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THE

Reformed Church

No. 5

THE OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE

REFORMED EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN

THE UNITED KINGDOM,

OTHERWISE CALLED

Record,

The Reformed Church of England.

MOTTO Jesus only-The One Mediator-The only Priest-The sole Sacrifice.
PRINCIPLES-Protestant-Evangelical-Reformed.

VOL. VI.

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MAY, 1886.

CONTENTS.

CHURCH NEWs.—Southend, Prittlewell, Eccles, Warrington, Hemel Hempstead, Braintree, Wolverhampton. - General Synod. Practical Sympathy Fund. Licences. Official Solicitors. Applications. Church Property. Model Trust Deed. Deed of Covenant. Sustentation Fund.

PROTESTANTISM 7. RITUALISM. SOUTH AFRICA.

LEADING ARTICLES:

PRACTICAL SYMPATHY FUND.
CHURCH REFORM

THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK.
A DEFINITE POLICY.

POETRY.

REPLIES TO CORRESPONDENTS, &c. ADVERTISEMENTS.

Monthly, ONE PENNY.
Post Free 1s. 6d. per Annum.

SOUT!

Church News.

OUTHEND. (Trinity Church.) A meeting of the Unpledged Abstainers' Union was held in the larger Vestry Room on Tuesday, the 13th ult., when the chair was taken by our kind and valued friend Mr. Hawtree, and by the aid of several members a very pleasant evening was enjoyed.

Our Choir had a "social" on Friday, the 16th ult., when tea was followed by vocal and instrumental music to the great pleasure of those present. The improvement in our singing reflects much credit on our excellent precentor, Mr. Ingram and his coadjutors.

The work of the Christian Medical Mission continues to grow, more than 2,500 cases have received advice and medicine, &c., since its foundation in January, 1885. The extension of the work has necessitated the consideration of larger premises, as many as 100 cases having been treated at the Mission House in one day.

The amount locally raised for our Reformed Church here since its commencement is about £12,000, and our buildings and land are entirely free from debt.

** *

PRITTLEWELL. (Christ Church.)-The work here is steady and encouraging. In addition to the Sunday Services our Sunday school is maintaining its excellent position. Our cause here is pecuniarily more than self-supporting, and we shall be glad when we can have a freehold site for a new building.

**

ECCLES.(Trinity Church.) - As we anticipated in our report last month, we are happy to be able to announce that we have purchased for £900, a very suitable and excellent site for our Church, and as we purpose in time to put up thereon a stone structure, we have for the present

bought an Iron Building to be placed on the land in such a position as not to interfere with the erection of our permanent Church. This temporary Church will (D.V.) be opened during Whitsuntide, at which time also it is hoped that the Installation of the Rev. W. Mules, R.D., will take place. We have had further promises and donations to the amount of £230.

On Sunday, the 11th ult., our Sunday School Anniversary Sermons were preached in the Town Hall by the Rev. G. J. Lacell, Rector of Christ Church, Hemel Hempstead, and in the afternoon there was a Service of Song, "Elijah." The collections were about £29. The services were well attended. Mr. Lacell's sermons were much appreciated, as were also the readings from the Bible by Mr. Mules at the Service of Song.

SUSTENTATION FUND.-Rev. Wm. and Mrs. Mules, 5s.; Mrs. Hulme, Is. Id.; Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Hulme, 2s. 2d. ; Mr. and Mrs. Dale, 2s. 2d.; Mrs. and Miss Lomax, 25. 2d.; Mr. R. Worthington, Is.; Miss Roberts, Is. Id.; Miss C. Roberts (2 Quarters), Is. Iod.; Miss Worthington, Is. Id.; Miss S. Worthington, Is. Id.; Miss F. Worthington, Is. Id.; Miss Tootal, Is. Id.; Miss E. Worthington, Is. Id.; Miss H. Chadwick, Is. Id.; Miss Perrin, Is Id.; Miss Knight, Is. Id.; Miss Armitage, Is. Id.; Miss Henshaw, Is. Id.; Miss Eckersley, Is. Id.; Miss Greenhalgh, 6d. ; Mr. John Hulme, Is. Id.; Mr. Joseph Hulme, Is. Id.; Mr. and Mrs. Barlow, 2s.; Mr. J. Rogerson, Is. Id.; Miss Crompton, Is. Id.; Mr. Walton, Is. Id.; Mrs. Worthington, Is. Id.; Mrs. Minnit, Is. Id.; Miss Rhodes, Is. Id.; Miss Martin, Is. 5d.; Miss Lee, Is. 5d.; Mr. Chadwick, Is. Id.; Mrs. James, Is. 6d. ; Mrs. Kay, 2s. Total, £2 7s. od.

