Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-25
DR.. M'K|MREPL|ES
TO BISHOP K|NSMAN
Rector Of Epiphany, Washing
ton, Champions Episcopal
Church Doctrine
SAYS CRITIC HAS CHANGED

wilmington, Del, Sept. pa let
ter. written by the Rev. Randolph Ii.
McKim, d. D., rector of the Episcopal
Church of the Epiphany, Washington,
D. c., was made public here today. IL
comments on Bishop Frederick j. kins-
mans criticism of the Episcopal Church
methods, as contained in his recent
letter resigning the Office of bishop OF
Delaware.
DR.. McKim's letter, in part. fol-
lows:
"Bishop Kinsmans letter of resigna
ton, so far as it is an apology for his
action in resigning his Office as bishop
in the Episcopal Church. must appeal
to our sympathy, since it rejects tne
painful struggle of an honest man. IN
a mental crisis, induced, it may be, by
broken health, or nervous breakdown.
As such it might well be passed over
in silence. But the letter has another
aspect. It is q serious indictment OF the
Protestant Episcopal Church by one
who has been honored with its hlGhest
Office for many years.
I'm this aspect it constitutes chal-
lenge which cannot be allowed to re-
main unanswered.
THE gravamen of this indictment
of the Episcopal Church is found In
the discovery which Bishop kinsman
has made that the Anglican position Is
historically Protestant, and, therefore,
tends increasingly toward Unitarian
vagueness, rather than steadfast adher :
ence to the ancient faith of Chris
tendon.
But why should the bishop have
lust now found out that the Protestant
Episcopal Church is Protestant! AS
student of Anglican history should he
not have known that the Protestantisn
of the Church of England has been re,
peateGly affirmed, not only by Judlcla
opinion, but by long line of her mos'
illustrious divines from Queen Eliza
beth's time down to the middle OF th'
nineteenth century and by the highes'
OF the high churchmen among them, al
we'll as by the rest!
Many Historical Precedents
"It is to be presumed that he was
acquainted with the writings of th'
Anglo Catholic divines; and so ough
to have known that Bishop Cosin
Archbishop Bramhall, Bishop Morton
Bishop Bull, Bishop Jeremy Taylor
Bishop Andrewes and Archbishop Lau'
all maintained its Protestant character
lie must also have known that the sam'
was affirmed in the abjuration oatt
taken by the clergy ever since the revo
luton of 'SS. and in the coronation
oath taken by the kings and queen
Of England for centuries.
"Nor could he have been ignorant o
the fact that the Protestant characte
of the Anglican Church pcrvaGes who'll
libraries of the standard controversial
literature of that church. One woul'
think also that Bishop kinsman wa
too intelligent man to fail to percelv
that the doctrines embodied in tn
nrsyer book and the articles of re
ligion are distinctly Protestant.
'Protestantism and Atheism"
Men of Bishop Kinsman's way o
thinking point to the rationalism an
unitarianism and unbelief in Protestan
Germany as a proof that The Goal o
Professionalism is atheism. But wha
of the development of religions and ra
tionalism and unbelief in Roman Cath
olic countries?
'Is, then, the absence of Protestant
ism sure preservative against un
belief and unitarian vagueness? An
is there, after all, any logical connection
between Protestant principles an
unitarianism and atheism?"
OF Bishop Kinsman's complaint tha
the Episcopal Church does not 'defn
itely teach the sacramental character O
confirmation and penance," Bisho
McKim says:
But didn't Bishop Kinsman know
when he was ordained, that this church
following the Church of England