New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-07
RELIGIOUS DISCUSSION.
AUTHORITY OF THE CHURCH OVER
BISIOpS

piS>fO(S.
PROF. FIsBERs CHAT .oSs cRrTIcIsED-HooKER AND
ST. JERoME-E,>sLY RECOGNITION OF PREsBY'
TERRAIN oRp,<Es AN RREGULARITY.
70 tie Ed'rer Of The Tribune.
Sir: ia Prof. Fishers answer 20 DR.. Hugh
inst, these words occur:
He Hooser) distinctly afrms lin b VII. Kebles Ed,
Vol ILL., 1853 that the Church for urgent cause; ay
general consent II competent TO take away
from the hands OF her Bishops.
THIS In a singular statement and deserves nouee'
Purely the learned Professor does not desire us W o
from this reference that Hooker either beheVed OF
taught that the Church has within herself the authority
end power 10 retain dispense with EpiscoPacy as an
order of the ministry as she may WILL ~ he does he
has sadly misunderstood and misQuoted ms au'hor'
HOOKER as any one NAV readily ascertain for himself
mover ptmates that he entertans the shadow OF such
an opinion In the place TO which Prof. f1sher REFERS
he IL explaining a statement OF ST. Jerome lie puts
himself in the place. II Were OF ST. Jerome ana as
rumes that the stating his etlength through
him. To quote ST. Jeromes views as II Hooker were
responsible for them himself the truth all the while
being that he not sufficient TO show that the writer
who does such thing cannot know what he is about
The exact words Of b. VII, Kebles Ed VOL Ill, p le5
Of the Laws OF Ecclesiastical POlity append:
,rcme ouon reasonable sensible plain being oOE,rsst :.
IN each Church an order descended from CHRIST 70 the @
th In their stead appointed bishops over particular SunnIes sno cur
,s. hath eon,nued the world for pesby
gvdge continue subject unto their bishops gHs thsy wa
proudly oppose that which God himself hath ordained
s. apostles the whole Church aprve,h su uigeh convenient
With Conformity Of truth rs. their authority hath thus
ssnsd even from the y APG se enn ssy hat by COM
Of the Lord doth eOjon ~ therefore ru aeinowge
away neio be constrained through the proud Srann
iet.t hs@sese. S none on authority touch er state
s 'St% Ss Church Ss1ns long the
,en,1, 81 her yroos bishops m uphold maintain and honor
true
showed by sh,of Of truth appear that the LOT
s,ho,s IN What sort soever they behave themselves
So much what ST. Jerome has 10 say. Next ollo"s
HOoker's comment upon I:
In an this there why ST. Jerome might not think The authors
Of Btopal regiment have been the blessed Apotes heIn
se,ss the special motion Of the Holy Ghost &c
Certainly there is nothing in all this 10 sustain Prof.
Fishers Interpretation of Hooker The question OF the
authority TO retain dispense with Episcopacy
as an order OF ministry is not under discussion ST.
Jerome refers 20 the power Of discipline the night OF the
Church 70 take away government from bad Bishops,
right which she has ever maintained, and which has
never been questioned. practical illustration OF this
fact. the church her will be compelled to
furnish One OF her Bishops having renounced bis high
Office betrayed the solemn trust committed 10 his
charge will shortly he tried and deposed for his oenses
Because the Church has power to take government
away from an unfaithfu Bishop under these and like
circumstances affords ground whatever for the be-
lief that she cam If she WILL abolish the Epscopate as
whole.
Concerning the question Of the recognition of Pres
byteran orders which has thoroughly discussed
Of late in your columns this much has been overlooked
by those who oppose the stand taken In the days OF
Archbishop Laud In the regns OF Henry VIII and Mary
Reformed English Church had 10 struggle for its ex-
istence Every ally counted. No mans aid was refused,
whether he was Calvnist or Lutheran. Many irregu-
Isrities were allowed cOndOned therefore, which the
after years be contrary the teaching and
example Of the primitive Church. II Is so in every
great struggle. Who, for instance, would think
of iustfying many OF the irregular measures
OF the Government during the late civil
war; or claim them as precedents for all
future time No one. Such things submitted to
because the exigency extraordinary. When peace,
however was declared, the old regimen came gradually
into place, and continues TO this day. And 1t was
the same during the Reformation. That Cranmer and
Jewel and other chief refomers. intent only as they
were upon staying the octopus of Rome. welcomed all
who would stand by their side, is admitted. Also ii is
acknowledged that rerormers from foreign
churches were of them appointed 10 collegiate
positions In England graceful recognition OF vaua-
action on the part of the English reformers was an &C.
acknowledgement OF other orders than those derived from
Episcopal ordination or the Church OF England
forever thereafter committed policy which would
make the Episcopate OF little account, cannot be
proved On this account II is that sound church
men hold that il only natural
and prudent to first pnncples-to those Of
the Holy Scripture and OF the ancient Christian Church
throughout the world, when in the days OF Laud and
Hammond and Leslie the divine authority OF the Epis
eopscy strenuOusy set forth as its rdisOn etre
teaching not the outcome OF preat1cal am
btoD OF expediency. IL was based upon the fact
that the power OF the keys first settled in the
Apostles before 10 delivered 10 the Church and the
Church received from the Apostles not the Apostles
from the Church This is the ground on which the
Protestant Episcopal Church In this land stands square
and firmly to-day. With those who refuse TO aeknow-
ledge her just claims she has querre But her mem
bers, regretng the innuIaeraoe divisions OF Chrsten
DOM knowing how they weaken Its aggressive power,
pray ferventy for the time when the prejudice and g
norance that land shall be dspelled;
the time when Christs prayer shall be realized
THAT they all be one even thou Father art III
Me, and in Thee, that they also may be IN Us; that
the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me-" T. G.
JarrytOrn, N. T., Dec. Is, 1873.