The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1882-01-27
The Episcopal Church.
by REV. ROBT. J.. STEVENS.

/.
The Episcopal Church In the United
States, Is that branch Of the CAureh OF
Christ which has lawful ministry of
unbroken descent from 4 postolic times.
and in the form instituted Ly the
Apostles under tho guidance OF The
Holy Spirit. She calls upo1 all men
TO repent, 70 believe il Cbris a. the
only Saviour Of mankind, to hin His
Church, TO partalse Of His SacraBents.
aud wor1bip their heavenly Father in
spirit and in truth.
When America was 1rst settled by
an English colony, church Of England
minister accompanied it, and the frst
religious service. in the English Ian
guage, held in the New World Wa the
same which we have to-day in the
Episcopal Prayer book. When the
revolution separated the colonies from
the mother country, and they became
an independent nation, the ministers
OF the Church Of Eagland living in the
United States, formed the Episcopal
Church. The Scotch and English
Churches censecrated bishops for it,
and thus her organization was com.
pleted. While she il independent Of
the Church Of England, this indepen-
dsnes was no separation, but simply an
outgtowth as the daughter from her
mother. As there was no revolt. 70 the
Episcopal Church has always been in
communion with the mother Church.
Her ministers and ours exchange
pdlPits, aud are received by each Other
on the basis Of equality as members Of
the same Church and household. and
her laynen upon coming to this land
are received as msmbers of the Church.
The object Of this series Of articles il
70 call the attention Of those Christian
brethren who may sce them, to the
claims this Church has 10 their
allegiance; and by spreading abroad q
knowledge Of her principles, to further
the cause Of Christian unity and
erotherly love. To remove the preiu-
dices unJnstiy hourished against he,
and by speaking the truth in love tc
induce these Who love their Master te
make every effort 10 heal those divisions
by which the Churck IF Chiist il q
unhappily rent asunder.
The separation Of Christians int
various denominations If right mus
have the warrant OF Scripture; If wron,
we should expect to fnd them con
demned. Love is tie foundation prin
) ciple Of the Christian Church. Tn
, love Of God fouaI the means of wiz
: ning back mankind &c H.msalf by n
, 6aEioar, the love OF the Saviour ma
d Him establish lis Church as the mean
= oil spreading knowledge Of salvation
and this Church Is represented as Hi
Bride. lie cares Tor her as the hu,
band loves his wife: lie purchased th
Church with His R!ooi. "THat II
. might present Il 70 HialselJ as q gloriou
). Church not haring SPOT or tvriAk5e O
any srtcli thing; BIT that Il should .
holy Gni ,0itiout bleBiishr Usin, n
word "Caiho!ic" in its proper sense, a
Christians profess a belief in the Hol
Catholic Church, aud Is this is calls
'aIs Church ef'ths hriag God tie piHa
aRd ground ofM3 truth" to love thi
Church Is to love Christ. 10 aid il
? every way Is 10 honor her Divin
Master, nor is there salvation withou
r ber; for ''ths Lord added TO the churc
daily such as should be saved.s
The Church while represented as on
body with many members, was not [
j. be split up into separate societies. "FC
as the body Is one and hath man
r. members, and all the members of th.
one body being many arc one body. :
u also Is Chsist for by one Spirit are =
all baptized into one body"
- Is it right, for the different m.mbe
- of the Church to form separate organ
zations, and disown responsibility
Ie the one Churchl In the same chaps
u Cor. XIII, We read ''that the
;, should be 40 schism Tor division in Il
Is body, hut that the members saou,
le have the game care one for another
50 great a sin is divided Chur
in thl. of all tha great errors into VIII
= the Clrinthjaas hat fallen this is 9
first dealt with ~ s.. Paul; for as
breach of Charity it was most destrut
structiye tn Chr,stiaa growth. | c
/. 10. Noe hes-ech YOU hIethr
by the y um3 of lr Lord Jesus Chri
that ye all speak the same thing, n
that there ha no divisions among W
but that ye nq perfectly jaiue tp-geti
in the me mind and IN the Sal
g. judgement" Thase familiar with ;
In Scriptures can recall many such pa
ages sailing .lon Christians TO k
the unity of thA faith in the bond
peace.
People have become 50 familiar W
divided statl Of ChristendoM, Il
it is looked upon as matter OF eoul
90, 1t is thoasht by m1ny 10 be q
ID thing to have SO many different opini
to suit different minds: the comp
Did ton for members is supposed to K
to alive sarnestneSs and zeal; thu churc
,he are expected to watch each other CT
fully aud show up the weakness
.ts folly of orTing members; it is aszer
er. that men cannot agree on subjects {
,fr. religious nature; while exhibitions
,rd secsarian bitterness are oftentil
mis- reslly enjoyed by the participants, I
spectators. Ths folly and ~ickedr
:. Of a spiritual kingdom divided aga
"a "a itself il almost forgotten.
- =; Why should not the arguments
- M unity in all other msttsrs apply to
- Christian Churchl Union is siren.
~ division is weakness. Tbs old fabl,
the bundle ofsticks, which when uni
Is could not be broken by tho sirens
ms arm, yet which one by one were ca