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We now hold our Sunday School in rooms over Arpley Railway Station. The situation is much more convenient for parochial meetings, &c., than the Old Road Schoolroom, and it has the advantage also of being near the Church. We have divided the School into two divisions, senior and junior, each division occupying a separate room, and we are thus enabled to carry on the work with greater efficiency, and, we trust, by God's grace, profit to both teachers and taught. Mr. Jewkes has been appointed to act with Mr. Hall as joint Superintendent.

The Sunday services in the Church continue to be taken by the Rev. W. Bibby, whose ministrations amongst us are much valued.

HEMEL HEMPSTEAD (Christ Church).-Bishop Gregg preached here to a good congregation on Tuesday evening,

the 6th ult.

BRAINTREE (Christ Church). We hope to have a Congregational Tea Meeting at an early date, and in a few weeks we are looking forward to a visit from the Bishop when we hope to have a Confirmation. It is contemplated to hold an Afternoon Service on Sundays in our Church.

WOLVERHAMPTON.-(Trinity Church.)—On the evening of March 28th, the Rev. Thos. Lowe preached an able sermon from Deut. xxxii., 31.

On the 11th ult. we completed our first year's work, and feel thankful to God for all He has done for us in the year. We have been greatly helped by several workers who have made their Protestantism felt, and their work is bearing fruit. ance.

Our treasurer has given us much and hearty assistBy his thoughtful attention to the comfort of the congregation, and his courtesy to strangers, he has done good and great service. He is an active servant of the

church.

Our minister has had a very uphill fight, and, in common with other churches, strong opposition and misrepresentation to contend against, but has faithfully held on, knowing that the battle is the Lord's, who will bestow a blessing upon the work which is done in faith and love.

The hearty co-operation of one strong protestant workingman must nor be passed over. He has given time and money for the promotion of sound evangelical teaching, and his influence is felt and acknowledged. May God graciously raise us up more, equally loyal helpers.

Official Entelligence.

GENERAL SYNOD.

Notice is hereby given that a General Synod of the Reformed Episcopal Church in the United Kingdom, otherwise called the Reformed Church of England, will, God willing, be holden in Exeter Hall, Strand, London, W.C., on Tuesday, the 11th day of May, 1886, at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, at which time and place all members of the said Synod are required to attend. Given under my hand, at Southend, in the County of Essex, this 12th day of March, A.D. 1886.

Signed T. HUBAND GREGG, D.D.,

Senior Bishop of the said Church.

N.B.-It is requested that the members of the Synod will bring with them their respective certificates, or licenses of appointment, for submission to the Committee of Credentials.

GENERAL STANDING COMMITTEE.

A meeting of the General Standing Committee of our church was held at Hemel Hempstead on Tuesday, April 6th, 1886, at which the following among other subjects were considered.

Deed of Covenant.—It was stated that objections had been made to the terms of the Deed, which upon investigation were found to be more imaginary than real, and it was decided to adhere to the terms of the Deed as being essential to the welfare of the church.

Eccles. It was reported to the Committee that a most advantageous site had been secured, upon which it was intended eventually to place a church and school, and also that an iron church had been purchased for temporary use, which, it was hoped, would be ready for opening in the month of June.

Much and important discussion took place concerning the work in churches canonically connected with us, as well as others which, though working upon our lines, and in hearty sympathy with us, are not at present so connected. The meeting was adjourned until the 7th ult., much needful attention being given to subjects of importance and interest. PRACTICAL SYMPATHY FUND.

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Congregations or Ministers are not authorized in any way to represent themselves as in connection with or representing our Church unless they hold the Bishop's Licence as evidence thereof. The Bishop is not canonically empowered to issue his Licence until all rules necessary for the same have been duly complied with.

OFFICIAL SOLICITORS.

Messrs. Todd, Dennes and Lamb, solicitors, of 22, Chancery-lane, London, W.C., have by the General Standing Committee been unanimously appointed Official Solici tors of our Church. All Deeds of Property, &c., in connection with our Church should either be prepared by them, or their certificate that the same are correct, should be produced to the proper authority prior to the issue of the Bishop's Licence.

APPLICATIONS.

