New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-10-17
THE EPISCOPAL CONTENTION


The noise OF the campaign has not been
able altogether to drown out of hearing the
grave debates of the two great religious bodies
which have lately been in conference among
us. Hardly had The Pan-Presby terian ALI
ance closed its session when the Triennial
Council of the Episcopal Church opened in this
city. With every year these pOupartcrS OF
the leading religious denominations are re-
garded with more respect by the secular pub
lie. Not that the nom church going commu-
nifty really care silver about small dis
tinctive dOgmas, or even questions of church
government or funds. But the fact is that
the churches are beginning in their congresses
to thrust these subordinate matters to the
wall, and to take up for discussion the live
difficulties which stand in the way of cviliza-
ton. Few are anxious to hear what body
of cergymcn think concerning the duties of
presbyters or bishops; but the press and
the public do care very much to know how
| these congresses of energetic, conscientious
men are going to deal with crime, intemper-
ance, poygamy, the Indian question. These
are real diseases, and here are so-called ply
scians what are their remedies
The Episcopal Convention took up some of
! these questions bare-handed. They appointed
| a committee to give aid to the Indians in oh
tanning their civil rights, and we are
| glad to record this step as the first recognI-
ton by any religious body of the real need of
| the Indians. The red man, as we have said a
thousand times, demands of this Government
his civil rights precisely as the slave demanded
his freedom. They belong to him as man..
Give him those, and add whatever aims Of
education, support or missionary effort after
ward you choose. Polyeamy in Utah was
dealt with as bluntly; then followed the con-
sideration of divers Church matters, all Of
which, we observed, were approached i'll the
same direct, practical fashlon-a method of
handling winch indicated that these clergymen
were like St. Paul, men of the world, awake
TO the needs of their times, as well as men of
God.
An odd instance of the difference between
the spirit of the Church Of England and its
American daughter was offered in the prompt
ness with which pro posed change in the
burial service was dealt WITH All England
for two years past has been exercised over
bill which would permit Disorders to lie in
cOnsecrated ground, without difficulty be-
tween their friends and the Church authorities.
Our Convention the other day took the first
steps toward admitting suicides and all unbap-
tIzed persons to the rites of the Church
burial service. A favorable report was also
made concerning the eXpcdlency OF shortening
the Church service so rs not to repel by its
tediOusness the young and strangers. In
short, this Convention, as well as that of the
Presbyterians, has shown marked DISPOSE
ton to put dogma, bIg0try and precedent
ASIDE, and to work upon the broad platform
of love to Christ and help to their fellow
man.
There has been, it is true, good deal of
annoyance expressed at this among the more
bigoted portion of these and other sects.
Christian unity, in their eyes, is but
the Outgrowth of monkish sentiment, and
brOtherly charity, when it leads us to keep
our dogmas quiet, a tempOrIzng with the
devil. The true Christian, in their secret
opinion, was he who not only was willing to
give up his own Lille for his creed, but to tax G
that of the man who differed with him. Some
of the most prominent of sectarian journals
sent up bitter lamentations over the fusng
of different churches at the Pam Presbyterian
Alliance. We are breaking down the bar
"rers," said they, that separated the
churches, and with them has persisted our
ability to discover the finer distinctions be-
tween right and wrong" 1--WE are losing the
'old-fashioned loyalty to the creed of our
forefathers, and with it the higher honor and
morality"
Now, is this true I 1t is fact that the
mass of Professionals in this country are rap
idly losing sight of the barriers between the
sects but are they, for that, less honest, less
eat of
does the Christianity of our churches, in
word compare with the Christianity of
our grandfathers The question is worth |
investigation. We suspect good deal
of glamour hangs over the piety as
well as the manners of those earlier days. |
Our stately grandnothers told ugly stories of |
each other III language which the slangiest |
belle now would blush to use. Heads of the |
Church then followed Washington's example,
gambled and bet at horse-races. The sanity |
Quakers OF Penn's day were gross feeders aud |
heavy drinkers.
Chiistiln effort in more bigOted times was
limited very much 10 doctrinal teaching it |
made little OF no attempt TO elevate or ame-
crate the condition of humanity. The fires of |
Smithiield belonged to those days. Episco-
palians harred Presbyicrians Prcsby
Qnalors Puritans pilioried Baptists.
Sunday schools, hospitals, insane asylumS, the
Sanitary Commission in time of war, the abo-
lition of slavery, belong to our days, to our
ideas Of Christian duty. not to those of
our ancestors. We have fewer martyrs now
only because Christians no longer light the
fires. But men are just as ready rs then to
sacrifice their lives in defence of the truth