The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-21
CONSIDERATION OF A BISHOP.

AN ENGLISH BISHOP FOB THE REFoRMED EPIs-
copAL cHuRcH--MAHyELLoUs GROWTH or
THE CHURCH WITHIN THREE YEARS.
epoch 10 The ecclesastc cal life OF tho Reformed
Episcopal Church was marked yesterday when the
Rcv. Thomas Hutand Gregg D. D., late Vicar OF East
Harborne, IN the diocese Of Lnchnsld, England,
consecrated one OF its bishops Tho ceremony took
place IN jhe First Reformed Episcopal Church, on
Madison avenue and Fifty nth street. and there
present and assisting In the Bishops Cheney
FalIowes aud Nicholson, aud the Rcvx Mason Gala
gner, Marshall b. smith, Howard b. smith, Of Newark;
J. H. Bourne. w. T. Sabine, pastor Of tho church; DR..
Joseph Holdich, Methodist. and one or two other
clcrsymen. Bishop Cheney preached the sermon,
basng bis romarks the words OF the PsAnisI Xxi,
16-"Thero shall be handful Of 10 tho eartn,
upon the top Of the mountains; the fruit thereof
shall shake Ike Lebanon and they Of Tho city shall
nourish like grass OF the earth David tho Bishop
SAID these words primarily descriptive Of his
Solomon's kingdom and reign. But WITH grandcr
sweep Of spiritual vision he took In also tho greater
reign OF another King--one Jesus. After briefly OK
pounding tho text the Bishop applied la principles TO
the organization and growth OF his own Churcn. Tho
text ntmates that there should DO scarcity OF seed
handful OF corn. And this was descriptive Of tho be-
ginning oi tho Reformed Episcopal Church. When tho
first council was called ia tis city IN the fall OF 1873.
Bishop Cummins and SIX other ministers signed their
names 10 declaration OF indepcndoncc The occssion
was very unpromisns. They were but handful Of
IN tho earth But the text also suggests that this
handful VI seed should be sown the top OF the
mountans.n the most unpronsing part oil the earth.
And hs too, was Descriptive Of the circumstances ana
whom this church enterprise launched
upon the world II al the period OF The Evangelical
Alliance meeting in this city, when every CHRISTIAN
man was longing and groanIng Tor union And u
seeed like madness 10 set on another Just At that
time. But VAS also at the beg ginning Of the financial
panic when this enterprise could hardly nope tor
support. And yet though there vas hut handful OF
corn IN the earth aud sowI upon the top OF the moun
tains tho text declares that tx iruit shall shake IKE
Lebanon. Nothing shall nnder Gods blessing upon
IL Ana this, too had tccn fulfilled grandy and giort
ously IN the history OF the Reformed Episcopal Church
The seven ministers who met IN tho parors Of the
Young Mems Christian Association three and a half
years ago, without church or The promise OF one
have grown within that period 20 eighty ministers,
seventy churches organized, and over five thousand
communicates. This 70 marvellous growth ior4so
brici a period and uuder such uniRvorabls crcum-
stances, aud the Bishop lott pardonsbiy Juhaut he
reviewed the scene
TnE CONGREGATION CEREMONY
the new Bishop was presented by the Revs N. Is.
Smith and b. u Lcacock, and after the reading and
acceptance vi ns testimonizs the bishops and pros
byters present performed act OF conservation
cordlng to the ritual Of tho Church B,snop Nicholson
read the Ltsny and Bishop Failowss The consGcrston
service and tho postccmmunion prayers, assisted BY
Bishop Gregg Tho Lords Supper adm mustered
aicr tho nsecraiion WAS over, and goodiy number
participated therein In tho evening reception was
given TO Bishop Gregg ai thc residence OF Mrs. W. n.
Bradbury. No ~ West fiity.sevcnth street, where
pny tho clergy and ialy OF tue Reformed Episcopal
Church and others paid their respects 10 the new
prcatc The Bisbop Will remain horo bat short
Time. inasmuch as congregation Is awaiting bis return
NJ his old parish, and there are many scattered COCKS
10 Other parts Of the United Kingdom that will be glad
20 navs church that 10 htrrsicai and episcopal and
protestant and evangelical, stripped oil all prslaticai
and sacramentarian and rnnslistc pretensions He
has ample leid and no looks IKE VINO II not
afraid Of toll and labor for the Lord he psssesses
robust frame aud . vigorous constitution. ana has
propectvsy many years OF Lite ana usefulness before
him.