New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-29
FERMENT IN THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH..

FERMENT IN THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The announcement that the Rev. r. Ileber
Newton is to preach course of sermons on the
doctrna questions raised in the MacQueary trial
will not surprise anybody. And that he will
take ground substantially in accord with the
views for which Mr.. MacQucary was condemned
can hardly be doubted. His attitude OF hostility
to many of the traditional views of Church doc
trine and polity is well known and he is alto
gcthcr too manly, honest and courageous to
avoid the issue in order to escape the charge OF
sympathizng with a condemned hereto In
deed, he probably feels it his duty to define his
position on the great questions under discussion
for during the MacQueary trial and frequently
since it has been asserted that he holds sub
stantially the same views as those for which the
Ohio rector was arraigncd. He has long been re-
gardcd rs hereto by the conservative party III
his Church; and a few years ago narrowly
escaped trial for his liberal views in regard "a
the Bible. His recent action in inviting non
Episcopal clorgymcn to speak in his church has
ouickened the dormant feeling of hostility TO
him and if. as is likely, he comes out in defence
of Mr. MacQucary an attempt will doubtless be
made to put him on trial
The result Of such 4 trial in the diocese of
Ncw-YorIl would be extremely doubtful. Broad
" Speaking. there are two rreconciiablc parties
now contending for supremacy in the Episcopal
Church, and these parties are especially strong
vigorous, and alert in the metropolitan diocese.
Each party is fully conscious Of lis strength /;
but at the same time each is n little afraid OF the
other The conservatives, rs one Of these
parties may be called include all the wings Of
the High Church party, ard all those sturdy
old-faSLioned Churchmen who regard undiIuted
Protestant EpScopalianiSm as direct revelation
from Heaven and look upon the great ProteS-
tant denominations around them rs pestilent
human SectS" whose members partake of the
sin of Koran. Dathan and Abiram. However
absurd these conservatives may appear to the
intelligent outsider, it is only simple justice to
say that in many 81 their views they are in ap-
parent accord with the standards and traditions
of their Church. For instance. though the the
Dry Of a physical resurrection of the body may
seem to he illogical and impossible. il ia hardly
a matter of doubt that when the Crceds OF the
Church were compiled such theory was almost
universally held. in u word. the conservatives
proDosc u hold the Church literally to the old
traditions and interpretations of the Greed and
the old theories OF the Church'S poliy, irro-
spectiyc of the supposed ideas and needs OF the
pTcsonfday
The other party in tho Church may be called
the modern or progressive party. II includes
not only all schools of Broad Churchmcn, but
those who have been touched by the spirit OF
critical investigation, together with those who
have come to take deep interest in all the
great social, industrial and philanthropic ques-
uons Of the day. They are not altogether
agreed IN their views Of theology and Chmch
polity but they are thoroughly astccd in be-
lcving that both theology and polity are Of less
importance than vital religion They are there
fore disposed TO minimize the uncompromSlng
ccclrslstlciSm Of the Church. and 10 soften a
much rs possible its harsh attitude toward other
Christian bodies. attitudes of these Church
men have not the sli -hte>t sympathy with the
radlca. views Of such men rs llober Newton 4;
nor do they think it wise to challenge Church
prejudice by inviting non-Episcopal clergy
men % preach in Episcopal churches. But they
do svmplthizc more or less with the attitude o!
the extreme progrcSSiycS, rs against ale extreme
conservatives, and TOOK forward with hope to
the day when the Church shall drcp some Of its
mtnnabc theories and adjust itself 70 the con
d,ion. OF the age.
In the meanwhile these progrcSsivcS, by THEN
zeal in practical work and their interest in The
vital problems Of the day, have Nyolu'lonHcd
the Episcopal Church. While the conservatives
have been standing on the battlcmcnts and
waving the old flag of orthodoxy the proSrc>
sivcs. roor Churchmcn rs they are from the
! Bourbon point of view, have made the EplSco-
pal Church, in spite Of its smalneSS, one OF the
great moral forces in the community. II may
be that Dr. NcWtonS theology and DR.. Rains
rord'S recognition Of the " scctS" are Technically
out of harmony with the letter Of the Church :
law. But if the Church should condemn them
il would condemn Il great body Of earnest and
| honest men, without whom il would stand to-day
one Of the weakest and least influential OF Ill
| Protestant denominations