The New York herald., 1874-10-04

however asking lor such leglslation The nett
TONERS want the Convent ton TO define and declare
wnat ornaments and ritual are lawful In tho
Church, and what snail attach to the trans.
gresson OF proper nrnlts IN the use OF sucn ritual
and ornaments whether BY defect or by excess
They also ask for the establishment OF q Court Of
Final Appeal for such controversies. Another pc.
titon, headed by Drs. A. II. Vinton, Il. A. Wash.
bnrne Phillips Brooks G. G. Tiffany and otnef
clergsmen, asks Tor q mere veroal cnange In tho
ruorc OF the public Daptism OF iniants which the
otner LEGISLATION and entirely remove fhe objec-
tons al Low Churchmen to the baptlsmal regen-
GRAFTON theory. What they ask Isl
That the rubric Immediately preceding the call u
prayer which follows the reception OF the baptized into
the Church be amended 50 as to read Here may tho
fha. the rubrc preceding the last collect Of tho
iser say the following the collect appointed Tor Eastsr
. lhe relief which the petition seeks therefore. ID
th hDerly or omltting the recital OF the deciara-
l,oh nat the child Is regenerate, aid the liberty
oi using an alternate collect, already in the Prayer
BOOK, toe those who do not ike the same express
sioh IN Tue prayer OF thanksgiving. And all this
alter the sacralenta act has been completed aud
cahhot, therefore, be affected by the change. Tho
dlsahectlon and discomfort prevailing In tho
Ghurch may, therefore. be laid to rest by simple
OF conWction IN regard TO the state or the bap-
tizsd. The change, therefore wouie be iiturgicai
ANOTHER REMEDY PROPOSED.
~ IS proposed also that there should be an ut
terance rom the Lower House IN regard TO ritual
ism, IA there was from The House OF bishops at
the last General Convention. THIS has the al
gested In so far as II would not sacrifice impor-
tant general interests TO a special exigency but
It's only eject would be moral, and would amount
To very niue. II may safely be anrmed that
never, from the third century unt the censecra-
ton OF the rst Bishop OF the Protestant Episcopal
Cnurch In America has Episcopacy pure and
simple been exposed TO SO severe a STRAIN as now.
There can os no DOUBT" says Or. JOIN Cotton
Smith in his paper. 'but that the bishops OF the
Church are largely responsible for the abuses
which have crept IN, and that the reformation OF
course which The biSlODS shall Dursue.p
Now, II Is admitted almost universally that the
iormniares OF the Protestant Episcopal Church
secure LOT ner lay members, and even Tor the
clergy II not the utmost possible liberty, at least
far more liberty than could be found In any other
Protestant Episcopal church, IN her authoritative
tormuaries Denies Is the liberty to destroy the
great II the freedom even OF the clergy; from the
alty the very utmost that can he supposed to be
required IS the acceptance or the Apostles Creed.
DANGER IN THE EPIsCOPACY.
An added danger springs up here also in the
fact that several missionary and diocesan bishops
VIII be elected very soon ana IN the present eX-
cited state OF relgious feeling In the Protestanr
Episcopal Church, no blshop can be elected VINO ID
not 4 party man, whereas not 10 be 3 party man
Is an absolutely essential qualification Of = good
bishop. me Bishop is the chief pastor OF the
II a diocese can be found IN which all tue clergy
are OF one sort, that diocese should be carefully
avoided by every sensible clergyman. All the adj
mlssiole varieties of behef and practice should
be tolerated. IL Is an extreme misfortune
When When or can be spEen o ans as
when a bishop Is notorious partisan. No doubt,
there have been one or two depIorable examples
OF Episcopal ineflclency and bunderlng conceit.
but their ounders should not lessen the dignity
or the Episcopal lorm OF government In the eyes
Oh men. onuappNy, tue h9aerh tenaeney seems
almost entirely nominal The ordinary is to be
obeyed when his clergy ''feei like H." And one
might suppose. from recent discussions, that
blsnop Is irst and foremost a man to be kept at
arms length. Elect hun, consecrate him, preach
grand sermon about the dignity of his ONCE,
welcome him with efuslve aattery to his new
nome, but, above al-nake him know his place.
