The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-08-24

l
made obligatory upon believers on I'M
contrary, vt 10 . most invaluable part o
that blessed liberty wherewith Chris
hath made His people free, that In Iii
worship different forms and usages may
without offense, be allowed, provided til
substance Of the faith be kept entire"
As consequence Of this belief, 10 uSI
the language Of Q late able letter publish.
ed In the ChriStidH A06 from the pen O
Herbert u, Turner, Esq, 10 which 1 &C
knowledge my Indebtedness, "lhe mytl
OF q transmitted authority, coming dowt
through continuous line Of prelates, by
taclual succession, 10 wholly rejected
To vindicate It's claim TO be Of Christ tht
church OF today, and every branch o
that church, must point, not 10 an exclu-
SiVe monopoly Of the right Of saving sin
ners BY the Virtue Of an especial commits
sion, but to q pure faith evidenced by Ii.
blessing Of God upon It's work."
~. A belief that while episcopacy d
mot essential 10 the being, II does yet con-
tribute to the better being Of 0 church
Hence the second article Of the Declare
ton Of Principles affirms that this church
recognizes and adheres 10 episcopacy, moi
as Of divine right, but as q very ancient
and desirable form Of church polity."
V. The members ofthe Reformed Epis,
copA Church believe that q Scriptural
Liturgy, which shall not be invariably i'm,
perative or reprOssive Of freedom In
prayer, Is q useful and important aid 70
devotion In the worship OF God.
vi. II should be stated that those who
have united themselves TO the now organ.
ization have taken the step only In the set.
tied conviction that there Ia no hope Of a
thorough and satisfactory reform within the
Protestant Episcopal Church, and that the
battle which the defenders Of the evan
gelical truth have been waging for the
last thirty years with the champions Of
sacerdotaI error has been finally and ire.
trievSbly lostF' ......'-..l = ~.
Reluctant as they have been 10 admit
il, survey Of the past history, the pres
ent condition, and the future prospects Of
that church has forced this conclusion
upon them. H.. a-. .s....'I7
II is q fearful conclusion, but II il an
honest conclusion, and for men who have
reached 1t there can be no alternative.
Life is too short, and eternity too near, 10
justify them in carrying on o struggle
which manilestly can have but one result.
The present and prospective dominance
OF Sacramentarianism, Ritualism, and
High Church views left no room 10 ex-
pect the successful propagation, far less
the final sscendency, oil truths and prlncI.
pies which are dearer and more import.
ant than life itself.
Such are some Of the beliefs and con.
victons held in common by tho clergy
and laity OF the Reformed Episcopal
Church, and oil which the present orRani.
cation is natural outcome.
The distinctive features Of the church
arc to be gathered from It's Constitution,
its Canon law, It's Practice, and It's Book
Of Common Prayer.
As We proceed with the examination Of
these sources Of information you will
readily enough refer the distinctive feat
ures Of which we speak to one or another
Of the beliefs and convictions before men
toned, and from which they flow as the
stream from the fountain.
Turning to the Constitution, your at
tention Is first asked 10 the principle OF re.
presentation which obtains in this church.
The clergy and laity in the General Coun.
Gil sit as one body. Bishops, presbyters,
and lsymen fare alike. The humblest
has voice and vote; the highest no
more. ~
The second article provides that "the
General Council shall consist Of all the
bishops and presbyters Of this church,
with lay representatives, who shall be
commandments and members OF the con-
gregation they may represent. Each
congregation shall be entitled TO one re-
preventative, and 10 one additional for
every fifty communicates" Further, TO
secure vote by orders, it is ordained
that, "in all questions, when required by
five members, the vote shall be by orders;
and in such case the concurrence Of both
orders Is necessary TO constitute o vote
Of the Council" -
A second provision in this Constitution
worthy Of remark is that which secures
to Its clergy and laity the right to free
prayer in public worship.
mo canon" it Is declared, "shall make
the use Of the Prayer Book imperative
on-Rll occasions, nor forbid the use Of
extemporG or other prayer al suitable
tines."
A third provision guards this Church
against the inroads Of Rltualism, in the
following terms: .re .-
Nothing calculated to teach-directly
or symbolicalIy-thAt the Christian min
istry possesses sacerdotal character, or
that the Lords Supper is sacrifice, shall
ever be allowed in the worship Of this
Church, nor shall any communion table
be constructed In the form of the altar
Passing to the Canon law, the following
features arc significant:
A minister IN good standing in any
other Evangelical Church may DO ad-
mitted to the ministry Of this Church
without 70. ordination. =
II any bishop, presbyter, or deacon in
good standing in this Church desires 10
withdraw and unite himself with soma
other evangelical communion, no attempt
Is made TO degrade and dishonor him BY
sentence OF deposition, but he Is en-
titled TO letters dismissory at his own re-
quest. f1 4 Ha
The canon law oil this Church recog-
nlzes and guards the right Of It's presby-
ters to an exchange Of pulpits with min
listers Of other Evangelical Churches.
The boundaries Of parish or congre.
CATION, it is declared, are not geograph.
ical; parish or congregation consists oil
the persons enrolled as communicates OF
stated worshipers. Er aag- ga7
It is provided that communicates Of
other churches In good standing may be
received without Confirmation to the iel.
lowship oil this church. grr .r a..
From the Constitution and Canona we
turn to the Practice OF this church. With
90 brief history, we hardly claim for II
an established custom or unWritten law
II may be noted, however, in reference 70