New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-20

course. bring their own set Of issues For my
mar, accent them. They are neither In their
ra,ur. effect or magnitude TO be compared Win
,bose that follow the policy Of the hour III II DE
p,ins N choose. I'll cast in my lot with the
.siscir,as snd the master of the Reformation
rather than with that Of their detractors' be'-
ter a thousand times TO stand upon a yaru VI
rock than sink in an acre OF ooze Inc ponoS Va
unlimited comprehension is nothing II II oe not
,be continuation Of the Church OF England 10
he Church Of Rome.
A PANACEA PROPOSED.
Such panacea is hopeless and imposslo'e'
eut we may now deal With one which Is neither'
II Is rather the opposite of both Let 1t be
granted that the episc0pate have succeeded IN
their efforts and that. notwithstanding the ue-
SAINT demands of Lord Halifax and the tran
,,ent temper that overheated the Holborn Town
Hall the "erring clergy have ceased TO squeeze
,be bishons" and have at length abandoned the
unauthorized services; surrendered the use Oh
Illegal ceremonals. and have, x-anmo, resolved
..to minister the doctrine and sacraments, ana
the discipline Of Christ. as the Lord hath com
r,anded and as this Church and realm hath re-
,sived the same" The trouble" Will have
oassed vet not without teaching us our sore
need Of power There is nothing more impressive
than the moral and spiritual greatness or the
Church Of England except its humbling I'M
potence to deal with the ever-increasing comph-
cations Of our age. This power would he IN
creased immeasurably and the impotence wouio
,poedily disappear II the laity took their legiti-
mate place as members baptized, spiritual, re-
sponsible Of the Body Of Christ
We should then possess. for wellnigh all prac-
ficaI purposes. that OF which we are wholly des-
titute-I mean corporate action. Scripture and
history alike show the position the laity held IN
nrjmitive times in election to offices. in evange-
ustic work in councils Of the Church, and even
in the exercise Of discipline. The laity should
sit with the bishops and the other representa-
tive clergy as they did with the apostles and
elders" IN the first Council Of Jerusalem. They
should share the responsibilities Of discipline az
administered by the whole Church. This they
did in the Church Of Corinth They should he
encouraged to undertake evangelistic enterprise
As they did when they founded the most vigor-
Gus Church in apostolic times They should have
the right 10 take part in electing men TO oircial
position. as they elected ST. Matthias and NOM
mated the seven deacons Although this theo-
retically theirs now. since they pracucaIl! NOM
inate the Prime Minister yet for the rest the
laitv are not recognized rs responsible members
Of the Body Of Christ They have no directing
controlling Hturgical power in the Church OF
WORDS
solemn message to the Anglican Church manned
as il is Of its numerical strength. lie says
"The Fccesia itself l. p. the sum OF all Its
adult members is the primary body and II
would seem. even the primary authority we
cannot speak Of an organization Of community
from, which the greater part Of its members are
excluded
RESTORE THE LAITY TO THEIR PLACE.
alyaS n m
stiuted authority Is to give to the church corpo-
rate action. Let the laity have restored to them
their essential and historic place in the spiritual
administration of the Church Hear what they
h.,a ~ cav as 20 services CeremOnals, ritual.
,tr,os and seasons Let the clergy and laity
unite IN define a ritual beyond which no pres
.hvter or people may go, UP ~ which either may
ascend Given thus standard, let 1t be ac-
cepted as the authoritative definition OF the
whole church. and in accordance with the BOOK
81 Common Prayer. Institute Church councils
to regulate the nature Of the parochial services
under the lead of the incumbent and In accord
ance With the authoritative example. Let no
service ne altered unless the council approve
Let the franchise for admission be holy bap-
tisn and declaration Of church membership
and let there be a term in which service PLAIN
on choral. is to run.
And while unreservedly owning some OF the
ditnculties which this novel method would Gre
ate vet confidence is strong that in a cour-
ageous reversion to type. In generous recog-
milton Of the spiritual rights Of which the iaity
have been so rigidly wronged, and for 80 long
We have the best, safest. wisest solution or our
nresent trouble. The Church has TO win TO heI
side and for our Lord the masses and the mill
ions of the democracy She has hitherto lordeo
n over Gods heritage. She is reaping now II
distraction. IN disaffecton. in distress the re
suits of an age-long error. Let her own It, lie
her rectify it. Let her henceforth translate int
the visible rhetoric Of cooperative administra
ton and service the words Of her creates
mentor save one yourselves your slaves fo
Christ's sake" WILLIAM LEtRO1.