The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-02-12

Right Rev. J. Johns, D. D.,



MALvERH, February 2, 1874.
Reverend and Dear Brother:
You might well suppose that the an
nouncement contained in your letter
would cause me both surprise and
PAIN" in which your many friends have
largely shared, on hearing of your
withdrawal from the Church OF their
deliberate choice and devoted affection.
For many years your own love for
that Church. and your diligent Lahore
in her Ministry, have compared favor
ably with those Of your attached bretb.
rem of the Clergy, and secured for you
the kind regards Of the intelligent and
plous Laity throughout the Diocese.
OF this you have received many and
unmistaksble proofs, which respect for
your delicacy restraints me from men
tionipg. In all this favorable msnites'
TAXATION 20 one rejoiced more cordially
than myself. I thankfully regarded
you az one on whom, in my age and
infirmities, could rely, to aid in steady-
ing my feeble steps and supplying my
lack OF service. This l am sure you
perceived, and 40 can in some degree
understand the shock and sorrow which
your announcement has caused.
You need not, my dsar brother, ap.
prehend any upgenerous construction
of your motives in taking this serious
step. For our brethren in Virginia, l
can engage that one and all will render
YOU full credit for conscientiousness,
however decidedly they may disa'low
the reasons you assign for leaving the
Episcopal Church, and regard it as q
csuseless separation.
Your just testimony ss to the un-
changed Protestant and Scriptural
teachings Of the Articles and Offices OIL
the Church, is no more than was to
have been expected from one Of your
intelligence and candor, though it i.
testimony which many persons mus'
find difficult to reconcile with your
withdrawal"
Your testimony may be presented al
follows: You, of course, regard the
doctrines held by what You call tn.
Low Church Party" 10 be sound and
scriptural. Now, on page Is you rep
resent "the Thirty-Nine Articles OF thu
Church, which were designed 10 be thu
standard OF doctrine for the. Church,
as sustaining the Low Church Party il
its teaching, aud as proving "conclu,
sively that it (tbe Low Church Party.
holds to-day the doctrines held by thu
trainers Of the Prayer Book"
This passage in its connection at
fords favorable testimony TO the ortho'
dow OF the xxx Articles, ard indi.
| rectlY to the orthodoxy of the Praye
Book
Again, page 4: 1T is true that ne
tsndsrds OF doctrine remain unchanged
and the XIX aud XIII Articles il
the Prayer Book still testify to be
original Protestant stand on this ques
ton" (The question Of the Ministry
which carries with it the whole que.
zion about Priest, Sacrifice and Altar.
Once more, page 4: II am sstiefie
,Lo, tb;s doctrine ("tbat Baptism in
yariably effects regeneration" was nc
held by the trainers OF the Praye
Rock. nor intended to be expressed j
the Service, and therefore is not reali
the doctrine OF the Church..
l do not cite these passages as dis
lseo,ing from them. for 1 think them az
curately true; but, as expressing yor
| deliberate opinion as to the strict cor
| formi,y OF the teachings OF the Church
in the Articles and Offices, with tt
Word of God as interpreted by the RI
formers. 80,
For separation from . Church, just
entitled to such testimony, what rel
sons can be assigned? Those allege
in YOUR letter l cannot reclte In full
NOR is il necessary, being, as you 81
"iust those, which have been for SON
Years a burden and grief to many 10 II
Church; :" and it might be added. whlc
have been often and clamorously urge
by sdverssries without. They may
tbus summarily stated:
There are, in come OF the FoImulaI
les provided in the Book OF CONNIE
PRAYER, . few, very few, words
. nhrs.es which, though il rightly int
preted according TO the intent OF Il
trsmers, express true doctrine. yet q
: liable to be misunderstood, and in to
r have been and are 30 mlsundersto'
and perverted, as to subserVe the eau
, of serious doctripal errors. This stat
m.nt is unhappily true. and furnish
a GOOD and sufficient reason for such
terstions az may be necessary to oo'
s.e the evil But it is no valid reas'
TOR repudistipg the Book, or WITHDRAW
B inc from the Church. II this were .
mitted, consistency would require ne
, reject the Pauline Epistles, and wit
a Jrsv from Christianity. st. Peter {
e III. l6 } writes. that in oil those Up
Ties "aIe some things hard to be und'
stood" aud which certain perso
e vrest, as they do also the other Scr
I. lures, unto their own destruction" 7
e would not expect nae to allow the val
Is ity of a reason, capable OF au spP''e
y ton 90 wide and 80 destructive, .
e which would make . clean sweep
n ali We both hold to be most precious
I, The true lesson taught BY the fac
8. which are admitted. IL the importAr
ID OF such alterations in the terms .
e phrases alluded to. or in the Ruor
relative to their use, a may most
L: iectuslly guard against misundersta.
81 81 ing and perversion. Any such inter-
.pce with the text Of Sacred Script
is out OF the question; but. for an
h M