New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-30
DIR. De COSTA Of CHRISTIAN UNITY.
WHY HE DOES NOT INVITE NON-EPIsCoPAL
MINISTERS To MS CHURCH.

WHY HE DOES Not INVITE NON EPISCOPAL
MINISTERS To MS CHURCH.
In speaking If tine ~coaidcntal7 letter which Is
circulating among the Protestant Episcopal clergy Of
thi, city. protesting against IN, action II the Rev.
Dis. Eau,forI and Nc"toI and the Rev. l. Newton
~t1ngcr in having EpScopa!iHn minister, speak in
their churchc-. M Rev. Dr. Il. +. lie Costa. rector Of
the Charc oi II, John the Evangelist. sad 10 Tribune
rep r;"r yesterday afternoon:
This 'couaG,utiar letter has not reached me a
yet. but have already formed very positive opinion
IN TN, matter. and don't mind letting Tho Tribanc
readers know what u is IN advance. There /, "a
certain number of men in the Episcopal Church who
are strongly opp ,cd the succdJ,a order Of things
They want 10 throw of all restraint and matter,
Just - they piece II. George, Church where Dr.
ansiprd ollc.ac,, Is largely controlled by such men,
They a, 4 rule large capitalists like j. Pcrpont
Morgan vino Use the iulucnc, Of their gcaI wealth to
attain the p.odom!uancc OF their own IDEAS In the
churches they attend. The tradition, and articles cf the
Church stand IN the way OF sach innovations and
,cqucntly they ready TO oppose all rules whenever
they stand i'm ihtr way.
ibis, a, take it, i, tho trouble at st. Georges
The invitation Of non Epscopalan minister, In their
ministerial capacity TO Dr.. Eain,forls church Is
violation Of the law. ! would not invite minister
Of non Epl,copilian church t. speak in 81. John,
u, "a mni-t"r. II he came layman there Is no
law 10 oppose il. but would not Insult dcnomlna
tipnal preacher by asking llm T. speak in my pulpit
on the condition Of lay ing aside his recognized official
capacity and spcahinc mcrsl; laymai. As It
j., acan, the law Of the Church for him 10 speak In
Iii, ministerial capact,. and it would be an insult
to ask him to speak q layman. do not ask non
Episcopal minister to spe2h in my pulpit.
The large capitalists in II. Georges sec an OPP
poruuity attac!, the ~ncerdota order of things IN
III. matter. and believe. have encouraged their
rector in dcfying Church rules. have taken great
interest IN iii, matter and shal AT length on
Il az some iu,ugc time WHEN am more at leisure;
" You ask what my ideas on Protestant chuich
/ unity are. ! not believe That church unison
i, to be accomplished 10y any sacrifice OF principle
Ever or,h0toX denomination possess some plrticu
lar Thought Of les, value and II seems 10 III"
that the thing be done is To find ont these values
and then cadcavur 10 win th@r ac,c pance II whole
by all Cn~;ian- Fer in,tiDcc Tiers Is room for the
Epi,cop. lp idea and tn in~bf terian thought Botl
appcar In Hoy >crptur" aud ancient Authors. Every
school of religions thought is air ady prepared to make
it, contributions and tho last thing are to dream Of
/, throwing away any II tlc>' great IDEAS.
Possibly a, a beginning the Episcopal and Prcsby
terrain bodies might unit. since both hold To the idea
Of Il ,ucc"s>ion. Then next why not the Episcopal
Methodist, wiz, In theory ~ least hold like the Church
Of Englin1 10 tnIrr Orlcr' I'm the ministry. With
these bodie, enrolled under one banner. what would
he likely To follow regards the rest have
though; that when the cathedral is built here there
should be a ,rIc, Cf chapc.- in the nave which would
form Is their style. decorations and appointments
an index Of denomination