Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-05-29
EPISCOPAL STATE COUNCIL.

INTERESTING SKETCH OF THE DEBATE
THE PRAYER BooK-ITs HISTORY
The CLERGY AND LAITY ON THE
PROPHECY OF ITs OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
ERAL AND STRONG OPPOSITION TO
R1TUALIsM IN ANY FoRM-THE FINAL
REPORT ADoPTED-ExcITINa DISCUS
s1oN-CHURcH BUSINESS.
&C., &C., &C., &c.
Reported for the Staunton Vindicator.]
CHARLoTTEsvIL LILLE, May oath.
After the close of my letter Thursday,
in which synopsis of Bishop Johns an
nual address were given, the proceedings
of the Council became more interesting
that is, more to the point Of touching what
was uppermost in the hearts of those on
the floor and those in the galleries. The
report Of the Committee OF Thirteen APP
pointed to consider that portion of the
Bishops address relating to Ritualism was
awaited with interest. The committee
appointed was exceptionally strong, and
the report Of such men was expected tobe
conclusive. 1t was to come from such
men as Charles Minnegerode, Charles W.
Andrews, George H. Norton, j. H. D.
Wingfield, W. A. Okeson, VIM. L. Hy-
land, and VIM. N. Pendleton. the cler-
ical members, and Judge Hugh w.
Shelley, Judge Richard Parker, Taze-
well Taylor, Mathew Harrison, Gen.
J. J. Jackson, and VIM. G. Cazenove the
lay members. On Friday morning DR..
Norton, of the committee, announced
that the
REPORT ON RITUALISM
was ready. He added that during the
protracted sessions of the committee only
one. out of the thirteen members had been
absent and that the resolutions had been
agreed upon with absolute unanimity.
After preamble he read the following
| resolutions
Resolued, That our delegates to the next
General Convention be instructed to use
their earnest endeavors to obtain efficient
| legislation for the removal of Ronish En-
rors and practices from the Protestant
Episcopal Church, and the enforcement OF
such legislation by proper discipline.
| Second. This Council does not believe
any legislation would be effective for re-
moving the doctrines and practices refer
red to, which shah not expressly forbid in
the administration of the holy communion,
and on other occasions of public worship
| the acts hereinafter enumerated-to wit
! There follows the same enumeration OF
eleven Objectionable practices condemned
by the House Of Bishops in 1871, with
these additionall: II. The use OF wafer
bread in the holy communion. ID. The
practice of auricular confession and pri-
vate absolution, and all other practices
and usages not sanctioned by the book of
common prayer. IA. No clerical vest
ments should be used except the present
episcopal robes-a white surplice, black
or white stole, black cassock, black
gown and bands.
The report and resolutions was adopted
BY hearty and unanimous vote.
THE PRAYER BOOK.
Judge Shelley, in behalf of the same
committee, then read a report on the res
olution offered yesterday, inquiring into
the best measure for removing from the
Prayer Book any Office OF service now
bound up Herewith, without compliance
with the provisions of the constitution
that apply to the case.'' The report in
structs the council delegates To the Gene
raj Convention, to ask that body to au-
thoritatively indicate whether there is any
Office bou up in the Prayer Book with
out authority, and if such be the case to
direct the publication of the work here
after without Judge s. explained that
the committee had supposed the resolu-
ton of enquiry, aimed at the Office of insti-
tuition of ministers, and their report called
the attention of the General Convention
to it with request to omit it if not there
legally.
DR.. Walker gave notice of his intention
to introduce a resolution for the appoint
ment of committee of clergymen and
laymen to report on all Objectionable mat
tiers in the Prayer Book.
Rev. J. H. Morrison, of Fluvanna,
wanted the report, just read by Judge
Shelly, to be adopted with one hearty
''aye'' as the first report had been.
REV. MR.. M'KIM, OF ALEXANDRIA,
offered preamble, and the following res
olution:
Resolued by the Clergy and Laity Of the
Diocese Of Virginia IN Council Assembled.
That the office of institution of ministers
into parishes or churches. as now found
| bound up with the Book of Common
Prayer is apparently out Of harmony with
her standards and declared by her Judicial
ry; that in our judgment it is a ''stone of
stumbling and rock of offence" an oc-
casion Of dissension, of doubtfulness
among us, an instrument of propagating
within our household of faith, erroneous
and strange doctrines, contrary to Gods
word, and q handle used for overturning
| the Protestant character of our Church.
Resolved, That this Council will respect
fully but most earnestly petition the next
General Convention to remove from that
service the word "altor," and also the ex-
preston 'sacerdotal tunctions,'' wherever
| they occur, in order to take away all appa-
rent incongruitv between said standards
OF the Church and the Book of Common
Prayer.
He said the institution Office was not in
the Book of Common Prayer, which end
ed with the Psalter, but had been sane
toned by a canon law of the church,
which made the church responsible for it
and it's effects. In that office the minister
were told in four different places that his
functions were 'ssacerdOtal term that
had recognized meaning, not likely to be
misunderstood. 1t meant 'ssacrificial,"
and the church held no snch doctrine as
that. The minister is not only told in
that Office that his functions are sacrif-
cial, but he is told that an "altar" is pre-
pared for him. Some say that it means
the rails of the altar, as our Methodist
brethren hold, but hold that it is all con-
trary to the spirit of the blessed Book of
Common Prayer, our precious heritage from
the Reformation, It is also held that the
word is meant in the sense of stable, 'but
the Errorists, themselves, use the word
table also. They say that it is an altar.
until the sacrifice has leen made and af-