New-York tribune., 1891-05-25
fDR. BRIDGMAN'S NEW FAITH
FROM BAPTIST TO PROTESTANT EPIsCo-
PALIAN.
HE is CONFIRMED BY BISHOP POTTER AND
WILL APPLY FOR oRDERs-DR. ALFRED
L. LOOMS MAKES THE CHANGE
WITH HIS PASTOR.

WITH HIS PASTOR.
The Rev. Dr. c. DIV Brldgman who resigned the
pastorate Of the Madison Avenue Baptist Church on
April 90 yesterday accepted the Protestant Episcopa
confession. For several weeks II has been known Dy
the Doctors friends that he intended to leave the
Baptist denomination. At his request, however, they
kept his plans and intention secret. But yesterday
numbers of them gathered in the little Seamen's
Chapel which rests the water at Pike-st 10 VIII
ness his confirmation. 1t was an ordinary connrma-
ton service Owing TO the prominence OF the Doctor
former place, Bishop Potter wished to nod speciai
service to receive him into the Episcopai CDurcn'
To this, however. he would not consent. In ac-
oordance with his own DESIRE therefore, he was con-
frmed yesterday with more than score OF little
girls daughters OF the people who attend the seamens
Chapel Mrs. Pridgman, his wife, and her cmldreh
and DIR. Alfred L. Loomls, the welnown physician
were also members of the confirmation class d.
Loomls was an officer in Dr. Brdman's church, ana
determined to follow his pastor into the Protestant
Episcopal Church Dr. Bridgman's name was pre-
sented to the Bishop in the customary way by the
Rev. Dr. Brooks OF the Church Of the Incarnation,
where for the present Dr. Bridgman VIII be cnrohed'
At the close of the services he welcomed In per
by the Bishop and his associates to denomination
OF which he will doubtless become prominent h'e"n
ber DR.. Bridgman will apply for orders AT once.
According to Episcopaan rules, however, some ume
must pass By before he take charge OF church
Large numbers OF people in various parts OF tho
country who have listened to or read Dr. Brlogmahs
eloouent sermons will be interested in the reasons
which he gives for leaving the BAPTIST denominauon
eyes, said the Doctor yesterday In conversation
with Tribune reporter al have been received lnto
| the Episcopal Church. For many years nave relt
the attraction Of It's order and liturgy, but was unwi-
ing TO yield and break away from the denomination
with which I am still closely connected by ties OF
| friendship and blood. My first pastoral charge was
assumed when I but twenty-five years DID, ana
| you can readily understand how attachments Have
been formed during the thirty years OF my Ministerial
service which It would require stern sense oil duy
to sever There have been times, indeed, when 10 was
matter Of serious thought whether, with the facilities
supplied in the Episcopal Church. my work could not
| be better and more easily done than was possible
in denomination where the least liberal tendency was
| looked on with suspicion; but as my ministry was az
ceptabe to my people and they were united and pros
perous I remained where / was. In the hope that
| through the growth Of a more generous sentiment
there would be less interference with ministers and
churches that were responsive to the thought and de-
mand Of the time. During the last few weeks now
ever the conviction has rooted Itself In me that am
too much out OF accord with the dominant sentiment
OF the denomination, represented by 1ts edtos ana
theological teachers to remain any longer in its fellow
ship. The breaking Of hearts strings means pain and
the shedding of blood but better the pangs Of TINS
separation from the communion in which my life has
been passed than to stay in 1t on condition OF per
petal silence except to matters on which professors
and editors altogether agree
POINTS OF DISAGREEMENT.
3What are the points of disagreement asked the
rcporter. between you and those who assume to
represent the dcnominational beheff'
at casnot make" came the reply, In bref inoer
view any such statement would fully enswer your
question It will be enough TO state one or two facts
For moro than twenty years my views have been
very we'll known as TO the matter Of interdenomna-
| tional communion. 'Close-communon,' 1t has seemed
to me- is inconsistent with that courtesy tnat CHRISTIAN
charity which ought TO be exercised between ClsHan
| churches. II cannot be justified by any direct,
nositive command Of our Lord, by one ln1unctoh
| OF any apostle. II is based simply on inference
And vet have been very conservative to the mat
| ter Whilst believing it to be the privilege OF ai'
Christians to partake Of the Lords supper wherever
the table is spread. have never declared IL III any
sermon nor expressed it in any Invitation when uhe
sacrament was observed, have ever communea III
| any other than Baptist church In my h1e. oti''
this conservative position was not satisfactory 10 ose
ho assumed TO speak for the denomination, although 1t
Il claimed that the Baptists have no sandau oI ls'
except the New Testament. 1t was broadly proclneu
that was .unsound' When came to this CITY IL was
In face of the opposition which this had aroused anu
though II hindered the progress OF my chch' IL couI
not arrest It, and at last 1t was Silent only oeouo "
was futile Other ministers held the same view some
-. tho ah,cs+ paptist ministers are not closecomnun-
,orists. the liberal sentiment Is widely extending
and vet there not of these ministers VINO couo
give such an invitation to the LORDS supper as ne ioS
ourht 10 be given without mourning the hoS"h'y Vi
the elders, and having some mpernent editor ruaeiy
bid him step down and out Even TO hoid 'hiS
view privately brings one under suspicion
"There is another fact, and l mention IL oiiiy "
chow that the Baptist poy, which asserts the mde-
ncndence and liberty OF each Individual church, Is
mere theory and not realized in the existing ooddi-
ton Of things. Some months ago sermon was
preached in which / expressed the convlcuon uN'o
Gods punishments were remedial ana tiat U'e r''''
Of His searching fires would be universe cle@nseo
from oI evil alI all creatures rejoicing together
SIN the name Of Jesus to the glory Of God the father
| Other and far wiser teachers than am nave Ihe
same hopeful view. Here Is report OF tne fiooor'
lectures for this year that has Just come 10 nahu'
In closing his last lecture Count Goblet uses cneso
| words: Docs the Power In whom we live ana move
and have our being work out benehcent end IN INC
ordering of the universe1 The study OF the past en-
| ables us 10 answer empbatcally, yes. The Kew
! Samuel Cox OF Nottingham the leading Baptst eA-
positor Of England. speaks more positively rs 10 uo
final issue of the Divine rule Dr. CLIFFORD more
scholarly than Mr. spurgeon, and next to nm, tne
most eminent of Baptist preachers in London nous
purely the larger hope Very many OF the American
| Raptst ministers take the view. Others think
differently constantly diminishing number hoid
the traditional dogma others are agnoStics as to inc
thrgs OF the future; others hold the doculne ol
eternal life only in Christ do not regaru any
80 - these doctrines as vtaIIy related to the essen
ia, Gospcl Of Christ The awfulness of sin It's IN
evtable punishment by natural laws both in this nie
and the next the universal need Of saviour nom
sin-these facts belong to the Gospel OF all
DURATION OF PUNISHMENT
@The question Of the duration OF punishment mas
little place in any mans preaching still. felt II
duty to declare my belief that those who from the
natural instincts OF their hearts had renounced "'e
old doctrine might not be disposed to discredit any
,rcrd ~ onr Lord Notwithstanding this utterance
nv church wished me to remain as their minister
and were the Baptist doctrine to the right Of private
Judgment and the independence Of each church any
thing more than a mere theory, | would have Kept
other views In reserve. as had done for years. ana
lived and died rs their pastor iet however tna'
,,o,ant hostility vould be aroused In those who