Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-01-30
THE REFORM MOVEMENT.

CHURcHMAN-Is ScHIsM A SIN ?-RTr-
UALIsM To BE BEATEN INSIDE TFE
CHURCH-FIGHTING IT Our UNDER
THE OLD FLAe-CoRREsPoNDENcE
BETWEEN Mr.. LATANE AND AN IN
yADING MINIsTER-COMMENTs OF THE
NEWSPAPERS.
&C, &C., &C.
There has been much excitement III the
community in Staunton since the
publication in this journal last Friday, OF
Rev. J. A. Latane's letter dissolving his
connection with the Episcopal church,
The interest was added to by the reception,
by the members of Trinity congregation,
of which Mr.. Latane was formerly the
PASTOR of a number Of pamphlets contain
ing his "Letter of Withdra wal,' and the
question became general among the Epis-
copalians twill our rector leave the Church
too" Before Sunday it was generally ex-
pected that Rev. W. @. Hullihen. THE rec
tor, who was known to be a pronounced
low churchman would define his position,
and on Sabbath morning, in addition to
an unusually large attendance OF his own
congregation, there had gathered at TIN
ity church large number OF persons OF
other denominations. At the opening hymn
the organ failed, giving the impression that
it had gone off to join "the new move
ment," and the choir left for a smaller in
strument down stairs, leaving the VINDI-
GATOR reporter to the quiet possession OF
the choir gallery After the usual service
and the singing of the hymn Il love thy
Kingdom Lord the rector announced for
his text the 18th verse Of the oath chapter
of Isaiah, that being appointed to be read
in the first lesson of that day. ''No weap-
on that is formed against thee shall pros
per and every tongue that shall rise
against thee in judgment thou shalt con-
denim. This is the heritage of the servants
of the Lord, and their righteousness is OF
me, saith the Lord
The following is a full report of his ser
mon
[ have been asked whether l too was
going to join the Bishop Cummins Re
form Movement.
propose talking the matter over with
you this Notwithstanding the reasons
which have been given for it.
But first want to make you promise,
for YOU have proved yourselves good and
true friends of mine and worthy OF my
confidence, and l will submit it to the
lawyers and judges among you to see
whether Oh not state the case fairly, and
my conclusions are just.
promise you then that
1 WILL NOT JOIN THE REFORM MOvH-
MENT ..t
without consulting you about it and ask.
ing your earnest prayers for Gods guild
ance of me. Nor will 1 join it until have
conferred with my brethren in the Minis.
try. especially those eminent for their piety
and theological attainments, and who
also, have always proved themselves un-
flinching advocates of Evangelical Oh Low
Church views. ... I,it0
And, furthermore, 1 promise you that
will not join that Reform Movement un
til I have sought the advice and godly
counsel of my Bishops; and for this rea
son, that before they would ordain me
promised in the solemnly invoked Presence
of Almighty God that would 1.HH
REvERENTLY OBEY MY BISHOPS, T
who, according to the canons of the Church
have the charge and government over me
following with glad mind and will theil
godly admonitions, and submitting myself
to their godly judgments"
For that solemn promise meant some
thing: but it would mean nothing if, il
the gravest matter can ever be called up
on to act, give my Bishopsn no opportuni
ty to express their godly admonition ano
judgment, and only when that admonitiol
and Judgment are likely to chime in witt
nv own fancies. to solicit and obey them
And furthermore promise you, which il
implied indeed in What has been ALREADY
said, l will not decide to join the Reform
movement
ENTIRELY IN MY SECRET CHAMBER.
That certainly is d good and right place al
all times and in all seasons for the Chris
tian, but it is not the only place where
ought to go in making up my mind on sc
momentous question, and if I should act
in that unwarranted way, would expect
to hear tho voice Of the Lord SAYING unto
mes who hath required this at your hands?'
God works by means. He will not work
miracles where natural agencies are suffi
Gent, Sin the multitude of eeungellors there
is WISDOM To united prayer is promised
guidance And so if 1 should neglect OF
despise those means, I could have no guar.
antee that 1 was being directed of the
Lord, and that He would not let. me ''eat
the fruit Of my own wilful doings." Fol
does not every one knoW that it has beer
in the secret closet and private prayer Of
single individuals, altho' Of holy charac
ter and honest convictions, that some Of
the most pefnicious and unreasonable
Sects have had their origin?
Shall leave my Church because there
are in it two parties of very opposite views
on some points lbut yet agree on many
others? Only by separating into innu-
meralble fragments OF else by lowering the
standards" and cutting up the "Creeds'
can perfect harmony be secured i'll any
Christian organization. But if the alter
native of separating into small sections is
preferred, aiming the while to preserve the
truth intact, the almost inevitable conse-
quence would be narrowness and bigotry
and one sided views Of divine truth, exal-
ting doctrines about mint. anise and cum
min to the detriment of weightier matters
of the Law of God. Shall I then leave my
Church because OF the differences in opin-
ion; and because we cannot have every
thing our own way refuse to remain in