The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-05-10
CHURCH is DIVIDED
PROMINENT EPISCOPAL CLERGY.
MEN DIFFER IN THEIR VIEWS.
AS TO CHANGE OF NAME.
REV. J. l.. SCUBBY WILL DISCUSS
THE QUESTION TODAY.

to American Catholic VIII BE
voted on I'm Diocesan Convention
in Savannah This Week-Rev. MIR.
seulIy Champions the Change.
Rev. Mr.. white Declares 1t would
BE a Surrender of Principles.
In his sermon this morning at st.
PauPs Church Rev. j. L. Scully will
discuss the question which is now oc-
cupying the minds of the Episcopalians
throughout the country, and which win
be presented to the Diocesan Conven-
ton of the Protestant Episcopal Church
in Georgia in Savannah this week,
whether or not the name Of the church
lean Catholic Church.
The matter Is being tentatively deter
mined in the diocesan conventions in
the various states, but will not be
brought up for final determination un-
til the general convention tive years
hence in Boston. 1t is has been moot
ed time and again in convention, but
the movement to change the name has
always met defeat. Rev. Mr.. Ecully
has always been an advocate of the
movement to change the name of the
church, maintaining that there is no
signif1cation in the present name.
Rev. MIR. scully's views.
mo defender of the word Protestant
has ever yet defined 1t, because it Is
a pure negation," said he. In discussing
the matter. Nobody knows to-day
what 1t means. 1t is used by Morfnons,
Unitarians and unbelievers. In the six
tenth century 1t had q dafinite mean
ing, because it was then used as the
opposite of Papist. This word is re-
sented by those to whom it was for
merly applied. 1t was ImIxind and I'M
charitable to apply to any one the term
Papist The word Protestant is now
becoming a disagresable word to apply
to those who are maintaining the faith
once for all delivered to the, saints.
Whether I'VE shall succeed at this
convention or not, it by no means ends
the movement-it only retards it, Those
in this movement will not surrender
their position, and If we are defeated
for the time and called upon to STR
render it we will simply use the his
toric words, We have only begun to
fight
ENGA Tic LOIGEllOSt dQVOCaI6P OIL re-
tanning the word Protestant are grow
ing conscious of ultimate defeat. No
lesser person than Prof. Nash, speaking
lately In Boston, said: I suppose |
am a kind of ecclesiastical Dodo in
standing up for the word Protestant,
yet l am not ashamed of it. When
they liken themselves to the Dodos,
they must feel that the end is near
This apprehension Is in marked con-
traSt IN tha cO0fdepaa VxyHfoh he on
posers Of this word manifest. When
the word Protestant goes down, il
goes down forever; 1t will never be
again resurrected as the dfsfguring
title of the church"
DIR. whites Position.
The views of Rev. Mr.. Scully are not
shared by other Episcopalian clergy
men in Savannah. Rev. c. H. Strong's
position, in opposition to the change
has been given in the Morning News.
Rev. Robb White, rector of Christ
Church, is equally as decided in his
views against the change of the name
of the church.
Il am unalterably opposed to the
change of the name" he said to a rep
resentative of the Morning News, when
asked his opinion. 1t means more than
a mere change of name. 1t means a
change of principle. 1t is no longer
protesting against the errors of the
Church of Rome, but a surrender to
them. The change of the name con-
slider but a preliminary to a. change of
principle.
THE question has frequently come
UP before the convention, and has been
defeated repeatedly. 1 do not think
there is any likelihood of 1t passing
the general convention In 1905, but it
will probably pass the Georgia conven-
10 o1r
the change is advisable, and suppose
Georgia will, as usual, do as Florida
in the matter of churchmanship."
A letter from Rev. Mr.. Scully, which
was furnished by request to the fort
nightly periodical of the Episcopal
Church in Georgia, The Church in
Georgia." being in application of his
in connection with the, discussion of
the question. The letter follows:
Rev. Mr.. scuIIy's Letter.
Editor Church in Georgia: 1 enclose
q copy OF the letter which appeared in
the Living Church of I'd inst. 1 ask
the consideration of this suggested
change, and express the hope that it
may be received by the Diocesan Con-
vention and put forth as the Georgia
platform. The word Protestant in the
title of the church is defended as If
there was an odor of sanctity about
it, or as if, at least, 1t enshrined a Pc
GUITAR glory of the church. We are
told it declares our attitude towards
error, especially as held in the Roman
Communion. The weakness in this Is
that we expose ourselves to the reply
that honest people do not usually pro-
claim their honesty. Again, the errors
of Rome are not alone-some originated
in Geneva and elsewhere. Mormon
ism is American made" yet no one
has advocated the addition OF anti
polygamous. Nor can any advocate of
the word believe that IL all the "eF-
rors Of Rome" should disappear this
antithetic term would fall into disuse.
The sectarian bodies would still use 1t
as a battle cry against, the Catholic
doctrine, discipline and worship OF the
church whenever and wherever they
be hated for her truths sake. The re-
cent attack made upon the Church Of
England and upon the Church in Amer
lea are syrnptomatic of the spirit which
Is now disguised under the name of
Protestant. This should be SUFFICIENT
to make the term contemplate in the
mind Of every loyal child of the church.
Nor do we need the term Episcopal. II
"our friends, the enemy" in their ma.
tired Of Catholic order, persist in an
plying this term to US, we can bear
this reproach with joy so long as II Is
borne for the Kingdom of Heavens
sake. The world cannot receive Him
nor HE Church. 1t win protest"
against His Truth, the incarnation,