Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-05-09
The Reformed Episcopal Church.

This Church has four bishops 10 The Uoited
States Bishop Samuel Fallows, D. D., form
erly Methodist minister who stood 10 the
front rauk as o scholar s1d 40 eloquent preach
er 10 that denomination, and who is now, by the
authority of bis denomination, relieved from local
pastoral work that he may travel at large and
supetiotend the general interests ofthe Church.
Bishop William R. Nicholson, D. D., vas az
Episcopalian originally, ADD bad given twenty.
six years of bis public life to that Church. He
has been 10 the Reformed Episcopal Church
sipca 1874, and was rector 10 Newark, N. a.,
until bis transfer to Philadelphia, where he
DOW ministers to local congregation as we'll as
superiutends the eight other congregations OF
the denomination which have grown up around
him. He too stood high as preacher IN the
old Church. Bishop Charles j. Cheney, u.
D., is also rector in Chicago though 10 somo
sense relieved of pastoral duties that be may
travel and organize churches 10 the Vest, as
Bishop Falowes does in the East. lie was
consecrated by the sanity Bishop Cummlns
and was his successor for time. Ills persist.
ent fight with the late Bishop of l!nol5-one OF
the most bitter rituasls then 10 the Church
pointed bin out as leader in the reform move,
ment His church s:ood robly by him, and
for series OF years fought tho Bishop, who
vas backed by his diocese both 10 the ccoesl-
astica and in the civil courts, and won 10 every
case. and now stands forth 10 the Lake City as
the attraction for evangelical Eplseopallans.
His church DO longer stands alone With him.
1t has eight or ten companions now where lour
wears ago it had to bear the brunt or battle as
fierce as any waged during the century: Blshc,
Oh Cridge, of Canada, is the fourth bishop or
the new Church On the continent. 80 that
with the two English bishops the Reformed
Episcopal Church has six bishops now, four CT
whom at least will attend the Counc which
met in Newark yesterday.
Ia its exit from the Protestant Episcopal
Church tho Reformed left behind or very soon
thereafter eliminated from its ritual everything
that savored Of baptismal regeneration, sacra.
mental grace. saoerdOtal function and apostolic
succession. Nevertheless they claim to have
a. much of the last named 6gment IS the old
Church has. Whatever of the apostolic sue
oession virtue is impaired by conservation.
Bishop Cummins, who spent twenty'elght
years in the Protestant Episcopal Church s
ministry, seven years in its eplsoopate, and
who had Methodist ordination to begin with,
followed by two episcopal ordinations and a
observation-disclosures virtue there IS 10 this
rite, Bishop Cummins possessed it in an emf
neut degree, and, of course, impaired 1t to
Bishop Cheney, who has transmitted 1t to his
associates. The Churchman declares itself
more puzzled than ever to understand any
reason for tho existence of the sect. seeing that
the reformers deny the apostolic succession
claim. They adhere to the ceremony because
it is venerable and orderly, but attach 20 espe.
cial apostolic ssnctity to it. Two very emil,
nent ministers 10 the Protestant Episcopal
Church-Rev. William Newton, D. D., in
Philadelphia, and Rev ?. B. Morgsa, u. D.,
in Cincinnati recently gone over to the
The former carried BIZ, congregation with him,
and they will soon dedicate new and larger
church edi6ce than that which they left. DR..
Morgans congregation is likely to follow him
also into his new ecclesiastical home. 1t was
the largest Episcopal congregation 10 Cl1eln-
natl. Whenever minister leaves the Fro
testant Episcopal Church be is not allowed to
withdraw quietly, with the blessing Of bis do
cese and brethren upon him: but a oanonIcal
process of deposition from the ministry takes
place.
The Reformed Episcopal Church holds friend g.
~ relations with every other evangelical church
in the land and recognizes the parity Of the
ministry. Hence Methodist or Baptist or Pres;
byte.isn minister can transfer his ecclesiastical
relstions to tho Reformed Episcopal Church
without any forfeiture of his ministerial or
Christian standing Only few months ago
DR.. Thomas j. Mellish left the Baptist Church
in the West for this Church, and many Of the
present ministry of the Reformed Epis. Church
were originally Methodists. The Episcopacy Of
the Reformed Episcopal Church is not dioce-
san, but like the Methodists is general, and the
CT urch probably represents John Wesley's orig
insl idea better than even the organization
which bears his name The Reformed Episco'
pslisns stand toward the mother church precise
" as the Protestant Episcopalians stand or did
stand toward the Church of Rome. 1t Is pro.
bable that the council which assembled yester-
day in Newark will elect ono or two moro bis
hops and relieve from local pastorates thoes who
now hold such relationship. 1t will not have much
legislative business to transact Its constitution
and Book of Common Prayer are as noarly per.
feet as they can be made. 1t has already proVld-
ed for organizing synods in any district whore
six congregations unite for that purpose. The
synods frame their own constitutions--subject to
that of the General Council-snd about the mid
die of January last the churches OF New York.
Brooklyn and Jersey city and vicinity organized
the synod CT New York, which has been silent
ly but efectually working ever slnce.-N Z.
Herald.