The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-01-26

their duties2 He assumes them to be
| in the Church and a. maintaining it's
integrity. and that he Ii
breaking bonds with them.
L. Mr.. Laiape in the church or out Of
the church % a question OF eonse'eaee
with himself. That his resignation has
not been acted on by the Vestry does
not alter the question. Let them &C.
cept or not, let every member Of 81
Mathews church 60 with him or not,
does not alter the question whether
be is in this Church or not
| ss a matter of conscience with himself.
He is in a state of recusancy. He has
unchurched himself N. L. having
placed himself on q distinct ground OF
conscience and having on this ground
repudiated the PRAYER Book, having in
this recusant spirit violated the canons
OF the church, having set at defiance
the authority OF his bishop, allegiance
towards whom he has dissolved by his
own case OF conscience. n. Latane
having done all this is not permitted, in
the forum OF conscience to exercise any
office, function or authority in
the Protestant Episcopal Church.
He is not permitted in this
forum OF conscience to avail himself
OF any technical ground Tor exercising
any Office, function or authority in it or
over its property. He has expatriated
himself; he is citizen of another ju.
risdictiop, or in his own statement OF
his case he is denizen OF the world and
waiting for something to turn up. At
all events he is out OF the Episcopal
church. If he does any acts under
color Of the church, under preteuce Of
his unbroken churchmanship, he will
know upon reflection, that he is doing
that which upon his conscience he
must sey he had no ecclesiastical right,
90 moral Or caponical right as q
churcnman TO do In such case he is
exercising powers which be
has abandoned, rejected and de-
uouuced. l 60 further and say that
no act of his Bishop can excuse his re-,
cusausy, except upon his own recants-
lion. A Bishop may do the same thing
that be has done, but he would be a
recusant Bishop. as Mr.. Cummins 10,
and as the whole course of the argu-
ment and conduct OF Mr.. Latane Admits
himself to be.
So far for these general views as to
the ecclesiastic position OF Mr.. L. But
the circumstances here have given rise
to some personal issues involving all
these general considerations OF which l
have spoken. Mr.. Latane. in conscience,
can exercise no Office, function or au.
thority in the parish OF ST. Matthew.
He is not the custodian OF its integrity,
its order, or its schools. The highest
functionary in the church to-day is its
Senior Warden. In this juncture oil at
fairs Mr.. Currie, a former rector OF the
church, arrives in the city. He is ad-
vised by personal friend that trouble
is brewing in his old church. Evidently.
from the circumstances as | have heard
OF them, be could not have known
what was the actual condition OF things
or how far the evil had extended. With
out solicitation or request, and prompts
ed by his general regard for the welfare
of the church, or the personal solicitude
which he felt for large circle OF friends,
and by both. he started at once for this
city. When he arrived here the Senior
Warden waited on him and asked him
to lecture in St. Matthews. 1t WAS
within the full scope Of his power to do
so-in the absence OF any rector who
could conscientiopSy act in the premises
Mr.. Curre took the view that every
churchman must take, that there was
not any official rector of St. Matthews
to exercise any Office, function, or au-
thority 10 the premises, and he con-
scented to lecture, and the notice was
published by due authority in the pa
pers. Mr.. Lataue knowing into whose
hands he had fallen resorted to the
technically that the vestry bad not &C
cepted his resignation, and that he
would by this subteriuge escape the
heavy hand oil o master in the church.
Mr.. Lstane himself called on Mr.. Cur
rie, where he was stopping at the
house OF friend, and lett in his hands
note, enquiring what was Mr.. Cur
rie's purpose 10 lecturiug in St Mat
thews. Now observe the distinct po-
sition OF these two gentle.
men. Mr.. Lstane was no longer
bound by the csLons OF the Protestant
Episcopal Church, for he had, in the
most solemn manner, repudisted them
Mr.. Currie was bound by them, and
although 30 invited by the Senior War
den or other members OF the church, be
would not be placed in the seemingly
false position OF speaking in a parish
where priest of the church, (for
that is his name in the prayer-book)
claimed by his acts to have even o
technical jurisdiction, though that
| priest had secuted, reprobated,
and rejec; ed the title
and the office. With the full knowl-
edge that situated as Mr.. Currie was,
be could not remain away from his
own charge to discuss subject Of this
| L;nJ in q rnnninp fipht "lrom hOuaa to