The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-10-04
bishop Potter on Faith and Dogma.

p Postage toForcign Countries added.
THE Sun. New FORK City.
Bishop Potter on Faith and Dogma.
Bishop POTTER delivered Charge to
tho Clergy" at the late diocesan conven-
ton OF the Episcopal Church. In which he
defined with great caution the bounds
within which ministers must BIO restrained
by the faith and order OF the Church. He
drew distinction between the consistent
and unvarying teaching Of the Church I"
from the beginning and tho points OF doc
trine as to which there has been Disagree
ment and the terms OF theology which have
received no precise and authoritative dell
milton. In the one case full and hearty 40
ceptanco Is requisite rs matter OF both
honor and duty in tho case Of one who is
pledged to preach and sustain the faith OF
Che Church. In the other he can exercise his
"catholc liberty" without doing violence
70 the order Of the Church.
No clergyman, for instance. can con-
sistently and honorably retain his office II he
has lost his faith in tho supernatural ele-
ment In the Holy Scriptures or In the por-
son and work OF CHRIST" Ifby prayer and
modification he cannot recover the belief.
he Is ut war with tho Church. and should
part company with It, He has put himself
outside Of the household Of faith by his do
NAL, and no Is false to his own conscience
and trcacherou3 to the Church II no con-
tinucs in his prlestly Office. But he may
entertain theories Of inspiration and hold
and affirm views Of tho origin and character
Of the threefold ministry Of the Church
which nre not universal among Its clergy.
but which have not beon authoritativcly and
precisely forbidden by contrary declaration
and decision.
That lie about the sum OF the Bishops mr.
gument, as we make 1t out. The implica-
ton is that Mr.. MACQuEAIY could not hon
estly remain in the Episcopal Church after
rejecting the virgin birth OF JESUS. for that
Is the positive and unvarying faith Of the
Church continually and continuously af-
firmed In Its formularies. Manifestly this
position Of the Bishop Is unassailable.
What he says Is nero common sense. A
flat atheist would be hardly more out OF
place in the Episcopal Church than was Mr..
MAcQuEARY. He could not recite its creeds
and read its collects without classifying his
real convictions. In an Episcopal pulpit he
was false pretender.
live interpret Bishop POTTER rightly. DR..
BRIGGS. however, would not be debarred
from the Episcopal ministry by his views
and theories OF the Scriptures and Scrip
tural inspiration. The Bishop makes dis
dnotion between the Professionalism OF MIL
ION, LUTHER, and RIDLEY. and the subse-
Quent !" American Puritan theology" In the
matter of the authority Of the Bible. The
supersttious veneration Of the letter of the
sanonioal Scriptures. as DR.. BRIGGS calls it.
% 1.-THE fruit Of a very modern Protestant
ism." says the Bishop. The Catholic teach
ing IL that the Church can alone determine
the canon Of Scripture; but that doctrine
implies the infallibiity Of the Church.
The Protestant view Is. in general.
that the authenticity and authority
Of the Bible must be determined by
external evidence as to the history Of the
books and internal evidence showing their
Divine origin. That teaching gives as
much right to an individual as to Church
10 define and discover revelation and in
spiration. ERASMUS. LUTHER. and CALVIN
threw out certain books Of tho New Testa-
ment and were doubtful about others which
our American Puritan theology" declares
to be the workable and incontestable Word
of Cop. Dr. BRIGGS and DR.. VINCENT e1er-
else right claimed by the fathers Of the
Reformation. though they go further and
dispute the authorship OF books Of the Old
Testament by those to whom they are at
tributed In the canonioal Scriptures.
As to the Episcopal Church. Bishop PoT-
xxR distinctly affirms that it admits that
the Bible Includes both human element
and divine clement" and he declares that
sit is entirely competent for any one in
holy orders. whether bishop. priest. or
deacon. to say So" Moreover. he proclaims
With emphasis that "the Church has
not anywhere. nor at any time. COM
mitted herself to any dogmatio def
milton OF the meaning Of inspira-
Hon." The question. then. Is open
Tor discussion and difference OF opinions. So
also tho prevalent Episcopal view OF the
apostolic succession Is tho Wow of party
and not O precise aud authoritative dogma
pf the Church. Consequently the attempt
10 keep DR.. PHILLIPS Brooks from the
spiscopato because he did not agree with
Il Is denounced by Bishop POTTER as igno-
rant and unjustiaable. From tho first days
Of the Episcopal Church In America the
House Of Bishops has contained mon who
agreed with DIR. BROOKS and not with the
prevalent view Of the subject.
This charge OF Bishop POTTER according
y. 10 Of great Importance. But where does
Il leave the question Of the authority Of the
Scriptures II the Church determines 1t.
We must have an infallible Church. II the
Individual Is to settle 1t according to his
,wn reason and perception. the individual
and judgment are the supreme |
and there is no fixed and abso-
ute body Of revelation In which belief can |
10 required as q test Of faith. Every man |
,an take or reject what he pleases. II there
. mo dogmatic definition Of the meaning |
Il inspiration" every man can define 1t for |
and the absolute and universal |
Of the Bible as rule Of faith and |
practice Is gone.
Tho Church and Marriage.
Four young people. two young men and
|wo young women. went to st. Marks