New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-11
TIE EPISCOPAL CHURCH CONGRESS-

The sixteenth session ~ the Episcopal Church
Congress will meet IN Trinity Church. Boston,
on Tuesday of this week, and will continue
In session for four days. The Congress Is
clothed with no official power whatever II Is
simply "A free parliament for the discussion Of
questions OF tho day: and no limitations are
placed upon the expression of views by those
who take part in it. except such as they them
selves recognize rs imposed upon them by their
membership in the Church During its exist
ence the Congress has done much 10 promote
the intellectual growth Of the Episcopal Church
1t has served as an escape valve for the vision
aries cranks and irrcconcilablcs in the Church
who though inconsIdcrable in numbers and in
fiucncc. are nevertheless capable Of doing mis-
chief in a compact organization like the Epis
copal Church II unduly restrained. But far
greater service rendered by the Congress has
been the opportunity it has afforded to the lead
crs of thought and work In the Church to dis
c,iss questions affecting the welfare Of Chris
tianity that could not be- discussed anywhere
else. During the last twenty years remark
able upheaval Of thought has been going on in
the Episcopal Church Briefly stated, it is over
the question whether the Church shall pcrma-
nentIy align itself with the Catholic or with the
merits Of this question the Church Congress
has, Of course, no Judgment to pronounce Its
function is to give both wings In the Church
free and fair platform for the expression OF
their views Not only that. but 1t has always
been the aim and desire Of It's Executive Com
mittce to secure as speakers representative men
of all schools Of thought.
But, strangely enough. that very catholicity Of
the Church Congress has arrayed against II the
leaders Of the Anglo Catholic school Of thought
in the Church They have refused, in some
cases with considerable Indignation all invita-
lions to take part In its discussions. They have
in fact gone much further They have openly
denounced the Congress as subversive Of the
doctrines and teachings Of the Church; and
from their point Of view ii must be said they
are entirely consistent in doing so. For II the
Catholic conception Of the Church Is the true
one n large number of the questions which the
Congress assumes to discuss closed. They
have been settled by the voice Of the Church
or by the stream Of Catholic tradition: and for
n knot Of nineeenth-century churchmen 10 de-
bate them as though they were open Is an act
Of treason against the Church Of which they
are members From the High Church point Of
view. for instance. there can be no possible
difference Of opinion in regard to the doctrine
OF the Apostocal Succession. II Is as diviney
true and obligatory on all Christians as the doc
trine concerning the existence Of God or the
redcmptive work of Christ. Therefore. a High
Churchman would stultfy himself II he should
accept an invitation to debate the question
whether IL Is true .or not. The same principle
holds good as to large number Of other ques-
tions that are discussed by the Congress. So 1t
has come to pass that, contrary to the intention
and desire Of those who manage this interest
Ing frcefor-allk parlament, it has come to be
regarded by Many as junta Of traitorous
Broad Churchmcn whose only aim is to over
throw the teachings IF the Church
| Notwithstanding this popular prejudice, how
| ever, it has not only managed to hold It's own,
but has attracted to It many Of the represent
alive workers and thinkers Of the Church. Some
prominent High Churchmen even have rsked
the danger Of n boycott by their party by APP
pearIng on It's PLATFORM and the indications now
are that 1t will become a permanent institution
In the American Episcopal Church. The CON-
ing session promises to be unusually interest