New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-16
JOINED THE CHURCH OF ROME
THE REV HENRY A. ADAMS LEAVES THE
EPISCOPAL COMMUNION.
FORMERLY wELL.KNOwN MINISTER AT
CHURCHES IN THIS CITY AND BUFFALo-Hls
REASONS FOR THE CHANGE.

CHURCHES IN THIS CITY AND BUFFALo-Hls
REASONS FOR THE CHANGE.
Buffalo, July 15.-Thc Rev. Henry A. Adams,
formerly assistant minister Mt Trinity Church, New
York afterward rector OF st. Paus Episcopal Church.
IN this city and later OF the Church OF tho Redcemcr
Ncw.York. has Joined the Roman Catholic church. In
a letter which will BE- published tomorrow In =" The
sunday News he gives his for his change OF
belief. The letter IL, in part, as tollows:
My beloved friends: When q saddcned and broken
IN, Is called upon. In the moment OF IT. utmost ionci
moss and Min % take a step which IL at once the prict'
cal denial OF everything which that life has princl-
rally stood tie apparent contradiction OF us own
chief aim may ole hl.e,e the bitterness Of all has
come, have renowned my priesthood and am about to
.,,er tho communion Of the Catholic Church
Nv clearness OF conviction has under Cod oech
Trough, about by the concurrent acton OF two long
ch,ins 81 reasoning. have become eahoHc ~ n''
hanso there is no other logical deduction from all the
tc,, o. which my reading and my observation and my
mo hoyo made me aware And secondly. because there
was no peace Tor nor explanation OF mat uhspeak'
ably grca, problem q myself and Jon. outside rod
church External evidence. internal heart ache these
no,cd me steadily for wears and eiIectnaly OF
last, As 10 the evidence. | frankly own that have
neither sufficient Earning nor strength OF mind 10 base
so vast step upon deductions made from my own IN
yc-,icatlons at nr't hpnd have. ineeed' accepted
o,,n, rcn's conclusions, found TIL, necessary during
all nv NE and must every member OF the fpiseop"
communion that Church. ~ such, having no living
definite voice.
The letter then goes on to state that the writer
while studying for the ministry found the professors
nj the seminary divided In their Views one announc-
ing that there no sacrament OF Absolu'ion'
other than the Holy Communion. and two Others
actually hearing confessions. When lie came to the
mini, he found his pcoo also with other ideas than
his Continuing. the Rev. Mr.. Adams says:
From nv remote boyhood never have been abe to
o,r the shame which the consideration Of this babel
Of uncertainty always provoke" Not only In her failure
, too AMI by the Inconsistencies OF her whole theory
dId the Enl,cc,a Church grow more and more cause
Of -namefu but much more keenly 20 when
bcheld after years Of bttercst experimental know-
ed,s Of her ways the miserable hasco OF her parochai
oua Institutional existence. Without parallel in
,,,orv ,h parish system OF the Protestant Episcopal
church stand, az this time the rct stupendous and
ridiculous ,non,trostv in Chri>tcndom. With rector
"ca.i" by a ycstry made NJ OF the rich men OF the
placc-a rector lnmdatd. hGra-std, maze by MS very
tenure impotcn the hired mouthpiecc oil ths Nes'Y OF
rich men sometimes immoral, often ignorant usually
eirou. alwnvs n the way. Here he Is T. teach these
rich masters HIS what they already Know ana ike
lie Is q conduct scryce ~ they direct lie is 10
tolerate and indorse any abomnaton which may nave
been and usually ~ established in the parish lie Is TO
,ol,. himself his message Gods very work for peace
,aac And they the successful" rector' poor DUMB
slaves have been able TO keep everybody happy anu
questions and ideas OF disturbing nature IN the dark
Again in her relations TO the poor IN h'r spirit oil
cort, atng coquetry toward sects In her judicial
system in no-polcy In her utter lack OF discipline
Conference esprit du corps In her vacation iaurc pre-
sons brushes OF earnest mn their iath IN
her a. the dyinely planned and ruled She breaks thc
hearts her most loyal sons She either casts 'heh
forth or ruins and priests by forcing them into
untrue unanx unprncpei and helpless acduescence In
the les, than right
With bleeding heart, therefore, turned to suoy 'he
I.oman claims. and read for the nrot
time splendid arguments OF that hall score OF giants
who have worked out the question with learning iar
bcy Dad that OF my teachers and with sanetty ana
dtsncrstcdness beyond words beautiful TO me- 80 fresh
from the serving, shipping and truthevad ns
atmosphere OF my communion
Nv qucg il over-although the namecss dread OF hnd
inc myself alone comes ~ Will be hard to Dc
thou, YOU IL will be terrible 70 be condemned by you
A, last without an effort with the sense OF deep I'M
peace my soul rushed TO meet my intellect
,.turnlnc from Its search convicted and all my nature
NAV that light como. After the Of anguish and
-, doubt and struggle passed Into Gods "stong city,
, nto His tabernacle there to be hid forever from The
,trifs Of tongue.
..o, such a tide ss moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound foam;
While that which drew from on: the boundless deep
Turns again home'
Your friend and servant, HENRY A. ADAMS