The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-05-11

PHILADELPHIA. Pa. May L-Dra-
matte scenes marked the departure Of
the Rev. William McGarvey and his
three assistants from ST. EIizabeth's
Episcopal Church, at Sixteenth and Mi
hin streets. this morning.
The four ciergyme1, VINO decided tley
could no longer remain in the Episcopal
Church when the open pulpit cailon
was adopted, took 10 active part in the
services but We're in the church through
cat the sen non.
Long after the impressive service was
over The cong regation fingered TO say
farewell TO Tie reU-or and his three as
sistants tie Rev, Maurice l. Coz! the
Rev. William l.. Hayward, and the Rev,
William H. Mcclellan, who made tneiN
last appearance as ministers % me
Episcopal Church.
il had been rum0red that Or. McGar-
Vey would preach sermon deTendln6
his position in lay ing down the ministry
OF the Episcopal Church. lie did not.
but instead issued a statement signed
by himself and his three assistants,
which was distributed among the con
gregation at the close OF the service.
The statement = part says;
For many years we have gone IN ana
out among you as your friends. But
obedience TO the holy viii Of God Oids
Us now TO lay down our Office ana 70
say TO you farewell.
Explain Action.
1T is due to you that We should tell
you plainly why we are leaving you ana
going forth 10 begin our lives anew.
When we were ordained we were per
suaded that the Catholic religion IN its
fuIlness was the faiti. Of the Episcopal
CHURCH. Animated by this persuasion
we gave ourselves freely 10 her mliSs-
try and would gladly have laid Cow
our lives in her service. MisgiVlngS win
regard TO the legitimacy OF our POS tloA
We're first aroused when certain or the
bishops a year or two ago began TO IN
vile non-E Episcopal ministers into the
pulpits.
Such action was not. or course, the
action Of the Episcopal Church, altnoush
ats proceeding from bishops gave II q
serious import. But when the whole
house Of bishops. without dissenting
vote, Endorsed this practice by incor-
DO ating into the discipline or the Epis-
COpal Church explicit provision Tor an
open pulpit It was manifest that either
the Episcopal ministers had al
ready the same ministerial status as
ministers of the word with thOSe or
dained by bishops OF the Episcopal
Church, OF that the Episcopal Church
had by her enactment or the open pulpit
canon seriously compromised the doc
thine or holy order which We had sup
posed that she held IN its integrity.
HAD such "a canon been enacted
prior 20 our ordination our cJnscieuces
would never for a moment have alloweC
us to receive ordination IN the Epls-
copal Church. And now that the canon
was enacted il was plain tha' We must.
as honest men, reconsider cur WhSie
position. We set time for pI aver and
thought that we might know Cod
Will and might do nothing hastily,
THAT time has now expired. and IL
has been made abuudandy clear TO us
that the Episcopal Church IN making
possible the admission of all sorts OF
Protestant ministers as teachers OF her
people. has rightly interpreted her own
essential spirit She now stands forth
before the world I'm the character which
belongs 10 her. and Dy which she de-