The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1878-01-09
sORELY DIsPLEASED.

published few weeks ago that letter Of DR..
Hopkins" Ritualism Advancing But
then did not the Ch,wckman itself publish
the same the week before? Yes, but the
Central added some editorial comments
And did not the GEmchman exercise Its
privilege touching the same subject? And
yet our old friend reads US severe homily
about Psychological paculiarities," fond
ness for attending to other peoples bust.
ness" of which we are "the most marked
example" in all its acquaintance, "impos'
8ible to mind his own business" 80 busy
looking at his neighbours faults that be has
no time to look at home;" fault-6nding is
in his blood and he cannot get it OUT" And
as if to clinch the whole matter we receive
the cruel advice to ego to the oyster" he
knows how to keep his mouth shut
1t may be we'll supposed that the Central
received all this with something like bated
breath. Mr.. Baecher has taken to down
right, positive, formal swearing in the pull
pit our venerable friend of course would
not do that, but relieves himself with down.
right scolding; and that illustration about
the oyster is fairly among the things that are
iuiuitable. But, lest it should pass out OF
mind, it may be allowed US to call attention
to the fact that the fatne8S and marrow and
success in the world of this beloved molusk is
Chi, fly derived from keeping its mouth open.
Win the Chnrchman duly reflect upon that
important fact which seems to have escaped
its recollection ?
AS to that spirit of fault,fmaing, it is not
necessary to do more than remind the accuser
that many EpiscOpalians, as we'll as others in
Virginia, think they have seldom if ever seen
more remarkable illustration of it than
was furnished from the city of Alexandria q
few. years ago in relation to the Virginia
Bible Society. But let that pass. When
the Gburchman says Of the editor of the
Central Presbyterian, that she has some.
thing to say one week against the Northern
Presbyterians; another week he looks after
the BaptistS another the MethOdists and
for several weeks at time, he will be en-
gagged in showing the faults of the EpiscOpa'
lians" --what shall We answer? If it were
all just as alleged, might it not show that the
Central is paper fully awake; and with itt
eyes so wide open, would it not be too much
to expect that perpetual policy so warmly
recommended of keeping ats mouth shut?
But indeed We are not so bad after all
As to the Northern Presbyterians, The
Churchman after blaming US for looking
after them, turns in and mentions quite {
number of wrong things among them, anC
then straightwsy blames us severely for no
attending to them. 1t is rather hard upor
an oyster to require its mouth to be KEEP
both open and shut at the same time. Al
to the Methodists, there is mistake o.
facts in sll the years We have been here
there has not been single word of contrO
Versy between us. AS to our Baptist breth
rem, we have with entire good will spriDklet
them occasionally; but even then not i'm
moderately, for they are already troubled
enough with the instances from history which
prove that immersion (which they are sure il
the only lawful mode of bapti8m) can be per
formed by sprinkling or pouring, provided
only there is enough of at
And now, as to "shOwing the faults o.
Episcopslians" there are some things which
if considerably weighed, would not make vi
out so bad-natured and pugnaCiouS as repre-
sented.
l. We have not much controversy viii
EpiscOpacy properly considered. We do not
of course, consider that form of Church gov
eminent the one sanctioned by the Scriptures
Moreover we do believe, and have said, thai
leaven of Romsnism was unfortunately left
in the standards of the Church of England
aud that this has been fermenting in it ever
since. If we remember correctly a majority
of the Episcopal Church in Ireland has re-
Gently voted to purge it out. The Reformed
Episcopal Church in this country, under the
noble lead of such men as Bishops Cummint
and Latane have avowedly delivered their
communion from this enormous evil; and
there are net few in the Episcopal Church
here and in England, who sigh deeply in
spirit because of it, and would rejoice in q
Thorough publication. The English Reform.
ers, it is we'll knOwn-for it is attested by
the most authentic histOry-were under po-
liticsl restraints, and could not carry out
their own views and wishes. Consequently
their work was to some extent mixture Of
clay, iron and brass and so it has remained.
The sarcasm of great English statesman
I'VE think it was the Earl of Chatham was
not without truth at the end of its sting,
when ne said that We have in the Church
of England a CalVinistic creed, Popish
Liturgy, and an Arminian clergy" But
while agreeing with SO many EpisCopalians
in lamenting the defects of the English Re
formation, yet we say in all sincerity, as We
have uniformly declared heretofore, that
wherever that Church, or any part of it,
stands upon the views Of Cranmer, there
ought to be a most friendly intercourse be-
tween it and other churches of the Reforma-
ton.
2. But what is the spectacle presented