The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-13
EPISCOPAL CHURCH CONFERENCE.
DISCUSSION ON THE EXTENT OF ALLOWABLE
DIFFERENCES IN CHURCH TEACHING AND

DIFFERENCES IN CHURCH TEACHING AND
PRACTICE.
At the regular Church Conference, held in the
chapel OF the Church or the Incarnation corner OF
Madison avenue and Thirty.1tth street, yesterday
afternoon, the Rev. DR.. Cramer was made chair
man. and after The usual religious exercises "The
Extent or Allowable Differences In church Teach
ing and Practicen was announced as the subject
Tor discussion. DIR. Thompson who wished to be
regarded as holding BRIEF upon that side Of the
question, and not as necessarily expressing his
own views entirely, took the ground that there
should be no difference In the teachings what
ever. The Church had been established upon
earth and given a story 10 tell. 1t was not
responsible Tor this story; it came from God; no
one might add to It OF take from 1t, and II the
Church ceases to have definite and established
teachings IL may be body corporate, an assocla-
ton or society," but IL is q church no longer This
was q matter which concerned the parsons alone.
They had started all the heresies or the world I;
the lalty are always orthodox; the faith which
was taught rneir ratners is sufficient Tor tnem
and they desire that their children should be IN.
structed in the same. The speaker thought all
the heresies IN the world nad originated IN an at
tempt 10 explain the doctrines: an attempt to
explain tue trinity resulted Ia Arianisn, and SINH
lar results mad followed the efforts 10 explain
atonement 1nd the Incarnation. In THIS country
we nave more than
a
There Is no people the equal VI ours for invent
ing religions, and the Whole Doun dlesS Continent
Is ours 10 do IL In. But the human IcInd Is not
satisfied with the religion tnat had It's origia the
Gay before yesterday. based on the resolution OF
"A committee. The people want something definite,
something divine. taught nov as II has been
taught Tor hunoreds OF years. Truth IL always ex-
elusive. Christianity is exclusive. aud since us
existence mas comDatted every other form OF re-
h2Ion. Another danger - In vacatlng tae ground.
There is Que Cnurcl whoa does not do this, aud
we snail make mistake n We DO not emulate ner
example. Her SteaulArt WAY OF tellluR her STORY.
OF advocating truth, ~ having It's enect In this
want a guide 10 ecclesiasti teal matters: they want
something winch comes to them with the force Of
authority. sucn as Is ound In the teachings OF the
REV. R. II. NEWTON,
who followed, stated that, Notwithstanding what
had been said, tGefe has always been great
diversity OF views IN toe pulpit. lnueed, tnere
never had been any unity Ia the dO2maHc teacn-
lngs OF the church. He then referred 10 the
NIcene ana Apostolic creeds as containing thuse
fundamental or cardinal points upon which all
Christians necessarily agree; beyond these the
doctrines OF tho Cnurcn often ind no direct war
rant IN the Scriptures, but are rather Inferred.
lie then proceeded to consider what are the DOLL.
prayer books. Many OF the articles OF relgion
LAID down refer to points which were once re-
now little thought OIL they seem 10 me
TO be tue embodiment OF the philosophy
nation. an d are no more than reasonable guides
In the study uf the biole rne reverend gentle
man continued AZ some length In an endeavor 10
show that there must be variety OF IDEAS and
theories upon religious questions ASIDE from tho
ornamental doctrines, and theY must necessarily
ind vaat Ia the teacaing " tue pulpit.
DR. 4. L. wIDDMER
thought tho latitude allowed Ia the Churcn was
atoge tner too great. A man might now &c almost
Ruy thing, he SAID, aud no one would interfere vita
MIN. Inc bishops would say, perhaps, 10 was
wrong out we must nave liberty. He thought
the teachiAas OF the Church snould be defined ana
within certain ILnits, as was the case with other
several other speakers followed, after iissenlng
to nom the Conference adjourned.