The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-04-17
FROM PRESBYTERIANIsM TO
EPISCOPACY.

DR.. c. A. Briggs. formerly president
Of Union Theological seminary, and
who became rather famous because of
his trial for heresy. has severed his
connection with the presbytery of
New York and more especially with
the Presbyterian church in the United
States of America" 1t is his an
nounced purpose to hold himself free
to unite with that part of the holy
Catholic church into which God in mis-
grace calls him. This means that he
will identify himself with the Episcopal
church. In New York many men of
have identified themselves with that
church either as ciergymen or laymen.
DR.. Brown, of ST. Thomas church. was
once a Methodist; DR.. Bridgman, Of
Holy Trinity, was for years pastor of
the Madison avenue Baptist church;
and other instances might be given.
DR.. Briggs secession from the Pres
byterian church is not apt to be fol-
lowed by any considerable accession
to the Episcopal church. That church
has never been a popular one in the
United States: it is still comparatively
small, and its growth is anything but
rapid. No one can say that the future
has in store no great religious move
ments, but the present is not time Of
such movements. Hence a change Of
religious conviction in men prominent
in any church exercises but small in
fuence on their co-religionists. The
oxford movement was the most i'm
portant of its kind in this century, and
yet at this distance of time we. see how
really small its influence was outside
of the intellectual sphere. As one reads
Newman's "Apologia," he is astounded
that the book should ever have created
the stir it did. It records the struggles
Of a devout and elevated soul, but to-
day it is remembered more for the
manner in which he cut up Canon
Kingsley than for the arguments JUS
tifying the change to Rome.
DR.. Briggs accession to the Episcopal
church is a rather interesting event,
but really unimportant to all save him
self. 1t is said he win find in it a
greater intellectual freedom than his
old creed permitted. Those who join
the church are usually largely influ-
enced by the liturgy and ritualism.
Their influence on the mind is much
greater than generally thought to be-
It is a trite saying that habit is sec
ond nature. The constant repetition
Of solemn and impressive service be-
comes a habit, and soon has the force
of it. There are few natures when
Invested of theological prejudice, but
that are impressed with the Episcopal
service after oft hearing it; in the case
of the Roman Catholic service the i'm
pressiveness is still greater. 1t is said
there are thoughts that lie too deep
for utterance; this is particularly so
in religious matters. Form and cere-
mony and the swelling music give rise
to these houghts-thoughts that are
so mingled with feelings that the
thoughts and the feelings become in
In all this DR.. Briggs may
find that which satisfies the longings of
the soul that no creed can give.
DR.. Briggs accession to the Episco-
pal church emphasizes a notable fact.
which is that very few Protestants
forsake their old creeds and accept that
of Rome. The step seems too far, so.
they make a halfway house of the
church. The Episcopalian
hasn't that deep-rooted aversion to
Roman Catholicism that other Pro-
testants have: the explanation is his
torical and easy. Hence it is that
find the entrance into