The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1874-12-16
REFORMED EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

Il is announced that the Rev. Mr. johnson,
of the Episcopal Church, Summervile, South
Carolina, babe his congregation farewell on the
9th instant, and stated that after prayerfu con-
sideratiOu he had determined to join the Reformed
| Episcopal movement. 1t gives us sincere pleasure
to record all such instances of accession to the
movement begun year ago by Bishop Cummins,
because it is our deliberate conviction that he and
his brethren have renowned a mass of error that
! has been extending corruption and Romanism
through the Episcopal Church, both in this cOun-
try and in Great Britain. There are good minis
tiers and members in it who see plainly, aud never
more so than since the late General Convention,
that an efectual reformation within their Church
is hopeless. Their attitude towards other Evan
gelioa Churches is, with rare exceptions one of
complete ecclesiastical arrangement, while they
almost obsequiOusy court the fellowship of IL e
Greek Church, communion in many respects as
fully committed to erroneous teaching and to cor
rupt practices as the Church of Rome ITSELF The
Reformed Episcopal Church has purged itself from
the eayea of Romanism, and plants itself upon
the right ground in relation to other Christian de-
nominations. 1t has made a decided progress
during this the first year of it organization, and
the aeoessions to it within the last few months have
been more numerous than at any time before. It
Is not consistent with fidelity to the liberal,
scrptural principles of the Presbyterian Church,
and to her steadiast condemnation of Romisb
principles, wherever found, to assume cold,
negative attitude towards this noble stand taken
By the Reformed Episcopal Church. May it
abundanty grow aud prosper and become great
power for good in the land 1t is to be hoped that
arrangements viii be made during the next year
for iraterna correspondence of our own and other
evans elical bodies. The Episcopal Church does
not intend 10 have anything to do with any Church
which does not accept the fgment and historical
imposture Of dpOStoical succession 1t sets high.
er value by far upon theory of Church govern
ment than it does upon the fundamental truths of
salvation, AID seeks its fellowship accordingly
Well let it be so Bishop Cummins and others
have not laid the foundation of their Church upon
such hay, wood and stubble" They prefer the
Episcopal form OF government, but they cordially
recognize those who as cOnscientously adopt on
that is not This being the case the way is entirely
open for the right hand of fellowship to be given
aud received between them and other evangelical
churches. We hope it will soon be done.
The progress OF the Reformed Church may be
seen from the following statement found in one of
our exchanges.
Its first anniversary does not find the Reformed
Episcopal Church IN quite the failing condition
predicted of 1t a year ago. There is certainly en-.
eouragemeutin the fact stated by Rev. Mr. Sabine
at the anniversary meeting in this city last week
that in the short space of twelve months some
thirty clergymen and twenty FIVE parishes had
Joined Bishop Cumminss movement, OF the
parishes five are in Illinois. tour in New York,
four 10 Pennsylvania, one in Virginia one in Ken.
lucky, one 10 Washington two in Missouri, one in
Maryland, and one in New Jersey, and others in
Canada, all representing about three thousand
COMMITMENTS. The meeting was more an occa-
sion of thanksgiving to God for his divine favor on
the movement than an ordinary annual celebra-
ton.