New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-07-02
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH.


THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF THE PROTESTANT
EPISCOPAL cnURCH il THE DIOCESE OF
NETWORK. 1885 1885. Edited by JAMES GRANT
WILSON. svo up 454. ID. Appleton & Co.
This handsome and portly volume is the outcome
of resolution adopted Ivy the Protestant EpscO
pal Diocesan Convention of 1885 to pros Idle for pub
LEGATION of the proceedings OF the Centenary Cele-
bration held in this city in September of that year.
II embraces accordingly a careful report Of tie
services at Trinity aud ST. Thomass churches, with
the sermon delivered by Dr. Seabury in the former
edi6ce, and the historical address read by Dr. b.
r. De Costa at the evening service in st. thomass.
These official records, however, comprise only one
quarter OF the volume. The rest of its ample con-
tents includes biographical sketches Of the suc-
ccssve bishops historical notices TO all the par
ishes IN the diocese accounts of the church nsti-
trtions OF learning and charity. q survey OF the
church literature of the century. and paper ny
Dr. De Costa on the colonial church. This varied
store of information has been inteliisont'y col
lcted and carefully arranged. and tine publication
makes q most valuable and attractive memorial.
The event which it specifically commentaries IS
the holding of the first Diocesan Convention OF
New-York in 1885. That Incident is accepted as the
foundation of the diocese; although as III sea-
bury roints out. the church In NewYork really
constituted distinct diocese soon rs the JuTisdc
ton over il, previously exercised by the Bishop OF
London came 20 an end at the peace of 1888,
while on the other hand it remained formally IN
comrlete until it obtained a bisnop OF IT'S own III
the person Of Dr. samuel Provost, consccrated in
1877. The assemblage IN question appears TO have
hcen invited by p meeting of the Cooperation for
tbe Relief of Widows and Children of the Clergy,
held the pre- vous year, and it came together on TIC
ODD of June, probably in st. pauis Chapei,
although upon this point the brief records are
silent Both ministers and laymen sat as deputies;
~. t,,e1,. Of
ed was the election of deputies to represent the
Protestant Episcopal Church in the State Of New
York in the General Convention to be held IN
Philadelphia.
Dr. Sealurv's discourse covers an interesting
exposition of the peculiar circumstances in which
the New York EpiscOpalians found themselves at
the close of the Revolution and the principles by
which they were consistently governed in the
orranzation OF the church. He ascrlbes the pres
ent fortunate condition of the denomination very
largely TO the wisdom which ruled its councils at
that critical period. The cburchmen OF 1888 were
in a position OF singular Independence. Every
thing seemed open and unsetted; and amid the
anxieties and uncertainties of such situation,
they were to choose course of action which
would determine the position of the Church in
New York: and which might unchurch IT
altogether or hamper 1t with such mpsdments a.
would have made 1t hard to be proved. by and by.
whether il had name to live at all. But the
course which they did pursue was remarkable.
both for its conservatism of the essentials OF their
rig.tfli inheritance OF .ath and order aud for its
proaressi veness in the adaptation OF new ideas To
the welfare of the Church. Conser vative III re-
spect TO the necessity of the episcopate and the
preserve alton OF that form of sound words, both of
faitl. and worship. which was contained IN the
Book OF Common PRAYER. the Church in New-York
vet awaited itself of It's independent position TO
give its influence IL support of ideas which, II not
altogether new III the Church. were certainly new
IN the systematizcd form which they we're now
assuming" These new progressive Ideas con-
cerned the light % the inferior clergy and the aity
10 share with the bishops 10 the government OF the
Church and RI New York Episcopalians promptly
committed themselves TO the sanitary Innovation,
which was soon accepted b. their brethren in all
the States
Ia DE- DE Costa's address and supplementary
paper we have CAREFUL historical study by one
whose zeal and competency IN such Investigations
need no testimonial. lie cOntradicts previous
writers in several interesting particulars. especially
Mr. BrodLead ana Mr. Briggs the author OF
"A,perican PRESBYTERIAN ISM and in the supple
mentary paper he disputes with great caInestness
the light of the Dutch to the possession OF New
York by priority Ell her OF discovery or occupation
Some e. the facts which he brings out respecting
the h.st Euroreau settlers on the hudson are over
looked IL most historians. The ousting of the
Dutch was not only inc, liable as political move
llent but il WAS strictly accord with technical
g,gat. Partisan writers have wraugled over tie
subject, while the sentimental essaylst has dropped
his tar but the fact remains that the English
lrought n better and iloIe reasonable government
:nd a superior type of civilization 1t hardly
needs to be dded," continues the Doctor, that
they brought superior type OF Christ anity"