Evening journal., 1895-10-16

Eor hlt beceehion Hfom tuo ANohoHthht
Episcopal chureh-says Baptism Alone
Does Not Regenerate and That the p. y.
Church Has Admitted All Bnt Two OF
the Doctrines OF the Church Mt Rome.
Ministers rrausacting Business.
Reformed Episcopal Church of the
Covenant at Third and West streets was
nearly filed this morning with ministers
aud synodical delegates from the
Eastern states and Canada In attendance
at the annual council of the Eastern
Synod OF the reformed chursh.
Many of the visitors arrived early this
morning and registered at the Clayton
House. Others came later In the day
and are being entertained by prominent
Reformed churchmen OF the city.
When the council was called 10 order
there were the following distingui shed
ministers. clad in the flowing black
vestments of the Reformed Church
Rev Robert L Rudolph, assistant
rector First Reformed Church, New York
city.
Rev. J. Simpson Ttotter, rector Of
Emmanuel Church, Bellevllle, Ontario,
Canada.
Bishop w. R Nicholson, D D rector
Of st Paul's Church. Philadelphia.
Bishop james A Latane, ID d rector
OF the Church of the Redeemer, Balti-
more Md.
The Bishops Strong Sermon.
Bishop Latane's topic was: I Peter,
III, 15 "Bs ready always to give an
answer to every man that Rsketh you the
reason Of the hope that Is within you,
with weakness aad fear.
Now without vanity and without meek
ness or fear l will proceed at once to
answer some Of the pertinent questions
that have been put to me directly and
personally. The first Is:
why did you leave the Protestant
Episcopal ChurchG'
Started Life in the Old Church.
"When In my twenty second yea in
the Protestant Episcopal diocese Of
Virginia, was called to preach
the gospel, loved my church.
her lithargy and services and had never
heard one false doctrine from any Of her
teschers
Then ! entered a seminary for the
study OF theology and 1t was there that
came my happy frame Of mind. Well
arguing for the plain and old-fashioned
church doctrines My opponents would
turn 20 to the prayer book, which seemed
to teach q doctrine of regeneration
that WAS directly in contrast. thought,
to the doctrine of regeneration as taught
In the word of God From the prayer
book could not answer these arguments.
The result was | was compl etely upset ]
could not give up the work o. the minis
try, TO which felt that had been called
Too Much Like the Church OF Rome.
Thus l approached my old friend
Bishop Meade, telling him Of my troubled
mind, and to my complete surprise and
delight, his reply was all that | could
desire. He endorsed all that said, and
with my great love and veneration OF
Bishop Meade l was greatly relieved
Consenting to be ordained to the ministry
under a promise OF early revision Of these
Objectionable measures Of the prayer
book
But at the same time l was often
Inundated Aside from my perplexltles Rt
the doctrinal imperfectiOns. was
wounded repeatedly during my fourteen
years as rector of Trinity Church.
Staunton, at the treatment l was obliged
to accord to all ministers Of the gospel OF
other denominations To keep from
holding my head aloft end saying: DC
not approach, for my church does
not rscoguizs you as a minister with
authority to lay before the people the
law of.God' 1 plunged into parish work
so deeply that my health broke down
after fourteen years
"Then studied all the works I could
find bearing upon the two great
parties Of the church found that my
church held TO All the doctrines Of the
church at Rome, except the Immaculate
conception Of the Virgin Mary and the
supremacy Of the pope.
"Aud above all. clearer views Of G1d's
/ teaching had made me moro sstifsd oi
the soundness OF the idea Of the reform
ers who died IN the advancement OF theii
cause The feeling OF the great body oi
the High Church party In that day wa!
described by DR.. John Henry Hopkins
as the last kick Of the dying Protestant
mule
Couldn't Stand Confessional Ideas.
III he had been duly baptized, be is
reKenerated and II he has not beer
baptized he Is not regenerated. was the
argument Of dear brother OF mine who
had fallen into the High Church belief.
when this same brother went on
during a night with him in argument
replied to a question l asked him, thai
be had full authority to forgive
the sins of all who had made confession
TO him, the conclusion was reached.
could no longer stand In false position
/ felt alone In the world at this crisii
which was more than flesh and BLOOD
conld stand.
Then in my solitude and in the mlds
Of my prayers for some light, the news
WIS broken to me that Bishop Cummlns
had succeeded and issued a circular
letter to all brothers who had become
like-minded and opposed to such extrem'
High Church doctrines as those ruling
the Protestant Episcopal Church
So we have the Reformed Episcopa
Church, an Episcopal Church, yet liberA
and cordial 20 all evangelical churchs
and ready TO commune aud work and pray
with all who love the Lord our Savior.
John Wesley concluded one Of his re