New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-23
PLEA FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY.
THOUSANDS LISTEN 70 BISHOP COKE IN
BUFFALO.
WHAT II EPISCOPAL CHURCH IS WILLING 10
C~oNCEDE-THE SPEAKER SURE, AT LEAST.
TIA TIE P~REsBYTERIANS WILL
AGREE WITH HIM.
fDy TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE!

tDy TELEGRAPH TO TIE ~TkIBUNE.l
Buffalo. March o2.-Nearly 1000 people ciowded
into st. Paul's tonight to hear Bishop A. Cleveland
Coke, OF the Episcopal Diocese Of Western New-iork,
make "A formal and authoritative statement OF what
the Episcopal Church will conccde for Christian unity.
The Bishops text was John xvii. 81. and his plan for
Christian unity was a return to the early Apostolic
Church. comparing the harmony OF that time with the
w~ransling and di5sension Of the present day. He said
In part:
And what shall bring about that returnl All, God only
knows. The Church OF England had utterly rpudlatd
tho sect pint and the policy OF sectar!an divisions. She
took the stand which she has ever maintained-the ground
that the historic episcopate is an essential condition Of
church unity; unity with the original Institutions Of
Christ, against which the gates Of he'll were never u
prevail. and unity with the ancient churches, which, even
~ they be as corrupt as Sardis, are still churches. wherein
the great Head OF the Church resides. and r,bukes and
chsstens, saying: Repent and do thy hrst works.
Remember from whence thou art fallen. and repent"
What Christ does. we do; what Christ says, we say to
those ancient but corrupt churches. We have obeyef this
command ard restored the position from which we had
fallen, and we entrcat all others in Ike manner to restore
primitive doctrine, discipline and worship.
Now, can any one ask Va to forfeit this grand dis.
tinction and this blessed mission1 We stand on a vantage
ground not to be relinquished. because 1t would
be the betrayal Of a trust-the sacred trust,
which, at this moment, thousands OF GU country
men are beginning to appreciate ana study for
pract.cal ends. At this moment. when God
has eularred the Anglican Communion throughout the
world and made her testimony to be heard and felt among
Romanists and Protestants alike, God forbid that u indulge
an amiable but impractical emotion we should sacrifice .
great principle, ruin our hold upon Greek and Latin Chris.
,ians and throw away all that makes US more and more q
study and an example TO our Christian brethren OF the
Protestant denominations. But here these VINO nave
never studied the principles OF organic unity, ana who
IMAGINE that all we need is a sentimental handshakins
and interchange OF ~ciyites, never cease TO reprOach Us
because We fail to invite esteemed, exemplary and most
venerable preachers Of the Gospel to enter our pulpits and
minister at our altar. ! should not touch upon a subject
I'm every respect so distasteful and even painful were II
not that some estimable brethren OF our own communion.
anxious TO do In a minute what can only be worked out
laboriously and on fixed principles OF law ana order, by
| patience and not by impulse. are said to have taken this
stem and involved US who refused to break our VOWS in
a charge OF blqotry and narrow minded exelusiveness. 1
,cnoI mo wretched accusations. ] yield to nobody In
love and In veneration for the learned ana llous ministers
OF the evangelical persuasions, among "hoh NY own
father s. long held a distinguished place. But my own
father always defended the position | am explaining as
the only consistent one for q clergyman OF this Churh.
Over and over again have / heard him regulating the
thought Of accepting the invitation OF o minister OF ths
Church TO come in by u side door and help nm 20 oreax
the law he had preached TO others. 1 nave reaa "As
law I'm YOUR hearing. 1t Is the ancient organic law OF
tho Anglican Communion It always has been, and
f. ALWAYS will be. When l fan TO SEQ
it, forco in the light OF Holy scripture as true 70 Chfht
and to His institutions. L VIII resign my MINISTRY au ~
elsewhere.
pr, while T hold my place in this Church. as a con-
InI. NlLl' 't@
scisntious minister OF the same. 1 shall keep the PROMISES
and pledgcs-nay, the Oaths-of my ordination Win nuei'S
and intrepidlty. 30 help me God! Ana further' it ms
odd that I am sure. at least OF the Fres0yterians-lhas
Loaned and mos. exemplary body Of Chfistians-tnat uey
vilI sustain me in this. / am sure not enc OF them WIN
Wa s,udiod our canons and eomDrehends our VOWS 70
| s,nnort them and the convictions which have imposed
,ben would eyer think OF accepting an Invita- on 10 enter
M nuln,ts as a yiolator Of our laws or as the accompNTe
=, n rector who asks HIM 70 countehahee SUN
,awIess conduct. IL Is an ihsuN Fl" @"'
mons and excellent brethren to place Nen
,n such a positlon. "No man shall be suffered |"
oxa,r.o n NJ the said functions Il. G., OF the ministry
| &, this church except he hath had episcopal CONSERVATION
or ordination, There's the law. Is tnere any 'Ho
| er,I,,vp IS there not insult and impudence IN 1e pro-
nosal TO an honorable Christian brother, 70 en'er q puipis
| in which he cannot lawfully standi our puipics . .
rersonal proper,y; they belong to the CnEeh' ANU "
ouard,d by its canons. The ~presbyter VINO ASKS .
granger 10 our laws to help him violae uhem nnAe'
a, Innocent man become . party TO such q pfeso'Nis
crime. for a crime it is, springfng from whae noa'es
q NAV. and it is punishable as such II the Bishop nnA
IL best TO enforce the law.
..Neycrtheless.'' would be the answer. you ask u
70 Give up everything and TO come over to you; ana 'ms
a. vour idea of Christian unity And a very proper
answer. were it the fact; but It Is a mistake we hAe
ncvor imagined such a proposal. on the contrary "'
have prorosed a course which. il carried out oy any one
| q, tho greater denominations Of CHRISTIANS wou9o e'm'
al ,s "a ion them.