The Irish standard., 1903-06-06
NOT NAME BUT SUBSTANCE.

MI NAME 0VI SO0SIANVE.
The agitation for change of
name of the Protestant Episcopal
Church would be Of little Importance
if it indicated only dissa tisfaction
with a name. But the trouble is
deeper. Dissatisfaction with the sub
stance rather than with the name or
forms is at the bottom of the agita-
ton. The trend of the Protestant
churches has been more and more
toward the so-called liberal thought.
The recent centennial anniversary of
the birth of Emerson found many
churches acknowledging his teachings
and philosophy. The views by him
expressed sixty years ago and then
rejected even by Unitarians, are ac-
cepted now not only by Unitarians
but by many who are followers Of the
so-called orthodox churches. This
falling away from former teachings
has created a feeling of unrest and
has led many thoughtful PrOtestants
to look for stability in religious
teaching and doctrine They can find
this stability only in the Catholic
Church. The reaction has affected the
Episcopal Church more than other
Protestant churches because that
church is the most conservative. Those
in the Episcopal Church who are con-
| al, Of
not be satisfied with such a change
any more than they have been salts
fled by adopting some of the forms
and ceremonies Of the Catholic
Church. Nothing but complete separa-
ton from Professionalism can satisfy
them. If the English Church were
disestablished and disendowed there
would be great movement of Epis-
copalians both in England and this
country to the Catholic Church. The
contest now being waged within the
Episcopal Church is but the counter
part of what is going on throughout
Christendom. There are two move
|
Church as the only true and safe
guide in religious matters, the other
toward agnosticism and intidelity.
Many scholars and thinkers without
the Church do not hesitate to say
that the contest in the future will be
between Catholicism and agnOSticiSm.
Most of the Episcopal dioceses of the
United States have in conventions eX-
pressed themselves as opposed to any
change of name at the present time.
However. dissatisfaction and unrest
prevail and the name is not the cause
thereof
The New York Sun. commenting
cditorially upon this question in Il
recent issue. said:
'"rhe "Ritualstic type of man. is
ridiculed. yet it cannot be gainsaid
that among the most prosperous Epis-
copal churches OF New York are the
two in which Ritualism is carried to
it's furthernOst extremes; and prob
ably there are no others in the town
of which the congregations are COM
posed so largely of men, even ut the
early morning "nHlSseS." II these men
were few and of social and intellectual
insignificance and their Ritualism was
merely the expression of Il tinical and
whimsical taste. with no roots in solid
| at hn .,tt .l1- al
not be SO bitter. In truth. they repre-
sent IL movement that now actually
threatens the overthrow of the Estab.
lslment in England and the disrup-
ton of the Episcopal Church in this
country.
AS the Rev. Il. \. WATSON. the rec
church of Newark. says in his parish,
paper for May. lit is not the name
so much as the thing" that these
| "CathOlicS" hate, or as Bishop Capers
of South Carolina puts it. they want
to haul down the Protestant flag and
run up Il new standard" 70 quote
again from Mr.. WasSon. lin most
points they are Roman Catholic in Il
Protestant Church" and no wonder
they are uneasy. no wonder their posi-
ton is becoming intolerhlc." for "thc
Episcopal Church cannot he both
Protestant and Catholic"
r The agitation Tor Il change in the
name proceeds from an impulse so
revolutionary that the whole spirit OF
LANCE Mach > June : total
, conservatism in the Episcopal Church.
, heretofore the most conservative of
churches. must eventually be aroused
against it. 1t is not the "craZy
scheme" the Newark rector calls it. Ii
, is an agitation which has been gather
ing force and increasing in intensity
of conviction during the whole seven
ty years since it's beginning in the
. Oxford Movement. 1t may be called
) illogical. but it is not CRAZY" 1t is
| a very serious movement, for it may
. be said to lead inevitably to the
Roman Catholic Church. to which
Newman, the guiding spirit of its
start, at last rendered complete SUBJ
: mission. In other words. it is a por-
tentous uprising against Protestant