Evening journal., 1919-07-16


usually uniustiy represents the tone
and temper Of his people due 10 the
habiiual restiNeness at The supernatural
prev alent everywhere In prOtostanism
After long struggle against the c0nyic-
tion ! have been forced 30 admit that
this toleratiOn ~ doctrinal laxity seems
10 me 10 Indicate that the Church's dis
cipline falls Nt0 express and defend rs
Doctrine and creates an lnsuperable dlf-
! 0culty for those who believe In the
fundamental Importance OF the histor-
! lc doctrine Of the Incarnation
Sacraments. The Episcopal Church
permits and encourages variety Of
views about Sacraments. Its standard
however, IS determined by the minimum
rather than the maximum view toler-
ated, since It's official position must be
gagged not by the most 70 allows, but
by the least 10 insists on It's general
influence has nuid qualities always
seeking the lowest possible level The
stream OF its life cannot rise higher
than It's source in corporate authority.
Individual belief AND practice may sur
mount this but they will ultimately
count for nothing 50 long as they ind
no expression in official action; nor can
the church be Judged by The STANDARD
Of individual members acting in indie
pendence OF IT,
Like many others, attach highest
importance ~ the doctrines -Of Bap
tismll Regeneration Of the Real Pres
ence in the Holy Eucharist. OF Euchar- !
istic sacrifice. OF the sacramento char |
acter Of Confirmation and Pcnance. All |
these doctrines the Church tolerates !
but go Long as equal liberation is given !
10 others OF a different or even neu- 1
Trailing sout. this is not definitely 30 |
teach them. To tolerate everything is 4
TO teach nothing Hence though indi
yiduals among us may urge the import
ance of these definite beliefs. they can
not claim the full authoritative back
ing Of that portion OF the Church to
which they profess allegiance.
"The sacramental teaching OF the
Episcopal Church is non-committal
with the consequence that its official
teachers are habitually vague IN their
literances. and that the beliefs Of many
II its members are approximately or
,ctually Zwinglian A general policy
II comprehension by reduction Of re-
10 lowest terms prevents
by raising 20 highest posi-
lilities Although there has been
marked advance among some Of our ,
eople owing TO deeper hold Of sacra-
mental truth, there has been even ;
reater advance among others toward {
ationallatic accepticism ON The whole, s
he Church seems 10 be swayed by the s
sndencies Of the age opposed 10 the }
upernatural owing to antiquities in
erent in its system always subject TO
- 80
't3l Orders The immediate occasion 4
Z my resignation has been change Of I
lew concerning Anglican Ordinations.
received and have conferred orders in
le Episcopal Church believing Holy
riders to be a Sacrament Of Divine ap-
necessary for valid minis
'ations In this simply shared the
onyiction of many English and Ameri-
an divines. certainly Of most Of the !
bishops with whom have had closest
ontact Hesitation about the use OF
he word Sacrament as applied 10 or
ers. as not one Of those generally
ecessary. cannot obscure the sacra-
n ,ntal character Of the formula, re
Give the Holy Ghost for the oillce of
priest ior bishop in the Church Of
iod' In the best of company. ] have
AIKEN this as representing the true
eachng Of the Anglican Communion
bout Orders. though " involved ex-
laining away dubiousness elsewhere
! formularies and in practice.
During the past three years, however q
have been demonstrating the ques- y
on Of orders. being largely influenced s.
do so by arguments that Anglican 81
rders have no special theory attached. y
lis contention though lacking support 81
ON many whose judgment is Of ~
ecisl weight. has that Of many great ~
mes. Of the preponderance Of lay M
Union. and Of important precedents
comparing the arguments for esse
n bene esse the theory that the
urch in ordination confers a Saora- VI
3nt though many clergy do not know on
as contrasied with the other that ~
e Church confers no Sacrament. w
ough some OF the clergy thing sol m
We been forced 20 admit that the de- VI
lders Of the latter seem 10 make out N
2 stronger case. and that this must la
taken as the more probable opinion =
Holy Ouders in the Anglican Com =
inion 7 have yielded 10 the argu- ~
,nts for this. but ] give mp the orders. ~
Consideration Of this matter had n,
eated such grave doubts in my mind ~
q December that had TO refuse re- 81
esis from the Bahops OF New York !,
d Pennsylvania 20 hold ordinations ~
r them during Advent, at which time !.
10 I finally decided 10 resign my do y, y,
80. only during the past month, y,
wever have I been able 20 see what !.
ist be the further consequences for ~
self. ~.
ITO my mind orders to which no spe- 80
| theory is attached are orders 10
ich no special Importance Is at
he'd. orders Of this description do
re the theory attached that no spe-
theory is necessary which eX-
des the sacramental view. To the =
lers Of the Catholic Church the
ory is always attached, or rather.
them the principle is inherent. that
ers is a Sacrament. perpetuating the
stolate instituted by our Lord II
no special thory' he the more
rect one, Anglican Orders are proven 4
ious. II not invalid through defect N
Intention II so, for one can not H.
petuate them nor can I hold them. IL
about the character Of L