The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1882-06-02
The Episcopal Church.
BY REV. RoBT. L. STEVENS.
XVII

IN ord0f I'd sb0W that our tIeWs con
cerning Presbyterian Orders are not
ono sided, but in accordance with his
toric fact, we refer again 10 an author.
ity before quoted. TIE early Presby-
terians believed that their form Of
Church Government was Of Divine APP
Pointment. They strengthened their ir-
tuence by claiming, that the Church
from which they separated, was efficor.
ed by men who were usurping powers
to which they had no right, and By as-
serting that for the frst three centuries
the government Of the Church was
Presbyterian. Their distinction be.
tween the preaching elder and the lay
or ruling elders was claimed 70 be de-
rived from Apostolic practice. We
claim that no unprejudiced man with
thorough knowledge Of history will
Aew maintain this position.
About eight years ago / had the
pleasure Of u long conversation with DR.
Mofat professor Of history in the
Princeton (PresbyteriaD) Theological
seminary, which Is the leading educa-
tional institution Of the Presbyterian
Church In the course Of bis remarks
he said that be did not think the gov.
eminent Of the early Church was ex-
actly as in the Presbyterian Church
nor yet did he think it Episcopal but
If be could express his idea concerning
it, be weuld say it was a modification
between the two. Thus many Presby-
terians, descendants Of those who be-
lieVed In the Divine right Sf Presbytery,
are conscious that this position cannot
be proved, and hold now that il is Of
all systems that have ever existed Ia
the Church, the most agreeable to the
principles of Church government which
may bs dedusei from scripture
IL Is lben most evident on their
own admissions that Presbyteriana
started Hnder . mistake As TO The
DiVinsly appointed government Of the
Church. 1t must be at 0nee evident
that there Il 9 great difference ketwesn
dividing from the Church Of Christ On
the ground that Christ himself had .p-
pointed the ministry after the Presby-
terian plan, and the individual belisf
that one form of Church government il
preferable to another. In the sAe ease
it is . zeal for Christ, and in the ether
it Is sectarian in the highest degree,
because it makes private spinisn the
grouad fJr differing from tho establish
ed orlsr If then the forefathers oil
Presbyterianism were mistaken and
their descendants admit il by no longer
holding the Divine right Of the Presby
terry, may they act haYs been mistaken
in other matters, and have done th.
Church they left wrong in refns.n,
her communion For example, how
generally DO the Presbyteriaus nov
keep Christmas and Easter days
while at first they held their oUserv
ance corrupt custom. j, a. well a,
many of my readers, can remember
when they never thought Of decoratin;
their Churches with Christmas greens
These are hut little things Lut the,
show a very decided drift towards th'
things their forefathers gave up. Tn,
following is the opinion Of Non Epis
copai writer.
(Schaff Hist. Apost. Oh. Sect. l33
Office Of the Episcopal Presbyteu.)
eff now we inquire as to the prope
official character Of the Presbyters, W,
cannot make them the same with th
later diocesan bishops. These last ar
Church officers, and claim, Justly or un
,, Justly, position like that Of the Apos
ties and their immediate assistant,
Timothy, Titus, etc. The idea of epis
copacy too In its usual sense, is essen
italy monarchical and excludes
plurality Of Bishops in one and th
same place. The Presbyter bishop
were rather, as already remarked, of
J. GERS Of single congregations but viii
J. in these they had charge Of all that per
tains to the good Srdsr and spiritus
prosperity Of a religions community
Their Office then consisted primarily i
the general superintendent Of the col
gregation. This is indicated in the yer
names applied to them, and their duties
4 pastors, who are to "feed" the flock
I God overseers, rulers, and leader
This superintendenee of a congregatis
a included not oRly the direction of pull
= lie worship, and a vigilant regard
the religious interests of the Church
in word, the whole province of pa
toral care and discipline-but also th
management of the property and q
the pecuniary concerns Of the consr
. CATION as may be inferred frsIn Il
fact, that the collection Of ths-Ant
ochiaA Christians for their brethren
+ Judea was delivered to the Presbyter
], at Jerusalem, Acts. IL. 50.
l. "But then again, the presbyters we
= at the same time theiregSIar teachers
the congregation, and can therefore "a
10 be pat IN the same class tCith tie Ia
b elders Of PresbyteriDa churches. O
10 them devoted officially the expositi,
of of the Scriptures, the preaching Of &
gospel, and the administration Of 4
- sacraments. That this function W
= closely connected with the other apl,e
= from the very juxta-positiOn of "Pastc
]. and Teachers" Eph. 4: IL, where 4
two terms must be referred to the sal
person. The same association of ruli
- and teaching we And in Heb. 10;
7 Remember them which have the RI
y over you, who have spoken anto y
- the word of God; whoss faith foil,
- considering the end uf their conver
toin." Particularly decisive, howev
- amsng the requirements for the on
30 of presbyter, besides irreproschal
or piety and talent for the administ
l ton Of Church government, Paul ,
ct pressly mentions capacity to teach
L Tim 80; GA bishop then must be blar