New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-11-24

briggs. DD.. n. Lit Graduate PROBES
OF Theological Encyclonsedia am
Sgmholics IN the Union Theological
Seminary. New NorA. Syo, Pr. asa.
Charles Scrihncr's Sons.
Being confident that a better under
standing ~ the real issues in the con-
troversies distracting Christcndom would
itself SO FAR toward making the ultimats
reconciliation ~ the churches reason
able hope. Professor Briggs proposes
thar attention he withdrawn from the
futile polemics that have So long filled
the wclkin. and that patient consideration
be giIen Ia Christian irenics. the disci-
rline which seeks Ia know the essentials
Il ths Christian religion. 10 define
Csiholicity and 60 sc; forth the consen-
sus as well as ihe less important dissen-
sus in the faith and practice of the
universal church The seeker in So
courageous quest must take with him
a sympathy wide enough 10 comprehend
contendiag points ~ view. for no one can
reconcile who is not a friend OF both
partieS Just as the traveller ascending
thu Corner Graf is impressed less power
fully by Monte Rosa than by the Matter
horn or Tho Weisshorn, and must descend
into Italy before he can see that Monte
Rosa is monarch Of all, 80 in order n
know theology thoroughly one must view
Il from ths ultramontane side. This Is
q counsel OF comprehension that Profess
sor Briggs has well enforced by his own
Example in the Investigations reported
in The present volume. No vital issues
la the discussion Of church unity are
sighted: the most difficult questions re-
lstng 10 the historic episcopate, the
validity Of orders. infallibili;y. the
Papa~y and the sacramentsl system are
faced. IL not solved.
The elements of Catholicitv as found
in the second and third centuries. when
the life OF the Church was normal, were
these: a consciousness Of geographical
unity in one church spread throughout
the world. an historical unity by success
sion with the Apostles and a living unity
with Christ involving the ethical unity az
love and the religious unity Of the Holy
Eucharist In the light of these condi-
tons IL may be seen al once that geo
graphical unity has been lost by the
Protestant churches; by the Anglican
church more than by any other. for the
Church Of England is 50 strictly a ma
tionsl church that she is confined to the
Anglo-SaNon race. and she has COM
munion neither with the Roman Catholic
Church nor with sister national churches.
The Reformed or Presbyterian family
OF churches. which forms the most wide
spread and most numerous Of all Prot
cStant bodies. has always made more
Of Eeogra phical unity than the Church
of Ems land. In the Articles OF Relig-
ION" one looks IN vain Tor any concep-
ton OF The Catholic Church. while in the
Westminster Confession il is very prom
inent The Catholic position Of the
Anglican church is asserted i'm Apostolical
succession through the threefold minis
try: Yet il may be doubted. says Pro-
fessor Briggs. y neither she is in this re-
spcct very much superior to other
churches of the Reformation, many Of
whom claim Apostolic succession for
their MINISTRY. II Anglican orders can
be defended only on the -round Of the
intention ef the Anglican reformers 10
ordain and porpetuate a Christian minis
tr, such - Jesus Christ and his Apostles
intended. The orders 81 the Lutheran and
Reformed churches may lie defended on
exactly tho same grounds. from the same
intention. 80 that I'm the matter of
reconciliation with Rome. d especially
since the adverse decision of Leo Mi,
the church Of England has No advantage
whatever over the other Reformed
bodies.
Important as they are, apustolicity and
geographical unity are the lesser ele-
ments in the Catholic synthesis. The
most essential thing IL holy love, and
against this grace all the churches have
in some measure sinncd. The quadri-
lateral 81 unity adopted jointly by the
Protestant Episcopal Church of America
and the Church % England. though not
"a perfect statement might accomplish a
great work in the reconciliation. recath-
,icisstion and rounihcation Of the
christian church could the pronounce
ment but have beneath il the driving
force ~ bro,herly love. Unfortunately.
tho bishops have done nothing 10 make
she proposals ~ unity effective, and a
magnificent opportunity has been thrown
SWAY. IN Is her arrogant eXclusiNcness
ss national church that has brought
the church ~ England into the present
crisis ~ her history, torn by faction and
approached by multitude II enemies
Her daughter. the Protestant Episcopal
church in the United States has too
often exhibited the same banefui temper.
~ this communion, in which 10 is a
preshyteT the author declares that n
she srrogafe 90 herself the name Cath
Ole which is regarded as tie common
Inheritance ~ Christianity in some sense
by all Who use the Apostles Cl,ed. no
one gill recognize her right Ia il bus
ae-seh, multitude ~ her oHn clergy
and people Will ho ASHAMED Of their
church, and she " iil become the mock 81
historical critics who VIII not fail 20 test
her by her oNn history, ~ well as by TIN,
history - The church ar large and hy
- yslatiVe importanoe ia American
.-s-Eclanity.
Applying the ante-NIcene norm in an
other direction. Dr. Briggs tcannoi doubt
that tho Roman Catholic Church 81 our
day j. the heir by unbroken descent Z,
IN Roman Catholic Church 81 the SEE
ond century and that a is justified ia
using the name Catholic" as the name 81
the Church, as well az the name Roman.