The DeLamar nugget. [volume] (DeLamar, Idaho) 1891-1900, 1895-05-18
What is the Attitude of the Eplsco-
pal Church Toward Other Churchesf
BY Rev. F. H. Argo.

sive and uuchristian one. We say il
the Judgment of many, rather shoul
we have said in the opinion of many
since one who desires to form judg
ment must take into consideration tn,
facts in the case and render a decision
accordingly. Manifestly this is no
done, when such an indictment il
brought against the church in question
In the opinion 50 freely expressed, WI
have only another illustration of the
tendency on the part of christians tt
forget the command given them by
God: "Thou shalt not bear false witness
against thy neigh bor.n What then is
the position of the church toward other
churches? Inasmuch as church COM
prises both ministry and members, let
US consider the attitude of the church
with regard to each.
The preface to the Ordinal prayer
Book PIP 500 declares : at is evident
to all men diligently reading Holy
Scripture and ancient authors, that
from the Apostles time there have
been three orders of ministers in
Christ's Church-Bishops Priests and
Deacons. No man shall be accounted
or taken to be lawful bishop, priest or
deacon in this church, or permitted to
exercise any of said functions, except
be be called, tried, examined and adj
nifted tharato ancordinu IN tho form
which she has prescribed, or hath had
Episcopal conservation or ordination"
Do these words, when carefully read
and pondered over, substantiate asser-
tions so often made, that the Episcopal
church declares the ministry of other
churches to be no ministry at all? No
where has the church made such dec
larations such may, indeed, be the
private opinion ofsome of her clergy
and laity, but the church cannot be held
accountable for the theories of individ-
uais. Instead of expressing this view,
the words quoted simply assert that
those who have never received Episco-
pal ordination, that is conservation by |
bishop, are not TO be accounted Epis-
copal ministers. This excusiveness is
certainly allowable. A minister of
ordination cannot be con-
sidered Methodist minister; no more
can minister of some other than Epis-
copal ordination be considered minis
ter of the Episcopal church. However,
the fact that no other ministry is al q
lowed to exercise any functions within
our churches does interrupt those cour-
.eous and friendly relations which we
see entered into by the clergy of other
The preaching of others T
n our churches is unknown; also the
performance of other ministerial fnnc-
ions. Thus distinction is made aud =
We are denominated narrow, bigoted n
nd unchristian. Now, we readily adj .,
nit that such a distinction does exist !.
nd, further, that the church intended h
} assert difference between her min 4.
stry and that of other religious bodies. .,
'ut why did she desire distinction ;,
nd in what does it consist? Oar view :,
tbs matter is this: Jesus Christ il
anne upon earth to save men and to II;
ave them in kingdom, in His church; =,
nat church He founded and again and -
gain prayed that His church might be :.
ne, not only in faith, but in body or /,
rganization, since strong aud com 20
act society WAS necessary to carry on
lie work which He began. Further, -
9 believe that this society has existed A,
the centuries and is 10 be -
uiiu ~ 'ue "oiiu quay anu tiia' ne
is organization, institution, church,
IS been preserved, not alone
rough an identy of doctrine, bat
rough anunbroken succession of men,
The Historic Episcopate.n History Ia,
lis US that at various times men have, ho
: different reasons, departed from mi
is succession of men and established 80
of their own, apart from the thu
urch which was founded by Jesus IN,
rist. Many of these societies have r,
lg since persisted, many modern ones lon
} fourishing at the present time, q
ne of these men were animated by dir
ID and noble motives and had causes smc
ich justified their separation. False con
;trine, tyranneous compulsion haye Cas-
ced them to take this action. At the api,
II of the church must be placed the the
SEES which prompted the Presley aft,
ans and Methodists, for instance, to Jaw
rom US and establish their indepen- togs
i socleties' Inc spirit OF Christ did iion
prevail, else all might be where Oh "
y once were, in the bosom of the viii