New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-11-14
DRIFTING TOWARD RITUALISM.

REFUSAL OF THE EPISCOPAL CONVENTION TO ADOPT
| REFORM NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. NATURE OF THE
| LEGISLATION AGAINST Observation-Disclosures
CAyoNs RETAINED-DIsHOP CUMAINs'S COURSE
| JUSTIFIED.
TO The Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: The General Convention of the EpiscO-
pal Church has finished abors. 1t may be well 70
look back what it has accomplished, for the
Episcopal Clurch hal arrived at period of her history
when there strange disquiet within her fold, aud
great disrust without Tue disquet within the Church
had manifested itself in various ways notably In q
petition to Convention from onefth Of the clergy
of the Church, large number Of vestres, and OF
the most powerful docesas, respecting the baptsmal
service. Again. the disquet within the Church had
manifested itself by a growing discomfort, which, less
than one year ago. eliminated in the departure OF
bishop and the establishment of new organization.
The 81 men who founded the Reformed Episcopal Church
in December last had grown to over 5000 com
municants, worshiping IN about 80 parishes,
and with nearly 40 ministers. This young
branch OF the church universal was growing
steadily and had perfected its constitution and canOns
and provided an edition OF the Prayer Book from which
every germ OF Romanism was eliminated II Is no Sc
cret that many clergymen aud laymen looked to the
General Convention for action which would take from
this new church its raiS0n d6tre.
The Protestant Episcopal Church should be the Church
of the American people 1t should be broad enough TO
brace all the different phases OF fFOtesJatsm IL should
have a place for the rayermeeting and also for the
pure,y turgc service. Nothing should be cast out
cept what teaches ratonaism or Romansn But no
such position has been taken BY the Church Ronanism
has been allowed to flourish and the whole tendency
the Church has been against evangelical truth.
The common sense Of the people has heretofore be-
come suspicious of the Church For the American p,o.
pic are thoroughly Protestant Uatil few years past
the Church grew steadily ana largely from other de-
nominations The beauty OF it's ritual the dignity OF It's
ORDER and the grandeur OF its history attracted thou
sands to its pale who cared little and considered less
whether OF its established formulas were consist
ent with the fundamental principles OF Protestant truth
The love OF ITS members for the Old Church gradually
increased In strength and power aud feeling OF reyer.
ence WAS entertained for the Prayer as almost D
vine and surely perfect. Tue authority OF the one
whether speaking by its highest legislative body mr. In
the person OF the parish priest became an authority
which could not be gainsayed resisted aud the text of
other became sacred the tablets written by the
finger Of Col Oll-fashoned Episcopalns cav with
varied feelings. their children subscribing to the new
doctrines quoting the Itself for their vind
cation and refusing be satisfied when told that black
meant WHITE For the love OF the book extended even
TO faults ami biemisles-to the fruits the EhLa
bcthan compromises. Prietly authority found II, sane
ton fearful statement made to each minister by
bis Bishop at ordination, Whose sins thou dost for
give they forgiven and whose thOI dost retain they
Earnest men who loved their church dd their best 10
Rescue the tendencies Of those were srty
ing to undo tue work OF the Reformation. Long ana
now can blame himself for not proongng the contest
But quietly and steadily the work TO which have
ALLUDED went and the cause OF evangelical truth In
the Protestant DscOpal Church WAS lost
Under such grave circumstances the Convention
esabe gentleman having been elected 60 The bishop
Iic OF Illinois, tho Aod.e oil Deputies s2e' 0ne-ha VI