Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-02-13
BY THE WHOLE HOUSE WITH ONLY ONE

EXCEPTION.
The names of forty-eight Bishops are af-
fixed to the Declaration. This result you
will scarcely characterize as s'mortifying
You, my dear brother,
may think and say that 'sthe Declaration is
not in sany sense" ga gain" to those for
whose relief the nine Bishops were con-
l can assure you that, though
what those Bishops sought was but parti-
ally attained, yet it was 50 much beyond
what they hoped from a first move, and
was yielded so handsomely, that they
''thanked God and took courage" will
add, that when the Declaration as adopted
was previously submitted to Bishop Nc
Ilvaine with the inquiry, Chow does this
strike you 7" he very emphatically replied,
with smile of unmistakable satisfaction,
"The best thing yet ~ But the Circular
addressed by the nine Bishops to those,
whom they sought to relieve, and which
was prepared and sent to press after the
Declaration was adopted, and to which [
beg leave to refer you, may enforce my
views of the transaction and its results.
1t placed
YOU AND OTHERS WHO AGREE WITH
YOU,
doctrinally, in all easier and more advan-
tageous position, leaving you unchanged
in your conviction that the great spiritual
change, the new birth unto righteousness,
is not inseparably connected with. the adj
ministration of Baptism, and hat 'he con-
trary view twas not held by the trainers
of the Prayer Book, nor intended to be ex-
pressed in the Service, and is not therefore
the doctrine of the Church,; and, more
over, sustaining you in this your convic-
h1y Of fortu-ni oht
Bishops in Council, who state that, ''be-
ing asked, in order to the quoting of the
consciences OF sundry members OF the
said Church (P. E. Church in U. ST. to
declare our conviction as to the meaning
of the word 'Regenerate' in the Offices for
the Ministration of Baptism of Infants, do
declare, that, in our opinion, the word
'Regenerate' is not there so used, as to de-
termine that moral change in the sub
ject Of Baptism is wrought in that Sacra-
ment."
That efforts would be made by some to
explain away the meaning and force OF
this testimony was to be expected but
there it stands, to be understood and used
agreeably to the express design of the
signers and the proper import of it's terms:
and, as the nine Bishops. and very many
others thought, worth considerably more
than nothing" both in itself, for the ex-
cellent spirit in which it was done, and
the hope thus given that, as it should be-
come apparent that other measures were
needed ''for the preservation OF the unity
of the Church, and the cutting off occasion
from them that seek occasion OF cavll OF
quarrel against her Liturgy" such meas
ureS would be adopted.
Another consideration, which you urge
with much feeling, is the
LATITUDE WHICH THE PROTESTANT
EPISCOPAL CHURCH HAS ASSUMED
toward the great bulk of Protestant Chris
tians.' Of course, you do not mean "the
Church" for you say in the same immedi-
ate connection that her standards of doc
trine remain unchanged, and the XIX and
XIII Articles in the Prayer Book still
testify to her original Protestant stand on
this question. therefore understand you
to mean, what you indicate by 1.-THE pre-
vailing OPINION the current Of public
sentiment" Such sentiment and" opin-
ion'' you regard as imperious and I'M
churching in reference to all Ministers not
Episcopally ordained.
s'Public opinion,'' when counter to our
own, may be annoying, but it is OF no au-
thority. "Prevailing sentiment is too
variable and fallacious to be entitled to the
consideration and influence, which you
seem to allow it, even when you denounce
it as pernicious. Under such circumstan-
ces, it would be
MORE LIKE YOURSELF TO STAND 1MMqv-
ABLY
witnessing for the truth, trusting to it's
power for triumph, and not to seek relief
by getting away from opposition. Your
known spirit authorized me to anticipate a
calm but unfiinciling maintenance Of 4
right position in right cause l confess
| am disappointed.
When, in any matter involving con-
science, be it in reference to faith or prac-
tice, public sentiment is erroneous, and be-
comes so prevalent and aggressive, as to
pass into law, thc,, indeed, the grievance il
intolerable. This is precisely what you
fear ON the subject of the Ministry. You
think the DRIFT is decidedly towards the
high ATTITUDES, and the current so strong
that the result is inevitable that the
bearing of legislation is increasingly in that
direction, and has already progressed so
far, that if we accept the current interpre
tation of certain Canons, no Minister of
The Episcopal Church can now, by any one
official oct, recognize any other Protestant
Church, or the Ministers of any other
Church, as lawful Ministers.
| am not aware OF any such advance in
Legislation as you describe. The only &C
ton ON this subject of recent date was the
adoption Of Canon IL, Tit. l, "Of persons
not Ministers of this Church officiating in
any Congregation thereof" 1t simply pro-
hibits the officiating in any one of our Con-
greyations of any person, without sufficient
evidence OF his being duly licensed or or
ddined to Minister IN ttis Church. The Ian
guage OF this Canon is by no means as
strong as that in the preface to s'the Form
and manner Of Making. Qrdaining, and
Consecrating, established in General Com
yention, Sept. A, d. 1892 In both, the
purport and scope are the same, to
PROTECT THE CONGREGATIONS OF THIS
CHURCH AGAINST THE
ILLUSTRATIONS
of persons, who are not responsible to this
Church for what they may teach and d.
1t does not declare that no persons are
Ministers except those ordained to minister
in this Church, but simply that such only
are allowed to officiate for our people. 1t
is prudential municipal regulation, that
our Congregations may not be exposed to
disturbance by the insidious teaching Of
some one, who might delight in the oppor-
tunity for creating confusion, especially as
he was not liable to be dealt with for the
evil he had caused.
1t is worthy Of notice that this regula-
ton is virtually in practice, to a greater or
less extent, by ether Churches, where it
has not been ordained by Laval condition,
which apprehend, involves more delica-
cy, and gives occasion to more offence,
than where the whole is the subject Of
positive enactment.
The regulation is not line wider than
the Chureh,sresponsidbililsy. 81, 4 covers only
and in our DUN places of worship. If any
one of our members or Ministers thinks
proper to visit an assembly of Christians
of another Church, and to join in their de-
votions, listen to their teaching, partake
l., +l,o;,. 4ho,o ic No low ,,ro