New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-21
Old VOICE IN A NEWPULPIT.
DIR. LEAvITT'S REASONS FOR A CHANGE OF
CREED.
HIS FIRST SERMON AS REFORMED EPISCOPAL
PREACHER.

| PREACHER.
The First Reformed Episcopal Church was well filed
Yesterday morning by large congregation assembled
to hear the Rev. DR.. John Mcdowell Leavitt give his
reasons for leaving the Protestant Episcopal and en-
| terng tho Reformed Episcopal Church. DR.. Leavitt
said that perhaps In sentence he could express tho
result of his long and struggles. He had been
forced to conclude that the Anglican Communion
system of political compromises and irTecOncilable
contradictions He continued to speak in part Is
! follows:
When the British Parliament aside the House OF
Stuart and placed House Of Orange the throne.
revolution could be more radical II abolished the divine
right OF kings established the divine right Of the
people Yet the Stuarts, rejected by the State were
canonzed by Church in the calendar OF an English
praycrbook Of the time OF the American Revolution one
can find DAYS consccrae1 Charles l. and Charles H.
The same spirit compromise imported into the
American prayer-bOok. The clergyman begins service
in the rubrc minister his Protestant title; now ne
/ reads absoution Is styled priest, his Roman title
In the communion minister until he places the bread
and wine on the table and then instantly priest ie"
pages transport you from Geneva to Rome
But the compromises have yet deeper import 'pSus
olwavs overwhelmed tradition with Scripture IIaAtou
seeks human interest and Scripture seeks human sS'
ton Tradition, having its root in humanity Is UNI
versal sin it the life of the Roman aposta'y' AgsS
II the Anglican fathers made splendid protest az"
bsbop sandys said Of the difference between AngAodhs
| md Paps,s: 1--WE disagree IN the very i0uhua''oi'
They Law one ground and another lay no one STONE
but on the foundation Of the Apostles ana ho 80,
the foundation religion is the written No'u ~
| this the Articles agree. Holy Scripture .,i -,
things necessary to salvation" We are " OeNo'' ~
,cno Cr,ed not on authority but because IL NAY 10
| proved by most certain warrants OF Scr'P." -
/ The church without Holy Writ, "ousht not 70 '"o'
ANYTHING TO be believed for the necessary VI t,,n,s
will not pause prove that the re -. -. ,io,,
. ,ou,ht il, the B,utslna Office 1t Is palaole ~ 'A
After years Of effort twist the tFuth II wa ~, .Ia
| me- Regeneration IS eternal He 1c' a. =, 80
regeneration OF infant, scripture Is So o,,.,,,.
,rh,li, on tradition. Can the Church Vlthou' "''iPo
/ - 90 doctrine7 Then she can ordan doctrines
| nrumerable. With Pope and PharlSe' S"e NJ
| tradition. She create or abohsh s'l -,
vo, bound ne to conform 70 the doctrine ana "osp -
/ the Church II l used the onhoe saio "ha' ''oi'
/ 60 and Il I changed the onlce broke my oah' AZ
last moment came will never forget was tP','
10 hapti,e at the font Then and there s'u -u' "p'
srol. never utter what my mind disbellele rhe snAe
was brohcn-and broken also the TIC lh"' OONNN nv ~ ~
| Protestant Episcopal Church. - -
| OBJECTIONS To THE WORD PRIEST
Jesus never applied the word priest to His minister's
not one OF the Apostles is called PRIEST no oishop
presbyter deacon. pastor acher or EVANGELIST Is caa
priest Yet each believer is priest Every christian
is Of the royal priesthood" But you say why care
for wordY say the OF u clergyman is vital II
s,amps his thoughts feelings, his ha6its-his very
face and manner. RitualIsm itself in this word
priest, and now spreads it, shadow over two worlds
| rencunce IL forever NO shall again give me
the title 1t fun OF peril withdraw from the com
rany Of and Latin and Anglican priests and enter
| the brotherhood OF Protestant ministers
hl.o the exclusiveness Of Apooca succession lay
on me Ike iceberg It's atmosphere was to me chill
! l never found a word In The Bible to show that the
.no,tolate was continued in the EpiscOpate History
slowed Hierarchy ever fostering underi It's shadow
IGNORANCE ana servitu1c Apostoca succession ami priest
" prerogat.ye find them together-Apotoiics sue
ce,son Characterization, monkery and Mary-wcrship
Long were then confined 10 the Greek and Latin Churches
Pusevism revived them in England, and despite Articles
and Uomes ana Asocatons-despite the wrath OF m0bs
and the learning Observation-Disclosures both the civil and
ecclesiastical court, prcy uSuptons and supers'itons
are sitting Professionalism IN the Anglican Church found
reform dream Nothing left but to be suppressed or
TO withdraw.
