The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-01-19
manly and honest and straightforward

manly and honest and Straightforward
way, and has done only what the Re-
formers of the Church Of England did
when they came out Of the C'urch OF
Rome.
But ask the question because OF is
bearing on the attitude OF the Episce
pal Church to the other Churches o
the Reiormstiou. And on this poiu!
there is this cad and significant fact :;
While Biahop Cummius was so loudly
condemned for that communion act,
there was, 60 far as know, but one
paper in the entire Episcopal Church
in this country, which spoke out in
fearless and honest and hearty terms
| in defence Of him and in justification
OF his act. Surely this single fact
clearly marks how far the Episcopal
Church has already drifted from her
ancient Protestant mooriugs, and no
| one, who has watched for the last few
years the course OF the current Of
public sentiment in her communion.
can question that she 10 destiu-
ed to drit on yet farther aud yet
iaster 10 the same direction. 1t cannot
be otherwise. II follows as Q logical
necessity from that division in the
Church, and from those unscriptursl
views Of the effects of Baptism and OF
the nature Of the Lords supper and oi
the office OF the ministry, to which re-
ference has already been made. Just
10 proportion as those views spread and
prevail in the church, will the church
become more exclusive in its character
and more uuchurching towards other
bodies OF Protestant christians.
And l must cay that when, in the
last few weeks, have gone over ell
these difficulties in the Protestant
Episcopal Church aud looked them
calmly 10 the face. the result has been
a feeling. not o. surprlse at
the uneasiness aud restlessness many in
the Church have felt for years past.
but OF amazemeptth that so many OF us.
from love to the dear old Church and
for the cake oil her peace, and still hop
ing for better things, have borne them
90 long and go patiently. And when /
have eeen 80 clearly, as it seemed to
me, that the whole tendency OF things
in the Protestant Episcopal Church as
it is to-day, was mot Tor the better, but
for the worse, have not wondered that
Bishop Cummius has ct last felt him.
self verify called OF God TO take the
lead in organizing q Reformed Episco-
pal Church, and still less do | wonder
that many, in different parts OF the
Church, are, in their secret hearts. anx-
iously considering the question whether
they, too, are not called Of God to join
hands with him the good work.
The main difficulty have no doubt
with many, as for days it WAS with me,
is the question whether q reformation
cannot IN the end be effected in the
Church, and therefore whether il is not
matter OF duty 10 fight the battle in
the church. A careful review OF ell
the facts Of the case has lett me utterly
without hope in that quarter. 10 the
Church the battle has been fought; and
10 the Church the battle has been lost.
Thirty.fve years ago, when the Ok
ford Tracts for the Times" began Sc
riously TO endspger the Protestant
teaching and the Protestant character
OF the church IN this country. open war
was declared, and from that day to
this it has ragged all along
the lines. And as the matter
stands to-day in the Church,
as the result OF a thirty-6ve years
struggle, the one party has gained COM
pete sscendepcy, has q majority oi
three-fourths in the House OF Bishops,
and perhaps nearly as large majority
in the Lower House, has absolute con-
troll OF the entire machinery OF The Gen.
ersl Convention, and, as party, is thor
oughly organized, flushed with victory,
and going on conquering and to COM
quer. The other party is in . hope
less minority, thoroughly disorgaDized,
die pirited by defeat, uncertain what to
do, and like q man that cannot fud
hIs bands in the day OF battle.
And more than this: In the Church,
the struggle is hopeless Tor another
reason. The High Church party has
on it's side the great educational power
Of the Church II uses readily aud cas-
ily, for the inculcation OF its views.
the Ca,ecbism, aud the Bsptismal aud
otker services: and thtse are read sod
heard read many times year, by par
ents, and sponsors. and children, and
the congregation generally, and that
TOO on the most interesting occasions
and when they make the deepest i'm
preston. While the ,hirty-nine Articles
OF the Church, which were designed 10
be the standard OF doctrine for the
Church and which sustain the Low
Church party in its teaching. and prove
conclusivtiy that it holds to-day the
doctrines held by the trainers Of the
PRAYER book, cannot be used efficiently
either in the education Of the young or
the instruction oil the congregation
generally. and, as matter OF TACT, are
not read or heard read by one Episco.
| palIan IN ten more IMAM once IN Ten
years.
With .tbe ps-ties thus uuequally
matched, and with the contest TO be
waged on these unequal terms. ! can
see nothing in the future for the Low
Church party, but further defeat, fur
ther disintegratiop, and in the
end the surrender Of what il has ever
beld TO be the truth Of God.
But even il the contest were not 50
hopeless, my honest convictions are
that il bad better be ended. There is
no necessity that the two parties should
fght out their differences in the Church.
Where no Divine Law compels coexis-
teDce, separation is surely better than
discord. Where tEo persons or par
ties are not agreed they had