Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-17
WAS MADE A BISHOP.
1,nNrINUEp FROM FIRST PAGE,

been expected. has been received In such
varying spirit by the people to whom IL
~ss addressed. I shall not prolong this
DISCOURSE by reciting in full the terms
II this cirenicon- You know them. De-
loved brethren. as well as j. You Know
that the leaders OF our Churcn sstne.su
In council, after earnest prayer TOT the
guidance OF the Holy Ghost, have de-
clared that In their judgment the ire
mendous peril OF our existing condition
and the consequent responsibility upon
Christian leaders to strive TO reun'te the
scattered squadrons, to recall the skirmish-
srs TO the line OF defence; nay. TO assemble
every warrior OF whatever weapon or
uniform. IL he only wear the Cross. 10
defend the very citadel which the enc
my approaches to destroy. The world
refuses to believe that God did send
our Christ; nay. Is beginning to demand
that we who have confessed shall now
deny Him. And because the hosts OF
our Israel are so divided and separated
because they have almost forgotten the
one countersien OF the great army ana
are busy with repeating those they nave
devised for the protection OF their own 1T
tie camps: because the several divisions
are become almost strange TO one another;
nay. have been for long time In such
fierce brol with their neighbors and
friends that they have forgotten the I'M
godly cometf on so fast. The danger Is
imminent and these veterans. albeit the
commanders Of but handful by COM
parison with other chieftains. are bound
10 cry aloud unto all who love Christ,
Rally. rally on the very centre! Rally
at the Cross which is oar hope. Hasten
back TO stand where the army stood so
long ago. when the battle ragged fierce
for three centuries and the field was
ours. This Is the meaning of the Chicago
Lambeth declaration, believe me- Rally
on the centre. lest the day be lost
MATTER Or CHURCH CREEDS.
affirm with all solemnity as in the
sight OF God. standing in this old pulpit.
over which my eyes In earliest childhood
did spell out the words. Thou, God
sscst mel affirm the honesty, the sin
certify, the love for all who love our Lord
Jesus Christ, which animated the men
whose hands did sign this declaration.
Listen carefully, my brother Christians
OF every name. and We shall hear the
tears falling in their voice, as they plead
at the cost of any sacrifice that loyalty
to Christ will suffer them TO make for
the restoration Of the one Body by which
the One Spirit may overcome our foes:
!. They affirm their earnest desire that
the SaviOur's prayer for the unity OF His
people. may in It's deepest and truest sense
be speedily fulfilled.
2 They affirm the belief that all who
have been duly baptized with water in
the triune name are members of the
one Body.
9. They affirm their willingness 10
forcro their preferences in all things OF
human ordering or human choice re-
ldtlng 10 modes of worship ana discipline,
or - traditional customs.
I. Thee declare (will men not believe
thcmD that this Church does not seek
10 absorb other communions, but rather
cooperating with them on the basis of
"A common Faith and order to discounte-
nance schism. to heal the wounds OF
the Body Of Christ. and to promote the
charity which is is the chief Of the
Christian graces and the visible manifes-
taiion Of Christ 70 the world.
This Church win give mp anything and
everything of human ordering or human
choice but cannot give up the Holy
Scriptures as the revealed Word OF
God. nor the ancient creeds, one the bap-
tismAl symbol and the other the suf-
nciont statement Of the Christian faith,
nor the two sacraments of Christs APP
pointmcnt. ministered with unfaiing use
Of Christs words OF institution, and OF
the clements ordained by Him: nor, fin
ally. can II give up the historic episco-
pate. though il may be locally adopted In
the methods of its administration 10 the
varying needs Of the nations and peoples
called Of God into the unity of His
Clurch.
hive said that the response to this
overture has varied in temper and tone
fr.m that II earnest, honest Christian
willingness TO labor for peace. to the
srornful cOntemptuous assertion in reply
that 81 IS hut new effort 10 aggrandize
the Episcopal Church. From our own
company have men arisen. speaking great
swelling words Of scf-csteom, to tt" us
that they knew such response would
come: and In ID tone Indicative Of de-
light M the vindication of their prophetic
gifts they seem 10 find fultilment OF the
prophecy in the fact that the doves long
absent have not trOOped at our bidding
to the windows Of the ancient house, as
though the pleaders for peace had eX-
p,ct,d such immediate acceptance OF the
invitation. Are they disappointed, these
dOctrinairc dwcllers In narrow cave OF
ecclesiasticism. that some at least OF the
voices which have spoken reply, are the
voices Of men of renown leaders of great
armies of Intelligence and piety, and
that they ring with hope for the reunion
of Gods people?
FIRM IN THEIR APPROVAL.
But, he 1t explicitly stated that as was
10 have been expected the larger part,
indeed. almost all. of those who have
made respectful reply. have halted firm
In their approval when they have come
10 face the fourth term Of our PROPOSE
ton. the acceptance of the historic epis-
copal as a condition of union.
Naturally this has been the case; natu-
rally the question has been almost uni
versal on the part of the ministers and
teachers Of other communions of Chris
tiaps-sreater, more powerful. as learned,
AS devout-Cui bono? If the Lord has
vouchsafed the witness of His sanction
and approval of our ministry in the glo-
rious ingathering of souls, what else than
vain presumption and pride of long de-
scent can prompt this proposition that we
acknowledge deficiency which God has
not marked; that We humiliate ourselves
and dshonor our forefathers by the ac-
ceptance of new warrant Of ministerial
action, thereby conceding that the old Is
valueless; nay, that we have had no war
rant for the lifetime's labor: that we have
all run before we were sent? If such
marvellous success has crowned the enter
prise of unauthorized ambassadors, Tar
and away beyond that given to the pos
sessors of the supposed seal or traditional
authority, why shall we believe that the
failure of unlimited conquest has been
due to our separated condition; to the
trace It's continued life but 800 years or
but so? And our reply must be-yes,
must be. II we be honest men, who look
with fearless, unbiased eyes upon the
facts Of human history and of contempt
rary human life--a recognition perfect
and complete of the fruits of the Spirit,
hanging In round and rudy maturity
from the trees grown from seed planted
by these servants whose due authority we
seem not to admit. Beyond a question
there are men IN every denomination of
Christians In America who have been
equally enabled by the Spirit of Christ
TO live the life Of Christ. And to the be-
lever In the Word of God. whatever be
his understanding Of the constitution of
the Church and Ministry of Jesus Christ,
there can be naught to surprise his intel
hgence in such universal manifestation.
1.-The seed Is the Word OF God" and scat
tered by the hand of the duly -appointed
steward. or dropped from the pocket OF
the tramp crossing the field. It Will alike
falling into good ground, bring forth fruit
fruit special and pscular-the fruit Of
the Spirit. Nay, more the covenanted in
fuences Of heavenly grace; the sunshine.