Reformed or some other
church. The signing Of the child with the
4 sign OF the cross is permitted If the person
; presenting the child desire it, whereas in the
Protestant Episcopal Church the same Is
! ordered to be done unless the person presenting
the child shall desire its omission. The worC
''priest" in the old prayer book, is changed to
''presbyteri in the new, and the bishop, instead
4 of being addressed as fright Reverend Father
. in Cod is addressed Reverend Brother il
Christ"
/. Rev. Mr.. McFadden, of Colorado, was or
!. dained as Presbyter of the Reformed Epis
9 copal church on Sunday last Bishop Cum
minis and five other ministers took part in th,
e service. The ordination was after the form
n adopted the previous day, and he may there
2 fore be regarded as the first minister regular
n ordained in the Reformed Episcopal Church
The Council had not closed it ssessiOn at tn
time of this writing, and as there is much ye
" = to be done We may make further remarks il
y the next issue OF the TINES. ~
70