The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-07-31
The Great Religious Contest.

Tho Great Religious Contest.
A report comes from Chicago that move
ment Is to be started among High Church
Episcopsl!ans or Rituallsts Of the West to
resist the advance OF what arc known as the
Broad Church opinions and principles OF
mon like the newly elected Bishop BROOKS
OF Massachusetts and, in their extremity, ny
the Rev. HEBER NEWTON Of New York.
Whether there is any truth In the story OF
the proposed organization or whether 1t.
merely expresses the disappointment OF
few western churchmcn at the confirmation
OF Dr. BnooKs, there Is no question that the
contest between liberal and what arc known
as Apalo.Ca,holic views and theories OF the
Church is going on continuously anu
throughout tho Union. 1t Is conflict
which IL now proceeding In every branch OF
orthodox Professionalism, among Baptis,s
and Methodists in smaller measure, anu
among Congregationalists and Presbyteri-
ans to q larger extent, and with greater In
tensity On the one side Is the party which
would draw closer than ever the lines OF the
Church and Church authority, and on the
other those who would stretch or break
them so az to include every variety OF belief
and unbeliei also. One party would stick to
dogma md compel adherence to 1t, the
other would cast out dogma and accept
somo vague religious sentiment merely rs
qualification for Church membership.
1t IL remarkable that the party Of strictest
and most exacting Guardianship Is espe-
cially strong in the West, where liberalism
might be supposed to have a more con-
genial soil for growth. But under the In
huence OF the late DR.. De kovEN and OF
Bishop SEYMOUR, and other clerical leaders
Of like opinions. High Church principles
were planted early In the West and took
strong root. Ritualism and Anglo-Catholl-
cism have grown there with q vigor not
excelled, even II 1t is cqualled, else
where in American Episcopallanism. Some
OF the most violent opposition to tho con-
firmation Of DR.. BRooKs's election TO
the prelacy came from the West, and 1t was
q Western diocese which would have ele-
waited Dr.. DE KovEN to the House Of Bishops
II the sentiment Of the Church had not then
been against his extreme ritualistic views.
The diocese OF Ohio. also, has not hesitated
to set an example OF conservatism for the
Church as to matters OF doctrine by putting
the heretical MAcQUEARY under condemna-
ton. distinguished though it has been for
It's Low Church and evangelical position.
The West, as whole, seems to be stricter
than even the older East in the demands OF
its Guardianship. It has recommended
for the episcopacy no counterpart OF Dr.
BROOKS in liberality OF religious opinions
and ecclesiastical requirement.
Hence 1t Is altogether probable that a
Western movement to resist the advance OF
tho Broad Church party is progressing,
though it may not be organized as distinct
enterprise. 1t is a movement which has
been increasing in strength OF recent years
throughout the Episcopal Church. and 1t
represents the purposes and convictions OF
the party which is now the most aggressive
in the dioceses generally. 1t opposes the
authority and traditions OF the Church as
divinely organized body. With an indisputa-
BILE historical record OF it's succession from
the Apostles, to the shifting philanthropic
sentiment and religious enthusiasm which
would throw of the restraints OF dogma
and authority as shackles forged by men for
the binding Of tho free and lofty impulses
| Of the soul and cuntining the liberty Of the
intellect. It stands by the organization and
insists on regularity. Its opponents care
rather for what they interpret as the general
spirit OF Christianity.
The contest between the two parties and
theories ia therefore irreconciable and 1t Is
inevitable, whether 1t occurs among the
Episcopalians or tho Presbyterians. Tho
opposition Ia radical. and 1t must go on until
ono or the other conquers. is Church au-
thority against tho denial OF all authority
except tho individual conscience.
Really it is tho old contest OF the Refor-
nation over again in q new phase. and with
the opposition far more radical and impossi-
bio OF composition. 1t means that Protes-
tanism is dividing its ranks, one camp tend
ing back to the Church authority against
which LUTHER rebelled. and the other tending
logically to the rejection Of every restraint
upon human thought and every claim to
supernatural authority