The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-01-31
MIR. LATANE,s LETTER.
The Southern Churchman Expresses
sympathy with His Views-.Bishop
Johns Intends to Stlll Regard Him
as an Episcopal Minister,

Aue bOutneEn ChurChmAn ExpfeRgei
sympathy with His Views. BishoI
Johns Intends 10 still Regard Hin
as an Episcopal Minister.
From the Southern ChurchmAn, oftlclal pane
Of this Diocese
We feel deep concern about the with
drawal OF Mr., Latane from our church
In another place we considered his rea-
sons; but whether his reasons are goot
or bad, our loss Is none the less. Mr.
Latane 10 no sensationalIst; he Is m
earnest Christian minister, scholar, Rnt
Q gentleman, whom none know but &c
respect and love. For such man L
leave the Episcopal Church is a subject
that causes deep anxiety. It must be
understood we are not concerned now
about his reasons his reasons We consid.
cred In another article. But II 80 good
and excellent a gentleman, 80 scholarly
and devout q Christian, for such reasons,
can leave the Episcopal Church, may
we not expect others TO do the same
II Is this that makes the matter
OF such great seriousness. AS one
and another clergyman has left; not many
to be sure, but quite enough to cause anx.
iety 10 those who understand human ma.
ture and really love the Church, there
have been those who said: 20 It Is moth.
ing; some manifestation Of selE.will; some
heresy Of unbridled private Judgment; It
will soon blow over" and much more of
the same kind; language which some men
have used, certainly from the days of
Charles l., and will use again. "Quite a
shower" some one ia reported TO have
said, at the beginning Of Noah's deluge;
but We all know what happened. And
so some may regard these delections from
our Church, as trifles; we do not. They
are serious; and no one has ever lett the
Episcopal Church, whose departure car.
rles along with 1t, SO much serious anxiety
as that OF MIR. Latane. No Church can
afford to lose such man as he. And un.
less something Is done, there will be more
and larger defections from our Church,
which will result not only IN evil to the
Church, but in evil to those who leave II
What then ought to be done2
The General Convention meets this Oc.
tober. A few months therefore is not a
long time to wait, in order to see what
the Church will do. That she will act
now and promptly and vigorously we
have no manner Of doubt. AS In another
article, we solemnly protested against
making our Church narrow sect, 30 now
we do more solemnly protest against Der.
mllting little knot OF Romanizers to be
thorn in our side and a scandal 10 the
church and Christianity. Evangelical
men, both high and low, have waited un.
Ill patience has long since ceased to be a
virtue. We can afford to wait few
months longer. II nothing Is done to
put an end at once and forever to these
most shameful perversions Of the truth
Of Christs Gospel, then it will be time to
take a stand which will be decided and
which no one can possibly misunderstand.
But we have no hesitation in declaring
our conviction that the General ConVen.
lion will legislate calmly and wisely and
1ecisively, to do away with these evils.
Until then let no ones heart fail him for
lear. {. s-#&
In the mean time, the Council of the
Diocese Of Virginia will have an oppor.
unity OF making itself heard. Among
It's members are men Of great wisdom and
prudence. They can send to the General
Convention a scheme OF canon that will
meet their views. The first Protestant
church on this continent was
erected in Virginia. Her people love the
Church with deep and tender love, ex.
ceeded by none. She has right to make
herself heard; and we doubt not she will.
Nor will she be content to have the hurt
Dt the daughter OF Zion healed slightly.
The evils that have been affecting our
Church, she, we arc confident, will dc.
mand to be eradicated. She will now
lake no denial; her language will be,
THEY MUST AND SHALL CEASE"
1t requires six months before MIR.
Latane's resignation takes canonical effect.
Il he connects himself with no other eccle.
siastical body, we understand the Bishop
Of the Diocese Of Virginia intends, in the
meantime, TO consider him as a clergy
man OF this Church. And we are glad Of
It, There Is no sufficient reason ior such
man to leave the Church OF his fathers
The Church is all right; let US only SEQ
10 1t that we keep the Church as our
lathers left It 10 us; and God helping US,
lhiS mill Phs 6n