The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-16
RELIGIOUS Changes.

Last Sunday Bishop Porrxn ordained "a
Q priest Of the Episcopsl Church the Row.
Mr.. LApD. lately Of the Congreaationalists.
and a. deacons the Rev. DR.. BRD0l6AN. lste-
" Of the Baptists. and tho Rev. Mr.. GARD
NIB. formerly Of the Presby ministry,
These transfers Of ecclesiastical allegiance
are interesting and even remarkable.
but they cannot be regarded ~ in
dicativs Of any general tendency In
the same direction among the Bap-
tist, ConsEsgstionalist, o. Presbyterian
ministry. Neither do they denote any
profound change In theological opinions on
tho part Of the three clergylnen themselves.
They involve no revolution In religious
faith. They simply indicate . preference
for the order Of the Episcopal Church and
. desire to obtain the shelter Of It's authori-
ty In this time Of theologic controversy.
So far as tho fundamental doctrines Of
religion are concerned, every orthodox
minister might receive Episcopal ordina-
ton. and his mere consent to receive It.
though previously he had been ordained
otherwise. would imply that his opinions
had undergone the only change necessary
to qualify him for it. On such terms the
Episcopalians arc ready for Christian union
ct any moment. II DR.. HALL. DR.. PARK
HURST. and Dr.. TAYLOR will simply 90
knowledge the sole validity Of Epis-
copal ordination by submitting to It.
as DR.. BRIDoMAN and Meesrs. LADD
and GARDNER have done. they also
will be welcomed into the Episcopal
Church. They will be required to change
their opinions as to Church Organization.
and that Is all. But the great body OF non
Episcopal ministers look on such require
ment os an exhibition Of intolerable arro-
gance to which they viii never yield. and
hence Christian union after the Episcopal
plan is not hopeful at present.
The existing theological disturbance Is
also drawing from the Episcopal Church as
we'll as adding to it. The Rev. Mr.. MAC
QuEARr OF Ohio was driven from its minis
try because he denied It's authority over his
opinions. and the Rev. Mr.. sPALDNo Of
Massachusetts, has abandoned 1t voluntarily
and gone over to the Church Of Rome. be-
cause he believes 1t is proving Its alb
senee OF title to such authority by
falling to defend the true Catholic belief.
In the view of the one. It is too exacting in
it's authority. and Of tho other. too lax.
Meantime DR.. LYMAN ABBOTT, DR.. RBz0as.
DIR. VINCENT. DR.. PAExHUHsr. and . large
company of their ministerial followers are
tending toward Universalism. II not Uni
tarianism. and to the denial Of all dogmatlc
authority whatever.
The drift Of theologians. therefore. seems
to be more away from the Episcopal Church
than toward it. though there Is an unques-
tionable growth in the liking Of the laity
for it's liturgy. This lay attraction displays
itself in tho increasing membership Of the
Episcopal Church and moro strikingly In
the attendance upon its services in tho
great towns more especially. Where abb
solute Church authority Is sought.
in contradiction OF the whole Protestant
position. the natural tendency. however. Is
toward the Church Of Rome as It's original
fountain. Where Professionalism remains.
the denial OF Church authority and the proc
lamation OF the rights Of the individual
conscience and Judgment in matters Of
religion arc usually stronger and louder
than ever