The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1898-04-28

lie there appeared an article under the
caption 'For Nom Observation-Disclosures
teal Changes" 1t opens with the decIra
ton that three Of the ministers Of the
Presbyterian church, representing the
best scholarship and ability of that body,
have within the past few months with
drawn from the communion of said
church and sought admission to the
Episcopal church. They have also made
application for the "holy ORDERS" which
some people suppose that certain officials
within the Episcopste have power to
bestow.
The case of Charles A. Briggs, ID. d..
LID, came before the general assembly
OF the Presbyterian church in the United
States in 1892. He was called upon to
explain certain actions and utterances for
which he was responsible. He defiantly,
and with the assumed dignity of cZar,
told the whole church at large to mind its
own business.
The church did mind its own business,
and, therefore, suspended DR.. Briggs
from it's ministry. Union seminary, of
which he was one OF the professors, felt
Inundated to have one of its members
suspended, and because of this action of
the church it refused to submit to the
order OF the Presbyterian church. 1t has
also been suspended, and is not now rec
ognized as a PRESBYTERIAN church. This
is the true reason why Charles A. Briggs
has sought "holy orders" in the EpsCo
pal church. Rev. J. II. McIIvgn and
Prof. Charles W. Shields have perpe-
trated like ndgnities upon our beloved
church, and but Tor the experience and
fate OF DR.. Briggs and Prof Henry =.
Smith. Of Lane seminary, these two men
would have been called to account at the
coming session of the general assembly
in May; but they did not have the grit
to face the ordeal. The church does not
have the trouble OF putting them out, and
is glad that they can find seeming shell
ter in the Episcopal church, even if the
roof is only straw.
The Presbyterian church has definite
standard tor her ministry, and she earn
estly and diligently enioins upon every
one of them the necessity of conforming
to the same; aud when one or a dozen
SAYS we cannot, she kindly but firmly
replies, you would better 20 elsewhere.
Because of this fact, the privilege of her
ministry are always at a premium.
When we look into the expiication,
which the writer of the above mentioned
article makes concerning the require
ments OF the Episcopal church as to what
it's ministers must believe, We confess
that a wide smile has overspread our
countenance as it's indefinite elasticity
has become apparent. 1t reminds us of
the lrishman's letter to his ladv-love:
"Biddy, me darlint, it was meself was
be the side av you last noight, and ye
nivef came. Sure | can't kape away
from the schpot where you are, whether
you are there are not. MIKEl."
The New York Evening Post. in a re-
cent issue, comments on the announce
ment Of DR.. Briggs decision to cast
anchor in the roomy hsrbor of the Epis-
copsl church," and says that 1.-The Epis-
copal church has again shown how it has
now definitely taken the place which the
Unitarian church used to monopolZe-8
generous house Of refuge for all ecclesias-
teal wanderers" We can add, with
perfect veracty and an unfenced asylum
for all disgrunted and loose-jointed mem
bers of other churches. The Presbyterian
church has never been guilty OF trying to
compel anyone to stay in her communion
who does not desire to do so; neither has
she ever been guilty of remodeling her
standards to meet the idiosyncrasies of
those who become afflicted with the dis
ease commonly known as the big head.
She has never been guilty of attacking
other churches, but has and will continue
to defend her righteous cause against the
inroads of all persons and organizations
that are enyious of her good work and
order.
We are informed by the article referred
to that DR.. Bowling left the Baptist
and entered the triple-terraced ministry
of the Episcopal church. The records in
the case show that he left the church be-
cause he had to do so, and the transitio Il
took place ten years ago.
1t is also declared that the examination
for "holy orders" is very rigid. The fol-
lowing history Of a certain case proves
that it is not always so. A few years ago
in the Baptist association OF Greeley, Col
orado, it was necessary to suspend Rev.
Knapp. He Immediately applied for adj
mission into the Episcopal church, and
all examination was set aside and he was
received with open arms and granted
"holy orders"
The Episcopal liturgy is simply a mod
ification of that which previously existed
in the Roman Catholic church. 1t was
given to the world in form in 1919 and
revised in 1863. We agree with the
writer OF the aforementioned article that
the formal service OF the Episcopal church
is quite An attractive show at times.
....sxs Sincerely yours,
..A- &c., JAMES II. BEATTlE.