Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-07-04
THE PAN-ANGLICAN
Synod now In Session at Lambeth-The
Second Great Gathering OF the Digna-
taries Of the Protestant EpiscO-
pal Church.
Causes OF the Meeting OF the SynOd-The
Growth Of Ritualism and the Re-
formed Episcopal Church-Unity
and Concord.

New York Herald: "Pan" is the prefix
that best describes the recent and
| forthcoming council of christian churches.
| Last year Pan-Presbyterian council
gathered IN Edinburg; this year Pan
| Anglican synod or conference is to meet
| in Lambeth, London, and Pan-Jewish coun-
| Gil In Paris, the former this week, the latter
| in August In 1880 a Pan-Presbyteran
council Is toassemble in Philadelphia, and a
Pan Nj ethodlst conference is under considera-
! ton for 1884. The Lutherans, Baptists and
other denominations are discussing the pro-
priety of such conferences for their churches,
so that gradually the idea of uni6cation is
growing first of the parts, and then, perhaps,
of the whole church. The idea of the unfit
cation of christendom is one that the Ameri-
can and Anglican Episcopalians fondly cher
ish. But it Is such a union as shall leave out
the millions of christians who are not enrolled
in either the Roman, Greek or Anglican
churches or the American Protestant Episco-
pal church. But the Roman Catholics, ex-
cept such as call themselves Old Catholics,
are not this way inclined The
Greek church would have no objection to
a union that would place the others within
its fold, but it does not propose to go inside
of their organizations, and the Protestant
Episcopal church in the United States is divi-
ded in sentiment regarding the proposed
union. For, of course, if there is to be Or
ganic union of the Anglican and American
bodies, the former will swallow the latter.
PRELIMINARY CONFERENCE.
Last month a preliminary council or con-
ference was held at Oxford, England, for the
purpose of considering the necessity of the
org anic union of 'all christians" as the call
was worded, but, as the discussions and re-
suits indicated, only the four communions
named were intended. The natural inference
was that all others were not christians In the
state church conception of the term. At that
meeting resolution was adopted declaring
that the advance of the in6del movement
throughout Europe, and the actual or threat
ened dissolution of the relations of church
and state, constitute fresh call on all sincere
believers to pray and labor earnestly for the
reunion OF christians In one faith and one
fold. What this means was seen In reso
luton: That the accession of Pope Leo
XIII, and the reawakening life of eastern
christianity afforded, at the present moment,
special ground for renewed energy and hope"
Also, THAT the ultimate aim and solution of
the Oxford movement of 1888 must be sought
in the restoration of the corporate union of
christendom," and that they looked with
hope to the new pope to help bring about the
union which they sought.
THINGS TO BE DISCUSSED.
In the spring of 1876 circular was sent
by the archbishop of Canterbury to all the
bishops throughout the world in communion
with the Church of England, asking their
opinion touching the desirableness of Sec
ond Lambeth conference, and also requesting
suggestions as to topics for discussion, pro-
vided such conference should be held. In
the autumn Of last year another circular was
sent announcing the intention to hold con-
ference in July, 1878, and containing cour-
teous invitation to be present at and partici-
pate in its sessions. The opening of the con-
ference was fixed for Tuesday, July I'd, and its
sessions will extend over fur weeks. The
first week of four sessions will be devoted to
discussions in conference of the subjects sub
mlt!ed for deliberatlon; the second and third
weeks to the consideration of these subjects
in committees, and the fourth week to final
discussions In conference, and to the close of
the meeting. The subjects selected for dis
cussion are the following: l. The best mode
of maintaining union among the various
churches of the Anglican communion. 2.
Voluntary boards of arbitration for churches
to whom such an arrangement may be appli-
cable. 3. The relations to each other of mis-
sionary bishops and of missionaries, in vari-
Gus branches of the Anglican communion,
acting in the same country. 4. The position
of Anglican chaplains and chaplaincies on
Modern forms of infdelity and the best
means of dealing with them. 6.
The conditions, progress and creeds
of the various churches of the
Anglican communion. Under the first head
will probably come the secession of the Re.
formed Episcopalians, here and in Great
Britain, and their organization as an indie
pendent branch of Christ's church, and also
the secession going on in an increasing ratio
of members from the English establishment
to the Roman church. Against the former,
the bishops of Chichester, st. Adams, and
others have issued their warnings if not their
anathemas. The head of the Reformed Epis-
in Epr
Thomas G. Gregg, was consecrated in this
city year ago, and Immediately returned to
England. He has made such inroads upon
the establishment IN certain dioceses, that
when the two houses of convocation of the
province of Canterbury met last week, a
large portion of their time was spent in con-
sidering this movement. They could not
deny that the acts performed by Bishop
Gregg appeared to be regular and author
lied acts" Bishop Gregg had established
church at Southend, and attracted great
numbers of people to his sermons and con-
frmations. The convention appointed COM
mittee to inquire into his antecedents and the
manner of his conservation, and the authority
for his acts. They found that the late Bishop
Cummins, within month after his secession
from the Protestant Episcopal church here,
had consecrated DR.. Cheney, of Chicago,
a bishop, and through the latter and two
other bishops Bishop Gregg had received tie
dpOSLOlC suCCtsSlOu. DlsuOp uOL
having been deposed by the old church until
ten months after the conservation of DIR. Che
ney, the Canterbury council were in grave
doubt what to do. The bishop of Lincoln did
not think DR.. Gregg was economically bishop.
The bishop of Peterborough believed that the
Reformed Episcopal church gained strength
only through the divisions of the Church of
England and the excuses to which ritualism
is carried. The bishop of Hereford expressed
his fear that great many people were
being deceived into thinking that the new
sect was part of the Church of England.
The archbishop deprecated making SO much
of them, and saw no cause for alarm In the
alleged increase OF the Reformed church.
Nevertheless, the convocation appointed a
committee 'to consider the question arising
out of the claims of the body calling itself the
Reformed Episcopal church in England"
THE REFORMED EPIsCoPALIANs ADVANCE.
Very soon thereafter the bishop of Chiches-
ter, DIR. Durnford, hearing that Bishop
Gregg was to hold confirmation at Little
hampton, in his diocese, sent out pastoral,
in which he declared that "the Reformed
Episcopal church is the creation of certain in
divlduals, who of their own will and motion
have set it up in plain opposition to the an
Gent and lawful church of this nation. 1t is
simply a self-constituted body, and if it stood
on the same ground as the noncomformist
bodies in England he should not have thought