The New York herald., 1874-05-14


the convention ON It's educational ana mssiOnarg
interests alter which the body adjourned si,se de
THE REFORMED EPISCOPALIANS.
The Second General Councii-The New
Constitution-Theolo Hairsplit-
ttng-A Great Display OF Learning--
Considerations Analysing OF tho Can-
ons-Shrewd Thrusts and Hard Raps 1t
Sinful Architects and tho Other 'Doxies.
The General Council OF the Reformed Episcopal
Church met at hslfpast ten O'Clock yester.
day In Rev. DR.. Sabine's little church, at tho
corner OF Madison avenue and Forty.sevenrn
street. While the second council OF this
new departure 1t Is probably the nrss
OF serious s import The attendance was, u
uot large. distinguished, and several ladies', and
even little girls, were present. and seemed to
listen to tie proceedings with rapt devotion.
Alter singing and prayers by Rev. Mr. Wndeyer,
Dr. Nelil and Bishop CuInmins, Bishop Cheney
preached from the text, 'srne Kingdom Of Coo "a
not meat and drink, but righteousness and peaoo
and Joy In the Holy Spirit" from the seven.
teenth verse Of the fourteenth chapter OF st.
Pauls Epistle to the Romans. Lake the
Indian summer, he said, time. with mellow haze,
enveioped events and partly concealed their true
character. The early Church, seen through this
ttful but analytic study OF the history OF primi
tive Christians showed very distinctly that their
dissensions were as numerous and fierce on matters
OF trivial or serious Importance as at the present
day. But in essentials the principles OF Christianity
never varied, and their basis was the Bible. That
is the rule OF faith for the Church, and the vital
sacrifice OF Lord and Saviour les central prin.
ciple. No believer should be hampered beyond
this by the weight OF authority forms or tradt
tonal prescription The Reformed Church ad.
hered to Episcopacy as desirable form
OF congregational government, not In
obedience to Divine edics The pretensions
sustained by The Bible. rne doctrine OF the real
presence in the Eucharist now permeating that
Church was once abhOrrent to 1t. With love to
an even to their enemies who revlied them, they
hoped by love TO Win souls and disarm their fOos.
the Bishop concluded @ with eryent THANKSGIVING to
young o1shOOt OF the spreading tree oil Chris
tianity. The holy communion was then admins
tered.
The Council then organized. Bishop Cummins
was elected President and Mr. Robert B. Turner
secretary. On motion, ministers OF all Christian
denominations were invited to seats on the moor.
The meetings were arranged as lOlloWs:-ReliRtOus
services at hali-past nine A NJ daily; business a.
ten; recess at one; resumption OF business At
halIpaSt two; adjournment at five.
cable despatch OF greeting from the Free
rgnt reverend prelate In the chair. Tne Council
then adjourned to hali-pasr two.
The Afternoon Session.
They reassembled ut hafpast two. The clerical
George D. Cummlns, Bishop. Charles Edward
Cheney, the Rev. Messrs. h H. Bourne, w. v. Felt
well. Mason Gallagher, B. b. Leacock r J. McFad-
den, VIM. McGuIre, johnston McCormac, Ed ward D.
Nelll, W. II. Reid W. T. SABINE Marshall b. Smith.
Thompson l. smith, Charles H. II TUCKER, J. D. WI
sented were as iollows:-First Reformed Episcopal
church, New York; Church OF the incarnation,
church, Chicago; Christ church, Peoria, ILL.,; First
aud Second Reformed Episcopal churches, Phila-
delphla; Christ church, Moncton, N. b.; Church
OF the Rock OF Ages LIttleton, Co and the Re.
formed Episcopal churches OF washington, ID. O.:
The renort Of the T Executiye Committee was pre-.
sented by Rev Marshall b. Smith. Before 1t was
discussed motion to extend the courtesy OF the
floor TO laymen Of parishes In process OF formation
was accepted and ordered to be printed. A dis
cusslon arose as to the propriety OF dropping the
spoke strongly on the matter. He said they
desired simplicity. They were n forma
as q precedent. Now or never was the time to
add or take away. He was against bishops rObes
None could give better reasons against saem ss1
TO pride. As in dress 80 In titles. Nothing in the
Word sanctioned such title, and there was much
opposed to 1t. And 1t was unsuitable to the social
condition OF this conntry. Its abolition would tend
to make easy long desired aniliaton with other
evangelical DENOMINATIONS E4
nThe following Is an abstract OF the report OF the
Executive Committee CONSTITUTED under resolu.
ton at the first Council, on December 2, 1873. rhev
organized December 3, with Bishop Cummins in
the chair and Rev. Marshall B. Smith Secretary.
They had held six stated ana SIX
canons had been prepared by subcommittee
and referred ateyery stage to the Executive Con
returns Tne English Free Church and Lady Hun
tngton's connection had made Overtures for
afliiation Actuated BY energy and mindful Of
solemn responsibility, the Holy Spirit mad insplsed
The constitution and canons were taken up and
discussed Sertdttnb with vigorous discussion, in
active part. Rev. Marshall b. Smith was particu.
larry on his mettle in defending every traction OF
the volpminous documents, With whose prepara-
ton he had mad the greatest share and Colonel Ay.
crgg, venerable, shver-haired veteran, from New
Jersey, warmly supported him. Rev. DR.. Neill
the principal Of Minnesota College, q man
evidently Of deep learning conservative views aud
as to the throes and Commissions OF the
IRISH disestaDhshed Church. as he, tnen
anS
to the authority OF no less than l40 bishops, many
OF them specified by name, had evidently great
Cheney was humorous in his remarks, and the
Rev. MIR. wills, Wilson, purist in English ana
nestle rights OF parishes, was very aggres-
sive The discussions conducted IN such q
learning and scholarly expression were enntnral.
ing in their interest There was tremendous
| fight once whether the Reformed Church should
allow affairs or communion tables plain and sup
ported BY open framework. In the course OF this
ARCHITECTS OUT A TREMENDOUS RAP.
They were charged with doing much to corrupt
the worship OF God by their quas-asthetic follow
ing OF fashion, and the young curates socitous as
to the cut Of the sacredOtal surDlice were pretty
smartly taken TO task too Mr.. Smith got little
netted about writing the English language, "If
any OT us aren (stC. NE
At half-past fve the Council adjourned and re-
assembled at half-past seven.
The Evening Session.
Bishop Cheney took the chair. The caaons
were with reasonable rapdty, and not ex-
tensive If not unimportant alterations, pre-
sented discussed and voted on. tremend-
GUS war Of words took place over the canon on
congregations, Bishop Cheney, who desired to
speak, left the chair and DR.. Tying, OF PEORIA H.,
replaced him. CRsarism and the wicked, drunken