, 1875-10-24
RELIGIOUS.
Church Unity Not Neces. |
sarily Church Uni
fornlity.
An Expression Of the Views
Of a Reformed Epis-
copalian.
Vindication Of the System Of Sing
Ing Down Unpleasant
Speakers.
Reply to the Rev. DR.. Mitch
ellis Letter on the Bible
in the Schools.
The London Press on President
Grants Recent Speech at
Des Moines.
What They Think Abroad Of the
Catholics and the Public
Schools.
Notes and Personals at Home
and Abroad---Church Ser
vices To-Day.
Notes and Personals at Home
and Abroad---Church Ser
vices To-Day.

1s tn Editor Of The Chicago Tribune:
CHICAGO, Oct. 20.-Wiu you kindly allow me
to contribute my mite to the interesting discus
sion on Church unity now going On in your
columns?
Bishop Haven has, think, been unguarded
in respect to the supposed Erasmus consecra-
ton. he should not have furnished his oppo-
nent SO keen weapon as that apocryphal trans
actaon. The question Of Church unity, how
ever. does not turn upon this pivot; for the
Greek, the Roman, and the Anglican Churches
have all 3 succession Of some sort m the Epis-
copate, and yet they are not united.
The point which most interests the Christian
world Of to-day is not DO much, it appears to
me, whether Wesley was or was not consecrated
Bishop a whether the Epiacopase is an Office
OF an order: not, whether the various ecc1esiaa-
gether in visible organic unity-frozen into one
compact solid mass-but whether the unit!
desired-and, thank God! it is very generally
deeired-may not rather be reached and sub
etantially enjoyed through material paternal
recognition OF each and every regularly consti-
tuted ecclesiastical body as krulv part and pareel
Of the one Catholic or Universal Church Of
Christ no matter how distinct their forms, or
how diverse their modes OF organization.
We're I a Methodist, should say that It is OF
no consequence whatever TO prove that Wesley
was or was not ordained Bishop by Erasmus.
The New Testament-the supreme authority IN
a'l such cases-recognizes nowhere the order OF
Bishops a. superior to, or distinct from, Presbv
ters. It only knows the Office That Office the
Father OF Methodism appears to have exercised
of necessity ito al extent such as but few men
have exercised IT. under the p1ovidential cir
cumsta1oes in which ne found himself. For
him that necessity had no law and. like Luther
before the Dict Of Worms, be could do no other
wise. So, also, in the Anglican Church. Gran
mer and his coofreres. from whom the Episcopal
Church in this country derives whatever OF &C.
ulesiastical authority it may possess, were ex-
communicated by the Church OF Rome. They
proceeded, nevertheless, in the discharge OF
their functions just as though nothing had hap
pened. and Just as Bishop Cunlu1ins now pro
ceeds, Notwithstanding his accommodation by
that accommodated communion! The fruits
OF Wesley's work may be safely appealed to as
his Justification Even the High Church bishop
Of Oxford felt constrained to say that the Church
of England had committed grieyous mistake in
casting out from her bosom - that great and
coed man John Wesley" God hss abundantly
blessed him
It is passing strange that 80 much stress
should be laid BY Churches hoary with the froste
OF centuries, and therefore entitled to our re-
spect, upon the exclusive claims OF tho Eplsco-
nate, when these have not the slightest founda-
tion in Holy Scripture, and have nothing stronger
than ecclesiastical usage or tradition for their
support. The form Of church government u no
more laid down in the Sacred Word than is that
OF civil government, as though the DIVINE
Spirt had purposely left such matters to the ln-
dividual liberty or choice Of the various eccles1-
astical organizations, the great essential being
the preservation Of 1.-The unity OF the sp'r1t IN
the bond Of peace."' The Lord Jesus Christ
strange though it may seem, ii this matter be
bel important as some would make it-said not
one word On the subject. The Apostles laid
down no rule. The whole argument Tor an e1-
elusive Episcopate is purely lnferent4aL just as
and no more .
The tact that the Methodist Church has form
Of conservation of Bishops would seem to have
somewhat confused this matter. and TO have
PLACED that great denomination in rather anom-
aIous and illogical position, viewed from the
standpoint of high-toned Episcopact. The
Church, properly speaking, does not ordain any
man to the ministry. Sne merely, by the laying
on of hands, sets her seal upon him as on one
approved By her, and recognized to o. hare been ?t
called OF God to the sacred Office. The validity.
therefore Of her acts depends not upon the
cali or commission OF the Church. but upon the
call Of God. Ordination Is the cerslncate OF the
Church to the candldateB Wortblness and ortho,
doxy, and is often erroneously gwen; a1a w
continue 70 be- so gwen, the claim to infal1ibilitg
notwithstanding.
.It was evidently not by an Apostles hands
alone writes DR.. Jacob-"that sacred order'
could be conferred. The authority to appoint
church officers was Inherent ~ exery ou1y ,,, cen,
st1tuted church, as the natural rights OF ia~ful
and rell-organized society. And IS Presbyte1s
7nipht be ioined with m Apostle in ordaln2ng,
60 might they, without an Apostle. gave thus Sane"
rion Of eccleaiastical authority IN the ORDINATION
of .ny minister in their Church And that aot
onlY Timothy and Titus. who we're specially del
eqated by st. Paul, ordained Presbyters and
deacons in the churches OF Ephesus and Crete;
but certain prophets and teachers at Antioch,