The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-10-29

4HO INV Ia 49, AN ApWSpVN Vi Nv sAab
thews church, returned home on Thurs
day from his labors of three weeks as
participant in the great triennial coun-
Gil Of tho Episcopal church of the
United States Just concluded at Balti-
more. There were at the various sessions
sixty-two bishops of the church and
ASP clerical and lay delegates, and these
constituted the two houses OF the Coun-
Gil.
DR.. Swope was visited by representa-
tive OF the INrELIaENcER at his study
yesterday afternoon and interviewed at
considerable length in regard to the
principal points discussed and acted
upon by the Council. He began by al.
luding to it as historical council and
one that would be memorable in the
future OF the church for three reasons,
as he explained, ~ that it has put
forth al invitation to all dissenting
bodies Of Christians to come together
upon proposed basis OF union and
communion; and (2) because it has re-
yised tho Prayer Book and made it
more harmonious with that OF the
Anglican Communion; and (3) because
it has given the church new HymnaL
These three things occupied the large
portion OF the three weeks during
which the council was in session.
Taking these up in the order above
referred to Dr. Swope explained first
the history OF the proposed
BASIS OF CHRISTIAN UNION.
1t originated at the Chicago Council
OF 1886, and from there went to the con.
ference held at Lambeth Palace, Eng
land, in 1883, and there received the
endorsement OF the Anglican commun-
ion and thence came back to the Balti-'
more council just adjourned, and there
received final action as the authoritative
overture Of the Anglican and Ameri-
can communions OF the Episcopal body
to all Christians throughout the world
for organic union. This proposed basis
OF union is embodied in the following
four paragraphs:
l. The Holy scriptures OF the Old and New
TestOnents, us containing all things necessary
10 salvation, and US being the rule and ultimate
standard OF NTH.
.: The Apostles Creed. as tho Baptismai
symbol; aud the Sicelle creed as theAutiicient
statement OF the Christian faith. :
g. The two Sacraments ordlined by Christ
HimSGf-Baptlsln and the Supper OF the Lord
-ministered with unluiling use OF Chrlsts
words OF institution, and OF the elements or
dained by Him.
l. The Historic EpIscopate, locally adapted in
the methods Of its administration to the varying
needs OF the nations and peoples called OF God
into the Unity OF His Church.
In answer to a number Of questions
touching the likelihood OF this basis OF
union being by any considerable
body OF present dssentients DR.. SwOpe
explained that there was tendency in
several religious bodies outside of the
Episcopal body to adopt
LITURGIcAL FORM OF WORSHIP,
and mentioned particularly the fact that
many Presbyterian and Methodist
churches had long used this form, and
it was believed that the trend of church
worship was more and more in this di-
rection. lie spoke OF the highly litur-
gical character OF the Church OF Scot
land, Presbyterian, worship. In regard
to the Episcopate there would Of course
be variance OF opinion whether it was
The undoubted scriptural basis Of church
organization, but after all the import
ant question, for the purpose OF the
overture, was whether it could be OBJ
jected to as unscriptural, and if not then
there was hope that it would be ac-
cepted on its merits as the best work
ing system Of church organization, and
as such most promotive OF the end that
all Christian bodies had in view-viz.
effective work for the alienation and
salvation OF men.
In regard to the Prayer Book, the
doctor explained that for long time
the present book, which was adopted ut
the close OF the Revolutionary War,
was not in satisfactory accord with
much that was desirable in the English
book and in ancient breviaries OF the
church, and that the action at Balti-
more was really return to the more
ancient prayers OF the church, which,
by the way, he remarked, were the best
expressions in the form OF prayer ever
composed By uninspired men.
The Baltimore council had just
finally completed the work begun in
1850 in this matter. 1t had been under
way for twelve years aud had passed
through council after council since that
time, but was now fact accomplished,
and accomplished to the satisfaction OF
all. 1--WE have now," said he, "a vol
ume that will probably stand for Il cen
fury without revision"
In regard to
THE NEW HYMNAL
adopted, he said that it was practically