Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-05-16
REFORMED EPISCOPALIANS.
The Sentence He Descended into
Hell" Debated-The Pros
peets-Ete.

NEW YORK, May 15.-At the evening
session. Yesterday, Of the council of the
Reformed Episcopal church, the liveliest
discussion thus far took place upon the
words in the creed: F." He descended into
help
Rev. Mr.. Wilson moved an amend
ment, striking out this expression alto
gether from the creed, and slightly
changing the rubric so that il might
read: " And every church may insert
the words, He descended into hell" or
may use the words, He went into the
place of departed spirits.'" This at
once raised a storm.
Rev. NJ, B. Smith said that the ancient
character of expression. HE descended
into help having been used since $50,
IL should not be changed without the
consent Of a majority Of the Protestant
churches.
Steward L. Woodford declared that
the prayer-bOok Of l7S5, which the Re
formed Episcopal church had thus far
used, did not contain this passage.
Colonel AycTigg opposed the amend
ment with much terseness OF expression.
Rev. William Mcclure said that the
doctrine which the expression taught
was of an intermediate state, which was
ghe foundatiOn-stone of the doctrine OF
1ourgatory: doctrine which was histo-
Tically intended to neutralize that of
q atOnement.
Rev. Myron Gallagher said the.e
shouif be no word in the creed admit
ting Of 50 many interpretations as could
lie given these, and for that reason he
favored the amendment.
Bishop Oh heney said he believed with
Mr. Mcclure: considering it only from
doctrinal aspects, he strongly favored
fine proposed ON tssion. We are laying
in the creed what are the corner-stones
Of oU faith, and what things are
essential in our belief. If doc
frine is essential we have no right
10 omit it. If IL is non-essential by no
means put il in the creed. It is OF grand
importance to do this. / cannot stand
before my Sunday-schOol and disabuse
the mSuds Of children Of false notions it
produces. and explain the passages in
connection with other and opposite pas
sages.
The question was called and resulted
in the passage Of the amendment by an
aggregate vote Of twenty-fOur to ak,
three ministers and three laymen voting
i'm the negative.
The creed and Tubric as changed were
then adopted.
a motion TO omit the word "CathO-
lic" from the creed was lost without
much discussion.
The leaders in the council cOnfiden-
italy expect to gain reinfOrcements
from the Protestant Episcopal church.
a retaark which one Of the delegates
made. that the prayer-book as revised
had been examined by an Episcopal
clergyman Of great renown who had
pronounced it perfect, is understood 20
refer either 10 Rev. Stephen III. Tying or
10 Rev. DR.. Muhlenberg.
The general council Of the Reformed
Episcopal church continued to-day. The
revision Of the pTayer-bOok was resum-
.ad. and the versicles were adopted with
,ut change. The rubric before the prayer
Cor those in civil authority was 50
-, Snged as 10 allow of the omission OF
tbe 9rayer when the litany Is used in
the rnorning service. The prayer forall
in civil authority was changed so as TO
resd. "Thy servant, the President Of
these United States, and all Ia authori-
fvD after the word "bless." 1t was
Voted that the prayer for congress and
tie rubric be placed In brackets. Inc
litanv, with the rubrics and the re nam
der Of the morning prayers, were AdoPt-
"a s1bstantially as in the Protestant
Episcopal prayer-book. The morning
earvioe was then adopted as whole.
The order for the evening prayer was
then taken was then taken up. 1t was
voted 10 insert the prayer for forgive,
ness. with the substitution OF the word
sssccept'' for "absOlve." The whole al
ternate evening service, with its rubrics,
vas then adopted, with the corrections
made in the morning service.