The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-01-29
LETTER OF WITHDRAWAL
!, FROM THE
Protestant Episcopal Church,
ADDRESSED TO
Rt. Rev. john Johns, D. D.,
By
REV. J.A.LATANGs.
REV. j. A. LATANE.
ST.. Matthew's CHURCH,

purpose to Withdraw from the ministry OF
the Protestant Episcopal Church.
/ know that this announcement will cause
yoa both surprise and pain. but beg you
to believe that the decision has not been
aud that the step is taken with the utmost
reluctance aud only from imperative convlc-
tons Of duty. Every earthly consideration
Is against it, My relations to you, aud to
Bishop Whipple. and to many dear brethren
in tie ministry in the Diocese Of Virginia
my affection for tie Church ia, Stanton,
where commenced ms ministry, and labor
ed for fourteen years--iny many obligations
to the people Of thy present charse-my &C.
sire, attested BY my whole min'stry, to 90
the Lords work 10 quietness and peace-tae
shrinking, which every manly heart must
feel, from entering upon a course which viii
cause ne to be esteemed fool by many
whose good opinion Tvalue-acd the uncer-
tanties Of tte future both as to the field
Of my labor aud the support OF my family
are all against the step, and have all been
calmly, deliberately, weighed.
o. the other hand. have nothing to
plead IN favor Of it, and nothing to sustain
me in takiog it, but clear conviction of
duty to God and to the cause ct His truth
10 the earth.
Let me say further, that in deciding the
matter have not taken counsel with others.
For obvious reason. uUtil ny mind was made
4 Up I could have, and up to this moment |
have had, 70 communication, directly or in-
directly with Bishop CuInsnins or any Of his
adhsrents. And beg you to believe that
had I felt that the case admitted Of it |
would most gladly have sought COUNSEL Of
YOU and of some Of my brethren in the min
istry. But when the matter was not a rev
one, when ell the facts Of the case we're be.
fore me, and when it was simple question
of duty in view of the facts, felt tn
could mos: safely decide it, where have at
least sought to decide it, 10 my secret cham
Der and en- my knees before God.
Let NE then state distinctly my reasons
fer leaving the Episcopal Church. They
are just those difficulties which have been
for mary years past burden and grief to
many ia the Cfurch.
l. The first IS the a.aaheppy diOisiom Of TIL
Church into aohat ere kaao.on as the High
: Church and Lol0 Church parties.
I will not sag that in the Church there
are two seeds,-the seed o. Romanism. auc
the seed Of Professionalism; but will say
that the Church, as it now Is, is an army
with two banners-justiiea BY the sacTa-
msnts, inscribed en- the one, and justification
BIZ faith on the other. And there never cal
be any cordial union between, the parties ar
, ranged under these two banners. Ii ha
| -: e.,
tried in missionary operations, in Theological
seminaries, and in Church book societies
tried honestly and By good men on eacf
| side-and 10 every instance has lamentably
: failed. The two parties ase not agreed. ant
cannot walk together. Their differences ar
real and are irreconcilabln. The Low Churc!
. party cannotco- operate withthe High Churci
q pa:tv. without being false to what it has ev
er held to be the doctrines Of the sRsformA
j.. tim, and without sacrificing what it bel ieve
to be the first principles OF the Oracles 0
: God The division 10 the Church. there
J fore, with the unhappy strife and disc'r'
attending it, is one which cannot be healed
II. The second is the caatutenance dppa
: renty giiuen by certain expressions IN til
: Pruyer-book to those "erroaeoms and strong
doctrines contrary to Gods arord, out o
= ,chich the dirision IN the Church h"s groun
: Those doctrines pertain to the effects o
: Baptism. to the nature Ct the Lords Sup
> per and to the Office Of the ministry.
q There are expressions in the Baptisma
Service which seem to teach that every 10
> fant when baptised is thereby s.regene'ate'
: with tie Holy Spirit" And though | an
q satisfied that this doctrine was not held b.
: the trainers OF the Prayer book, nor intend
/ ed to be expressed in the service. and there
!, fore is not really the doctrine of the church
yet the expressions are 40 liable to be mis-
n understood and SO hard TO be satisfactorily
i explained, aud as matter Of fact are s.
o constantly misunderstood, and Go PRACTICAL
educate and conform SO many 10 false view
Of the effects of Baptism. that they ough
to be altered. Regeneration is stated in tn
word Of God to be essential to salvation
> the mode and means Of regeneration are
things which concern the way Of Salvation
'e and to affirm thas Baptism Invariably effect
= regeneration and that every person who ma
3. been baptized has therefore beea regenera
:, ted, is dangerously to delude human souls
y and that too 10 particular essential to sal
II vation. And yet this doctrine, contrary a
: it is to Gods word, is distinctly and con
stantly taught and believed in the Church
AID finds countenance, at least in shat SCI
g, vice where the minister, in the case OF eve
# ry child and every adult baptized by him,
:, required to say, after the, act Of baptism
this child, or this person, is now reeenerate
And SO long as the Baptialnal service remain
10 the Prayer-book in It's present form, tina
> teaching will go on, as it has done SO alarm
q ingIy Of late, to increase and prevail NOR
al and more in the Church.
Again, thera are expressions in the Pray
er-book which give eounteaance at least, t
n the notion Of Priesthood in the Christia
- Church and Of sacrifice il the Lords SUP
!. per.
Now ii there is any truth plainly laugh
US 10 tie word OF God, then it is ther
plainly taught. especially in the Epissle {
l. the Hebrews, that our Lord and Saviour
Is Jesus Christ, is the one perfect, everlasting
y ever synpathizipg. and allsrfhciens Priest c
4 His people, and that they need 30 other
:. that His death upon the cross was full, per
IL feet, and oons plete sacrifice for the Gins G
the whole world, offered once for all an
never to be repeated and that priests an
e sacrifices have been distinctly and fozeVe
# abolished in the church on earth.