Smyrna times., 1889-10-23

warning as to the result that would
follow the leap of large and infuen-
tial party in-the church, has followed
in his footsteps. A reporter who in
terviewed him at his home in Brook
lyn on Friday, gives the following as
among the reasons he assigns for his
change:
The "Romeward drift" as he ex-
pressed it, of the the Protestant Epis-
cOpal Church was, in substance, what
had caused him to separate from it.
THE great point in the controversy
between the Episcopal Church and its
opponents" he said, lis, of course, the
question of the relation which the
Scriptures bear to the church. Accord
ing to the articles and homilies of the
Church of England and its offspring
in the United States, the Scriptures
are the sole rule of faith; nothing is
essential to Christianity unless proved
by the Scriptures. This was the fun
damental principle of the Reformation.
Now hold, first, that the baptismal
Office of the Episcopal Church teaches
the regeneration of infants; that for
this there is no Scriptural proof, and
without this l can know nothing on
the subject. That is, the Article
teaches that doctrine must be proved
by the Scriptures, and the Office
teaches a fundamental doctrine not
proved by the Scriptures. Therefore,
the Office and the Article are in direct
antagOnism.
Il had either to abandon my minis
try in the Church or leave the Church.
Again, nowhere in the New Testa-
ment is an apostle, evangelist, minister
or teacher called priest. The priest
is designation Of a Christian, not a
minister, and out of the unlawful use
of this word have seen grow up in
the Protestant Episcopal Church con-
fession, absOlutiOn, penance, mass,
worship of the Virgin, invocation of
the Saints, prayers for the dead, ETC.,
all of which are practiced in the city of
New York in economical law and OF
the Scriptures. l withdraw from the
Church in protest against such
practices.
Il deny. too, the doctrine of the
Apostolic Succession as of the essence
of the ministry. I am willing no more
to acknowledge the orders of Greek
and Latin priests while 1 deny the
orders of DIR. John Hall and DR.. Storrs
whose wonderful ministries / have at
tended with such edifcation.
81 cannot any longer submit to a
charity which embraces the extremes
indicated and also tolerates a ministry
in New York which denies the doc
trine of the AtOnement, the inspiration
of the Scriptures and all that l believe
vital in Christianity. l believe that
such federation blunts the conscience
emasculates faith and unsettles the
whole Christian character. For the
last five years 1 have made it a point
to attend every form of Christian ser
vice from Quaker meeting in Brook
lyn to a grand celebration at St. Peters
in Rome. In my work here 1 have
had an opportunity to become thor
Oughly familiar with the Church and
its life in New York and I consider il
my duty to warn all men against
being entangled in the snares which
entangled me, and to protest against
such doctrines and practices which /
believe to be fragrant departures from
| the articles and hOmilies of the Prot
estant Episcopal Church and in def
! ance of its laws"
DR.. Leavitt closed the interview by
saying that, while he was constrained
by his principles to make this state.
Inent and to depart from the Church,
he was also happy to remark that nc
man could have heen treated with
more courtesy and consideration than
he by those who knew him to hold
opinions different from their own, aud
especially was this true of the Bishop
of New York, the rector of Trinity
Parish and the late DR.. Morgan of St.
ThOmas's Church, with whom he had
been on terms Ofintimate friendship.