New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-06

die when the twelve died. they must have been en
powered TO entrus their commission. whatever u "Vs
to Others And, matter OF fact, they did ues's"c
certain men as their successors ana these successors
OF the apostles did, matter OF fact exercise .i'o
Jurisdiction and perform the duties which the aposte
themselves exercised and performed. Now. Christ
came as our Prophet, Priest and King And the same
law Of tr,pcity that makes such striking note Of His
mission is the note also of His representatives An
swerinc 10 Chrst's function Of prophecy stands the
minister's function Of preaching answering to Ills
priesthood is the minister's leadership OF worship
answering TO His royalty is the minister's response
bty for pastoral ain what restect' asks Df'
Huntington "has lapse Of time the passing OF many
generations altered or abridged this classification Of
ministerial duty In no respect save only In giving
the modern Church a deeper and richer
conception Of what the premiership, the
priesthood and the pastorate should be-" And he
lnterprets the fourth plank thus " II we are 10
have organic unity at ALL IL is more reasonable TO ex
meet that II should be brought about under this method
Of pIlotage than Of any other Think, II you please te
bishops seem to say, about the nature and sanction OF
the Christian ministry All have 10 urge Is that
harmonious and selfconslstent method OF administer
ing the Word and the sacmmsnts Is the thing sought
the voice OF human experience uteng itself through
history suggests that system Of oversight, safeguarueu
by carefulness in the transmission of authority is the
more excellent way.D This argument and exphnauoh
soen, IN ns 70 be very weak. On matter so pro
fundy important as the Christian ministry there should
be more proof than that afforded by an assumed ne
cessity Of making the orders In the ministry agree WIN
Chrst's threefOld character. People who rau DE-
IIntlngtons plea for the Historic Epscopate Will lay
II down without finding in 1t facts, and after all
facts are what tell In this controversy. DID Chr9t
send out bishops priests and deacons to be the only
divinely authorized ministers Of the Church. or dH lie
not? Roman Catholics and many Angllcans shy he
did Protestants say He did not. III the iorIher are
right then Roman Catholics and Episcopalans palter
with Divine truth when they try IT, minimize the acts
by showing that in vague way the CohgreeS'on'
and Presbyterian theories Of the ministry may Uo
reconciled with the Episcopal theory And II the a''e.
are right it Their sacred duty to COMBAT ueorS "
the ministry whhh is not only false but winch UNI
obnrches all that segment of Christianity which
is today the synonyme for enlightenment
progress, liberty and morality. But "heuhor
the Roman Catholic and Episcopal 'neoi'
of the ministry is true not 1t is evident .a' 'hore
IS no consolidation possible between those WI" hooop'
and those who reject 1t. The notifications Oh IL eue
gested by the bishops seem to be generous, anu III
Huntngtons Interpretation of leaves it little author
ity except that derived from its regularity ana ven
cradle antiquity But the dilemma In the case Is !us'
here II the theory is not practically explained away
IN mean inst about nothing at ALL the other Protestant
bodies will never consolidate with those who hold H.
while on the other hand the Episcopal Church WI"
never consent to consolidate with any Chllsu"h
bodies OF Christians who cannot accept do
IL stands examine Conservative as Dr. hunt
ington is in his definition {" inc "'v ''
cpIscopate we are quite certain that his posi-
lion would be repudatcd by nearly all so-called
good oiurchmen' in the Episcopal Church. who
look upon the threcfold orders of The Christian MIN
istry as the only divlnely commissioned ministry on
tho earth to-day.