The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-11
MANY WILL STAND
FOR OPEN PULPIT
Question Will De One Of Most
Important Before GreatsEpisco-
pal Convention.
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MATTER BEING DISCUSSED
Many Ministers in This Section
Said to Favor
Change.
MATTER BEING DISCUSSED

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Among the important problems that
will engage the attention OF the Epis-
cophli General Convention In Richmond
,iiext month none Will arouse more In
,terest or cause more spirited Discus
sion than the question OF the open
pulpit" now being widely discussed
throughout the country.
Though the canons are not entirely
clear on the subject. Episcopal
churches have followed the custom OF
holding their pulpits open only to
minister's OF their own denomination
and not inviting others for any pur-
pose except marriages and funerals.
The low church" party. of which the
Virginia Episcopacy Is an active and
constituent part favors more liberal
Interpretation of the church canons,
and would admit to the pulpits for
preaching and for the reading of morn
ing prayers accredited ministers OF
other evangelical denominations. even
II these ministers are not permitted to
take part in the sacraments of bap-
tsm and the Lords supper. The
high church party, of which the
Living Church." of Milwaukee. is the
leading organ. is known to be opposed
to the admission to the pulpits OF any
others than the ordained clergy OF
the Episcopal Church. for any purpose.
favoring in fact the strictest interpre-
tatlon of the canons on this subject.
The opponents OF any change claim
that at present there Is nothing In
any Canon Of the Episcopal Church pre-
venting Presbyterian or Methodist
minister from preaching inN an Epis-
copal pulpit IL the bishop of the
diocese as well as the minister of the
parish gives his consent.
There are well-known instances in
Richmond where ministers of other
denominatio have taken part In spe-
cials services In Episcopal churches
with the consent OF the bishop and
the approval OF the people at large.
The Lee Centennial service last win
ter was held in st. Paul's Church, and
both Baptist and n Presbyterian
minister took part. Many Richmond
ers will remember memorable oc-
tcasion when Rev. DIR. NJ. ID. Hoge, the
well-known Presbyterian minister ex-
changed pulpits with Bishop Gibson.
then rector of Monumental Church. for
Sunday service.
The canon under which the church
is now working reads:
or Persons Not Ministers in This
Church Officiating in Any Con-
gresation Thereof.
No minister In charge of any
congregation of this church, or,
in case of vacancy or absence,
no churchwnrdens, vestrymen. or
trustees of the congregations. shall
permit any person to Oficinte
therein without suMcirnt evidence
OF his being duly licensed or orr
dnined to mlnister in this churchs
provided, that nothing herein shall
abe construed ms to forbid COM
municants OF the church to act as
lay readers.
Commenting on this editorially. the
Southern Churchman OF the current
issue says:
"If we were a Presbyterian or {
Methodist, we should make this ltht
open pulpit preliminary condition
without which we should decline tc
consider any overtures whatever from
the Anglican churches. We shoulc
hold Anglican recognitions OF oul
Christian faith and virtue to be some.
thing less than they profess TO be. SO
long as the most venerable OF Pres,
byterian and Methodist divines shou'e
be ipso fActo excluded from Z
common Christian privilege which the
Episcopal Church permits any one OF
her bishops to grant to the hum lest
Eplscopalian layman in his diocese.
THAT is how we should feel II We
were a Presbyterian or a Methodist. A.
an.American Episcopalian, we are glat
to know that the impeachment, the re
moval OF which our brethren would
have a perfect right to require has ne
existence. It certainty has none in tn.
historic constitution of the Christian
Church; for that constitution never die
and does not now, make ordination. ever
as deacon, necessary qualification
for the preaching of the gospel. ANY
prohibition. therefore, that may stant
in the way must be canonical. Wha
we undertake next to prove Is that tn
only canon of the Episcopal Church
relating to the subject has been franco
SO as to recognize the precise distinc
ton which our non-Episcopalia'
hret hren assert; and further, that thi
canon is in no sense prohibitivc. bu
simply imposes restriction which Il
required by ordinary Christian pru
dence.
Fayors Open Pulpit.
The same issue of the Southern
Churchman contains vigorous lette
fayorinr the open pulpit from the pei
Tor the Rev. w. A. r. Goodwin. who
says in-part:
The church should be wide-visionet
and broad-minded enough to recognize
and welcome the prophet of Gods trutl
Fin the other ministry of His Word
which is not the ministry of tht
church. and which would neither b.
accredited nor recognized as such b,
being admitted under certain conditions
Into the pulpits of our church. The.
are preachers and prophets Of tn
truth revealed and given to tn
world under the authority OF Christ
and shey have been led to its reception
and It's Interpretation in things essen
ttal to salvation by the power of tn
Spirit OF God, Being good men, full
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