Evening star., 1928-10-10

soul burdened With original SIN. InlS 9
Calvinistic rather than Episcopal and
of any great number of Episcopal leade
Besides. the =. articles were adopted
at the time of the Reformation, when
there was a tendency to lay particular
stress on those doctrines which are
antiquated today.
The 80 articles, it is pointed out are
not actually a part of the prayer book.
They are bound in the back of the Book
of Common Prayer, usually in fine type.
Few laymen actually ever read them.
Once they were in the front of the
book in conspicuous type, but the ten
dency has been to relegate them far
ther and farther into inconspicuousness
with the years.
Now it is proposed to take them out
altogether and to have them printed
separately as a part of the tradition
of the church, but not a part OF its
twentieth century practice.
A resolution to this eHect was was
adopted at the New orleans convention
in 1925. The vote at that time was
unanimous. 1t is upon the question of
final ratification of the New Orleans
action that the debate is expected
here.
The resolution of 1925 aroused no
opposition, but since then some promi-
nent churchmen of the low church wing
have shown signs of rebellion, largely
due to the suspicion that the removal
of the articles is move on the part
of the Anglo Catholic wing to put the
Episcopal Church more in harmony
with the Roman Catholic doctrine.
This has been denied by the Anglo
Catholic leaders, who insist that their
only interest in having the articles re-
s- Orl0
of the church, viz: to save the church
from the embarrassing position of print
ing in it's Book of Common Prayer
theological opinions which it does not
hold.
The articles were established by the
Episcopal Church in the United States
September IL, 1901.
Opponents of keeping them bound in
the prayer books stress particularly
the ninth and tenth articles. The Ian
guage of these, they claim, is amblgu-
Gus and its probably Interpretation such
as can no longer be accepted by any
informed churchman.
Cites Original Sin.
Article 9 reads: Original sin standeth
not in the following of Adam (as the
PeIagians do vainly TALK but II is the
fault and corruption of the nature of
every man. that naturally is engendered
of the offspring of Adam; whereby
man is very far gone from original
righteousness, and is of his own ma
ture inclined to evil, so that the flesh
lusteth always contrary to the spirit;
and therefore in every person born INTO
this world, it deserveth Gods wrath and
damnation. And this infection of ma
ture doth remain, yea in them that
are regenerated; whereby the lust OF
the flesh, called in Greek phlenema
sarkos (Which some do eXpound the
wisdom, some sensuality, some the
election, some the desire OF the feshl
is not subject to the law OF COD. And
although there is no condemnation Tor
them that believe and are baptized;
vet the apostle doth confess that con-
cupiscence and lust hath OF Itself the
nature of sin.
Article 10 reads: The condition OF
man after the fall of Adam is suca that
he cannot turn and prepare hlmsei1,
by his own natural strength ana gooQ
works. to faith, and calling upon God.
Wherefore we have no power to DO GOOD
works pleasant and acceptable TO GOO,
without the grace of God, by Christ,
preventing us, that we may have good
will. and working with us, when we
have that good will
The ground has been prepared for
the convention discussion by artlc!es
printed during the past Two montns
IN the Forerunner, oficial convention
publication, in which the views OF poth
sides are presented.
The argument for removing the
articles is made by Rev. DR.. George
G. Foley of Philadelphia.
After pointing out that IL IS not GER
tain whether the articles must pc con-
sidered as binding on Episcopanans or
not, due to vagueneSs OF tne Iansuasas
used at the time the American church
NOS established. Dr. Foley says
"If the clergy are at liberty to dis
regard such parts as are distasteful 10
them. and they emphasize others on
the ground of their personal sympa-
fhies' what becomes of the imperative
of law? 1t is no more ethical for broad
rhurchnen to disavow the Augustlnian
sections than for the Anglo Catholics
to minimize the Roman. II they are
economically binding, those who repuol-
ate Augustin have no more place IN
our ministry than those who repudiaee
Cranmer. But practically nobody ac-
cepts the whole 80 articles. II we are
to be relieved of the charge OF ols-
honesty our only escape is 10 feIuSe
Part of Doctrine.
"But It is maintained that they are
mart of the doctrine of this church to
which the clergy have promised con-
formity. If this be so, very I'M
portant part of this doctrine is not con-
formed to by the great majority OF the
clergy. Only unfamiliarity with them
has concealed from us their worthless
ness as a doctrinal system"
DR.. Foley goes on to challenge the
Accountability of the Calvinistic doc
trines of original sin, election and pre-
destination which, he claims, are ex-
pressed vaguely in the articles, the
authors being unable to go to the logi-
cal and horrible" conclusion and side
stepping it by evasive phrases.
There are not few statements" he
saws. which are almost universally re-
tected We do not believe that in
Adams fall we sinned ALL or that at
our birth we deserved Gods wrath or
that our heavily weighted nature so
deserved. We never did, and we never
could for a moment. mourn over our
share in a sin committed thousands OF
years before we we're born. 1t is all topsy-
turvy psychology and ethics. We know
that we have all sinned and come short
Of the glory of God but what We are
surest of is that we did it,"
DR.. Foley agress that the 80 articles
should be preserved as historical docu-
,xnents, but not as statement Of belief
10 which, even by implication, members
iof the church should be obliged to agree
tThis implication will continue, he in
Tsists, so long as they remain physical
nart of the Book of Common Prayer
even If admittedly not an actual part
4of it.
The opposite position is taken BY
Rev. DIR. Carl E. Grammer Of ST.
Etephen's Church, Philadelphia, Pa.
DR.. Grammer insists that the articles
should be retained as clear statement
10 the world of the grounds Of di-