New-York tribune., 1876-06-27
OBITUARY..
BISHOP GEORGE d. CUMMINs.

BISHOP GEORbE II. tjMhlNS.
| A dispatch from Baltimore says the Rt Rev
Geo. D. Cummns Senior Bishop Of tine Reformed Epsco
pal Church dlcdat his residence In Lutherve Baltimore
County Yesterday afternoon of inflammation OF the bow
el-. Bishop Cumnins was born near Smyrna Dell Dee
1902 and was graduated at Dickinson College Carlisle
Penn) in lSil For two years he was licenate IN the
Methodist Episcopal Church, but in lSi5 he began study
ing for orders in the Protestant Episcopal Church. In
October OF that year he was ordained as deacon
and in lsi7 made prcsbyter For six years he was
Rector Of Chrsts Church. Norfolk Va, and then success
.yey Rector of ~, Jamess Church. Richmond; Trinity
Church Washington; st. Peters Baltimore. and Trinity
Church Chicago In June 1866 he was elected Assistant
Bishop Of Kentucky. lie was cOnsecrated IN Novem-
her 1866 and fulfilled the duties OF his office until Nov
10 1873 when lie resigned TO take leading part in the
organization of the Reformed Episcopal Church. On
Dec p 1873 he was chosen Presiding Bishop OF that
church.
During the meeting Of the Evangelical Alliance in this
city in October, 1873. Bishop Cummins read pa
per on the Joint communion question: ana the
discussion which followed lead TO his with
drlwal from the Protestant Episcopal Church. In
his letter to Bishop Smith OF Kentucky, under date Of
Nov TO- 1873 he complained in effect that ID ri;ualstic
practices had introduced IN Kentucky churches
12) that there prospect Of reform within the
Church; (3) that joint communion was regarded with
dlsfavor Bishop Cummins gave his opinions tersely
ana clearly on these points, and also said;
| therefore leave the communion III which nave
abored III the sacred ministry for over - years ana
transfer my work and Office 10 another sphere OF labor
have an earnest hope and confidence that OASIS Tor
the union of all evangelical Chrstendom can De
found in n communion which shall retain or restore
primitive ep'scopacy, and pure scrpural liturgy with
fidelity 10 the doctrine Of Justification by taith 0nly
rcues stdnts rel cddetis EcciesiG, position toward
which the Old Catholics III Europe are rapidly tending
aud which has already taken "a definite FORM III tue
Church Of Jesus" III Mexico.
In accordance with a call issued by Bishop Cummins
on Nov Is. 1873 a large number OF aymen ana minis
ters formerly connected with the Z. f. Church met In
this city for the purpose Of organizing new Church on
the of the Prayer OF l75j The Declaration of
Principles then adopted announced adherence to
the Episcopacy not as a divine right, but as very
ancient and desirable form OF church poty that the
Liturgy should be retained though not as imperative;
II condemned the doctrines that there is only one form OF
eccsiastcal poty that the church ministers priests
in y other sense than that all believers "royal
priesthood that the Lords table is altar which
obaton Of the Body and Blood of Christ is offered anew
70 the Father that presence of Christ al the Lords
Supper is presence in the elements Of Bread and Wine
mr. that regeneration is mseperaby connected with bap
tism The Reformed Episcopal Church was then
formed With Bishop Cummins as Pre-
siding Bishop and committee appointed to draft
Constitution, consider the proposed changes IN the
PRAYER Book II I7sj, and to prepare form for the
ordination OF ministers. The Rev. C. T. Cheney, d. d.,
Of Chicago was elected at the time
Missionary Bishop OF the Northwest. Since the
organization OF the new Church, Bishop Cummns has
been busy engaged IN the establishment OF new eongre
cations number OF which have been organized In this
country and Canada Bishop Cummlns particularly
distinguished preacher OF polished dieon and per-
snn.