The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1878-01-16
REFORMED EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

This Church has just received al impor-
tant accession in Philadelphia. The Rev
William Newton is q brother of the Rev.
DR.. Richard Newton of that city, Who is so
widely known by his excellent writings for
children. Both of them have long been min
listers in the Protestant Episcopal Church,
and prominent among the few who are left
of the Low Church party. William Newton
has been rector of the church of the Nativity;
but last week he announced his resignation
and his purpose to unite with the Reformed
Episcopal Church. His reasons, as con-
densed by an exchange paper, are these;
He says that germs of error have been incor
uorated in the Prayer Book of Henry VIII. aud
Elizabeth, tending to destroy all the results OF the
German and English Reformations. de condemns
he doctrine of apostolic succession that the nln
istry is priesthood; that the Lords table Is an
altar on which the oblation OF the body and blood
of Christ is offered as sacrifice that the presence
of Christ in the Lords Supper ls presence IN the
elements of bread and wine and that regeneration
is inseparsbly connected with baptism.
1t is stated that sixty-four persons of the
church be has left have united in new or
ganiz alton of which Mr.. Newton was elected
pastor, and hall for worship has been OBJ
tanned until church can be built. We sup
pose that any expression Of qualification at
facts like these will be set down to the &C.
count of ill-will aud love of strife. Not 80;
but we rejoice in them with exceeding great
Joy as evidence that there are those to whom
the truth of God is more precious than any
thing merely external. Mr.. Newton and
others like him announce principles and
views which we hold to be simply 10 accord
ance with scriptural truth, and which are
grounded on well known historical facts
We have from the first hailed the organize
ton of the Reformed Episcopal Church as a
token for good. The body from which it
separates has been fast lapsing into High
Churchism, and by denying, either theoreti-
cally or practically, the right of other de-
nominations to be recognized as Churches Of
Christ, it has gone into grievous schism-for
such exclusion is the worst form of that sin.
Another part is running into Ritualism and
Romanism. The Reformed Episcopal Church
is really the Church of the English Rsforma-
lion, inasmuch as it plants itself squarely
upon the foundation held by those excellent
men who stood with Cranmer and others
Presbyterians, MethodistS, Baptists, and all
non. prelatical denominations, have great
cause to welcome this movement. They may
not agree with every thing belonging to it.
But it stands firmly with them in upholding
the great principles of the Reformation and
gospel truth against the bigotry of High
Churchism, and the POpery of Rituslism,
and it casts out from its liturgy the unhappy
eaven which has so long been working mis-
chief in the old measure of meal, and now
threatens to "leaven the whole lump"
The increase of the Reformed Episcopal
Church has been such as to effsctually open
the eyes of those who undertook to silence
it with pools ! and pshaws! If it goes on &C
cording to present promises, it may be safely
predicted, as one of the greatest of its bene-
fetal effects, that it will soon be powerful
check upon the inrosds of error in the body
from which it separates, aud powerfully slim
uate those remaining in it who value the
truth to bestir themselves for its defence
Such was the influence of WeSleyaniSu upon
the Church of Eogland; its rise was the sal
walton of that Church (if saved it is from the
deadly stagnation of Journalism aud utter
worldliness.