The Portland daily press., 1900-06-06

years King James translation OF the
Holy Scripture, OF iinal authority In mat
ters Of faith and practice. Ihe saora-
mente Of Baptism and the Holy Com
Christ's command by q valid ministry.
Our clerical Snowman might say, my
friends, these things are q priceless herit-
age and without them the true church can
not exist" As have said, he might at
tract attention and yet gain no converts.
The mere possession and showing Of these
things is no sign Of spiritual life and
over TIE English church TX a psii there
was no change In her doctrine and ritual.
The mission Of church is TO save souls.
Our church can prove her divine origin
best by making men better.
But the question may be raised, are-not
these things worth exhibitingY answer
yes, II you lay aside the glass case, and
the claim OF exclusive possession OF them:
Professionalism Is in possession ot
all we hold essential, II the prayer book
and the historic Episcopnte be excepted.
The recognition Of the Bible as final au.
thority in matters OF faith and practice Is
the fundamental principle of Protestant
ism. 1t also has reverential regard for
the sacramento.
The only thing In the Lambeth Arti-
cles ON Christian Unity the PROTESTANT
churches object TO, is the historic Epis-
copate. Everything else they accept. l
am free to say that / doubt the wisdom
OF continually insisting on the prayer
book as essential to public worship, or
the offensive presentation OF the historic
Episcopate by n supercilious condemna-
tion Of all ministries but our own.
II apprehend the spirit Of the Lam.
beth Articles IL Is this They are offered
The attitude of our church IL one OF open
mindedness. IL valid objection Is oftere d
against the Episcopate, we are ready to
consider It.
In the meantime we feel In duty bound
TO hold TO II until good and sufficient
reasons can be given for its rejection.
Il seems TO me far better in considering
the question of valid ministry to say
that the ordination of the Protestant
churches is Irregular II the Episcopate is
left out, rather than to 20 say IL Is In
valid.
"A good man is far more likely to accept
Episcopal ordination for the sake oil
unity, If there Is implied a recognition
OF an attempt on his part to obtain au-
thority TO do his work, outside OF the
historic church, than he will be, II there
Is fiat refusal to at least credit him
with sincerity and honesty. That the
Protestants are sincere and honest, there
can be no doubt. To acknowledge that
fact is to take long step In the right
4
from our bishops does imply the recogni-
tion of the right TO use, or not TO use q
liturgic service, ami the right to do the
work these bodies are. now doing in their
own way another barrier will be removed.
Organic unity, no one now living may
ever see But believe it will be fact
before the close of the twentieth century.
In the united church free scope will he
given to the threefold nature OF man.
There win be authority lawfully consti-
tuted. Free inquiry will be permitted
and encouraged for the sake of truth, and
emotion Will be allowed sane and health
fnl play.
Our church has a mission In Maine.
To do her work she does not enter the
field as controversialist or o Snowman.
But nevertheless she has message. In
the delivery of that message she needs
courage, faith, forbearance, consideration
and zeal She comes not to bring q
sword, but peace. Whether she may win
many to her fold or not, God knows. "a
Paul may plant and Apollos may water,
but God alone can give the increase"
Success simply for the sake of SUCCESS l
care nothing for. A goodly number OF
faithful souls is thing to desire, more
than large number Of souls gathered
into church. Indifferent to the obliga-
tions Of the Christian life. My duty Is to
preach Christ In sincerity and love. My
responsibility ends there. What is true
of the minister Is true of the church.
If men accept him well and good. But
whether men accept or reject him, the
presentation must be made.
The ehurch's responsibility ends there.
To such q church God says, "Well done,
good and faithful servant, enter thou into
the joy of thy Lord"