National Republican., 1877-10-10

10 whOm advocacy oil thB cnungc IL lett
will bring forward effects that have at all
times given distinction. II may be assured
that the Rev. DIR. DE KovEN will admirably
present the High Church view with the
same dignifed, learned scholarship
that characterized his exposition Of
the sacramenta doctrine at the last
convention. Despite the great efforts,
the fact Of the Low Church party being in
majority will defeat the intention. Look
ing at the proposed change Of name in an
impartial light, might Of logic necessarily
grants the position to the High Church
party. They assume the right to change
on the grounds of history, taking the
same view governing the name given "the
Church of England" The Episcopal Church
in this country is daughter to the English
Church. Her bishops received consecration
at the hands of the English bishops, and in
matter of Church discipline, doctrine and
polity In principle, the same as the Church
of England The Prayer-book Is the same
in essence; but few differences are noticea-
blc so small rs to fail In way Of defect.
Between the two Churches there Is frater-
nifty Of feeling, making the union of hearts
and hands. In few words the Episcopal
Church in America is the same as in Eng
land. On this line, therefore, an argument
will bo advanced that the name now known
Is unsuited, and fails in the full expression
of the Church's relation TO the Christian
world. The title-page to the Prayer-book
gives the name to the Church in America,
as " The Protestant Episcopal Church in
the United States Of America" The prop
osition has q Specification carrying Pc
culiar inference. There was no reformation
to be made in this country when the term
Protestant" was demanded as its exponent.
The convention assigning the name did so
for the purpose of making it distinctive
from other religious bodies, giving 1t prom
inence as being by name "the" only Protes-
tant body in the United States Of America;
an assumption bearing its own defect. In
her creeds, Apostle and Nicene, is taught
the belief in "onc Holy Catholic and
Apostolic Church, difference when
compared with the title page; the same
difference as If n man should try to make
himself believe that his family name was
myth and force his belief on others. There
are other points, however, which will be ad-
vanccd when the logic of history, supported
by the usages of the early councils of the
Church, will be mighty. The discussion
will afford interest, as the widest scope will
be given the subject-a requirement which
cannot be obviated, simple rs it may seem,
yet the difficulties attending it will occa-
sion much feeling and anxiety. But rs the
name now stands it fails in full utterance
of the teachings of the Church from its in
ccption until the present The three great
branches of "the Church Catholic" are the
Greek, Roman and English Church-(the
Protestant Episcopal Church of this land
being included in the name English the
separation of the churches into Eastern, /. C.,
the Greek-into Western the remaining
two. These have for years been apart on
ing the heresy of the Western on the Fill
oquc" clause of the Nicene creed as being
r sufficient grounds for their alienation
as also the question of Easter celebra'
, ton The Church of England claiming in
e dependence, purity in the faith and retention
, of primitive liturgies, claiming apostolic sue
, cession through the line of the Gnlic Church
though tradition would have it by the visi
tation of st. PAUL. The Church of England
: laid no claim to retormatory movements
except to say the expulsion of Romish pre-
latcs from diocescs and benefces whicl
! gradually they had usurped until the an
4 cient rites and ceremonies Of the primitive
I Church had been swallowed up by tn,
, Mass. The Church of England had n,
= reformation commonly attributed to it
5 Her reformation was but the desire fo
4 her own investiture Of rites and ceremonies
1 The term Protestant Episcopal" Therefore
4 given the American branch has been con
c sidered By many of her children as giving
3 her character utterly in contradistinctioi
4 to the antiquity belonging to her. As III
d opponent to Rome she is foremost, and he
@ advocates of true religious belief are unsur
y passed. Tho term Protestant has, since it
4 origin been used by all religions as tern
: Indicative of hostility to Rome. Matter
II not the faith or belief, the name became
heritage; IN lhct, an i.elr-lOoni, DOne .
C contention as to which religious bod
r should possess its greatest force Of meaning
At the general convention of the Protestan
= Episcopal Church in America, with the fea
If of Rome in one ear and the fear of Purita
It objections in the other, it concluded on tn
L name which it has since borne. The public
= no doubt, will be greatly interested on thi
lie one point, as the arguments to be brough
= forth will induce great men to show effort
is and crown with success their positions
j. There is nothing therefore, which appea
e. so dclicately to the feelings and hearts {
ID the churchmen as the proposed change {
re name. Assembled now in Boston is tn
Is Church's bishops and delegates - me
/? wealthy in wisdom and learning-and
5? them the Church expects them to be we
t. fitted for her wants.
rs ITON. DAVID p. LEWIS, late Governor
Alabama, is lawyer of distinction, W
an out and-Out Union man during Il