New-York tribune., 1899-07-09
BITTER CHURCH FIGHT PENDING
A PROMINENT SOUTHERN EPISCOPAIlAN
SPEAKS OF UNION AGAINST
THE BROAD PARTY.

THE BROAD fAtsl ].
In the columns OF the current issue or The
Southern Churchman," the representative organ OF
the Protestant Episcopal Church in the South
there apoears a most interesting prediction as 20
hitter dgat which is pending between the different
schools OF thought ana practice within the EplS-
copal communion. The fight. which has already
begun has been precipitated by the controversy
attendant upon the ordination Of Dr. Briggs 10 the
prie.thood in that Church. Its scope, however, VIII
be greatly broadened. it is asserted. and VIII re-
suit in the union Of an those elements In the
Church a. large which are opposed to the broau
Church party for the purposes or battle Concern
ing the predicted contest The Southern ChurcA-
man" says
Protestan. Episcopal forces are masslng Tor an an
ecclesiastical fight which they admit may cover
d period Of several years. and may prove ,ne mos
exciting In American church annals. FroleS7oi
Friggs 1et loose the dogs OF war. bur already the
contest has SO far outgrown me question Gt '''e
MON professors ordination tIat me- - a. ~
lost sight Of The aims sought are ne FhagS',IIn @ I
OF the faith once deliEerr9 10 Inc s".,~; i'm ~
communion. Active sympathiZers with me conte5-
are conseryan'e neG Eo5est m 1x oxoads FAR Beyond
Protestant Episcopal church lines n;.- me- 9o 9 naIlF5
statements are made upon the very mghesl al-
The original protest against Professor Briggs
came everybody knows. from one OF 1ne igti igtaeaIi
OF the called Catholic party ia t4e ce5 5
% t t iba partv viii nocI 10 the Assistance
d1irg 80 cloudcd Tor tine others who mad entered
trto the contest Sufficient time has now elapsed
FOR FOR ali elements to know each other and il is
found that Catholics. "EvangeAcais ana Lha. ma
large body of Just common Chug. nnrn men OF WmIh ,nn
Trinity Parish. New-YorN ,s m {Pe' are UNI UNI
Ing on common grounds. Just outside ms cotl- OH
munon. but thoroughly IN sympathy WI "l,uins ,,s
standards are conservative men in an religious
bodies. who declare tnit FIl l''SldIL =, -
leaders are fighting the battle OF "a cohfno" O'''S-
II is understood that the forces are no' yet per-
f4ctly organized. Until they are. me l'hder quole4
in what follows desires that his name be not used
In public prints since he does not desire TO seem -
put himself forward. No man Is however Ill Oe'-
Ter position 10 speak. ,,,,,
III has been informally agreed SAID thls leader,
That there shall BE- no secret conferences and no
attempt TO fight In the dark Whatever is done VIII
Iiminary announcements will be made. provided
the public is Interested enough 20 want mem. con-
reining our plans and purposes. since you ask
91 nIl Iiil5nns mllIs w6o 7ee that We have SCRIPTURES
1,fb "rsserving. that We have. As Christians any
word OF God 10 stand upon. This unity has needed
no planning for without anybody des.sntns II a
movement OF these elements has been made during
the last few weeks that places a OF theiu lh I,'i-
feet alignment. ready TO choose their leaders when
the time comes.
The purpose IS 20 oyerthrow error with TYR cii9
10 plant the church anew on the promises OF COO
end 20 put 10 confusion the apologsts oi our day.
who taking up and REPEATING as Ine.r on GHur6 -1'
hcresies OF former DAYS are WeakeHlns tHe iGI, l
bv claiming themselves 20 stand for IT, Nltnout
neH,!'1 e13rsss ,t svmpathy with u.s. il Is enough
10 say that practically all elements Ia the Protest
few Broad party leaders have come together IN
defence Of the old faith The rtuasts as known now. M
Virginiaus and the Churchmanship represented py
the Atlantic States with US so are such sate
Churchmen as Trinity Parish. New York. an or the
dl3cest1 IN TIE streng6 Of the Broad party is
I'm Massachusetts. and IN tne 9.snppS VINO ar
buudinp great Cathedrals. Ike Potter or New.
Albany. though the latter j. so involved IN OlHrt
0testi5us that ne fnds IL difficult 20 remain IN tne
Broad party ranks The reserves are IN me Mt~t-
There the Broad element cuts lttle N-uIt lHdt
has been proven in the General Convention over
and over again There the Church stands for some
thing and not for anything anybody happens 10
"I do not expect 20 see the bishops in the Mis-
slonar- Council! this october. take any acton. 10
expect them 20 do so might lead them 10 inquire
how often they were required 20 dftFm adherence
~ The RIbla Nothing could be stronger or more
edrnira bla than the delverance Of the American
House OF Bishops The Broad party can ma no
has on one occasion az least found not a niue
Jiscoulfort 7 do NOT suppose anything important
will be done this summer But In the autumn You
nav look for definite action. Tne contest may ne
long one i've or eight years perhaps but have
- faar for the result our predecessors nave
fought FOR the truth and We ought 10 be willing 70
whore he stands is not OF much consequence, Inc
conNict Is far greater than he The whole Church
Is involved but the Church Is fighting for human
ifv and FOR the right II is fighting FOR the Hipe.
The Briggs incident t. closed but larger incident
which that opened Is not closed ana lt VIII no.
be until modern error. the echo OF many ancient
NAV take several years No matter II 1t does II
IS worth the doing
II is understood that early In the autumn definite
scton will be taken but that action does not IN
,,ol,e o- contemplate n trial OF Bishop Potter or
~ anvbodv else Nothing sensational Is promised |
md the victory will be when several successive
rssforal letters Issuing from the House or f5Ish-
Rroad marty lose ground and disappear II y = war
~ eyfermlnatl1n so conservative leaders declare.