The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-05-10
HOLY CROSS WAR
Mr.. Gaddis Fires Church
Canons at Rector
Rlmendorf.
DEFENDS HIS SUNDAY LETTER
Ruling of English Bishops,
He Thinks. Governs in
This Country.
DEFENDS His SUNDAY LETTER

4Ae ehorlS OF the ReV. Augustine Ell
mendorf, rector of the Holy Cross p. Z.
Church. Arlington and Claremont ave-
nues, to introduce a form of service OBJ
jected to by a few of the congregation,
has resulted in placing a once prosperous
church in an extremely unenviable finan-
cial condition. With the support of
vestry favoring the High Church ritual.
Mr.. Elmendorf has succeeded in introduce
ing forms of service Objectionable to a
portion of the congregation.
In the past two years Mr.. Elmendorf
had charge of the church there has been
a controversy. His forms of service some
time ago caused a part of his congrega-
ton to leave the church. while others
continued still to attend, hoping that Mr..
Elmendorf would change his views, but
they have been disappointed.
The refusal of Mr.. Elmendorf to recog-
nize the decisions of the Archbishops of
Canterbury and York, pronouncing the
Reservation of the Sacrament to be ille-
gal, has caused more trouble in the
church. A letter signed by Mr.. Percy
Gaddis, quoting these decisions, was cir
culated among the members last Sunday
evening. Mr.. Elmendorf then took occa-
sion TO explain that English Bishops had
no jurisdiction over the Episcopal Church
in the United States.
When seen at his home last evening Mr..
Gaddis said that he did not wish to an
tagonize Mr.. Elmendorf, but that in
strict truth Mr.. Elmendorf had frequent
" violated the canons of the Episcopal
Church.
Il would wish it understood" said Mr..
Gaddis that personally I consider Mr.
Elmendorf a most excellent man. Ny
duty as a Christian and love for my
church is of such great Importance to me
that I shall continue to strive to again
secure that form of service in our church
to p ieh the main portion of the congre-
CATION is accustomed and which is essen
tiai to the promotion of harmony We
shall try to accomplish this even at the
risk of displeasing Mr.. Elmendorf.
..Mr Elmendorf maintains that the
Reservation of the Sacrament is proper
ly legal in the Episcopal Church of this
country am sorry to dispute such an
authority, but In our book of Common
Prayer there is a passage relating to that
service which does not bear out Mr..
Elmendorf's statement. 1t is:-.And if
any of the conseerated- Bread and Wine
remains after the communion it shall not
be carried out of the church, but the
minister and other communicates shall
Immediately after the blessing reverently
eat and drink the same
This passage appears to be explicit
and should be convincing even to Mr..
Eclmendorf Article XVIII of the Lords
supper says:-'The supper of the Lord
is not only a sign of the love that
Christians ought to have among them
selves. one to another, but rather it is
Sacrament of our Redemption of Christ's
DEATH insomuch that to such as rightly
and worthily and with faith receive the
same. the Bread which we break is
partaking of the body of Christ, and like
wise the cup of Blessing is a partaking OF
the blood of Christ. Transubstantiation
(or the change of the substance of Bread
and wine) in the supper of the Lord. can
not be proved by Holy Writ, but is re-
pugnant to the plain words or scripture,
overthroweth the nature of sacrament
and hath given occasions to to many
superstitions.
"The body of Christ is given, taken and
eaten in the supper. Only after heaven
ly and spiritual manner and the means
whereby the body of Christ is received
and eaten in the Supper is Faith The
Sacrament of the Lords Supper was not
about, lifted up or worshipped.
ssTo Mr. Elmendorf's s contention that
the Church of England had no jurisdic-
ton over the Episcopal Church of the
United States, I would refer him to the
paragraph in the preface of the Common
Prayer book, which says: Tt seems un-
necessary to enumerate all of the differ
ent alterations and amendments. They
will appear. and it is hoped, the reasons
of them also. upon comparison of this
with the Book of Common Prayer OF
+he Church of England. In which 1t viii
also anpear that this Church is far from
Intending to depart from the Church Oh
England in any essential part OF doc
trine. discipline or worship, or further
than local circumstances require
prom this it may be readily seen tha1
IN adoptfng this prayer book the Episco-
nal Church of the United States had no
intention of departing from the canons
governing the entire Episcopal denomina-
tions. and that a departure from this
canon by any of the Episcopal clergy IS a
direct violation of their ordination oatns.
Tn the ordination the Bishop asks these
prescribed questions
.sWill YOU be ready with all faithful
diligence to Danish and drive away all
erroneous and strange doctrines contrary
to Gods word, and to use both puolc
and private monitors and exhortations, as
wen to the sick as to the whole, WITHIN
your cures, as need shall require and oc-
casion shall be giyen?
sTo this the priest responds
II will so do, the Lord being my
helper
.sAnd again the question:-'Will you
reverently obey your Bishop and other
chief ministers, who according to the
canons of the church may have the
charge and government over you, follow
ing with glad mind and will their godly
admonitions and submitting yourselves to
their godly judgments?'
..The answer to this ds:-' will do so,
+ba Lord being my helper
.sThe question arises. has Mr.. Elmendorr
,ent inviolate his ordination vows? l
an sorry to say that such does not ap-
near to be the fact My views on those
questions are plainly substantiated by the
IN weeds grow apaee. Impurities IN your
.,s4 VIII sIso crow unless sou promptly expel