The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-05-28
is 1T CATHOLIC I


On Sunday morning Rev. J. b. Shep-
herd gave the fourth sermon on the
church. He said 1t was the glory OF the
Episcopal church that she was Protestant
and Catholic. Her Professionalism kept
her abreast Of the age, easily adapting
herself to the spirit Of progress. Her
Catholicity kept her In touch with the
Apostolic age. Catholicity Is not the
monopoly of any church or party. II
Is contained In the wordsi They con-
tinued steadfastly in the Apostles doc
trine and fellowship, In the breaking OF
bread and the prayers.' II the Episco-
pal church has continued steadfast in
these four things then she is Catholic.
Take the first test, Apostolic doctrine.
The fact that the two creeds, the Apostles
and Nicene, are to be found In the
Prayer Book, and accepted the world
over by Anglicans ought to settle the
matter Of doctrines. II that Is not
enough, we offer the first 1--WE articles Of
the Thirty-Nine Articles rs additional
proof. Here will be found the very es-
sence of the creeds. Take the second
test. Apostolic fellowship. The historic
episcopate has been preserved by the
English church for at least 1900 years.
The Archbishop's reply to the Pope's
Bull on Anglican orders shows that
those orders are valid even from the
Roman standpoint. II she fau Its our
orders she faults her own.
The doctrine of the succession does not
separate the Greek and Anglican
churches. 1t Is q single clause In the
Nicene creed, called the filioque clause.
The doctrine Of the succession does not
separate us from the dissenting churches.
The contention Is that Bishop and Pres
byter are one and the same office. The
Presbyterian church Is founded ON that
claim. She believes in the succession as
much as we do.
Take the third test, Apostolic breaking
of bread. The Holy Communion has al
ways been administered according to the
Apostolic formulas. Our difference with
Rome is not so much one of administra-
ton as it Is the meaning of the sacra-
ment.
Concerning the last test, the Apostolic
prayers, it need only be said that every
prayer book of the English church has
preserved intact the Catholic faith.
If Surther proof of the Catholicity of
the Episcopal church be demanded, we
offer the Lambeth Articles ON Christian
Unity. They are four in number-the
historic Episcopate, the Apostles creed ,
the Bible as the rule of faith and practice,
and the Sacram ents of Baptism and
the Holy Communion. They have been
met with merciless ridicule, chiefly be-
cause the Episcopal church seems to be as
a house divided against itself. Our
theological divergences and party
differences make us notorious. Our party
names stand for different phases OF hui
man nature. Man is made up of intellect,
will and affections.
High churchmanship stands for author
ity and order, for the will. Low church
manship stands for states of mind and
experiences, for the affections. Broad
Guardianship stands for the critical
faculty in its search for truth, for the
intellect Are these only to be found In
the Episcopal church? Look about
us. Rome Is high church to the core.
So tremendous Is the emphasis placed on
authority that 1t is concentrated in one
man clothed with infallibility and
supremacy.
What are the Evangelical churches but
low churchman? Pray, what is Liberal
Christianity but extreme broad church
manship?
The extreme high churchmanship of
Rome caused the reformation. The high
church Bishop Laud, drove the Puritans
out of the English church. The lack of
the Evangelical spirit in the English
church drove wesley's followers out Of it.
The dogmatic and narrow spirit Of Pur-
itanism is responsible for the Unitarian
movement and the rational issue Of the
age.
The Catholic church is large place.
Room must be made for Peter and Paul,
but Cephas and Apollos must not be
crowded out. We are hearing much of
the American church. 1t is not bad
sign. But church all high, all low, or
all broad, would not only be a misfor-
tune but an impossibility. The Catholic
church must recognize the fact that
man possesses an intellect, will and
affection. A Catholic church must have
law and order. But If it exclude the
Evangelical spirit and the spirit of free
inquiry, it is uncatholic.
The Episcopal church has been learn
ing slowly that the true Catholic church
is not only exclusive but inclusive. 1t is
a great pity she did not learn that lesson
long ago. If she had the Puritans and
wesleyans would not have left her fold
and Charming and Parker might have
been considered extreme broad church
men on the border land of heterodoxy.