The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-02-18

j REslGsATios OF AsoTAgR PnoTksr Az
fTffscoflr dfHfsFsn ~ From, the ISeltmor
San, 17th.l ReYsTW VILLAIN Mcclure, .
4 washington city. has sent 2 letter to BlsboI
4 Whi'tfpghRm, of thes diocese of Maryland
! announcing his withdrawal from the Pro
testant Episcopal Church, and his unior
| with the Reformed Episcopal Church. Nr
McGuire Is q. son OF the late Rev. DIR
McGnire, of Virginia, SO widely knowt, aud
greatly venerated. He is a Clergyman Of
fine talents and scholarship, and viii be q
| very valuable acquisition to the new move.
ment led by Bishop Cummins AS preach.
er he is sald to possess marked ability. The
following is the Rev. MIR. McGuire's letter
OF resignation:
"192o Pennsylvania avenue, Washington.
u. T., February 6, fS74.-Rtght Rev. VIII
liam Il. Whttingham, d. D.-Right Rev.
ana Dear Slr,-HaVine, after much delibera-
tion ana earnest weighing of the whole mat
Ter involved, determined It as my duty to
dissolve my connection with the Protestant
Episcopal Church and to unite with the Re-
formed Episcopal Church, I hereby, 10 nc.
cordance with the canonical provision in
case OF those renouncing the ministry of the
Church, request that my name may be
erased from the list of ministers Of the Pro-
testant Episcopal Church in the diocese of
Maryland, and that the usual deposition
from the ministry required by canon in such
cases maybe performed at the time specified
in said canon.
"Iwould not, right reverend sir, here enter
upon any full exposition of the wide reasons
connected with the doctrinal and ritual at
titude OF the Protestant Episcopal Church
which have impclled me to the course I have
marked out for myself. Suffice it now to say
thut in my view the position Of the Church
as q living, acting organization, whatever the
alleged soundness of its doctrinal formularies
may be, IS essentially, increasingly, and
hopelessly Romanizing position. | say
hopeiesSly so for the one obvious reason
among many that the dominant party in the
Protestant Episcopal Church cannot ever be
expected to renounce its distinctive features
any Esore than can the evangelical body in
the church abandon the truth of God, which
Is TO them dearer than life.
me opposition of The two systems Is di :
metrlc and indestructble. Protestant and
ho,lish sacralnentarianism cannot now live
anu Dresthe together any more than they did
When the deep and vital contrarielies of
Cnurch parties in the sixteenth century cul-
m'nated IN the separation of the eyer.biessed
Reformation.
sever myself from the Protestant Eois-
copal Church (among mauy grayer reasons)
because am unwilling longer to bear the
responsibility OF supposed UNFOLDING in
spirit OF the Church system with which I
am connected. Membership in any organ.
ization necessarily involves federation, and
directly or indirectly patronage of the Oh.
jects and operations of that organization
and in tie case of Church which, as be.
lieve, has departed from the faith, to have
membership therein is to contribute to the
subverSion of the souls of the people, and
to the diShonor Of the Lord Jesus.
"With deep sense of the solemnity Of the
step am taking ia this severance from The
Church Of my fathers, and with every senti
ment of good will towards yourself, from
whom. during my connection with the do
cese, l have received only courtesy and kind
ness, remain, very respectfully, yours,
WILLIAM MCGUIRE"