The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-12-20
REFORMED EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
POINTS OF DIFFERENCE FROM THE EPISCOPAL
CHURCH.

The following statement has been set fort
by order of the General Council Of the he
formed Episcopal Church, Chicago, May
1875.
FIRST. The Protestant Episcopal and Re
formed Episcopal Churches differ essential.
as to what constitutes the Church of Christ
The Protestant Episcopal Church of tn
United States, as represented by a large ma
jority of it's ministers and members, holds
that the Church of Christ exists only in ont
form or order of church government, a three
fold ministry of Bishops, Priests, and Dea
cons, based on the divine right of Bishops
who are the successors of the Apostles IL
their apostolic Office, and derive their author
ity from them by succession in an unbroken
chain. On this theory, only such bodies Of
Christians as possess this order and success.
sion-corrupt though they may be, in doc
trine and in living-are parts of Christ's
Church.
The Reformed Episcopal Church protests
against this theory as unchristian, in that 1t
denies the claims of the Protestant EVangel
cal Churches around US. 1t holds that the
true Church consists of all who are joined to
Christ by living faith, and which, under
varying forms of organiz alton, is yet one in
Christ Jesus. The claims of the Apostolic
Succession, as above cited, this Church repu-
diates-holding to Episcopacy, not as OF di-
vine right, but simply as very ancient and
desirable form of church polity. Hence,
while the Protestant Episcopal Church in its
corporate capacity turns away from the Pro-
tsstant Churches around US, to seek fellow
ship with the old corrupt Churches-as, for
example the Russo Greek Church-the Re-
formed Episcopal Church, with an equally
historic Episcopste, and Bishops who only
are presiding Presbytera, not Diocesan Pre-
lates, seeks the fellowship of all Protestant
evangelical Churches, exchanges pulpits with
their ministers, and sits down with them at
the Lords Table.
SECOND. They differ concerning the ma
ture of the Christian ministry. In the Pro
testant Episcopal Church the Presbyter is
called Priest, and the Ordinal contains this
formula Receive the Holy Ghost for the
office and work of Priest in the Church of
God, now committed unto thee by the impo'
sition of our hands" The Reformed EpiS-
copal Church abjures this dogma as unscrip-
tural and dangerous, leading to many super
stitions strikes the word Priest, as applied
to the minister, from its 0.dinal and Prayer
Book, and knows but one Priest, CHRIST JE-
sUs.
THIRD. They diiGi.Has to the nature and
efficacy of the Sacraments. 1t is claimed,
as the teaching of their standards, by large
majority of the ministers and members of
the Protestant Episcopal Church, that the
Sacraments convey special grace, to be de
rived through no other channels.
(a) BAPTISM. The Protestant Episcopal
Church, as thus represented, holds that the
grace of Regeneration a generation of some
sort is inaeparably connected with Baptism.
(b) The LORDS SUPPER. In the same
way the Protestant Episcopal Church holds
that after the priestly conservation of the
elements, Christ is present as He was not be-
fore, and that the recipient feeds upon Him
by virtue of the presence thus induced or
communicated.
The Reformed Episcopal Church regards
the Sacraments as institutions divinely ap'
pointed, and as means of grace, because they
represent the truth but repudiates the the
ory that they convey grace peculiar to
themselves, and which is not common to other
divinely appointed means.
(a) BAPTISM The Reformed Episcopal
Church knows of but one Regeneration, that
by the Holy Ghost through the Word, Of
which Baptism is to be regarded as the out
ward and visible sign.
(D The LORDS SUPPER. The Reformed
Episcopal Church holds that the Supper Of
the Lord is memorial of our Redemption
by Christs death, and.tha through faith We
derive grace from Him in this Supper, as We
do in all other divinely appointed means.
FOURTH. The Protestant Episcopal Church
suffers altars to be erected in its churches
and tolerates auricular confession and pray
ers for the dead, with other limitations o
Rome.
FIFTH. The Protestant Episcopal Churcl
"depOses" all clergymen leaving its com
munion, following them with an attempted
badge of disgrace.
The Reformed Episcopal Church com
mends any Bishop or Presbyter who desire
to leave it, to another evangelical Church
with its prayers and love.
SIXTH. The Protestant Episcopal Church
in receiving communicates from PfoteStan
Churches, generally enforces Rubric whic
requires them to be confirmed.
The Reformed Episcopal Church invari
ably receives to its membership by letter, o
other satisfactory evidence, communicates @
other Churches, dispensing with confirmation
unless desired.
SEVENTH. Tle Protestant Episcopa
5 Church dscOurages the use of extemporane
Gus prayer in the stated services of tn
Church, prohibiting it by Canon.
The Reformed Episcopal Church allow
: and encourages the union of extempOre pray