New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-11-12
EPISCOPAL CONGRESS.
THE AUTHORITY or THE BISHOPS.

NItRk-lHE PAEONHiAI tAoifh AN AH'f"
PREACHING.
FROM REGULAR CORRESPONDENTS or 1ilE fEEt Nil
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 1.-The Protestant
Episcopal Church Congress met again at 10 o'clock tins
morning and after short service of prayer ana song
took up the subject OF the mature and Extent OF
Episcopal Authority" The Roy. DR.. Alex. H. Ninton o.
Boston argued that the ministry l. endowed with equa
spiritual prerogatiyes, aid that the Episcopae was
originally and should eth loo essentially executive
Office. in a nation law is paramount and the people
collectively the fountain Of power 80 IN the Chureh
the corporate body supreme and not the bishops TO
whom it delegates authority. Mr.. yiuton continued:
II NAV be said that although the pscopate is only an
executive office IL office for lie. Noing Dt ma
grant wickcdncss can cause change IN thc regime.
MAY not the legitimate influence that pertains tn piety
and modcsty aud good sense be sppanted ~ HrosShSe
of power, and - the doceses multiply can 40 mnrn DC
expected in the iui'uc II weak orNaln men hnoiu DC
come bishops Nav 1t not hapnen ihai the eSecnnt
power bc absolute To pui forth its power ana check
cescs This authority will become troublcsome The ih
vldla would aim to magnify not his office hut ms once
would aim to magnify the ndiN dua, aud an idle Pomp
would bc substitute for solid worth II ever these ia
the Church for gentlemen and ladies but not Tor the O
pie Of America II could never justify s claim to rue
from the taste. the traditions the educated ana inie,
gent convictions which the providence OF God mas cSed
10 ruc in ibis land But the liabilities mentioned IRE or
gauic-wIOught into the ffamcwork OF me cohsllu,lU
chronic maladics boing more Of miSclei ana sori9N
to the body OF Christ than any all OF the eN pe'ues
that age makes possible
The Rev Dr. John Fulton Of Indianapolis traced Tue
history OF the fIscOl8lt ANU ricahli VI N'hh'iiD
opinions now prevailing respecting its authority, sad;
The rualists while holding that the sacred deposit OF
tie Gath has been committed 10 the bishops ohy ana
thqt thew alone are the rulers ~ the Church Oi God nave
held tat the limitations must guard the exercise OF an
authority which they declare 10 ho divine On the other
hand. the low church party has Tor the Wpos" % CLoL
ing rualsIh been willing 20 remove whatever llma-
tons hinder that authority IN executing that design
There mast be limitations 10 iis exercise IL was th
pleasure Of the Lord that the Church should be governed
by the sacrament administered lay chosen men bl-hop
IN the Episcopal Chprch ~ subject 20 clyil Law. nt u
thority OF tao Bishop l. strictly confined 20 me h o.
into another mins diocese some bishops are never ~
home uucss they abroad We must conclude tnal
the authority of bishops H. strictly confined 10 the
limits OF the cauOus OF the order tyranny Is as uiheaf
able in the Church as it is II the state An unaWrul
canon now Gciaces the laws Of the Church refer to the
i ccsfr 81 Inc world ccnld NOT lawfully subject The
cpscopae 81 any province 10 their clergy ard ATTY
No bishop be limited IN the extent OF his authority ~
any canon which has enacted without his authority
or consent or which has not received the express consent
of the Episcopal order Bishops In5t not anec inlI
biy in tue dcctrna uiterances. They must remember
that in than one rsnect they are tar own pres
hyers and equals. bishop who would be respected
must Furthermore respect thc right Of other bishops nor
being episcopsi ousybody IN oihor mems secs FINALLY
the bishops who exalted by tie law must De patterns
tie glad obedience OF clergy and ay to author
II, ;sclt.
The Rev DE- j. T. Garrison OF Camden, Y. J.. said that
in regarding tc bishop Us merely tie executive officer Of
the Church, the idea % the Apostles has faded away
lie should the father OF the famythe shepherd Of
the flock Tie power OF Office, ne said is derived rom
God 10 lead the Church in the battle with the world He
would welcome TIE gay Nllcu INC i-.'t'.'''N 40 ''''
word shall sway the power necessary to the sublime
ideas OF the apostolic chu Cb. To be restrained y law
destroy. the idea OF dy inc origin let the Church rise to
thi. position and the bishops viii take care Of them
selves. The bishop will be the head orthe Church. WIZ!
