National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-09-28
REFORMED EPISCOPAL.

DISCOURSE BY BISHOP CUMMINS.
The announcement that Bishop George ID.
Cummins, the founder of the Reformed Episcopal
Church. was to preach in Lincoln hall last night
put the citizens of Washington, regardless Of re-
lisious belief on the anxious stool, and the hall
was crowded to such an extent that there was not
standing room, the platform also being filled.
In the audience was Rlarge number of the pastors
Of the different churches, who seemed to be
deeply interested in Bishop Cummins' remarks
After the regular evening services Of the Re-
formed Episcopal Church, conducted by Rev. VIM.
Mcclure, the pastor, Bishop Cummins, attired
in black sUrpliee proceeded to the reading desk,
where he said: 1t was pleasant thing TO stand
before so large Washington audience, city in
which he had spent so much Of his life. He telt
proud in their presence, yet there was something
that made him sad A dear friend Of his youth
was absent. The position he now occupied was
peculiar. He stood before his hearers to plead
for the Reformed Episcopal Church, a young,
tender plant, against which the iereest winds
have blown.
1t may be asked, does the Episcopal Church
need reforming? 1t does and three great and
distinct efforts have been made to crush the
Church of England: First, by force; second, by
intrigue, and third, by the mighty power Of the
press. The Protestant Episcopal Church has
been progressing until now it stands against the
mightiest power. The Episcopal Church has
He next referred to ritualsm in the Episcopal
Church, and spoke of the affairs, bowling, Tespers,
&c, and said the English nation and great Pro-
testant head is awakened and trying to put down
ritualism. In this country efforts are also being
made in this direction. Those interested in ritu-
alism say that the rayer-bOOk remains the same;
it cannot be when confessions are introduced.
The Church sadly needs reformation and it must
be done at once. 1t is said the Church of Eng
Pope There has never been an instance Of the
Church reforming itself from within. In order to
accomplish this great work Of reformation it is
necessary to have the united efforts of all good
EptscOpalans, and he appealed to his hearers to
aid in it. He heard many voices singing the eX-
celsis, ard he knew large number of EpiscOpa-
lians we're present by the Outpouring of voices.
During the last twenty years the Episcopal
Church has undergone many changes He loved
to hear the voices of earnest Protestants and
liked TO mingle with them. He had nothing but
love for him who has said the hardest things.
When he 1.-THE speaker) entered Washington
there was not shadow of such doctrine as rit-
Ralism, but now see the change. The Reformed
Episcopal Church cOmmends itself as a mighty
movement towards the welfare of the Church. 1t
is not sehism; it is step towards reunion-to
bring all Protestant Churches together in one
band. 1t is not work Of destruction, but of res
eNAeAeASAii NACaAALAk away blS NusS nun Will
dOws and letting in the light. 1t is the same old
prayer book without the priests; it is the same
old house cleansed and purified The Episcopal
Church believes in prayer-meetings, and it is
Gods fire that cannot be put out. The Church is
the old Episcopal Church, which will forever
stand.
Under Bloody Mary the first effort was made to
crush reform, the second effort in the seventeenth
century, under James IL, who attempted to fill
the authors of the Oxford tracts in the nineteenth
century, not by force or intrigue but by greater
power. For thirty years great revolution had
been going on, until we stand to-day before the
greatest power that ever attacked Professionalism
since the Reformation. 1t began az Oxford with
three men, who since have become quite noted
Pussy, Newman and Keble-the lastnamed now
in heaven, Pussy still at oxford, and Newman
has gone over to the Church Of Rome.
The Parliament OF England spent whole ses-
siOns trying to put down ritUalism. In Baltimore
one Of the oldest churches has an altar which
cost 5000, and services are held in the church
similar to those OF the Romish Church.
Bishop Nottingham in 1s4l came to the do
cese Of Maryland as rector Of Christ church, With
H. V. D. Johns as his assistant. His first sermon
was on the doctrine ofprests, affairs and sacrifice
DR.. Johns replied in sermon setting forth that
there was not the slightest grounds in the Bible
LOT MS doctIlhe, and Eald no such sermon should
ever again be preached in the pulpit. Thirty
three years have passed, and the mother church
of this diocese can hardly be told from the Church
Of Rome.
He wanted the doctrine given up that the
Episcopal Church was the only Church. This
movement is Gods work, and man cannot over
throw it.
He closed by saying that the effort cannot fail;
but if it should, it would be like Columbus.
When he started out to fnd the East Indies he
found America. The large audience gives evil
denee that the Reformed Church will stand like
a rock.
The remarks Of the Bishop were listened 70
with much interest. He will discourse this even
ing in the Neu York arRnnn ehnrnh