Evening journal., 1909-11-17
JOINS ROMAN
CATHOLIC CHURCH
At His Own Request Bishop
KinSman DepOSeS Father
Paul James Francis
UNIQUE CLERGYMAN,
HEAD OF THE ATONEMENT


the canons OF the Episcopal Church
bishop Kinsman in the chapel OF the
Good Shepherd the other day in the pres
cnce OF the Revs. Kensey Johns Ham
mond and Hubert William Barker, de-
posed from the ministry OF the Episcopal
Church Lewis Thomas Watson, q priest
OF the church known as Father Paul
James Francis Of The Soc ETY. OF tue Atone
nent, Graymoor, n y, who declared in
writing his renunciation OF the commu-
nion and ministry OF the Protestant Epls-
copol Church and requested deposition.
Father Paul James Francis became
economically resident in tho Diocese Of
Delaware at time when Bishop Cole
man accepted the position Of Visitor OF
his Monastery. When Father Paul began
to teach the duty Of submission TO the
See Of Rome. the Bishop publicly with
drew from his connection with Gray
moor and inhibited Father Paul from
preaching tho doctrine OF Roman Catholic
Supremacy.
Father Paul seems 70 have been con-
templating joining the Roman Catholic
Church for some time as he visited Bishop
Kinsman last May and discussed tho mat
ter with the Bishop The Delaware
Churchman IN the recent issue publishes
the correspondence between the Bishop
and Father Paul i'm which several points
OF doctrine were considered and the
Bishop advised Father Paul to make a
definite choice between the Roman Cath
oljc ana the Anglican communlons.
Tho Correspondence.
] .Is..t.. faff
70 Father Paul James Francis, s. A.,
Graymoor.
My dear Father Paul James Francis:
Since your visit here In May. ] have
carefully considered all that you told me
OF your convictions IN regard to the
Church. with the result that / have not
changed or modified the opinions express
ed IN talking with you, or IN the letters
written before your visit, when or neces-
sity / spoke tentatively. as not being abb
solutely certain that understood your
position L wish now 20 repeat what IN
substance have said already as express
Ing my deliberate Judgment in the mat
ter
You WIN remember that in talking with
you said that understood you to hold
the following propositions. and that you
assented 10 them as rightly defining your
position:
a. That the Catholic Faith is the faith
as now defined by tho Roman See;
CD That the Papacy was established
jure Divine as the necessary bond OF
unity IN the Church;
CS) That Anglicanism Is properly repre-
sented by the Church OF England IN pre-
Reformation times and in the reign OF
Queen Mary; and yet
a. That Anglican Orders are valid not
withstanding the papai condemnation OF
them
This would seem TO resolve itself into
, the single proposition that you accept
the whole teaching OF the Roman Church
save the single detail OF its population or
Anglican orders.
must repeat that this position is an
impossible one for clergyman OF our
Church. That we take our stand on tho
principles OF the English Reformation IS
too obvious TO call for discussion; and
this involves belief that the Christian
Faith IA the faith OF the Catholic Church
In the earliest days, as distinct from tho
definition given by the Latin Church IN
the sixteenth century, and stin more dis
tinct from the accumulation OF novel
dogmas TO which tho Roman Church COM
mitted itself IN the pontlhcate OF Plus TX.
It involves moreover injection OF the the
CRY that the Roman Papacy is Of Divine
restitution and necessary to the Church.
There Is nothing IN tho Anglican position
which prevents recognition OF the Inn
portance and usefulness OF the Papacy
IN certain stages OF Christian develop
ment and nothing that forbids emphasis
on the fact that no practical scheme OF
Christian unity can leave Rome out OF
account. and nothing that makes It impos-
sible 70 conceive that under changed cir
cumstances It might be the part Of Justice
and prudence TO recognize Rome's patrl-
archal primaoy. But the Anglican att
tude toward Rome is stni expressed IN,
the saying Of Archbishop Laud. .There
can be no union with Rome untn Rome
be other than she Isl" and wherein tho
faith as DEEMED by the Roman See differs
from that Of the early and undivided
Church, our Communion holds that Rome
has fallen from the Catholic Faith.
We have no quarrel with the Roman
] N@f NAA N'AAAAu great fundamental
= principles. but there are important air
terenccs between Anglican ana Roman
teaching, and no man can be wholly
loyal 20 both. Tho faith and prar-
uce OF the Church as sct forth by the
Roman Sec differ IN many respecis
from tho faith and practice onioined
by our Prayer Book and Canons; hui
IL is TO the teaching Of PRAYER Bool,
and Canons that we have promised al
logianoo as representing. VIC believe
the principles OF the primitive Catho-
lie Church adapted to modern needs.
My advice IS that, IN the interest,
Of single-minded honesty and dovo.
tion 70 duty, you make choice between
the two churches. You cannot eerv,
either tho Papal Church or the Protest.
ant Episcopal Church well. II you tr,
10 serve both at the same time. Eithe,
give up belief in Divinoly establishel
Papacy and IN Roman dogmas as III,
one complete expression Of the Chris
tan faith, as one must do who Is ,
consistent and contented Anglican: o.
else give up Anglican Orders. make al
unqualified submission to the Lafi,
Church. and be a good Roman Catholic
have no hesitation I'm saying that 4
were In your position, I should choos,
@ a (w A ep