New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-27
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN EPISCOPAL

H aHITRSH u IN THE TNiTED STATES OF
AMERICA. BY Charles c. Tiffany. ID. -, A ai,na
deacon of New-york. The Christian Literature
Company.
The Committee OF the Society OF Church history
in planning the series OF works relating 10 the MIS-
tory OF Christian communions In America. was ior.-
innate, as well wise. in engaging Archoeaeon l"-
fany as an auxiliary In the enterprise The Voiuh'e
before rs on the rise and progress OF the Protest.
ant Episcopal Church. is in all respects SAUSAGE
tory as we had right TO expect that WORK from
this source on this subject would be. Dr. IiHanN
prolonged studies in earlier years at nome anu
abroad. his wide acquaintance. through raVei as
well rs through reading. with all branches OF the
Christian family his loyal attachment TO the Church
with which he is connected coupled as 1t Is with
generous cathollciy. excellent qua.ifcatons LOT
such an undertaking. To these prerequisites are 10
be added a rare keenness OF perception ana i'r
more than ordinary measure OF literary power ana
tact Yet the task o. compiling such a work was
not an easy one.
The Episcopal Church down 10 the close OF the
Colonial period existed IN this country In distinct
centres Ii was not until after the Revolution ihaI
Il attained 10 unity OF organization. Even since
tina, time It's membership has been dispersed over
wide extent of territory. This IS one OF the diicu
ties in the way Of giving an orderly form and CO.
herence to The narrative. II has been overcome oF
DR. Tiffany well as Il could be by Ju1lclousiS
Dealing with the organizations OF the Church IN the
several colonies. by one net overlooking now
cred into a single communion. Another quality not
common in books of this kind but in the highest de-
gree desirable Is impartia!i;y This virtue Is al
tained at great cost when y is the OFFSPRING VI
indifference as 10 essential Issues or through tHe
absence OF enthusiasm and lack Of sympathy Bet
ter a partisan, provided he is intelligent. than
Dryasdust a mere compiler OF annals, always
lenicnt because always a lulewarm critic and
fudge Dr. Tiffany is impartial without any OF
these drawbacks. Respecting persons and partes
he speaks definitely and with emphasis. with no
disposition TO trim to natter, or TO betake him
self 10 the shelter of antiquities. Yet he looks at the
theological parties from an elevated point OF
view where their merits and whatever is admira-
BILE at least their ideals are so clearly discerned
that the delineaton OF each OF them is always APP
precatve and. up 10 a reasonable limit. sympa-
thetc In point of STYLE this volume. notwi;h-
standing the condensation which is Of course nee
essary. is more than readable. Its animation car
ries In il no small degree Of fascination. 1t Is vital
in every part. great deal Is often compressed IN
q feMcltous epithet. There is not dull page. Here
and there a sparkling cpgram fully avails In the
room OF tedious details. Underlying the whole
structure as a strong foundation is a familiarity
with the OF knowledge in the subject the
fruit OF careful researches.
Having thus pointed on: the general character
lstics OF DR.. Tinany's work. may indicate two
Or three important passages illustrative Of the
foregoing remarks. We turned with curiosity TO
Of the two Episcopalians in Massachusetts,. John
and Samuel Blown who were sent back 10 Eng
land by Endcott-an occurrence which has cailed
forth from sectarian writers so many outpurS's
OF ire Dr. Tiffany quotes with approval the
calm observations Of Gardiner. the most judicious
OF the later English historians, himself Church
man. who judges that the Puritans may have
noted wisely since perhaps the very existence of
the colony was at stake. Gardiner says that the
question then at issue among all was, not whether
they were tolerate others but whether they were
70 give TO others the opportunity OF being intoi-
Grant to themselves The Puritan demanded
exact conformity with his doctrine Laud de-
manded exact conformity with his practice Each
party regarded itself standing on the defensive
o, course no topic that is treated in this volume
Is more important than the formation and adoption
of the constitution and the prayer book The story
OF the rise OF the United Ecclesiastic Organization
Is told with all needed funess The description
OF the leading persons concerned-ot the broad
minded sagacious patriotic Bishop White; Of
the High Churchman. Bishop Seabury, who had
been Tory in his political feelings and course OF
action: OF Provost. with his dislike Of Seabury,
and with other marked peculiarities OF temper and
theological tendency-has. at the same time that
a. Is fair and impartial. almost dramatic inter
est. Another striking passage in the book is the
account of the Memorial movement, OF which
that sanity man. DR. Muhenberg. was the author
and leading promoter movement productive at
the moment OF no DEFINITE results. Dut carrying
utter 1t consequences of great and varied benefit
10 the Episcopal Church. Perhaps the most inter
estng passages in DR.. Tinanys history are the
discriminating yet glowing portraitures OF the
Evangelical and High Church parties and OF the
Broad Church men. These characterzations are
mastery specimens OF historical analysis No one
who knew Edward a. Washburn and Philips
Brooks can fail be deeply impressed by The
portraits that are here drawn Of them. OF his
friend Bishop Brooks. DR.. Tiffany says: mo one
but felt and responded TO the majesty OF his spirit.
as he stood before them 10 plead with them, as
the children of God TO rise 10 the height OF the
divine possibilities within them, and walk as the
children Of the light and OF the day. But It was
the mystic trust OF genius which took all the
r!ch endowments OF his nature. and all the re-
uuirements OF his scholarship and all his varied
culture and experience OF men, and from out OF
them evoked a power OF spiritual sympathy which
made him supreme inspiration and guide
In a work generally accurate in its statements
Il seems almost uDgracious 10 take notice OF a
little slip On page 81 il appears TO be said that
the First Congregational Church in the Massachu-
eetts Colony (Which was formed at Salem) wat
formed at Chariestown.