New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-10
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL.
EPIsCOPACY AND CHRISTIAN UNION.
PLYING THE TEST OF UTILITY TO APOSTOLIC
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APPLYING THE TEST OF UTILITY TO APOSTOLIC
SUCCESSION.
TO the Editor of The Tribune.
sir: II the vews Of the e~piscopatc held by the late
learned Dean Of Westminster and other eminent Epis-
c0pal scholars shall finally prevail it would seem that
some Of the most serious difficulties in the way Of
Christian union may be removed. The episcopacy Of
the Episcopal Church would then, like that Of the
Methodist Church, stand on its own merits, no longer
handicapped with uawarrantable assumptions. II
would be established, rot a. exclusive and obligatory,
but as In many cases the most desirable ana electlVe
form Of chutch organization. 1t would depend Tor
success. not upon an alleged divine authority which
cannot be found for IT in the Bible, nor an alleged
succession which cannot be proved in history but,
like all institutions in modern tines, 1t would DO sub
iected 10 the test Of utility. And In most places, ana
under most circumstance, II will doubtless be well
able 10 stand the test; provided. however, that 1t does
not make offensive assertion Of exclusive Legitimacy
aud authority.
It will be no harm. however. for EpiscOpalans 10
believe in succession with such a faith as the nature
Of the evidence admits, and which may be held or
INDUCED As n pleasing hypothesis with more Or less
basis OF probability. Years ago II was common Tor
Baptists T. believe I'm succession fer their churches,
extending back through the socalcd heretical sects
even to the days Of the Apostles. And though Il is
now generally admltted TINT there IS not sufficient
historical evidence ID establish the claim, there are yet
many T;aEtists who like Tn believe tha- there have been
churches like theirs from the days Of the Apostles to
the present. and nobody objects. Nor shOuld any
one object in the Gaze Of episcopacy. Many Of us
like 20 belierc I'm distE gulsbet lines Of ancestry. ii
we can trace our gcnealogcs back through the colonial
period 10 England, and taking the benefit Of all the
doubts. ever back through a line Of MOI nan barons,
so as to please ourselves with the fancy that I'VE
came in with the Conqueror,' it seems 10 do Us good
and certainly does nobody else any harm. But we
should not do we'll b make our right to the possession
Of our property depend on our ability 10 prove our
alleged ancestral descent to the satisfaction Of a court
and Jury nor. in case We we're candidates for oihce,
would it be wise for us 10 declare that those who did
not admit OUT pretensions were not intelligent voters
nor very respectable people.
1t may fairly be questioned whether the eminent
and excellent men in the episcopal office in TINS
country, by and In behalf Of whom the claim OF sue
cesslon IS made, are not thereby injuriously separated
from the sympathies Of Christian people. and whether
the sphere Of their influence is not restricted and their
possibilities Of usefulness diminished by making or
admitting such a claim. If the claim Of succession
could be proved by clear and irretutabie evidence Ii
would be one thing. II It is and must forever remain
an improved and unprOvable theory, II is quite an
other. The weakness Of the claim IS apparent IN the
fact that even as a matter OF example IL cannot be
proved TO the satisfaction Of some Of the most learned
and eminent Of the friends Of episcopacy, while all
agree that there IS no command OF our Lord or his
Apostles enjoinlng it upon the Church. Tie question
then whether it Is ever Likely to be accepted by the
masses Of Protestant Christians in this country as a
matter Of obligation can be easily answered. 10 very
many Christians there is in the idea Of necessary sub
mission to an authoritative episcopacy a suggestion OF
bondag, and they will not subject themselves 10 even
a semblanc. Of bondage even for the sake Of unity.
But a voluntary episcopacy is not bondage any more
than q voluntary presbyteTy
II may be admitted that e%piscopacy Is the preferable
form Of church organization for conditions similar To
tbos, under which it is believed 10 have arisen.
Wherever the ministry IS ignorant and inexperienced,
liable 10 error in doctrine or practice, there Is an
obvious propricty in having those who are superior,
more experienced and better furnished exercise some
sort Of supervision over the rest. ouch was le con
dluOn uhles VIZ" WNIootboISiStS Urt a. The ministry be-
comes better educated and ADLER and less liable ID error,
,Ic LisI5p has les and less occasion 70 interfere, and
Gis airthortv and Ofnce may al length become merely
nominal, even where the episcopal iCrIl OF OIs.ul1a-
ron Is retained. And there are doubtless conditions
under which other forms Of organization may 0e e4ul'lIy
Ut i ngr then. the fact that there IS In the
New Testament no positive precept nor clear example
In regard 10 Church organization, il would seem ILat
the whole matter may. without opposition oI SencG
10 the test Of utility, and that each congregaton may
he allowed to decide Tor Itself under what FORM "
Organization IL can. In its peculiar circumstances, OeSt
acc0mpHsh It's work. our Lord Himself seems to have
authorized such a test. Those whose successors Lo
hi,itoDs claim 10 be once came 10 Him and said " Lord,
We saw one casting ont devils in Thy name, and we
forbade him because he f0lOweth not us but Je,us
aid. " Forbid him not For Him IL was enough taat
the man complained OF could cast out devils. II, then,
. Methodist bishop can cast out 1s many deVLa as a
Protestant Episcopal b~ishOp-deytls or PRIDE aVarlce.
envy. malice and selfish o. DEGRADING passlon-We may
fairly infer that his service Will be equally. ac'cPtaDle'
and the same may be said 81 n Presbyterian elder or
Bapti,t evan -elist. And. rs If 10 fOrestall any question
OF division or separation which might arise ron sncn
service. orr Lord added the significant words, " He tlat
is NOT against Us Is on our part" And II our zeal 5
really FOR Christian work rather IMAM 10 nave ou
AUTHORITY established and our titles Acknowledged now
can others who are also doing Christian work 3e
arainst us1 Is It not time that those VINO would DE
REGARDED as Successors Of the Apostles. and al. Olhers
who aspire % he leaders in the Church, should CEASE
AVN d. G. PORTER.