The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-02-20
CATHOLIC AS HEAVEN.
DIR. Jackson's Liberal Sermon I'm Praise
of Episcopalia ais m.

Fa
The Rev. j. G. Jackson iectursd last
evening at the Hedding NJ. E. Church on
"What we may learn from tue Episcopal
Church." He me INT, he sail. that
communion not only in Am erica, out
through the world. He said:
1.-THE question was lately asked in the
North american ReUieW, whether
Americans In view of Lheir frequent
struggles with England. hated her. 1t
was correctly answered that we did not
but recognized aud appreciated her in all
respects as the Mother Country. In tlks
mapneri 1t might be supposed that Meth
odists, hated the Episcopal Church. for
reasons connected with their past history.
But such a motion would De in-
correct. We have our Articles OF
Religion, our Rituals. and all the
modes Of Thought and feeling, under
God, from her, and gladly recognize her
superior excellence. The first praise
worthy feature we mention Is her union
OF religious strength in her great historic
creeds. with aesthetic beauty In her
liturgy and order OF worship. As Jachin
and BoaZ, the pillars In the temple, were
ornamenJed with sculNtured pomegraua-
ties and lily work, SO Episcopalianism
appeals to the eye and ear as we'll as TO
the brain and heart. As man is not to
live by bread alone, SO she does not rest
content with presenting him bare truth,
out rightly adorns 1t with what music,
art and architecture can afford. Puri-
tanism and early methodism ran to the
extreme of Identifying reilgion with bar
renuess and ugliness. 1t is u matter for
gladuess that Professionalism is now more
generally recognizing the mission of
the beautiful, as well as the strong, in
religion.
"Agaiu. the broad doctrinal platform
of the Episcopal Churcn Is to be COM
mended. Whoever can subscribe to the
Apostolic and Nicene Creeds may find a
place in It's ministry and membership.
On this large basis, every school of
Christian thought has a hospitable home
within her pale. She Is as Catholic as
the Kingdom of Heaven. In this respect,
she is q true church. Nothing is worthy
of the nam of Church which makes al
admission into Heaven. A school, y
sect. a religious club it may be, but a
church, never. We also honor the E2is-
copal Church for what she has done for
Christian Thought and literature. The
perplanence of her passionate and the
certainty of It's support have given her
clergy opportunity for an unriyaled ex-
Apologize works, polemic writings, and
poetry, she has made the mountain of re-
yealed religion to stand strong. The
largest part Of our books of Christian
Evidence are her product.
"Finally, her present system of church
work amoug the poor ana lapsed classes
should be initiated. No. Protestant
Church, In proportion to it's numbers, is
doing so much to raise up those that are
fallen. None other IN America Is grow
ing 80 rapidly. Its cathedrar system, its
association OF several clergymen together,
its division of labor among guilds, its
concentration Of workers and means upon
strategic points, are all features that The
rest Of The churches might follow with
nd va Strength and beauty IRE IN
her sanctuary; her walls are salvation
aud her gates are PRAISE"