The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-05-15
THE CONGREGATIONAL CLUB.
An Unusually Interesting Meeting
Last Evening.

Discusses the Question of Church Unity
Ordination of Congregati onal Clergy
men by Episcopal Bishops Proposed
as a RemedY-Dr. Dalton's Views.
Last evening. at the Preble House,
about 100 ladies and gentlemen of the
Congregational Club assem- bled to enjoy
the regular May supper and to listen
to an address by Rev. E. Winchester
Donald, rector of Trinity church, Boston,
on the topic, "The Congregational
Churches and the Historic Episcopate."
Rev. DR.. Dalton of st. Stephens and
Rev. Ephraim Cummings were guests of
the evening. The former invoked the
divine blessing previous to the banquet.
Follwing is list of those who were
present: John Fl. Gard and wife, W. L..
Blake and wife, II H. Kicker and wife,
j. +. Chute and wife, CA. Weston and
wife, ]. H. Webster and wife, Mrs. D. M.
Pratt, Miss Grace Burrows, C. II. Pease,
Miss Fogg, G m. Latham and wife, Rev.
al. Valentine, Brooklyn, N. Y, CIV.
Pickard and wife, George F. French, s..
N.Adams, J.E. Aiken A. H. Wright,
George D. Lindsay, ]. G. Merrill, Mrs.
Merrill, Mrs. Sarah E.Jenkins, E. Win
chester Donald, j. L. jenkins,
DR.. Dalton, E. G. Cummings. Dav-
i'd Martyr, S. d. Martyr, m. Cousens.
Mrs. L. M. Cousens, Mr.. and Mrs. Ozman
Adams, DR.. and Mrs. G. W. Way, Mr.. and
Mrs. Peter S. Nickerson, Daniel F. Nash,
Miss Laura E. Parker, Mr.. and Mrs. A..
L. Burbank, Miss May G. Chaplin, s.Mr.
and Mrs. A IA. Lane, DIR. and Mrs. B. f.
Dunn. Mr.. and Mrs. George W. Simonton,
Miss F. A. Snow, Mr.. and Mrs. William
N. Marks, Mr.. and Mrs. George S. Plum
mer, Mr.. and Mrs. Horatio Staples. Mr..
and Mrs. George Libby. Miss Mary K.
Libby, Miss my T. Peters. Miss Bessie
Il. Allen, Samuel Peters, Mr.. and Mrs.
s. FALLEN, DIR. and Mrs. G. NJ. Talbot, 6.
c. Edwards, Mrs. Edwards, B. M. Ed
wards, Louise l.. Edwards, H. W. Shay
lor, Jr., Miss Rosa Henderson, Fl. W..
Shaylor. Mrs. H. W. Shaylor, W. r.. Evans,
Mrs. W r Evans, Rev. q. S. Young, 6. M.
Howe, Rev. William e. Fem, Mrs. Fem.
Rev. Edwin P. Wilson, R. H. Hinkley.
Mrs. Hinkley, Clinton A. Woodbury.,
Mrs. Woodbury., Fred V. Matthews, Mrs.
Fred V. Matthews. Mrs. Sarah G. Elwell,
Edward B Elwell.
President Jenkins, with his usual hap
DE- manner. and with an appropriate
story, introduced the speaker of the eve
ming.
DR.. Donald said that the question of
church unity can never be stale one.
The difference between the historic
episcopate and the APOSTLE succession
is recognized among the clergy of the
Eepiscopal church. There are two dis
tinct classes in this clergy. There are
m any who do not believe that the his
torie episcopate is necessary for valid
Christian church, and there are many
who do believe it. He did not think
that the Episcopal clergy would ever be
allowed to engage in such an interde-
neminational comfy that would imply
giving up the apostolic succession. "We
are not going to give up Episcopal order,
the historic -episcopate. I say that as
low churchman as there is anywhere.
The future of New England will be di-
vided between the Congregationalists
and the Episcopal church. Are they al
ways to be as widely separteds Here is
the situation. A new Episcopal church
in many small Maine towns would be
an impertinence. 1t is unnecessary. Yet
there are Episcopal people there who
worship with the other churches, but
frankly draw the line at the administra-
ton Of the Lords supper, believing that
only an Episcopal clergyman should do
that" r
He declared that the Congregationalist
have the power of independence if not al
ways the fact. He proposed as a remedy
Tor the situation in such small towns
tAsS the Congregational clergyman
should go to the Bishop of Maine and
receive ordination from him, not to
make him any more of minister of the
gospel, in his own eyes, but to enable
hin to administer for those of the peo-
pie of the people of the village who feel
thar episcopal ordination is necessary for
a valid Christian sacrament. If you
FNOa1d udn0 I0ls SIOuAO, ~ Woulu Uc,
not an admission of error that you have
always been wrong and we have been
right, but it would be display of your
great power to take the forward step
that the few Episcopals cannot. We are
the only church that have said exactly
what We will unite upon. You know
the conditions There is but one over
which we all STUN BILE. 1t seems noble
and wholly consistent thing that the
Congregational minister might take
this onward step; might say to himself:
aFor their sakes will sanctify myself
By this process, that do not need my
self, but which my brother believes to
be absolutely necessary"
In response to question by DR.. Mer-
rill. rs to how many of the bishops
would ordain Congregational minister,