New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-03-26
"a IA. Edltnr az rhs Tribmns.

TO me Editor OF fhe Tribune
SIR: The reply of r. II. b." to my contri-
button of January last Is worthy OF note because
| OF msconception TO which tho chief part OF DIS
| article was devoted. He seems to think that inc
opinions OF individual churchmen constitute the law OF
| the Church He cites the opinions OF number OF
chmcn some of whom held In high esteem 10
the effect that Episcopal orders do not possess exclusive
validity The list which he gives, no truly says might
be very much enlarged and he calls on me 10 dispose OF
these authorities az necessary preliminary 10 the
| further discussion OF the subject
This miscouception, IL to me, arises In the fa-
| ure to understand the difference between Law and
Opinions about law In the Church so long as man
submits to the Law he will not be uoested on account
OF opinions about the law Herein lies the difference
between the Church and other religious bodies Inc
Church does not make any mans opinions the test OF
communion. II it did 1t would cease 10 be Cathohc ana
would sectaran. In both the BELIEF ana Order OF
the Church there a domain of Law and domain OF
Opinion. so far Belief is concerned, the Apos-
tles' Creed is the law for all baptized per-
sons, and the Observation-Disclosures Greed Is
tho law for communicates. The Church re-
aures the acceptance these absolutely On no occa-
sion and account this demand be Dated III he
least The who denies these Is looked upon as de
nyng the faith This is the domain oflaw. As matter
of opinion men may hold different views on points not
defined in the creeds and even permitted TO diner
as to tho precise meaning OF things defined For
instance not defined whether or not the maj per-
advent of the Lord will be pre-menna'' i'"th
opinions lawful although both cannot be nght' IL
is defined that God the Father Almighty is the Maker
OF heaven and EARTH and of all things visible and inVs-
ibe" but it is defined that He made all things OF
nothing by the word OF His power in the space OF six
DAYS" As to this last, there is space for opinion
man may hold some theory Of evolution or he may
adopt the teaching of the Westminster shorter Cae-
chism Either opinion would be lawful, while but one
can be correct
In regard to things defined in the creeds. some latitude
Of Interpretation allowed. In the Ncene Creed We
say, acknowledge one Baptism for the remission OF
sins" But it notorious that there is party III The
Church that exhibits great zeal in the attempt TO show
that these words do not what they say. But 40
long as they obey the Lac and practice Baptism accord
ing to the order which this Church has received the
same they are permitted to hold their opinions 3d. In
like manner IN the creeds We are required to profess
that we "belieye one Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic
Church." But there is modern party IN the Church
that has started new Interpretation OF the word Cath
olc claiming that it represents not an organization Dut
sentiment AS long, however as these persons submit
TO the law obey the Catholic Order they are per
mited to hold their novel Interpretation in peace. In
the mean time the prevailing Interpretation OF the Wofd
is the historic and primitive one - -, ,-, Al,
bishop OF Jerusalem, delivered series ot lectures 70
catechunens fl The Basilica OF the Holy Cross ana IN
the Church Of the Holy Sepucher IN Jerusalem IL tle
G since The word church or Assembly applied dTeren things
hs here the .aS1 a use !H1 o cbs a tod
their H. herttes wreiched neenas ana ever
ever art s9ong n any city inquire not SIMPLY , 9ss the
call their deps houses Of 6e or not merely so.' voc ~
IS bat where the Catholic church t9F ,ns = 'l n'y
holy body the holy mother Of US all which Is the spouse our
II Is not necessary to multiply quotations from
parasitic authorities prove the historic meaning OF me
word Catholic Toe above may serve ~ spGchiSn:
Nor aware that any respectable authority questions
historic However, AFTER dluerent
nations had separated trom the Catholic Churc1 th.y
compelled In order not to renounce inc cIeen, 10
invent a new meaning for the word " Catholic Ihey
claim that the whole Chrstion world was WgOS LOT VO
years that the word does pot cover the orer " ue
Church. even its doctrine but expresses Vnly sch
himself. On the contrary, the prevailing OPINION III tne
Church il the has always BEEN ana refuses as
seadsty to acknowledge an er post JGe,2 nterpfeta'
ton as IL does to acknO ledge an eE post Jdcto law
But the Catholic spirit Is always spirit oI 1toal to
Il refuses TO disturb people holding tns noye
opinion. Ecclesiastical EXAMINATIONS are Tor uLhsSIes,
sOns Of law, not for people VINO use thelr hlluS uu
cnm,f ali be cast i'm Inc same mold No opinion lays
liable to process in the Cnuren unless IL Is MANIFEST
that dsobey law and this Ie must 90 either
by denying an article OF Tie Iah OF oy overt acV u
rebellion. .,- -
men In the Church whose opinions on chucb Otuer give
aid and comfort those who ara without But as long
as these do not lay themselves open 20 eccIesaI
process by refusing to obey the law thGy are h1t
only tolerated, but sometimes even honoreI ana a'i-
yanced Therefore when ''R Il. b." quotes churehnen
as agreeing with him in his views OF curch otIr no
simply publishes to the world tue cathoc ana oieraht
minds of some who are seeking for spirit their
first know ledge OF where they may Ind IL.
In my previous article SGT forth the historic Tact that
hesore fhe New Testament was written and derives its
authority from them. contrary opinion claims that
Church order is derived from the New Testament ana
not from the official and authoritative act Of the
authority further than any voluntary soclety mas
oSer ' mot make out from the reply OF ar r. b. what
affirmative doctrine he would teach on ths point He
seemed at to the historic fact that the
New Testament written, and yet seemed to
Testament statement OF the Churchs doctrine NAV
perhaps relieve his mind and give precision to ms
views 1t may stated as follows; a. The Apostles
had fal authority from the Lord to go into all the world
and preach 6aptze, disciple, and teach o1se,renees
the end OF the world a. This trust was given and TINS
promise made 70. them IN s ses o. fSe pSe
possess for mankind the authority OF Christ
himself ~ Writing the New nc testament o ssrp
aud authoritative act of the Apostles not even men
toned IN the Apostolic Commission. But that they had
authority to write them aud to adopt such as were ere
written by Others is evident from the nature OF tue
Commission although not mentioned therein and mas
RseeP, O9f ne New il
authority, much more must We conform TO that order
which was olHcially established by them, baptism,
the laying OF hands, and the 0ther 0oSrdncfs thas
srsf rom the historic record in the New Testament
second, the order found In existence in the
apostolic age ana in every Of the Church sub
sequent until the present time; which sources Oh Know-
beginning with Clemens Romanls, Ignaiius, Hermas.
aud Others who living at the same time with the
| Apostles, the succession OF writers TO the
present ID unbroken, in which constant ailusion Is
| made TO the Church's order-aLusons which
receive their natural explanation In the order at pres
| ent existing, aud which cannot be eXpHlucd ac-
| coring to any other order % or the obseryaaces
instituted by the Apostles, two by ST Paul declared
TO be principles of the doctrine of Christ that Is,
things when the very beginning and essential
to the xlstence of Christianity In the world without
which Christianity can neither be comprehended nor
| perpetuated. These two observances are baptism and
the laying Of hands. Baptism or the beginning OF
| life by water which the most skeptical must now be-
eve for the niailblity OF Mr.. Darwin has made Ger.
tain the authority OF Moses, that life first came out OF
|