The New York herald., 1874-11-16
oHURoH OF THE INCARNATION,

The Progress OF the New Church Move>
ment-ConhrmatiOn by Bishop Cum-
minis.
Yesterday forenoon about 450 persons assembled
for worship In small frame building on the wess
side OF Cumberland street, between Lafayettu
ana De Kalb avenues The structure is known a.
the Reformed Episcopal Church OF the Incarnation.
and was opened in the early partof the present
year by Q few dissenting members OF the Proses-
tant Episcopal Church who saw at to follow the
teachings OF Bishop Cummlns IN rejecting the
following doctrinest;-First, that the Church OF
Christ exists only In order form OF ecclesiasti-
cal polity; second that Christian ministers arc
..priests" In another sense than that IN
which all believers are o 'Toyal priest
hood :" third, that the Lords table is an altar on
which the oblatiOn Of the body and blood OF Christ
is offered anew to the Father; fourth tnat "sho
presence OF Christ In the Lords Supper 10 q
presence In the elements Of bread and wine, and
that regeneration Is inseparaply connected with
baptism" The rector OF the congregation Is Rev.
w. H. Reid aud ex-Lieutenant Governor STEWART
L. Woodford 1s senior warden; Thomas H. Stevens
junior warden; and James l.. Morgan, John B.
Edwards, Herbert B. Turner and Charles II. swan
vestrymen. The announcement made that th0
right OF con1rmation would be administered at
this church by Bishop Cummins naturally had the
effect OF attracting larger congregation than
usual yesterday. After the rector had read sho
lessons and ntany as prescribed In the Book Of
Common Prayer, he announced from the reading
desk the names Of about twenty men and women,
chiefly from the Episcopal and Presbyterian de-
nomination. The new members, tw0-thirdS OF
whom were females, rose up in their
places. Rev. Mr.. Reid then extended to
them che fellowship of the Church. assuring them
Of the blessings which would attend their act1on
in thus declaring their principles. "At the same
time the Church expects from y0u," he satd,
'your prayers, your energy, influence and sup
port to ouild 1t up as far as lays in your power.S
lie assured Them that the Christian life was not
shsy @ 8 should % labor accordingly lor love ana glory.
that they might reap the JOYS OF everlasting lie.
He then called upon the candidates lor connrma-
the rite thereof, to present themselves at the
chancei. Eight ladies, middle aged and young-
tion as directed at the chancel railing. Bishop
Cummins then came forward and said In sub
~ ton Of the Protestant Episcopal Church which. in
his opinion, was more essential Tor truth and
purity OF religion, It was to be found % In
Il was wrong to bring children OF twelve
or gs wa0 the Seuq snss
period r"s When they ala not understand the So
% thereS 20 Cod, Sas simply Vent went through matter
OF form, because 1t mad been the erroneous prac~
ttCe OF the protestant Episcopal CnuTCu OF Eng
land since It's foundation. We protest against the
doctrine that there is no regeneration except by
water, and assert that regeneration Is found only
In the Holy Spirit. You come here to receive the
rite OF confirmation in the faith which you COM
prehend and to which you win adhere You come
to acknowledge your Divine Lord and Master be-.
cause You have been converted, and you desire to
testify to His splendor and glory. Eighc
months ago, the Bishop said, he appeared
first amoung them and preached when the
number of persons present was not more numer-
GUS than were the candidates for confirmation to-
day. Now he found that the little church which
had been then established was built upon rock,
and though they worshipped In humble building
did not Christianity begin IN 2 much humbler
building than this The spirit OF she men ana
women who were present to-day told him that the
Church would grow and increase rapidly. The
first fruits Of the flock so short time since Assem-
bled and organized were to be received into tho
congregation to-day. He charged the candidates
at the chancel as TO what was expected Of them.
They were to 60 out and work for Christ; TO md
those who are less happy tb4n they are, andk
bring them to the Saviour
but Just returned from q visit to Canada, where he
found the Reformed Episcopal Church taking root
with wonderful raptdity. In British Columbia am
entire congregation, including the Dean Of the
Church OF England, mad joined the Reformed
Canada at present and had they the means he
felt sure that by the end of January 1875, they
could have hity churches in the Dominion. The
work In Brooklyn was grounded on sure footing,
and he thanked God that He had permitted him TO-
Two In