National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-10-12

true. however. The doctrines he stated as being
held by the Church-'priestly confessions and
are not held by the great mass Of Churchuen.
He agrees with Bishop Cummins In the ascrip-
tion Of these doctrines to the Church, and Nv.
NJ, !" in his turn reterates the charge, assisting
to enforce the Misrepresentation These doc
trines are not taught or held by the Church at
TAKE thiseity as an illustration. They are taught
in one parish church and one mission, but are not
taught, and are sometimes denounced, In the
seven or eight other parishes Of the city.
There is q conviction daily growing in the
minds of Churchmen which perhaps cannot be
proved, yet which seems 70 bear a certain prob
ability on its face, that the Cummins secession
and Ritualism natural allies, parts Of one gen.
eral preconeerted plan Of attack upon the
each others hands" Jesuitism Is as much at
the bottom of the Reformed" movement as Of
Ritualism. If the authorship Of thing may be
known by its works, this would certainly seem to
be the handiEOrk Of that order Of LOyOla's which
for centuries has hestated at no fraud trick to
Episcopal Church is to-day the strongest enemy
OF Popery there is against it, therefore that its
deadliest assaults are Eaged, and "R. H and
Nv. NJ " are but fighting the battle Of yesuitism.
For the sake Of fair play it were to be wished
that the letter of "W. NJ" had been as able as
that Of "R. H" 1t is not, however. He only
reiterates "R. H.'s' statements, with too much
clap-trap thrown in about the fires of the martyrs
This is talk which may be used on any side. Does
not "W. NJ" know that Protestants have perse-
euted ROmanists as we'll as Romanists Protes-
tants? In all ages men Of every creed have gone
to the stake to testify their sincerity Of belief,
cere they would both to day cheerfully burn, did
occasion demand 1t.
1t is thought by many that the general eonven-
ton now in session will settle the doctrines of
the Church. But the convention is only q meet
ing Of the representative men OF the Church, and
any declaration they may make can have moral
weight only far as It represents the conviction
of the majority Of the Church. 1t cannot change
the Church,s doctrine; no power Is given them TO
do that, and It can change its ritual only after
two conventions are held. The faith Of the
Church is patent to all. She speaks with no IN
She holds to the Apostles and Nicene Creeds,
'the faith once delivered to the saints" Unlike
the Romish Church, she holds the faith without
addition Of mans device, and unlike the seets
around her, without curtailment. In the midst
Of naughty world she stands to-day to declare
the historic Catholic faith. She declares that
she believes in ''the Holy Catholic and Apostolic
Church, planted by our Lord eighteen centuries
ago. She knows that men, after the early
Apostolic simplicity had passed away, introduced
into her body many strange doctrines, trausub-
sanitation, confession to priest mRriOlAtry, sc.
OF these she has purged herself in the days OF
Cranmer and Ridley, and should they ever arise
again in sufficient force TO mar her fair proper
lions she will purge herself Of them again.
That branch Of the Church planted in the Uni
ted States holds to, and glories in, the name Of
Protestant Episcopal She is Protestant, because
she protests against the devices Of superstition
men have tried to force upon her, and are now
trying TO force upon her. and she protests against
the Introduction Of a foreign hierarchy on this
soil,whch, in accordance with apostolic tradition,
is hers exclusively. The ROmish Church has no
right whatever on this continent, and this charge
is well known TO ROmRnism. 1t breads its force
and to-day we see a fierce attack made upon our
dear old Church, both from within and without
from within by such as r. H.; from without by
such as W. NJ. Let no one fear for the future Of
the Church because she is hard assailed to-day.
Calumny and Misrepresentation may do their
worst, but the good gold is that which is tried by
fire. Our divine Head has promised to be with
his Church always, even unto the end Of the
world, and that promise he will surely fulfill.
THE everlasting arms are under her," and ''ths
gates Of hell will not prevail against her.
]. T. b.