New-York tribune., 1874-04-27
A RECRUIT FOR THE NEW CHURCH.

Of AfOUGment
at announced yesterday morning that he intended TO
resign from the ministry of the Protestant Episcopal
Church and then gave the grounds for this
action preference for the Reformed Epis-
copal Church. He took for his text the words What
have now done3 Is there not cause f-l'.SainueI'
xvu., %.
This said he was the answer Of David his brother
Elijah when be complained that he had left those few
sheep in the wilderness and came down TO see the
battle. Viewed by itself and not as connecting
link in a wOnderous chain Of Providence, the
visit OF David TO the army Of Israel an unmpOrant
aft air. and perhaps would interest us little. Yet insig-
uiacant as 1t might seem. in Davids opinion il had a
cause and II needed Justification, could be Justed
III tho lesser events OF human life and national history
have their causes, also must the greater The men
who naugurate a revolution must be able to say why
and the man who takes solemn and important step In
life step involving mOmentous issues for himself and
Others step which excites comment, sunders tender
ties and requires suffering and sacrifice should hrst OF
all be satisfied that his action be justified at the bar
OF conscience the light Of Divine TRUTH aud in the
sight Of heart-searchng God When your pastor stands
among you this day bring TO close an association OF
eight years and 10 announce his intention Of resgnng
his ministry in the Protestant Episcopal Church. you
who have the peculiar objects Of his love and care
aud who have failed in real kindness to recprocae
his attachment certainly the right TO ask him
What hast thou done 2" Receive his answer. IN
the words OF David: Is there not a cause"
There must be cause, aud there is Let ii be
prefaeed that this cause not to be found in the inter
nal relations conditions of the parish ITSELF The
vestry have warm personal friends OF the rector
have repeatedly expressed themselves, and have
been so esteemed The congregation has been harmo-
uious united and useful in high degree The pastor
does not 60 forth compelled to seek another field by
inadequacy OF support is he driven out by strifes,
conventions, and discords you does he leave
you because you have hampered restricted his work.
or denied him any rghtful liberty nor again. does he
withdraw because any number Of you, or any one
among you has desired his departure You have been
loving and beloved. You have been generous and de-
voted and the severance OF the which has so long
united us Is one OF trials Of your pastors life.
1t Indifference want Of sympathy, or attachment
which prompts the action. HIS heart has again and
again sunk within hun when compelled to contemplate
the dire necessity.
AndIftbIs exigency arises not the internal rea-
tons and condition OF the parish ITSELF for which God
be thanked does ii originate in altered tastes,
fcke purpose the desire for change. Your pastors
faith has changed iota. He still holds TO the great
fundamental articles OF Christian truth still cherishes
preference for lturGical worship still believes that
while n moderate Eplscopacy is not and cannot be
proved by Scripture 10 be essential TO the being Of
Christian church. moderate EpiscOpacy nevertheless
contributes TO its being. He would fain cling to
the church his fathers ne is 10th to leave the fold into
which he was initiated in his infancy, hut there is
voice of internal conviction which cries. Go FORTH
and there il voice of divine direction which demands
Come out and separate;" and these voices must be
oheyed cost what 1t WILL There must be going forth
on the part Of all who hear these voices and are loyal
truth aud obedience TO God Aud for this separation
there Is cause In the fact that there is want of
ordance between the teachings OfScrpture and certain
words and phrases Ia the standards OF Ihe FIoesth
Episcopal Church. her attitude toward other Protestant
ciurchss her acrus condition and general influence
and i'm the fact that hope OF securing either
nSHy nSW SI and climate chaunes within the church.
"what hast thou donef' " Is there not a canseI
- nd frat N
of Book Of Common Prayer III was gIeaolS uesIeu %
In the reign OF queen Eaaocdn 10 bicS had 1n1
suisisted between the Protestant ana roman CathoHc
noTons of the population. In the accomplishment Of
~ nTnose Was proposed TO unite these two classes
OF her subjects in the common worship OF the Chrch Oh
saSSsTd, in use during the reign OF Edward VI
superseded by compilation from wmch our present
Prayer Book derived) which was in fact, as, under
the circumstances. was be expected q COMPROMISE
between ROmh and Protestant truth The fruits
Of that ngOdy compact the Church OF England and the
Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States
have been reaPnG tne ,r hs sa0ssa s,nce a~e
Queen Elizabeth buried In Westminster Abbey, ana
Vet we are suffering to-day from sin OF her admnitra
ton The result OF the compact reierreu 10 mas peeu
that the Book of Common Prayer Is in part Protestant
protestant Other portions of the Book not So In
evidence Of the latter statement we may cite the bap-
,sI ofces and the OF the word priest CThe teach
ings OF the Bapsmal offices were here earnestly stated
by the reading 81 dbn! ns IN et ie Cspechs oar ts
ones are taught TO 10 reply TO the MICROSCOPY
"Who gave you this name MY sponsors sponsors N PAP pap,
us, % and an inheTitor OF the kingdom Of heaven"
The chd natural inference rom tS res r
pentant change, and that simply because ne au ooen
bsptized ne is now a state OF salvation which is
dangerous delusion Of human souls" The wOrd priest
which means a mediator or medium OF acceptable com,
munication between God ana man, is not once uset
Of the Christian ministry in the New Iesament yet u
is repeatedly employed IN the Book Of Common Prayer
10 describe the ministry IN TINS Church priest Is
naturally associated with altar, and an altar as
naturally implies sacrifice We have no priest out 9U
Jesus aud altar but Mount Sayary ana no saeInGe
and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world once Tor
all offered the Cross Ia consequence OF tne use oi
minisry is sacerdotal office. the Lords table an altar,
and the Lords supper a saerinee -. ., ...... 4,
what hast thou now dOncf' is there not curse IN
the exclusive and prOscriptiye attitude winch TINS
Church maintains toward the ministry and em6ershp
OF other churches AS the result OF this theory, now
held by overwhelming majority Of Episcopallan the
minstry Of other Protestant churches held TO be in-
valid Their pastors not permitted TO occupy the
pulpit Oiiiciate at the communion tables of this
Church and those Of her clergy who openly fellowship
practical recognition the validity
their ministry regarded with suspicion and distrust
Their loyalty impugoed ana theS are considered Ia
peace Now reference to this attitude, we take leave
remark in the first place that there Is reason to be-
doubted that the Divine Spirit has set the seal OF His
approval upon Other than episcOpany constituted
ShSIShes Ssny 81 "aS them 'l havd IN been highly
for zeal for love, for iberaty for success IN tne Mas
ter's cause. by their fruit ye shall know themt
Their love TO the Lord Jesus no man can question Inc
ssI9es!nSss o ne pey MS Is av DSS1nI m @ So Th mn
OF his kingdom by their hands, and in the changed
hearts aud lives OF mutltudes Is ior any man 70
pronounce invalid that which the Holy Ghost has
hon6dva 20, h WIN lhe highest evidences Gi yaay Gan
the spirit OF Godi Ny dear hearers those who are
good enough aE @ Ior Jesus must be good enough
maintain ourselves support a 81 stem which main
Whom He has honored with the highest tokens OF his
favor aud his love. We remark. in the second place
iSsi such an attitude must cast doubt upon the reality
80 r own pOssession Of that priceless blessing which a.