The Portland daily press., 1897-02-11

The claim of some Episcopalians that
their church-oue of the smaller RELIGIOUS
bodies in this country-is "the'' American
church has never been taken seriously 5y
the members of other churches, who
regard it as bit of UNCONVENTIONAL ar-
roganoe. 1t is admitted, however, that
in the cities and towns the Episcopal
church has grown rapidly during the last
few years. though in purely rural COM
munitles it still continues to be an al
most alien body. 1t has become infuen-
tlal, toe, in cities and towns out OF all
proportion 90 its numerical strength, so
that Its members and well-wishers have
some reason for their belief that it may
become one of the stro 1gest bodies In the
country.
But it is safe to say that unless certain
reRctionary tendencies in the church are
repressed 1t is likely to lose rapidly the
sympalh, and goodwill that Americans
generally now feel for il. A few mora
Incidents like the unwilling OF poltrait
of "King Charles the Martyr the other
day. in ali Episcopal church Of Philadel-
phia. would not only arrest any move
ment toward the church, but would drive
ont a large number of its most loyal
members. Who was King Charles the
Martyr? In English history he il known
as Charles I. King of England, and he
was behsaded because ne tried to subvert
the liberties of Englishmen. His fate
was tragic. perhaps even cruel, one;
but it cannot be said that it was rnde-
served. Not only was he the enemy Of
OWL liberty, but his triumph would have
been the worst possible thing for the
English church For had the policies
that he strove to carry out prevailed,
either that church wou'd have been
speedily swallowed by the church Of
Rome or 1t would exist only as travel
Ing an superstitious little knot of med
iaevslists alienated from the life aud
sympathies OF the rest OF Cbr1stendom,
and utterle unable to meet or understand
the great problems that today confront
the church no less than the state. More
over the personal character of Charles
was not such rs TO justify his being held
up fer religious venerstion as martyr
and saint. Along with many am1able
and winning qualities, he was obstinate,
trsacherous, superztltlous and narrow
minded. But most of all, he was pos
sessed by the pestiiept belief in the
divine right of kings, and moro especial
lyrof his own divine right to ruls as he
pleased, wheth or the people wanted him
or not. 1t was that conception of gov
eminent, among other things, that
brought about the American Revolution.
And yet today in the city made sacred to
liberty by the presence of the Independ-
ence hell, a city, too. which WAS tho
home of that staunoh and true American
patriot. william White, the first Bishop
of Pennsylvania. a portrait of "Kina
Charles the Martyr" is unveiled. A bis
hop tells the Almighty in prayer how
fhe "martyr" followed the steps of his
Master and Savior. at last resisting
unto bleod,' and asks that the people
may follow the example of his courage
and consistency. IL is most amazing
recrudescence of lost cause anu OF false
ideals to be recorded in these last years
of the nineteenth century.
If those who took part IN this cere-
mony or who sympathized with 1T were
obscure men in the charcn 1t would not
call forsco mment; but they did not. The
preacher war Bishop Perry of Iowa, who
was attended by his chaplain, Father
Nichol, Prior of the Order of the White
Rose. Bishop Coleman of Delaware was
| also present, wearing q cloth-of-gold cape
and attended by his chaplain. Bishop
Seymour of Springfield, ILL.,, who could
not he present, sent ms TOT mai blessing.
So also did Bishop Nicholson of Milwau-
lee Bishops McLnren of Chicago: White
head of Pittsburg; Scar borough of New
Jersey; Starkey OF Newark, and Will
| liams OF Connecticut, sent letters of
sympathetic regret. DR.. Dix, rector Of
Trinity church in this city. and other
clergy N EN- also sent letters Of regret, DR..
Dix saying that lie YVES IN cordial sym
pathy with the OCCASION. These were
representative men in the Episcopal
church, and their approval Of this curious
ceremony gives the public the right to
regard it as marking one of the tendon
cias of thought in that church. Even
| ssTbe Churchman, Fever cautious, gives
a sympathetic report OF the service, call
| ing it interesting and beautiful. Is
the Episcopal church really going to
| approve of King Charles and what he
stood for, thus ceasing to be American
| in it's sym ,ethies? Or is this apotheosis
of the unfortunate King merely the ILL
consid cred not of few dreamers.
An Old Settler.