The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-08-24

A Lecture Delivered In Louisville
by Rev. w. T. Sabine on the Dis.
IinctiVe Features Of the Reformed
Episcopal Church.
Published in the IntslligenceE by Request :
From the Louisville Commercial Of the l4ih.l
Rev. W. T. Sabine, D. D., Of New
York, q gentleman Of fine culture and
abilities, lectured last night at Emmanuel
Church on "The Distinctive Features Of
the Reformed Episcopal Church" Be-
fore commencing his address DR.. Sabine
explained that until his arrival in Louis
vile he had not been requested to lecture
and being away from his library, and
without much time at his command, he
had been unable to prepare his lecture as
carefully as he desired, His intention
was not to consider in the short time be-
fore him the reasons Of the superiority Of
the new church, but to give his views on
THE DISTINCTIVE FEATURES OF TIE RE-
FORMED CHURCH.
On the second day Of December, A. D.,
1873, assembled in the city Of New York
twenly.one persons, most all OF whom
had been clergymen and lsymen in the
Protestant Episcopal Church, then and
there constitutedR new organization un-
der the title, "The Reformed Episcopal
Church"
AT this meeting, styled the First Gen
eral Council, the Right Rev. George D.
Cummins d. D., formerly Assistant
Bishop oil the Protestant Episcopal
Church in the diocese Of Kentucky, was
chosen presiding Bishop OF the young
church. The prsyer.book set forth by
convention OF the Protestant Episcopal
Church in 1875 was accepted for present
USE
A committee was appointed to prepare
liturgy and service. book.
The Rev. Charles Edward Cheney, rec.
tor Of Christ Church, Chicago, was elected
Bishop Of the Northwest, and the various
officers and committees necessary to give
permanence and efficiency to the organi-
zItion were selected. .r. ... ..--. St..
The second General Council convened
in the city OF New York, May 10, 1874
A spirit OF wonderful harmony character.
lied Its deliberations and marked It's re-
suits. The Council adopted constitution
and canons, and set forth a Book OF Com.
mon Prayer, which is now in press and
will be issued In the course OF the current
month. There are at present connected
with the Reformed Episcopal Church two
bishops, and about twenty clergymen,
with, perhaps, 1900 communicates, while
parishes have been formed, or are in pro-
cess Of formation, at Chicago, Philadel-
phis, Louisville, Pittsburgh, New York,
Brooklyn, Ut. Paul and Minneapolis, Min.
nesota; Peoria, Littleton, Ottawa, Canada;
Moncton and St. John, New Brunswick,
and at other points. o..
Such is, 10 brief, the history Of the Re-
formed Episcopal Church.
Much interest has been manifested In
this movement, not only among those with
whom It's originators have been identified
in times past, but among ChriStians gen.
orally. Men are asking-men Of intelli-
gence, men oil piety-What Is this new
CAurchP Why does 1t existG And what
are its distinctive features? 49,
Have they not right to hearing and
an answerI
Gan the establishment OF this new or
gsnizstion be justified before God and in
the view OF thoughtful and religious men
1t Isl solemn and important question. II
would be impossible to answer 1t exhaus.
lively on an occasion so necessarily brief
and limited as this, yet something may be
done toward It's calculation. l.
Let us begin at the foundation. 1t may
be safely presumed that the twenty.one
persons who originally formed the organ,
izAtion, and all who have subsequently,
associated themselves with them, have
been actuated In common by certain be-
liels and convictions, for the defense anC
dissemination Of which they have beer
moved TO band themselves together
What, then, are some oil these beliefs anC
convictions2 ...... .-.... ..r
We Rnswer-I. A belief in the author,
ity and sufflciency Of Holy Scripture, AMI
that Whatsoever is not read therein, no
may be proved thereby, Is not to DO re
quired Of any man that II should be be
lieved as an article Of faith, or be though
requisite or necessary to salvation" an
here we may appropriately introduce III
the first article In the Declaration c
Principles: 1.-THE Reformed EpiScops
Church, holding the faith once delivere
to the saints" declares Its belief in th
Holy Scriptures Of the Old and New Tel
lament as the word Of God, and the sol
rule Of faith and practice In the cree
commonly called the Apostles Greed; |
the divine institution Of the sacrament {
baptism and the Lords Supper, and |
the doctrines OF grace substantially 81
forth IN the thirty.nine articles Of rellg
ion" if -
1t should be added that the doctrin
that the presence Of Christ in the Lord
Supper 10 q presence In the elements {
bread and wine" and the doctrine ''tht
regeneration Is inseparably connecte
with baptism" arc rejected as erroneor
and strange.
II. A belief in the alone efficacy Of Ii
works and mediation OF the Lord Jest
Christ to save the sinners souls, and as
consequence Of this the abolition Of q
human priesthood lin any sense save thl
in which believers arc royal priesthood
and Of those functions and services whic
apriesthood necessarily implies: so thu
Tor Christians there 10 no priest but ID
one "High Priest Of our pfofessionn-n
altar but Mount CalvAry-and no sacr
dee but that "full, perfect, and suficier
sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction
once Tor oil offered byl Him who suifere
death upon the cross Tor our redemr
ton,