The New York herald., 1874-11-08

probation OF Scripture the theoogians ieave com
Another me thod OF relief asked for was shortened
services This was granted because the COM
mittee who had the matter unaef nc consaefnon
decided that there was nothing IN tne constitution
or canons OF the church 10 iorpid lne separauon
OF the service into three parts, eitnef VI am %
which might be used separately or together Inls
measure was sought as permanent reei, put
the Convention refused TO take tne con.
stitutional steps to make 1t sncn, ana Tue
next General Convennon may undo all thls.
whether the Low Church party nave galneu any
res & advantage from the nSsa ne
ritualists have lost little or nothing Dy any egis
iaton that mas taken place, save In The reectlon OF
man equally as high before year has elapsed.
The General Convention OF 1874 Will be remem-
ellis ever convened. but 1t VIII be as remarkable
ior what 1T failed to do as for what 1t did. Ana
be greater than 1t Is to-day.
THE CONVENTIONS PROPOSITION sPuRNED BY OR
/. TH0DOx CATHOLICS.
Apr0p0S or the Efforts OF the Protestant EplS-
copal Church for closer union and afillatlon With
the orthodox Eastern Church, the following letter
sian journal Of seml-officia ecclesiastical status
will be interesting. 1t reply TO the petition OF
mate Union with the Russo-Greek Church, and is
now Tor the 1rst time pubusned on this Conti-
nent:-
To THE WELL BELOVED IN cHRIs1, AND THE RIGHT REV:
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES
a0 & ss o.s Hoy %
synod Of Russia together with the and the CON
ns
american ana orthodox churches, especially in the
synod all Rnssss WITH ne Utmost
o The Of cone ns
cernina the union the churches Tho Most Holy sy
sant care that spirit Of Christian tolerance and rate
5 o os in ss hs I'll
the sa Sss ss @ hS the o s
Church In America. and particularly III the Territory OF
70 the hypothesis of reciprocal participation in
the solemn Of the Of the r sn
eipiss and convictions Clearly stated messages
ep epf II % s I y hs esq., .ns m
agreement In faith as absolutely indispensable TO- the
n p possss sS
a study ana
IN the doctrine OF both churches YOU'D
great principle Of cooperation win undo dopbtediy be
both churches the ortHSdox as well the American
and IN those the the wa9s Is. TSrd
which arise to the God rSh and mercy from s
in by the American Churches
Having been authorized by the Most Holy Governing
tie House Bishops OF the American Epscopal Church.
TEEN OF your brother and coservant III chrsl 1esus
First Presiding Member Of the Governing synod all
the Russias and Metropolitan OF Novgorod and St.
The only ecclesiastical representative OF the
Russian Church in this city. the Rev. N. Bjerring,
has corroborated the facts set forth In this letter,
and furthermore stated to the writer, in answer
to inquiries, that the orthodox Church seeks not
exclusive aiIlation with the Anglican and Amer.
lean Episcopal churches, but desires 10 hold
friendly relations with all Christian denomina-
tions, and in this spirit OF fraternal love he re-
ceives in his own house as personal friends not
only members OF his own household OF faith, but
ministers and members OF the Lutheran and
Reformed churches Methodisss, Baptlsts, Epis.
copalans and Roman Catholics, with all
OF whom he maintains the most cordial re-
latonS. But ne declares that there can be no SUCH
thing as sacramental union between his Church
and any other unless there shall have been nrSs
complete agreement In dOgmaS and an unc0n-
dirlonal acceptance on the part Of the atiliating
churches OF the authority and acts OF the first
seven Ecumenical Councils. This Is condttto sine
qua non from which the Russian Church cannot
move Q step nor devlate one line from the dog
matte truth handed down to her from the Apos-
toc Church.; nor can she at the same time per-
NIT anything to be added to these dOgmas. Bus
while she requires full and unconditional 1delity
to the dogmas the orthodox Russian Church
neither asks nor insists upon uniformity In rites
Dy local churches or congregations. she respects
local customs and traditions that are not in con-
tradiction to her own doctrines and teaching, but
she demands unity in the vital matters connected
with the holy SacramentS.