The San Francisco call., 1897-04-17
what the pointers on the dial of clock are to

what the pointers on the dial of q clock are to
the worKs within.
In childhood in England we attended a
Church school," and there obtained impres
sions which in subsequent years have re-
CURED from time to time with increasing
force. They have been influential in prompt
ing us tc meditation and research along MIS-
torlcal and doctrinal lines. Our impressions
have deepened into convictions. We have
greatly enjoyed and we have been divinely
blessed in our Congregational fellowship; 1t
is deservedly honored denomin alton, whose
welfare shall ever be our prayerful concern.
By comparison there is, doctrinalIy, no essen
tial difference between Congregationallsm and
the Protestant Episcopal church. In forms OF
worship the difference is lessening. An Epls-
copal clergyman, formerly prominent Con-
gregatonai pastor, remarkea 10 tne wh,.eri
use and am supported by the system and
meth DDS OF the church. l am not aware that
anything of value in Cengregationallsm has
been lost to me by the change"
But while the testimony OF others, the 1ncll-
nations of taste, the marked liturgical trend OF
the age, and the impressions OF childhood
might constitute sufficient cause for enter
ing the Protestant Episcopal church, never
theless we have come slowly and prayerfully
to that step, and for the following reasons:
First-Because Christ founded his church.
To that church he refers, Matt. xviii:17, and
there states for all coming time the Initial
steps OF church government
church should forever continue land the
gates OF hell shall not prevail against il" His
promise has not failed. The church has con-
tinued, and lis con tinuance, amid all the mu-
tations of empires, is a supernatural and gra-
ciouS marvel. The promise was revelation
and prophecy.
Third-Because Christ teaches that the
church is MS body, an organism, of which he
is the head. Only the very lowest forms OF
animal life can exist when severed into sepa-
rate parts. The higher the life the more
vitality reIsted TO the whole is every part.
Fourth-Christ committed TO his church the
two oordinances-baptism and the Lords Sup
per. They with the observance OF the Lords
day, have been sacredly preserved by this
holy organism through all the changing CEN
turies, even as they are gratefully by all evan
gelical Christians.
Fifth-He instituted the ministry. "He
gave some apostles and some prophets, and
some evaugelists, and some pastors and teach
ers for the perfecung of the saints, for the
work OF the ministry, for the edifying of the
body OF Christ'-Ephes. iv:1Il2. The
New Testament and church history unite in
teaching that there were three orders in the
ministry, called in the Bible, apostles, elders
or presbyters, and deacons. and afterward
called Bishops. presbyteIs and deacons.
SiXth-He invest led his church with author
ity. Believing that the Protestant Episcopal
church gathers into itself all the above ele-
ments of origin, continuity and authority, and
believing il TO be historically ntinuous from
christ and the Apostles through the ancient
British church; and believing il to be equally
evangelical with any denomination and that
its spirit is thoroughly catholic and progress