New-York tribune., 1896-01-13

Thr rrI Dr y Mcconnell 'ert1r of ~
s.ephen~ Episcopal church philadelphia. preached
lat nirht IN ihe FIRM Avenue baptist church. as
announced n vii he recalled That The TRIBUNE
yesterday IN rsferring % fhe circumstance pointed
out that apart from tho fl.t fhaf BE- wa one OF ih'
rare Instances - an Episcopal '.'rss man preaching
from thc pulpit ~ u church o' another i"n"mlhA
flnn. there was also Involved a question ~ u"
whether not Up Mcconnell hsd obtained ~" per
mission fo preach ~ the clergyman of ihe parish. IN
whose territory the Fiffh Avenue BAPTIST church s
situated One - the rules of the Episcopal church
g. that nn minister Of that church shall preach IN
tho parish of another minister without nr~i obtain
ing his sanction ami fh's rule has been so rgidly
adhered to ss @, have become a. iaw u was thought
in SOME quarters fhni ir " 'orncN had not ir-
ssfVel fh. necessary sanction. hat when seen by a
Tribune rep1r'e. last nlght a. th" ffh Avenue
baptist Church he settled any possible controversy
on tho point hy saying that he had previously re-
csived the requisite permission from Archde"c'n
Tifan, and from the KeN Dr. Greer. Of 80 Ha'-
tholomoW Church. When % pointed ont 90
HIN that in sfflct pafoehial sense 10 might hr held
that ne SHOULD have sought the views ~ ihe Rev DR.
Charles " Tf'ai. rector u - stephens. Dr. Ne
Connei replied that ho was strict observer ~ the
canons Of thc church and that he had only written
So pr Grc,l on me assumption that 81 BarthOlO-
news was the nearest Episcopal Church to the
llnh Avenue Baptist church.
DK TREATS POSITION
Earlier IN the evening Ur Treat Was seen at his
home. No III West Ninet, -seyenih-st. and COM
mentlng upon the matter sail.
Although Dr Mcconnell has not communicate ed
With me / have Do, doubt that he has fully complied
with the rule OF Church. IN the direction Of oh
tanning otion to preach as hc iid While II '
true that ~ stephens may Doe said 10 be Tho near
est fpscoral Church to the FIRM Avenue Baptis
Church. vet Ia a city ike New York. where tnef"
wsll-dchncd ptrochltl boundaries. ana "n"re
pariznsr may be -ad overlap eacn other n d.
Impossible comply with the strict letter OF thr
law Under prevailing conditions IL is SOMEWHAT an
nrut foi visiting clergy man. hrriruus or prachlt
IN a certain church. t. know exactly To whom ht
shouiu apply for permission. Consequently the law
has bc Interpreted not literally but IN a VIDE
sense and therefore II -uiiices " that Clergy ma
applies t. the rector OF any church m the N'init.
of that wherein he proposes 60 speak.
This / have no doubt Dr Mcconnell has done,
because from my knowledge ~ him am convince. /.
that he would 10 nothing TINT war unrdnonca'
Consequently so far a. am concerned. no personal
issue he raised. IL may be oi some interest 10
note Just at this 1uucture. that Bishop Potter ana
Archdeaccn Tiffany have under their serious con
alteration the ACCESSIBILITY OF dividing this city into
lines and Is possible that The 1rhunes artic.r
with regard - br Mcconnell may bring about a
speedy settlement OF the question
FOR CHURCH UNITY.
DR. McConn.lrs sermon las nigh, was one OF a
course on The Contributions OF the Churches TO
our Common Christian Life AMI Fsith." In the
united church and spoke At som. length upon th'
advantages ana christanizng influences sucn co
ordinate church would possess While ihe contlibu-
tons Of the Baptist Church would embrace the
greater number of members, no thousht mat II
would be found that II united cnufch became
reality the Episcopal Church wouli contribute the
plan upon which the new church was - De fouhlec.
Inc principle of apostolic successor.