The morning call., 1893-05-29
CHURCH REFORMS.
Work of Episcopalians in
That Line.
People Who Believe There Is Too
Much Ritualism in the
Old Service.

Although less than six months has
elapsed since the first services Of the Re-
formed Episcopal church were held ia this
city, that the church is rapidly gaining
adheTents is evidenced by the large num-
Der Of worshipers which every Sunday al
tend the services that are held in Albion
Hall, AlcaZar building. ia O'FarrelI
street. The services were instituted by
the Rev. DR.. Wilson for those wishing TO
maintain the faith Of the church Of Christ
AS set fort in the Apostles creed, together
with liturgieaI service which shall re-
main distinctively Protestant. Many mem
bsrs of the Protestant Episcopal chuTcl.
who look with aversion on the rituelistic
practices that are now features of many
Of the Episcopal churches, are joining the
new church. and it is expected that in the
near future regular church body will be
organized and a permanent house OF wor-
ship be e5ta blished.
Ar the services held yesterday, in the
absence of DR.. Wilson, layman of1ieiated
and preached sermon on the topic, The
Reformation. and Luther and Erasmus
Considered as Typical Rsformers."
After reading portions of Hebrews
chapter 9. and Ievticus, chapter g. ap-
prODriate TO his theme, the preacher SAID
in substance:
Something in the manner Of reforma-
ton Is needed in the Protestant EpiscO-
pal church. The church has, by slow
degrees, 50 far fallen from her former
standing and has become so comprehen-
sive as to now permit, without let or
hlndrance, or blush of shame. the idol atry
OF the mass. Often burning tapers and
gorgeous vestments, or a pUmDons cere-
monial with bowings, crossings, prayers
for the dead and the confessional accom-
snGNe .fs-o tim.
laity makes no protest. Nor has any
Blshop power TO Queneh this id0latry nor
IL lDhlbit these practices, though known
to be OF pagan origin. When man lifts
his head aud objects to these things and
asks for reformation, he is sure to meet
with vituperation. We want good, plain
gospel sermons, and we want the spirit Of
Goo over this poor lost race. Il is better
than ornate ceremony or any sacrament.
W nat We mean by Reformed Episcopal
church IS one that main talns the doctrine,
liturgy and govern N ent main tanned by the
martyred reformers OF England. She re-
tains Episcopaey, but not prelacy. She
fraternlzes with Protestants. but not with
Rome.
"Reformations are necessary in the
present order of things, and any reform a.
ton is IN accordance with God, and God is
with 1t a. long as it is right. Sometimes
am persuaded to think that there is no
Ike those of olden times"
After defining gnostics and agnostics and
speaking OF Wyekiiffs and the sixteenth
century reformation. he continued:
- religious reformation is needed to-
day, and | wonder that the very stones do
not cry out. We must maintain the pre-
negatives OF God and the pure Worship of
God. You have pure worship when you
have the Bible, corrupt worship when
you have 1t not. If you ackno Wedge the
Bible you acknowledge God and his pre-
negatives. Any Protestant who takes his
Bible in his hand knows his way TO God.
Il was glad when the magnates OF the
English church said, You must revise
your services Idon't believe IN Quaker
ism; l believe in the resurrection Of the
body. Apostolic succession is a great
obsiacle to ecclesiastical reform. l ehal-
ienge any man or woman to prove the
doctrine of apostolic succession. What is
the doctrine? II is the giving of power by
prophets 10 Bishops, by Bishops to priests.
1t IS priestcraft: il is sacerdotalisln. Dr..
Stone has said that e-third OF his cou-
gregati0n is composed of people who have
seeded from the Protestant Episcopal
church."
He next smoke of the labors of the re-
formers Luther and Erasmus. and after
referring to the practices now in vogue IN
many Episcopal churches said ''We live
in an age when ritualism says, This is
not idolatry.' RitualIsm is an Innovation.
| The present prevailing customs and rites
were not known in our church fifty years
| ago. 1t is new/wine in old bottles. For
twelve years the Reformed Episcopal
/ church has been haven of rest"
| After referring TO the growth of the
| church since its organization and its bright
future the preacher ia his peroration
warned those present that they lived in
| perilOus times and urged them to cling to
| the Bible, not TO halt between two opin-
ions, but to devote themselves to GOD and
give their souls and bodies and spirits into
| his hands.