Evening journal., 1915-12-13

jestic, moving English which is without
parallel Not even that Of the English
Bible is quite equal 20 il.
IF the Episcopal Church H., or can be, /
nothing but a prayer book sect. il had
best speedily lose itself in the largest
possible Protestant federation IL would
not have TO lose its prayer book-expn- F,
gated after a Reformed Episcopal pat
tern-and IL could make useful contribu-
tions toward q corporate Professionalism
for America. a mere prayer book sect
could best promote the cause of Chris
tiau unity by the prompt dissolution OF
itself
"'rhe Church I believe in is not the
Anglican but the Holy Catholic
Church. and in this not as a verbal abb
straction but as a concrete reality.
best seen in the days before the divi-
sion Of East and West. still dlscov-
erable amid the differences of the
great Communions OF the Catholic
world and not wholly obscured iu
the multitudinous fragments OF Protes-
tantism. We wish TO emphasize
agreements everywhere; but when
those of us who view Christian prob
lens from the standpoint of historic
Christianity. and against the current
of sceptical drift. wish to preserve
faith in the 1ncarnate Son OF God
have TO choose between Identification
with Catholic Communions or Protes-
tant We must keep our stand on the
Catholic side"
Attitude Toward ROmanlsm.
Under the heading Of Attitude To-
wand Roman Catholicism Bishop
/ kinsman in part says:
THE attitude OF a well-instructed
! Anglican toward the Roman Church
might be stated as follows. II is not
4 possible TO accept the claim to uni.
versal dominion made in behalf Of the
Papacy. nor over-definite scholastic
definitions and newly-declared dog
mas as Of faith, nor a quasi-idolatrous
cult OF saints and Withholding OF the
cup in the Eucharist, on the ground
thathese things we're unknown in
the primitive Church, and have prov
en- mischievous as modern develop
ments. II is impossible TO accept
dOgmatic standards which would rule
out st. Paul. 81. Augustine and even
St. Thomas Aquinas. Il is also i'm
possible 10 assent to the standards of
Jesuit ethics, and incidentally to med
dlesOme intringues In politics. The
terms OF communion now imposed by
the Papacy. and acquiesced in by
about one-half of the Christian world.
We can not accept. But IL is only pos
sible deeply TO regard that this is so.
Some of these obstacles TO inter-com-
munion on Catholic principles are of
comparatively recent origin; II may
/ nF. hot xrrfI ~. ~ 81
tiOn. The world can only long and
pray for the time when all Catholics
shall be in communion with the great
Churches OF the Latin Communion I;
but from the standpoint Of those who
hold TO the ancient standards, there
seems no possibility Of this until--to
use Lauds phrase-'Rome be other
than she is"
Bishops Conclusions.
In conclusion, Bishop Kinsman say.
in part.
I There is nothing eccentric in thG
e Catholic Interpretation OF the Angli
E can position. IL has not only alwayl
= been tolerated. but is. if we think ser
= iously. the only one that is reall.
S tolerable. am quite aware that
- is imperfectly known to many OF ou
y people: that it differs from opinion
d commonly held both in past and pres
y ent. Yet there is nothing unusuf
Is about It, as my own experience woul
10 illustrate. I was born and brougi
p up in the Episcopal Church. and neve
q. since ] could understand any explans
e ton OF the Churchs position, was an
i other suggested 10 me. ! learned
D. first in a vague way from Dr. Henr
Is Augustus Colt of ST. Paul's SchoO
l. during preparation for confirmation
n was taught il more definitely durin
j. preparation for Orders in oxford
Il found it commonly held b.
those with whom ! was most throw
during thirteen years ministry prior &
p coming to Delaware, here eight year
ago, found how it had been taugh
> and illustrated by my predecessor
@ Bishop Coleman; and I have now rea
N son TO believe that IT is the view takel
y as a matter of course by the maiorit,
4 of my colleagues in the House o
Bishops If | differ from others. j
~ would be merely in the conviction
- that it ought to be more unequivoca
, bly, asserted in the formularies an
practices of the Church. Many thin
= the old easy-going, non-committa
" policy is a good one. I don't. Man
think il not desirable that ther
= should be a clearer avowal of prir
y ciples. ! do. ! believe that we ca
only do useful service in the develoI
ment Of American Christianity. ii W
take a strong and consistent stand o
: Catholic ground. To take a more def
" mite stand-either on Catholic or Pre-
u testant ground-would doubtless caus
y some present inconvenience, quit
= probably loss OF some adherents. W
~ it is better to stick to principles an
y let consequences take care of then
~ selves; in the long run we and on
y work will be gamers by straightfo
y wardness.
g. "The Church should stand fairl
of and squarely for its Catholic prime
o. pies. not merely for policy althoue
In , it is surely the best policy, nor eve
Tor the sake of giving a plausib
~ explanation of its existence; but b
,d cause its position represents som
H. thing true i'm itself. Loyalty consistei
an with the principles of Divine rel
1a ton and faith of the Gospel, and ha
al ing special usefulness for this countr
r. It seems likely that at this time v
en- must make decisions OF critical il
MS portance. The Panama episode h;
ne forced certain issues to the front. W
81 must meet them squarely. The Boa
iv of Missions-uncOnsci perhap
In but none the less really-has SCENE
re to ignore the very important point
SO view which ! have been trying