A most important consideration turns the relation
Of Scriptures and Church suppose that had book but
nv Bible l compare prophecies Of the old Testament
with the life Jesus In the New Ny reason discovers
nnumcrabe corIespondences Between the prediction OF
the prophet and narration Of the evangelist is the re-
latlon outline picture Now study the character
Of Jesus lie Is ideal for the universe. Between His
terrestrial and Godhead is no want Of harmony IN
Him nposture absurd. Whenever He afFns. predicts
or promises believe Him, ana thus my reason receives
on authority both the Ola Testament and the New as
the inspIeI Void Of Coo. The scripture now 10
me is a rule Of faith and life. The canonicty
Of the Bible : another question While my Bible Is
the Book Of God history is book Of God must not
cut myself away from the past l wish to know no"
the Bible took its rise. how the early Christians 70
ceved it thousand inteFestin: facts connected with
f. Here the and and Latin Fathers are invaluable
whole Bible.
WHICH Is THE FOUNDATIONS >
Now the General Theological Seminary tells me MAT
the received the authority Of The church
II believes in the Bible because IL believes IN inc
Church and does believe IN the Church because II
believes in the Bible Ii rcvcrses the Protestant order
Of Homios Articles and makes the Church first and
the Bible last. But whore does IL find the opinion o
| the ChurchY Only IN the Greek and Latin Fathers
Taking them a. authorities would difficult to chooS
! between the Popcs Of the Roman Propaganda and III,
| Fathers OF the General Theological Seminary.
| What mi,cd Newman What Mlnning1 Wha'
deludcd the great Wilbrrforce1 What
tempted ourselves the feeble feet Of Ives Forbes
stone and Connely7 What in the future is n s>luco
| thousands % eoshcrcal and continental o.
| the embrace ~ the Pope eNaltaoa Church
that faihere-lnd thrustng them hc"een the soul.
! ~ and the Word o. God. u makes strong faith
in the Divine Promise impossible. IL oHascuates thu
spirit Outside Of Rome il creates . hybrid compound
Of Pope and Protestant This ! believe be the in.
evtabe result in the General Theological
Seminary in is efforts TO eXalt above God and
tradition above Scripture
England and America are now witnessing to ey.
tnguish Professionalism. Hence in New-York This d'a1lv
enudy the Reformation ana these Roman innovations
| condemned by Articles and Homlies. Th, is mimic
Rome Shall wodcr II the most sincere Of The
imtat0rs prefer the coin the countcrfct7
forced in the other direction. The banner which the
prot,-1ant Episcopal Church filings down the Reformed
Episcolr, Church hts up lie; her hold 10 aoft Be-
| IL her eorg to complete the work hated by Laud and
arrested by Pussy! Supremacy Of Scripture justification
| by faith! Ring out old battle cries Their spell
! Is not dead. Not however. party watchS
Preach forgiveness sins through blood Of
Jesus 10 souls Point the Bible that may find
The bread and Of life and grow into Christ With
the faith aud fire Of Paul have the love and
| light and image Of Jesus
FUNERAL or THOMAS EVERSF4ELD'