The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-06-13
OPINIONS AS TO THE UNITY OF
THE THREE GREAT CATHOLIC
CHURCHES,
WHICH ARE THE ROMAN AND
GREEK CATHOLIC, AND THE
EPISCOPAL CHURCHES.
The Views of Able Divines on This
Question of Unity of These Three
Great Branches of the Religious
World.

The gid of St. James is an organiza-
ton inside the Protestant Episcopa
church, one of the objects of which is, a:
stated by the New York Herald in a recent
issue, to bring about union of the three
great Catholic churches-the Roman
Catholic, the Greek Catholic and the
Episcopal church-also to endeavor t.
promote Christian unity. The Herald
publishes q compilation of opinions intend
ed to give a general idea of the subject
as viewed by representatives of various
denominations, to whom letters were adj
dressed asking if Christian unity is q
good idea-l possible One-and would II
benefit the churches and the world al
large? OF the Protestant ministers the
question was asked if they would favor
unity with the Roman church. OF the
Roman prelates it was asked what terms
of unity their church would offer. We ap
pend the gist of "a number of replies, as
given by the Herald:
Mgr. SatoM, the Apostolic delegate
"You ask if it is possible. We believe
relying on the promises of Christ, that j
is not only possible, but that one day Il
will surely be accomplished. The beneh
of such a thing to the churches and the
world at large can not be doubted, since
it would mean the end of all religious
strife and the living together of man
kind in the harmony and peace of un-
questioned truth. The Roman Catholic
church is not only willing, but mos,
anxious to effect this union, and her head
the pope, is continually inviting separateG
Christians to return to that unity Whlc1
existed at the beginning, when all Chrls-
tans, laboring together by their concert
ed action, made such rapid strides i'll the
conversion of the heather world. AS re,
CARDS the conditions of unity, they would
have to be settled on by long and careful
deliberatiOn.
"The church, however, would, of course,
stand firm in requiring the acceptance
of the entire deposit of Christian truth
as possessed by her alone ,
The Rt. Rev. Henry {; Potter, Dlshop
of the diocese of New York of the Episco-
nal church: Gas is the case with most
Christian people, presume | am friend
TO Christian unity. The absence OF It
as an organic fact is an immense EVIL
and the source of an enormous waste OF
men. means and energy. But it will not
come by conformity to any one conn
munion. as several cOmmunions now exist;
and to bring it to pass no communion Will
have TO make larger sacrifices than to
which especially YOU refer-the church of
Rome. Happily, the influence OF Amerl-
can ideas and institutions is daily produc-
ing in this direction a very interesting
and hopeful revolution, which, however,
is as vet far from complete -,
Rev. Theodore C. Williams, of All
Souls church (Unitarian), New YORK
Your scheme for the organic union OF
all denominations seems to me lhhpraSSt o
cable. You ask if Unitarian churches
would accept the Roman CATHOLIC doctrine
as it now is? They could not
think that all we may now practlcally
accomplish lis not ecclesiastical union,
Inf universal liberation and charity; II
the present enlightened pontltt fails 70
rnunite two churches so similar as the
Roman and Greek, how can the gid OF
st. John look for reunion OF All C.
Rev, DR.. Thomas Gallaudet of the st;
AIMS church, New York: The grand
idea of organic church unity Cor Christen-
dom has been in my thoughts and prayers
for many years. The Roman Cathoilc
church cannot in my judgment, unite the
various bodies of Christians. II has added
too much to the faith once delivered to
the saints before divisions came. Inc sys-
tenn laid down in the Book of Common
Prayer is, in my opinion, so desirable IN
preaching the full gospel with all ITS posi-
tive institutions and in lighting against
the world, the flesh and the devil"
Rev. Dr. Henry Y. Satterlee of Calvary
Protestant Episcopal church, New York
=
Il beg leave to state mat me present
movement toward church unity mas my
hearty cooperation, as Wen as ueeP syn
patty. So. full OF promise are all LII,
pulses leading to it that we may deem
its consummation matter OF time. .ob
Dr; Henry Motlet, reSyor " oms 'ii' On In
OF holy communion; o>e .XyorId Id n I or NV
answer 70 your quee ~ Un,u Gofboiic
communion atcepe We .U Un,,'d SOW ' most
uoct[lles as 'nes AIN I'M 1.on mGSso for
empnaIlGaly ~, ane e., l thn nontinent and
Mhlcn martin Lurnel ol tnT S' bas Sotflnd
fhe EngLsn fel4[nleL ~ sta tba +nacbing Of
Ior al time Tue LIZ. Ir". tne &C Whole is
me roman J h;n &c Thris+ in tho ear,y
not une teacnins Vi N'ni'' :" 'li' GUY
chprch' >1orcor INV ractor of Trinity
hey, M MoT Yor IA 81 vii vii simniv saw
churcT' L>ew o+ thiniz +hore Is nnV value
tlaG uG no nr inrM onort from Christian
- nii1 In ntbar ' words I care nothing
f al,.' ~ aliancn or confederacy of separate
r soa+ On q, '''I tbinE tbn noint 70 aim at is
nTi9 IN bn,ief nrronization and WORSHIP"
Rov 7 w Peters, First Methodist
Enisconal church. Hamilton. Ohio: eff
this shirt We're realized. there would be
harmony in ali church work in heather
lands and in denominational work in the
South. That spirit would lead churches
I l.. 81 s1F :