The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1874-12-02
MOTHER DILEMMA.

The view entertained BY Roman Catholics and
many Epis opaians on the subject of ordination
and the sacraments, bring them into sore troubles
Bishop Cumuins, having the indeible grace OF pre-
latcal ordination on his head. opened the door Of
the told and walked off about year ago. He car
RED the grace Of his ordination with him greatly to
the alarm Of our Episcopal brethren. He has
since impaired this true Apostolic Succession
TO the Rev. Mr. Cheney. While kept within
The Church il was beautiful, but now that 1t
has broken loose, there is no telling where 1t may
20 and 'whereuntO it may grow" Our genuine
ChurehmeD, of the superlative degree, have been
sorely perplexed, and are about as sOrely tossed
on the horns Of a dilemma as some other High
Churchmen were more than eighteen hundred
years ago when requested to decide whether the
baptism of John was from heaven or Of men. The
late assistant Bishop Of Kentucky is now either
genuine bishop or he is not. If he is, if the virtue
OF ordination still resides in him, he can impart 1t
TO Others and so there is no ground according to
the Episcopal theory upon which they can refuse
10 recOs Ma Che Reformed Episcopal Church, as a
part Of the Church Of Christ.
If they say he is not, because he has been de-
posed, then how do they themselves preserve the
links Of apostocal successiOn2 Does the Episcopal
Church maintain that Bishop Of thoroughly good
character cannot Withdraw from it in a respectful
manner, With the avOwed purpose Of being co.,
nected with another orthodox evangelical church
that if he does he may be followed BY an act d.
vesting him Of al power to perform validity the
acts belonging (under their theory Of church gov
erument) to Bishop2 Then, we repeat the ques-
ton, where do they themselves stand? For if We
run back TO the reformation Of the 10th century,
their own predecessors were all depOsed by those
from whom their ordination came. In either case
they are caught on a horn.
But here comes another trouble 1t has been
discovered $50 the papers state) that the Arch
bishop Of Canterbury, the highest digntary in the
English Church, has never been baptized-Or at
least not in any way to be recognized as valid -
This is creating great sensation. The following
are the facts as stated 10 the secular journals:
"Dr. Toit was born in Scotland, OF Presbyte-
ran parents, who cared little about baptism
When be was an infant be was at one time very
ill., and was supposed to be dying, and he says that
q. this time bis nurse, an old Scotch woman, bap-
tied him. This baptism would be a good one,
even 10 the eve Of the Catholic Church, ii it were
done with the proper intention, and with the es-
sential words. But no evidence exists OF these
facts, and no other baptism was ever administered
to the child who is now Archbishop of Canterbury.
When he grew up to be young man, he became
an Episcopalian, and when be was student at
Balhol, Oxford he was confirmed by Bishop Bagot.
After the confirmation, the Bishop learned thai
Mr.. TAFT had never been baptized save in the way
inst described The Bishop sent for him in great
distress. Mr.. TAFT, said he, confirmation can
not be duly given to any one who has not beer
valdy christened. / have confirmed you in igno
rance 90 and be baptized for security's sake, anC
then come to me again for confirmation. MIR
TAFT declined to do anything Of the kind, and thu
the ease stands