The herald., 1893-07-21
REV. HENRY ADAMS, SECESSION

What . Contemporary Does Not Know
About tho Eptscopal Cuit.
EDIroRs HERALD; The Times refers
to the conversion OF the Rev. Henry
Adams to the Roman church with the
following comment: "6ince the intro
duction of the high church section Of
the Episcopal church of vestments,
candles, incense. acolytes, absolution
and many other such practices, it has
been getting to be more and more diff
cult for non-expert to detect the out
ward and viible difference between the
two denominations. 1t should be added
that there are great many persons In
the Episcopal chuch who strongly depre-
cate these innovations"
Nothing but ignorance Of the subject
in had could have dictated the above
paragraph. Aside from the motive OF
Mr.. Adams in leaving the Anglican
Communion, in which be was mainly
influenced by the growing rationalism
OF the Protestantism within its fold,
the Times reference to the 'innovs.
tions" verges ON the ridiculous. OF
course, the writer refers to the whole
Anglican Communion. The "Orna-
thoutc puUklc y VI tuo OuuACh Va LING
land expressly enioins the use of these
ritual innovations" such as vestments
and lights, so that not only is the priest
within his rights in using these acces-
sories OF divine Worship, but he is
morally bound TO do so. This Rubric
implicitly binds the clergy Of the Amer
ican church. Further, q person &C.
quainted with the subject would know
knk - eksxc l. ~ a
amongst almost all parties OF
the Episcopal church, especially the
broad, but, divested OF all dogmatic
teaching, it looses its dignity with its
meaning. Thus we find rightly styled
Innovations creeping in, such as female
boy choirs, evening communion, etc.
Ritualism as such is rampant.
The long suffering high churchmen
are next accused of using sbsoiution
forsooth. Has the writer ever been in
side an Episcopal church? Does he not
know that on all occasions of divine
worship it must be used lprovisions by
the last prayer book for its occasional
the ordinsl? The commission given to
sins ye remit, they are remitted; whose
niAn Yo Iothlus tA0y 6Ao AotoAAout
sounds strange to his ears.
"And many other such praoticse." 1t
certainly is to be regretted that he does
not continue. We loose much.
1t is indeed true shat there are
great many persons in the Episcopal
church who strongly deprecate Catholic
truth and ritual. These persons are
the lineal descendants of that party In
the Church of England bequeathed it BY
the Puritans, who were well.known to
be inimical to the teachings of that
body. The great reformers Of the Eng
lish church would have utterly repudi-
ated the Continental Professionalism ad-
vocated by the so-cslled Evangelical
party. There is also another and GER
tainly growing factor of the Episcopal
church, the Broad Churchmen, who
offer US "New Theology" q cult which
would shock conservative Unitarians.
These men OF course oppose dogmas,
both Catholic and Evangelical, but are
in sympathy with any innovation when
ritual or dogmatic. It is without doubt
the growth of this liberalism which has
cast Mr.. Adams sdrift, but while we
may understand the influence brought
to bear upon him, we regret that he
lacked the courage and steadfast' faith
to stand by his mother church in the
time of her need.
RICHARD H. GUsHEE.