Smyrna times., 1876-07-12
The Late Rishon Cummins.

One of the New York dailies thus oulo-
giscs the late Bishop Cummins:
The founder of church is often Il very
commonplace person in this land and in
this age. The founder of church which
endures, however, can never be other than
Il characteristic and large mind. The toun-
der Of an enduring Evangelical church
must not only be this, but he must also be
accounted benetactor Of his race, in that
he devises and organizes Il new channel
through which pure religion and undcliled
can pass between man and his God. This
Bishop Cummins did. Three great denom-
nations had an historical estate in him.
Born in the South, and bred in Mcthodism,
he early i'll Baltimore became easily the
most distinguished and eloquent among
the American clergy of tho Wesleyan order,
where that order signally devoted itself TO
an educated ministry. Passing from Meth
dism to Episcopaco, he was made Assistant
Bishop of Kentucky and his union of
power and culture rendered him the orator
and pulpitcer PR erctheact Of tho Ecnch,
to which he brought as much fame as he
gathered from it, The progress of certain
convictions in his mind which it is needless
to dabate and impossible not to respect, lead
him not to mutiny and work schism in the
liturgical branch Of Proteatantism, but to
so out deccntly, quietly and courageOusly
and found an order which warrcd on no
church and which was yet as distinct in its
pCIity, doctrine and methods as it was
catholic in its spirit The success of this
movement has been great. 1t has passed
from experiment into assurance. 1t dis
covered many conditions favorable to it in
many churches. 1t showed an ability 10
grow and gather, yet at the expense Of the
prosperity and susceptbilitics of no other
branch OF the One Vine. The good Bishop
carried out with him the love Of the Erisco-
pal Church which regretted and discOun-
tcnanCed his conclusions, but which respcc-
ted sincerity and was even grateful that he
had discmbarras sed it Of accountability for
him and himself Of accountability for il,
after their equally honest views and roads
divergcd. The other denominations re-
spcctcd and loved him. His effort was a
factor for good in the world and 4 factor of
rivalry nowhere. In few years it has gathered
hundreds of churches and ministers. thou
sands Of members and millions of property.
South, West, North, East, and in Canada.
Australia, England and Ireland the move
ment has grown, showing that its founder
built wiser than he knew. 1t was only a
few weeks ago that this gifted man cxchan.
ged salutations Of the Reformed Episcopal
Church with the General Assembly here,
and his field was fast becoming the world in
the spreading extent of the task he found
to his hand. The newest and the oldest,
the largest and the least orders of a com.
mon Professionalism lose in George d. Cum
MINIS great man and a great inspirer and
cnsamplc. His surviving and stricken church
will have to draw that from his rounded
life which it had hoped long to draw from
his wise and learned and heartful words
| and labors. He has gone over to the
majority, but he was Of the just whose
memory is blessed, and whose work shines
more and more, until the perfect day. His
presence in Brooklyn during last year
littl" thought to be his last visit, was 50
gently punctuated with wise ministry and
holy living, that those to whom it was
! given to hear and meet him, will think oil
him as a good man released and enlarged
while Protestant America will enshrine him
in the Westminster of her affection, and in
not few of the brightest of her history