The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-02-17
!aItOEa Of lhe Intelllgeneet:

ANhNAGt
Editors of the InteIligenef:
Having Just risen from o second careful
perusAl of Bishop Johns letter 10 Rev.
: "a. Iatane, l propose to offer 10 your
readers 10 lew thoughts in which the
reading Of that paper has led me 10 in
dulge. 30 far as that letter Is Of merely
personal concern TO Mr.. Lstane, ] do not
propose TO hold 1t under consideration
but merely so far as 1t seems to be Of
general interest to the clergy and laity oil
the Protestant Episcopal Church, and to
the Christian world at large.
And here allow me to say, that yield
TO no one in my high regard for the es-
Unable character Of our venerable Do
cesar; and trust, moreover, that
would be the last knowingly or unneces-
sarily to inhict ono pang upon his heart,
or add one straw's weight to the burden
Of care, now pressing upon him IN the
declining years OF his life.
Having said this much in all sincerity,
may at the same time be allowed to say
on my own responsibility to Heaven,
that l cannot and dare not receive the
teaching Of any one, be he Bishop, priest
or laic, and especially on the all.import.
ant interests Of the soul, which, upon
prayerlul consideration, does not COM
mend itself 10 my better Judgment.
Whenever one ceases to maintain this
position, he at once renouuces his proper
sefTespect and manhood.
As to the general tone and spirit of the
Bishops letter, when soy that 1t Is char.
scteristic of the man-that is, eminently
Christian-I have said all that need be
uttered on this point "E'
These things being promised, pro-
coed TO state that the one distinct m
preston which would be LETT upon the
mind Of any one after perusal Of the
Bishops letter seems to be, that Of a pre-
vailing desire on his part to convince Mr..
Latane that he did not act wisely in pur.
suing the course that he did; and the
next impression almost equally distinct Is
that his whole argument for this purpose
Is drawn chiefly from the Church stand
point.
But why argue the question chiefly
from the Church stand point? The grea'
question In all investigations, and es-
pccially those Of a moral and religion!
nature, should be, "What is the TRUTH P
and does not the P. g. Church itsel
teach that the only infallible source o.
appeal in matters Of faith and practice |!
the "Word Of God wIitten2 II Mr.
Latane, or any one else, after careful and
prayertul examination, Is led to believe
that the teachings and doings OF The
Church, or any part OF them, whether
found In the Prayer Book or out OF It, are
not in accordance with the written word
aud that this want Of harmony exists
which renders II impossible, after long
experience and trial, oonscientiously "a
continue his ministry in the same, does il
not become his imperative duty to retire
as soon as the circumstances Of the case
In his judgment, may seem to demandH
Now, in questions Of sound judgment
and conscience, every one rus must bear
ma own burden, and stand or fall for him.
sell and though 1t may be very kind in
those who have sustained to him different
relations in lie, and especially such as are
Oh religious or ecclesiastical character,
10 Try and help him out Of his difficulties
experience will probably teach many Of
US sooner or later, that such help, in such
cases, often proves Of but little avail. u
Is but loves labor lost: and, Il 1t produces
any effect whatever, il will oniy be, IN
most cases. to increase the embarrassment
Oh the person Tor whose benefit 1t is inten,
ded, and perhaps to end In his still great
er arrangement from his former friends.
And this will be particularly the cast
with those whose minds have been cult.
waited up TO the point ofmanly and chris.
tlan' self:reliance. Such . mind sccus.
Toned 10 bring every question OF doctrine
and morals, which can possibly arise L
the touchslone Of the Divine Word, wheI
once sadsfed that bis Goncldiions on AMI
one subject are founded upon, a "Thui
saith the Lord" will instinctiVely repel
while listening with. becoming respect
any argument drawn from an inferior
source, and tending to coerce his judgment
OF MS conscience in an opposite direction
In such case, tho only safe course 70,
MIN "a 70 remember Lots wife,
VI ms description of arguments are all
NOSE based upon thetteachines OF NM
Uhurch, either wholly or partly irrespec-
we Of what Is taught In the Bible and
ms pfoneness 10 lean too much IN thf
teachings Of the Church is weakness ~ n
which persons, and especially clergyme \,
o. every sect are Peculiarly liable : And
tae more venerable the Church ior an
uquity, or the more hallowed its associ-
s aaons from the lapse Of time, the create,
S SHe danger Of falling into error In t6Il
~ From rom This very source proceed most o.
' tne eonIentons In Christendom; and act
ing under NEE Tho influence Of this principlt
men soon learn, strange as Il NAV seerS
70 DO more tolerant6i .departutss iron IRON
ne plain teachings Of The BIble than tS
nom the dogmas Of their own nsS.is snSu
standards, no matter how erra5e s.Ss. :,
NNaNHN IAN