The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-05-24

ceiyed; from others only partial OF I'M
perfect statemant, hence this report cannot
be regarded as presenting perfectly accu-
rate information on the various points
which it includes.
The report was recommitted.
THE BISHOPS ODDLY ADMONITIOE. ..
The reports from he committee appointed
to consider that part OF the Bishops adj
dress in regard to the ritualiStic tendencies
in certain parts OF the diocese were then
taken up and read. 49,.
Rev. Mr.. Hubbard stated that the minority
report was intended to express the views OF
the minority, and was not intended as
substitute for the majority report.
Rev. J. &. Armstrong, OF the Monument
tai church. and Judge Boiling, OF Wythc-
vile. had declined TO sign either report.
Rev. Mr.. Armstrong then proceeded to
give at length before the Council and the
vast congregation present bis reasons for
not signing either report, and for thus
openly dissenting from the authority Of the
! Bishop. except the authority conferred By
the canons and rubrics-his governmental
authority.
At the conclusion OF Mr. Armstrong; re-
marks General johnson offered the follow
ing substitute for the first resolution OF the
committee, which was read:
! Whereas it is most valuable part OF that
blessed liberty whereWith Christ hath made
us free that in his worship different forms
and usaGes may, without offence, be 81
lowed, provided the substance Of the faith
be kept entire; and
Whereas it is not necessary that trad;-
tons and ceremonies be in all places one Or
utterly alike, for at all times they have been
divers, and may be changed according to
the diversity OF countries. times, and mems
manners, so that nothing be ordained
against GOES word; and
| Whereas the spirit and intent OF the Pro-
testant Reformation was to allow the largest
| liberty in rites, ceremonies, forms, and
usases OF worship: and, therefore, the
Church OF England established a standard
Of Ritual in the Rubrlcs Of the Book OF
Common Prayer, below which no one is
allowed to go, and standard OF faith in the
Articles OF Religion, beyond which no one,
| by practices, uses, or professions, was per-
mitted to depart, and between which rules
bishops, clergy, and laity were secured AID
guaranteed the most liberal indulgence IN
ceremonies. ornaments, and decorations,
| cXcept where controlled by canon; ard
| Whereas, the Protestant Episcopal Church
in The United States OF America, formed.
nurtured, and deriving its authority from
the Church Of England, and excrcisn"
the power to change her standard Of ritual
and Of faith, rs she had the right to do, hath
established for her members a still wider
liberty and more indulgent freedom OF Use
and of conscience, by emitting from the
Rubrcs many requirements OF ceremonies,
| and from the Articles OF Religion positive
declarations Of faith; and, in the further
exercise OF her authority, hath admitted the
Iaity to a share in the government OF the
Church, and hath ordained Il written con-
stitution, under ard in pursuance OF which
alone the authority Of the Church can be
exercised for the change OF ritual or the
modification OF articles Of faith, or the CT
iargement or abridgemcnt of The liberty
guaranteed to all her children in matters OF
ritual and faith; and
| Whereas these changes were not 10 graf
| iiy this or that party in amy or their unrea-
| sonable demands, but 20 do that which she
conceived might most tead to The promo
ton OF peace and unity OF the church, the
procuring OF reverence and exciting OF
pety and devotion in the public worship OF
God, and the cutting off occasion from them
| that seek occasion or cayil or quarrel against
i the liturgy Of the Church; and
Where's it has become painfully manifest
that in some places some persons--cer@y aS
well rs laily-havc abused this liberty Sc
cured TO them under The constitution 0? the
| Church by Introducing and insisting on
practices and ceremonies which Symbolic
| erroneous and doubtful doctrines, ana
which are not in accord with the doctrine,
! discipline, and worship Of our own Church.
and are foreign 10 The genius and spirit OF
| our services, and tend TO tcacl!-.nd do
,each-the very dogmas which our anccS-
tors protested against and rejected at the
Reformation is the errors OF the Church OF
| Rome; and ....
Whereas the power to repress such dan
! rerons practices can only be exercised by
| The authority OF the whole Church, and no
| integral part thereof can or ought TO under
| take 10 make any rule applicable only to
itself in matters OF ritual or OF faith, where
bv the liberty guaranteed by the whole
| Church to every member thereon, wherever
! he may be, may be abridged by any diocese,
parish, yestry, or other part thereof; and
| Whereas all such teachings Ct false or
doubtful doctrine, whether by works, acts,
or things, is a scandal to the Church aud q
stumbling block OF offence to The lovers OF
good order and true religion, and ought to
be rcpEessed by the full power OF the whole
Church, and. II necessary, by such change
and modification OF the constitution and
canons as may be necessary for that pur-
pose, in order that the liberty Of her MEM
bers may be preserved and the purity Of
| her faith maintained:
| Therefore we, the clergy and laity Of the
| Protestant Episcopal Church in the United
States OF America, in the diocese OF Yir-
ginia, in Council assembled, do hereby in
struct our deputies to the next General
Convention of the Church In the said United
States, to urge upon that venerable and II
| lustrious body the adoption OF such consti-
tutional legislation. and, il necessary, such
| amendments to the constitution ana ca.
mons as may be necessary to forever prohl-
| bit ard always prevent all snch cerem?nies'
services; yestinents, ornaments, decorations,
usages, and practices as symbolize OR teach,
or tend to symbolic or teach, erroneous or
doubtful doctrine, and particularly all such
dosmas as were rejected by the Church as
errors. OF the Church Of Rome. n, :
1 And that they be particularly instructed
Ito urge such action as will pro. ect the
Church from the Intrusion OF the dogrnas
For the material presence and transub.