The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-12
REFORMED EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The Unity OF the Church-ScrmOn by
Bishop Cummins.

The Unity OF the Church-SermOn by
Bishop Cummins.
Steinway Hall was fairly attended yesterday, on
the occasion of the second appearance of Bishop
Cummins as an Episcopal reformer. After the SER
vices, which were similar to those performed last
Sunday. the reveren gentleman preached length
ened sermon. taking the following text:-''That
they all may be one as their Father is one; that
they also may be one in u.s. that the world may be
lieve Thou hast sent Me''-John xvii, 81. He said
that the most miraculous prayer offered by the Re-
deemer was in the Garden Of Gethsemane, wnen
He asked His Father in heaven that there might
be unity on earth. Had that prayer been an
swered9
THOUSANDS OF CHRISTIANS
replied in the negative. The world was full OF
lamentatOn that 1t was not answered. Had q
prayer OF the Saviours ever been denied? NO;
that prayer had been answered from the hour 1t
was offered in the highest and sublmest sense.
What was the Church OF Christi Who composed its
Was it essence Of mind or polty9 Had 1t splr-
itual lighta Upon the answer to these questions de-
pended our belief in the fulilment OF
THE REDEEMER's PRAYER
in Gethsemane. According to one theory the
Church was governed by divinely established laws.
Apostolic succession Is claimed, and its prelates
and bishops also claim to receive the holy Ghost.
He dwelt at length on the practices Of the Roman,
Latin and Anglican churches and wondered that
the nineteenth century had stood such theory SO
long. He contended that the Saviour had never
stated how the Church should be governed. He
defied any man to find any authority Tor the
form or
roIITY THE CHURCH
OF Christ was to rest in The Church Of Christ was
His mystical body. The Church Of Christ was the
household OF God-Hls living temple-and all true
Christians were living stones. built on the corner
stOne-Cnrst Himself. No man was in the Church
unless he was saved Its members were the living
branches OF the living vine, which was Christ. The
Roman Church was not the salt OF the earth, while
the Greek Church was an incubus in the East; and
how could the Anglican Church succeed when Its
bishops confessed the impossbility OF agreeing on
certain mattersf There was but one Church. 1t
was
THE FAILURE TO DISCRIMINATE
between the mystical Church and the OrgapZa-
tions called churches that led to the endless con-
fusion. The law was unity. This was one Of the
though there were many socalled churches. In
It's spiritual, mystic conception the Church is es-
sea sns tine s w ss s a Of Gt
answered. From the hour when It was offered
every human heart that embraced Him had become
This unity could not be destroyed. Controversies
could not break 1t. There was but one body, one
Church, one baptism OF the Holy Ghost-not bap-
tlsm Of water. one nature one life, one hope, one
song,
ONE HEAVEN AT LAST
He cOntended that there was no vicar OF Christ on
earth. There might be differences on some points,
but there was but one Church. There had been
CONTROVERSIES BETWEEN PETER AND PAUL,
but controversies did not destroy the unity OF the
Church. There was but one Lord, one faith, one
baptism and one Church of Christ. The way TO
decide the question whether they belonged to the
Church was by the inquiry. what were they doing
for Christ--what were they to Christ The rev.
erend gentleman concluded his discourse by ex-
horting the congregation to show by their good
deeds that they belonged to the true Church, Which
was the best test to decide the question. He then
announced that, finding 1t impossible to obtain
hall wherein to hold the services both morning and
evening, IL was determined to hold the second
Win urfn fan oyin hnAp fnIny
up, the singing Of the Crock Of Ages'' brought tue
pr0ceedlnCs to a close.