The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-12-25
Rev Mr.. Mofat Complains.

| Editor Register.
Rev. Mr.. MoAat suggests, perhaps
wisely, that should adjust myself to my
own creed. In other words, he would
have me ''come into court with clean
hands" l now proceed to make the
proper adjustment"
Personally, l hold to all the doctrines
of grace, so called, for, what Is some
times called moderate Calvanism), such
as are held by very many Evangelical
Episcopal ministers. Nor do l reject,
but hold in the fullest sense, the doc
trine OF original sin, which DEVELOPS it
self in natural proclivity to evil. l
hope, therefore, Mr.. Mofat will not feel
it his duty to represent me us heterodo1.
All my sntecedents are in the opposite
direction.
Mr.. Mofat quotes for my especial ben
eft the Ninth Article OF the Protestant
Episcopal Church, all ofwhich, although
| am not now a minister of that Church,
| accept in its entirety, provided the
word "condemnations" be substituted Tor
Examinations" according to his sugges-
ton in regard to his own creed. But l
must call Mr.. Ms. attention TO the fact
that the term at, which occurs III that
part of the article which he has Italicized,
refers to sin Tor Its antecedent and not
to persons, either adult or infant. If he
can send sin to hell, l am sure no one
will be object. Is he now satisfied with
| the adjustment? If so, | fear he will
not find the "retreat" behind the Ninth
A - ,uhinh ha N HGlIrp
But allow me just here to say that in
the Protestant Episcopal Church form.
erly, and now in the Reformed
Episcopal Church, | have ever
held the Thirty.nlne Articles in the one
case, and the Thirty-fve Articles In the
other, as | was, and am allowed TO do,
merely as symbols Of faith, and no: as
necessarily binding me to believe them
all; although there is scarcely word in
the Thirty.f five Revised Articles of the
Reformed Episcopal Church that could
wish tc have changed.
On entering the ministry OF the Re-
formed Episcopal Church, l subscribed
the following: 81 believe the Holy
Scriptures of the Old and New Tests-
ments to be the Word of God, and to
contain all things necessary TO salvation,
and do solemnly engage to conform TO
the doctrine, discipline and worship OF
the Reformed Episcopal Church so long
as | shall continue a Minister Thereof
and from this pledge, if it may be con-
sidered such, am not aware of having
seriously devlsted.
l do not charge that Mr.. Mottat assert
ed, "without qualifications, that infants
deserve bell" On the contrary, free.
" admit that he did quslity in a way
that WAS creditable to his heart, but Ms
some will be strongly inclined TO think,
at the expense of his logical consistency;
but he certainly did use those naughty
words, "Intants deserve hell"
Having something more TO say to both
Mr.. Motfst, and Bishop Kahn, but be-
heving that it will keep until after the
holidays l will now bring this article to
close with one or two explanatory re
marks. l do rot wish To misrepreseEt
the;position of either of those gentlemen;
and If | should be so unfortunate "a te
do so, l shall willingly stand corrected.
The interests of truth can
never be subserved by falsehood and
misrepresen .ation. Again, trust that
neither of those gentlemen will consider
me as actusted by unkind feelings, or a
mere desire for polemicsl victory. As
God Is my Judge and knows my heart,
with me it is contest for the honor of
what | believe to be His own truth, and
| have no reason 10 doubt that the same
is the case with Messrs. Motfat and
Kane As | have been somewhat of u
man of war in my time, may be taken
by some for bigot But trust am
not. l honor good Catholics, and hope
and believe | shall meet thousands of
them in Heaven. honor good PreSby-
terisns, and regard their church as stand.
ing in the front rank OF Gods embattled
host. / am sure, therefore, that these
parties will not consider me HI enemy If
speak nay mind freely and tell them
what l believe to be Gods truth. Nor
do l propose to write much at length,
and perhaps it would have been much
less had not been turned aside tor the
purpose of making an adjustment"
which l trust will prove satisfactory.
II MrNvcryN