The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-27
NOT HENRY EIGHTH's CHURCH.
THE ORIGIN AND ESTABLISHMENT
OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND.

Rev. {. II. StrOn2's sermOn-History
shows the Early Existence of an
Organized Church Before the Time
of AugustIne-Henry the EiEhth's
Difference with the Pope Taken
Advantage of by the RefOrmers to
He-estabIish the National Church.
The historic origin Of the Church Of Eng
land was discussed By Rev. Charles H.
| Strong at st. johns Church last night
with particular reference to the part play
ed in the history Of the church by Henry
VIII. Mr.. Strong stated u the beginning
of his discourse that he would give his
attention to the oft-repeated assertion that
the English church originated with Henry
VIII for the purpose of ascertaining if
there were any truth in 1t and of show
ing what was the real relation of this
Hotentate to the church.
Mr. Strong took the position that the
Church of England is of ancient historic
origin He proposed to show, he said, that
the church was established and founded
almost in the same form as ii is to-day,
with the same prayers and liturgy, either
in the latter part of the first century or
early in the second century. In speak
ing of the claims of the Roman church
he said that 1t was never established by
St. Peter but by 81. Paul. the best evil
dence showing that ST. Peter was never
in Rome. Numerous historical facts were
cited showing the early establishment Of
the English church. There was good rea-
son 90 believe that the church was es-
1 hiisbph nv ST T0hn Oiucalf 10 =
record that he visited the westernmos.
parts of the Roman empire, which then
included Britain That Christianity was
found in Britain at an early age is shown
by numerous records and the statements
Of weil-known historians. The early his
torians previous TO the visit of ST. Angus
tine to England, speak of the Church of
England, or Britain with its liturgy and
other forms practically the same as those
of to-day.
History showed, he said, that when st.
Augustine visited Britain, having been
sent there by Pope Gregory, he found
bishops and fully organized church, with
whose representatives he discussed the DIFF
ferences between its observances and those
Of the church at Rome. These differences
were in two particulars, the liturgy and
the celebration of Easter on the day of
the week on which il happened to fall
instead Of on a Sunday. England. he said,
was then in the hands of the Saxons, who
were barbarian, and who had driven the
British churchmen into the remote wilds
and Businesses of the island.
Mr.. Strong discussed the origin and rise
of the papistry This, he said was one
of the strangest facts id history, the rise
of the single Bishop of Rome to be the
head of the entire church That the Bish-
op of Rome did not occupy this position
in the early Christian era, he said, was
evident from records of early councils of
the church, at which he did not preside,
and at some of which he was not even
represented. Gregory himself, who sent
ST. Augustine on a mission to England,
had said that any man who calls himself
universal bishop is the forerunner of anti
Christ and let him be anathema.
Mr.. Strong discussed the gradual in
crease in power of the Bishop of Rome I'M
til he was able 90 assert his power over
soveTeigns and claimed TO hold the keys
to both spiritual and temporal power The
conaention between Pope Hildebrand and
Henry " of Germany ending in the TO-
tai humiliation of the German Emperor,
was mentioned, as showing the extent to
which the power of the Popes had grown
Cardinal Manning. Mr.. Strong said, had
recorded the fact that in the entire his
tory of the English race 1t had resis ted 70
the last every invasion of foreign power
Resuming his argument as to the indie
pendent history of the English church, Mr.
Strong said that in the time of Henry II
all appeals to Rome were forbidden and
no authority of Rome was acknowledged.
II was not until King John, dteading the
power of his barons, took off his crown
to receive it again from the Pope that
the Church of England yielded to the au-
thorlty of Rome. England, he said was
the first 20 throw off this usurped author
ity which had crept in after the estab-
lishment of the church.
The quarrel of Henry VIII with Pope
Clement, Mr.. Strong held, was merely the
opportunity which was seized by the Eng
fish church to throw off the yoke of Rome
II was not the idea nor was it the in
tention of the King to do this His diff
ference with the Pope was due to the
fact that the latter would not grant him
a divorce from his wife, Catharine and
to accomplish his end, he overthrow the
authority of the Pope in England. Henry
Mr.. Strong said, had married Catharlne
the betrothed of his deceased brother. bv
the command of his father His real
purpose in seeking a divorce, he said. was
that he might secure a male heir and
thus avert another Lancastrian struggle
for the throne The English church haA
always held, as it holds to-day that
man eannot marry his deceased brother.
"AANi anu II was on TINS ground that Hem
ry sought divorce. his wife having been
the betrothed of his brother To this the
Pope would not consent The Pope vas
so besleged by Henry in the matter thar
he even offered to grant him a disnensa-
ton 10 marry again without divorce
me fope offered to annul the marriage
with Catharine. but to this Henry womb
MOI consent. He finally overthrow the au-
thority of the Pope and accepted divorce
nom the Universities Of oxford and Cam
bridge, afterward marrying Anne Rolev,
In commenting on this history. Mr.
Strong said that Catharine was the orlv
pure figure in the whole of it, Pope Glenn
ent Wolsey Cranmer and Henry VTIT
all appear in an unenviable ugbt
Henry WILL Mr.. Strong said jived
and died Roman Catholic. He was sven
given the title Of Defender of the Faith
by the Pope for a book which he wrote
esainst the work OF Martin Luther. There
was nothing in his whole life to show tbat
ne intended TO re-establish the English
Church or that he intended TO connletoI,.