Let him understand that his chief business in mis-
diocese wli oe to let 1t alone. Whatever else tho
bsnops are, they are the representatives Of those
VINO chose them To-day, as never before.
EPIsCOPACY Is on IT'S TRIAL.
Many of the most serious dihcuites in the
Church arise rom the largeness OF its claims and
siastlcai supremacy. The sects which have been
somewhat haughtiy lectured and with which they
nave an opportunity IN lew DAYS OF seeing what
EpscopaliaDs really are, and hearing what they
have To say Tor themselves.
THIS Convention must adopt some scheme Tor
erecting provinces out ol number oil dioceSeS,
and tnis Will involve very great care ulness and
fairness on the part oi the members; but how
ever arduous its duties aad weighty it's respon-
sbiites, there is a strong presumption IN con.
servatve minds that its decisions will be wise ana
just and VIII be worthy OF the highest consldera-
ton py the Church at large.
THE CHURCH CONGRESS-
This body is something new on this side OF the
water. though Churcn congresses are considered
a necessary adjunct to Episcopal conventions IN
England where the laity and the great body OF
the clergy are supposed not to nave sufficient
voice IN The government and administration OF
ecclesiastical affairs. rms Congress is not likely
TO be the only one OF its kind thar VIII be held
here. IL starts out with too high tone and too
much respectabity attached to Notwithstanding
rne indirect censure of the Bishop OF the dloccs
against Ii and the refusal of other bishops TO pre-
side over or take part IN It's deliberations Its
sessions win be held in Association HAM, save that
tue opening session, beng 8 religious and sacra-
mental service also, viii be held in Calvary chape!
on Tuesday morning. sessions VIII then be held
IN Association Hall in the afternoon and even.
ing of that day and on Wednesday evening.
ton p'i smtn % al and 'eIn Hugh ~ Miller Miles thompson
OF TINS city, on "fne Limits OF Legislation as to
held thereon, in which Dr. Andrews OF Virginia,
X. II. Da "a, Jr OF Massachusetts,, and H. W.
Snehey, OF Virginia. viii take part Or. harwood.
OF Connecticut VIII read paper on Tuesday even.
ing on Clerical Education;" and DR.. Norton, OF
Virginia and Mr.. Ricnards, OF Rhode Island, and
on it. On Wednesday evening Or. Wasaourn, ol
this city, aud Rev. Mr.. Porter, OF Wisconsin, VIII
Episcopal Churcn TO Other Christian Bodies"
which vii! be debated by Rev. c. G. Currie, OF Penn.
sylvania DR.. osgood, OF this city. and Mr. \. T.
VIII be read by the Rev. W. u. Wilson, d. D., LII. d..
oi Cornell University, on THE Mutual Christian
Obligations OF Capital and Labor The papers are
limited TO twenty mnufes and the speeches
thereon, by appointment, TO fifteen minutes each.
eacn. Dr V,nton win preside: anc, should tw1
days oe insufficient tor the business OF the Con-
gress, 1t win provide for an extension or time.
This Congress VIII embrace men OF all schoolk
or thougnt In the Church. and many who dele.
gates elect also to the General convention. Tnd
Bishops OF AaUama, Rhode Island, Ohio Central
New Yors and Nebraska have consented TO act az
Vice Presidents, together with a large number ol
eminent clergy and laymen OF different states.
The deliberations OF this Congress are designed
not only TO let the Convention Know what the ma.
iority In the Church want. but also to impatt "a
the clergy more eSDru de corps, which II IS said
they greatly need. This gathering will wake them
up, and, after mutual explanations and Conces.
sons, better feeling among all parties aud
shades OIL O.LulUu must necessarily prevail.
RQMAM nArHAIInraM IN EMQI.ANn