40 eobedencc those whom be hIs nurtured IN the
Lord Let the EpiscOpate ill il apostolic duties and u
will regain ia apostolic power and authority
The Rev Dr. Ccland X. Nelson OF Annapolis Nd the
Rev d. r. Goodwin Of Philadelphia. and others took
part in the dscussiou te marked feature OF which was
rather vide divergence OF views as 10 the authority o.
the bishops over the clergy Some OF the speakers
claimed foT them powers similar in kind II not in de
gree to those exercised b. the Roman Catholic bishops
while others regarded them ministerial Officers, to
perform certain welldefned aud limited executive func
tons Or. Nelson for example, took tue extreme high
church yew and maintained that the Epscopacy inner
tied apostolic powers, while DR. Goodwin presented In
distinctive low church view.
PtEOCnIAL SYSTEM AID FREE PREACHING.
The afternoon meeting devoted 70 the cou.i dera
ton of Parochial system and free Preaching The
first papcr was read by the Right Rev. /. d. Huntington
Ii,hop Of Central New York. lie strongly favored nee
preaching by when meant religious exercises which
are not Il recognized part OF the ordinary parocai sys-
ten. The services shOud DO simple, tho sermon direct
aud limited TO the clear presentation Of Gospel truths
and here should be congregational singing The rHhFc
OF morning aud evening prayer should moi be too strictly
followed Ii an absurd anomaly to forbid the Children
~ coming together for prayer aud praise IN
less they will engage continue their services Tor cK-
actly half hour Tree preaching Is In keeping With
the wants OF American society, in harmony
with the teachings OF tie Church from
the hc.iun,ng and with the preccpts OF tie
New Testament and agrees with the dictates OF com
mon sense. The Mission has it, peculiar advantages
Tie manner OF treating subjects tends to become p'aiu
and f,rci'c Tho preacher comes down from la state
Illness and out Of his obscurty and puts himself on
level with the comprehension Of the masses. what IS
greatly needed Is q class OF ministers with peculiar power
rh, will fql dor M n
40 bar their liberty hut win from place 20 place.
seeking no reward content with lheir board and ciOshes
aud mt ut only doing the work OF the Master Livery
bishop would rejoice to have such too Oh workers il
MIR. francis Wells editor Of me Philadelphia E-eaiag
aid could be adopted parish, work There must be
variety Of methods suited 10 different condition, ana
localities adopted when The louRncrdcu chalr 81 com
mon sense ava knowledge OF human nature Is endowed
IN 0ur theological semnarlcs aneat ayHen VII 10,
tha straw OF ministerial sympathy, uad Clergy
men VII mo- uiSe n,,.,,,o U'' o, "ip,odirySI
s,mr0li-u o. cling 70 the cIcasug anguted nacln
yica the extension " tie influence " thc Church Hr
Wells said nat iaH Peg rem syst. vas MOI one iher.
chl9 rbe on D,tg rpi es in inc snrif OK e.
c-vcness which lyldcs Episcopal churches, thai ewes
hc fashion ~ she dress and on 5tau.cts With
he done Tncn his spirii il. eot rid o. Next to such
change OF feeling he part OF our congregations He
stHers of The Ronlsi Church filled with knowledge
Of ihc love OF Christ that they preach nothing Sc
Si1 Weiss address fl 81 pugcrt points ana hl'-
llor0u. suggestions which were loudly aplaUdcd. At
h. conclusion the Rev Lewis ot N3hiugon said be
wonld have TO break his promise moi to Npaie the tu-
ation~, aud COLL for three cheers Tor NJ Wells ihey
were given by the audience, d. Lewis, .iandiuf 10"
bench leading ana some OF tue grave bishops Oh ne
platform Joining in
The Rev DT. edward %. Briggs Of Newark \. j., also
held that 20 not the pow 5cui hu social Unequal
ii} tili stood in the way of the Chuchs growth lie
thought the existing paTOcEia sytem BAT ~ many le-
sects and specified aponr them The rule i" prevents
any one flon dOiug work Jon pu 4 without tie per
mil. ION OF flc rector Ie believed free preaching,
iut Thought there ought To- De limitations, aud would