New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-03
APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION.
Where Are the Recent Authorities Who
Uphold 1T
Editor OF The Tribune


To the Editor OF The Tribune.
S.r: Those correspondents who have thus far
undertaken TO enlighten the claims OF the
Episcopal Church have missed the point OF the
letter which opened the discussion This simply
asked for the recent and scholarly authorities. II
any existed. who uphold what learned Oxford
professor, himself a member OF the Episcopal
Church. does not hesitate to call the gigantic fig
ment' Of Apostolic Succession. One may be par
doned for saying It IS only within recent years that
history has been explored n thoroughly scientific
manner. and no tradition. however venerable. IL
accepted unless II rests on the founda-
ton OF indisputable historical fact Thus. in The
Tribune OF recent date, read that
Pope Piux X Is reformer of iconoclastc pro-
pensites who viii tolerate nothing that appears
question He has Just eliminated no less than six
chair Of St Peter Until now he has been regard
ed the 2eath Bishop Of Rome in direct success
oc rom or ' oo 4pGs annual u Of the n HOW sea which
has just appeared, he is set down as the 25Sta
Leo NIII The very active and extensive researches
Of the learned Nonsignor Duchesne. director of the
French School at Rome brought 70 light the fact
that six Popes OF the period preceding the Crusades
based legend and tradition rather than on actual
history. They have now been eliminated, and no
Pontiffs Of the Roman Catholic Church.
II these things done in the green tree. what
has been done in the dry? II unwarranted names
have crept into the succession of the very highest
episcopal claims that hang by the gossamer
threads OF a tradtionary succession from st. John
at Ephesus and St James at Jerusalem? Anc the
s1thoTiues 70 which we are referred are 6eIon
written FOR the laty many years ago. and Chapins
history. a stin earlier work. One correspondent
refers to the Encyclopedia Britannica to prove
that church existed in Britain prior 10 the ar
rival Of Augustine but who denies this? "Epis-
copalan.' who confidently asserted that scores Of
bishops could trace their orders TO other sources
than the Roman Church. and from whom great
things were expected. cautiously takes his stand
evident unto al men there have been the three
orders Of ministers from the times of the Apostles
which may, or may not be so. but the succession in
his particular church is not quite so evident Not
single writer refers TO recent. scholarly, au-
thoritative declaration that would put the question
Now. far I gather from EPiscopalian
writer's. such Freeman. Stubs. Bright Hatch,
Rashdall Cults ana others not to mentor ecclesi-
2sucal historians belonging TO other churches, II
is contrary TO all historical fact TO speak OF the
ancient British church something out OF which
the Church OF England grew; OF the church or
Britain know nothing OF its episcopalian sue
nesses OF episcopal conservation. and bishops con-
secTated by scots or BTitons We're not aqnlteq 70
OF Tie hands Of a Catholic bishop. As TO Angus
tines conservation. had not the Gallican church
been absorbed by the Roman church long previous
70 II. do Episcopalians assert otherwise? Any
there was remarkable lack OF any consciousness
pie Of England. They leaned to Rome as colonists
TO a mother country. Their loyalty TO tho
like" Gregory, Father. sent US baptism
said they. and though lie be not apostle to
Others. yet he is TO us, fo- the seal OF his
apostleship arc We in the Lord" Could anything
be clearer
The point OF the whole matter is this: The An
glican church. OF which the American Episcopal
Church is the daughter. was founded and organized
by the Roman Catholic Church and the orders OF
all the bishops in the churches derived from
her. If the political welfare Of nation for
babe the secession Of the Southern States, what
right had the English church secede, which came
into the Roman church with no rights OF It's own,
Il wholly formed, organized and nurtured
larry addressed to those who hold that the desire
for reformation in matters of faith and morals
Is lOT nv irgp a
r. RINSMER.
East Orange y. J. March IS. 1903