The sun., 1896-10-05
CANTERBURY AND ROME.
Two Views OF Bishop Potter's Remsrn'
on the Phpnl Bull.


Two Views OF Bishop Potter's Remarks
on the Pnpni Bull.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: May an ad-
herent of Canterbury raise his humble voice in
approval of your remarks about Bishop Potter
this morning Whether Rome bo right or Rome
be wrong, the Commission which recently exam
ined the question in issue appointed at the
Joint suggestion of Romans who thought there
might be somc possibility OF Anglican orders
being valid. and Anglicnns who hoped the
validity of their orders might be recognized
and thus n great step taken toward the unity
which 10 to-day moro than ever In the hearts OF
alD. confined itself not so much to historical
facts. to proving or disproving that Parker
and his successors were in fact consecrated,
but to whether the grace OF orders was con-
vcyed by tho right used in the ordination Of
priests and conservation Of bishops for the first
hundred yenrs after the Reformation. The
fact OF the laying on Of hands is not discussed.
but the question as to whether the form Of the
ordinai and the intention OF the consecrators
nation is the vital one dealt with. His Holi-
ness. ndhering to the decre-s of his predeces-
known as the Edwardine oidinai. was not suia-
cient. nor was 1t the mind or aim OF the Refor-
Sa s TO ae eGe
fore, the Pope's decision holds the Reformation
ordinations were invalid. and the entire AnRli-
can communion is to-day without the Apostolic
priesthood.
This is u question which touches the very roots
OF our faith, and one which cannot all agree
with HIS Holiness. Pope Leo. But Rome after
1hGrGuSn h research by her sreStest sSnGafs sh
validity of Anglican orders In her own COM
munion, and OF one of England's greatest church
historians. has calmly and dispassionntely stated
her decision, her views on q scholastic quest lon.
1t behooves Anglieans to answer, rs best they
the Pope's reasoning. and that the Edwardine
ordnll was suiilcie1.. Rome has fairly stated
nothing but a scholastic treatment of the ques-
tion from our stand point can have any effect
before M the Convention On Wednesday are t nnwor-
thy OF the Bishop Of this enlightened diocese.
They are unworthy of one whom his ad mirrors
fondly imaGine to be lsaaeE i Bot Of religions
with the question differently. misstated and
misrepresepted the facts OF history: then the
ned. in in making % % the rem remarks attributed to him.
Had the Bishop devoted himself TO n defence of
hs ba1s then here
as a champion of what they believe
to be the truth: But when s With q
even in an unenlghtened layman. he says tho
Bull is issued lin large Ignorance OF the facts
and from somewha narrow and provincial
vision of the situation,"we can but steqd aside
in sorrow. wondering where in New York the
Bishop can find the opportunities for research
and the breadth Of vision possible to one who
command. CON ma we We ca can but T allow our Roman
friends to suggest. without remonstrance from
us. that such u statement einanating from one
supposed to be a representative Anglican bishop,
is evidence that the grace OF orders and tho
presence of the Holy Spirit of God does not
abide to-day with the ministry OF the Anglican
communion.
A NoN-RIrUALIsT1c EPIscoPALIAN.
New York. Oct.2
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: Your
editorial article. The Pope and Anglican Or
ders." In THE Sun OF Oct. Q is an able one. but
there is ono important point In Bishop Potter's
charge to the Protestant Episcopal Convention
which has escaped your notice. Allow me to
call attention to 1t.
Bishop Potter says: THE day Is coming
when the theology and the ecclesiastical polity
give place to the theology and the polity of
greater than any OF them-l mean Cypran-
those twelve first chosen ones from whom no so
plainly derived it," Now. then. Bishop Potter
ranks St. Cyps,an With the twelve Apostles:
| authority. Bishop Potter repu6iates the su.
premacy Of the acknowledEed spirtua! head Of
the Pope's recent Bull is characterized by
large ignorance"
Bishop Potter's preference for Cypran in.
stead OF Leo is mex pcable. for the present
yenerated successor Of st Peter is far kinder to
Bishop Potter than IS St Cyprlan. Every Cath;
that any one baptized by hereto was not
yalidly baptized. Al that period the chair Of
demned Cyprian for this error into which he
had fallen.
by branch OF the Protestant Episcopal Church
to investigate the validity OF Anglican orders.
The work has been done. as you say. mi
that Bishop Potter has not received holy orders
the Pope is not nearly SO severe as Cyprian who
declares that. as Bishop Potter was not ,validly
baptized. he is therefore not a Christian!
EX-EPlsCoPALIAN, NOW CATHOLIC.
New York. Oct. 3.