New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-06
BISHOP COVE Ov CHRISTIAN UNITY.


The sermon preached by Bishop Arthur Cleve-
land Coke at the opening Of the Episcopal Gen
eral Convention in Minneapolis last week was,
like all his utterances, expressed In pure ana
,,mpjd English. and suffused by a lofty poetic
enthusiasm. But those who read 1t without any
nrenossessions will find it hard to accept this
accomplished prelate as true dscerner OF me
siqns Of the times With a courtesy and deli
cacy that merit especial praise he urges upon
American Christians outside Of the Eplscopai
Church the duty lying upon them OF bringing
about Christian unity by accepting the terms
Of unity proposed by the Episcopal Church Ann
no draws a moving picture Of the happy results
that would follow II unity on those terms couu
no attained Not only would Christianity De
UNNECESSARILY strengthened In its contest WIFI
ov, Int angels would sing alleluias over thou-
sands born in a day. instead Of only one no"
and then. But what might, could, would OF
sbor,d happcn II American Chrstendom should
doc,de TO adopt the Protestant Episcopal view
of Church government Is only interesting as
speculative question. Every careful student Oh
christianity today knows that there Is not the
romotost probability Of such n religious revou-
,or taking Mace So far as the Roman Catholic
Church is concerned, the recent Encyclcai letter
If the Pope shows that the Roman communion
has no intention Of yielding any or its peculiar
claims. The only Christian unity that 1t wants
"a that which carries with recognition or the
Ponc as the universal head Of the Church tenet
which Bishop Coke has spent a large part OF his
life in refuting. To suppose that Roman "a
tholicism will at once abandon its fundamental
doctrines in order TO commend Itself TO Dody
that Il regards as hereical Is to suppose an I'M
possibility. 1t Is possible that Roman Catholi-
cism may be worn to pieces by contact with the
craat tendencies of thought outside Of 1t, but
while II remains an organized and vital force IN
the world it must stand opposed to all Churches
that refuse TO acknowledge the supremacy or
the Roman Pontlf.
Rut II may be thought by some that the Epis-
copal basis Of unity may ultimately find ac-
contonce among Protcstants. Certainly many
Episcopalians appear to think so. They do not
500 how Protestants can fail to admit the Epis-
copal view Of the Crecds, the Scriptures, the
Sacramento and the Epscopatc, the four points
laid down BY the Episcopal Church as the basis
Of unity AS to the first three points, the dilll-
Guilty Is not, perhaps, insuperable. But there Is
no evidence that Professionalism has the slight
est intention Of accepting the Episcopate as a
divinely instituted order in the Church, without
which no Church can exist. 1t is true that the
Presbyterian Church has appointed committee
to consider the question, and that DR.. shields,
a learned Presby terrain clergyman, has striven to
explain the Episcopate in such way as TO COM
| mend 1t to Episcopalans. But Protestant
ism as a whole refuses even to discuss the ques-
ton seriously. The great non-Epscopal bodies
would make themselves ridiculous II at this late
day they were to acknowledge that they are not
| Churches at ALL and that their ministers are
| only laymcn with no commission to preach the
Gospcl. II they would" make such an abJect
| surrender Of their principles, doubtless many
nleasant results would follow. But only poet
| or an enthusiast can look upon such surrender
rs among the possibilities of the future.
Every one can see. Of course, that mucn OF
tho old sectarian bitterness which used 10 char
octerze the various bodies OF Christians Is sub
siding. while an absolute organic unity or Chris-
| tendon Is as yet no more than poets dream.
| Christians OF all names are coming more ana
moro TO respect each others conscientious con-
victions. and are learning more and more to
| co-opcrate together In non-sectarlan lines OF
| Christian work The Episcopal Convention II
| self the other day gave a gratifying illustration
| Of this truly catholic spirit when ii sent Chrls
| tion greetings to a Methodist Conference III ses
sion in Minneapolis. A motion made by the
,om,ntcd Phillips Brooks in the Convention oil
1856 ot Chicago, which formulated the quadr
lateral basis of unity, to send similar greetings
70 the Congregational Council was promptly
voted down. This change Of attitude IN nine
vears indicates that in spite OF Its tenacious con
sorvotisr, the Episcopal Church is learning to
take n more comprehensive view OF Christianity
than that which is indicated in its official terms
Of unity. Every year is making 1t less possible
for the Episcopal Church to hold Itself "aloof
from the life of the greater Christianity around II
| SINGING CLASSES FOR THE PEOPLE.