Applications respecting our Church may be addressed to the Rev. C. Snosswell, A.K.C., Vicar of Christ Church, Braintree, Essex; or to the Rev. G. J. Lacell, Rector of

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"BISH

From The Christian Echo.

To oppose

ISHOP GREGG, of 'The Reformed Episcopal Church,' otherwise The Reformed Church of England,' has made a good score at Southend, on the occasion of the recent School Board election. We read in the Reformed Church Record of March, 1886: During the past month the School Board election has caused no little excitement in Southend and neighbourhood. By the Free Protestant Churches were nominated three candidates, viz.:-Bishop Gregg, with Messrs. Freeman and Gossett. these the Conservative Party, who have, as a body, been strenuous opposers of our work here for years, brought forward four candidates, and another Conservative ran independently for the fifth seat, thus endeavouring, as on the last School Board, to shut out the Free Protestant Churches altogether. Amongst the Conservative candidates thus supported by the Conservative Party was a priest of very pronounced opinions, the same party having at the general election given their entire support to a member of the romanizing English Church Union. The result however of the School Board contest has been the most complete victory for the Free Protestant Churches. The following is

the poll as declared on the 13th ult. Bishop Greg Mr. Freeman, 770; Mr. Pawley, 739; Mr. Gosset, Rev. T. O. Reay, 571. The following candidates. unsuccessful:-Mr. Jones, 558; Mr. Wade, 111; and A Witty, 107. The poll is the heaviest ever taken at an municipal election here, 932 voters having taken part in the decision, whereas, at the last School Board election here only about 360 voted.' The result of the Prittlewell School Board Election has taken many by surprise, the Vicar* of the Established Church here being the lowest of the successful candidates, and Bishop Gregg being the highest."

"*Signed declaration in favour of Eastward position; petition in favour of Popish Vestments; and remonstrance against Purchas judgment."

THE

South Africa.

HE following extract from a valued correspondent's letter (dated March 8, 1886) from the Diocese of Natal will be read with painful interest :

"Delenda Natal seems to be the unanimous decree of the home prelates. But at all events his Grace of Canterbury might be polite enough to inform us in plain terms that this is so. Whereas we can get no reply to our formal address officially sent by our Diocesan Church Council, requesting the Bishops to reconsider their first unfavourable answer dated Feb. 6, 1885, which was sent us, as we consider, in ignorance of the true state of matters here. Meanwhile our church in Natal has well-nigh been reduced by our two Archdeacons to a state of anarchy, and hundreds of our people in Pietermaritzburg and Durban, and other parishes have left, and joined the Wesleyans, Congregationalists, &c. How the property of this diocese will be dealt with is a problem at present; but it is too large and valuable to be lost to us, and to be appropriated by the Ritualistic Church of South Africa, which has no legal title to it. Probably they will try to get a local act passed in our Natal Leglislative Council, authorising them to take our said property, as the only body now representing the English Church in this colony. Bishop Macrorie and his party are very sagacious, and reticent at present on this matter, but I suspect that this will be their line of proposed policy, in case no successor is appointed in the place of our late lawful Bishop of Natal."

[One of the most melancholy facts in this sad case is that Bishop Ryle of Liverpool is one of the home prelates by whose acts the Ritualistic party in Natal is helped and encouraged.]

Good men sometimes preach bad sermons; bad men never preach good ones.

WHOLE-HEARTED.-Things should not be done by halves. If it be right, do it boldly; if it be wrong, leave it undone. Every day is a little life, and our whole life is but days repeated.

TRUE SUCCESSION.-Luther learned from John of Wesel what John of Wesel learned from John Huss, and Huss had learned from Wycliffe what Wycliffe had learned from the Vaudois, the Vaudois had learned from the Paulicians what the Paulicians had learned from Paul, and what Paul had learned was through revelation from our Lord Jesus Christ himself.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

All Letters, Books for Review, &c., to be sent to the Editor of The Reformed Church Record, 51, Old Bailey, London, E.C.

All news should reach the Editor not later than the 18th of the month preceding that in which it is desired to appear.

All communications should be written on only one side of the paper and should be accompanied with the name and address of the writer, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.

The Editor does not undertake to return rejected communications. Those sending newspapers should plainly mark the paragraphs which they desire to be noticed.

THE REFORMED CHURCH RECORD can be had from any bookseller and newsvendor for one penny monthly, post free three-halfpence, by giving the name of the London publishers, Messrs. E. Marlborough, and Co, 51, Old Bailey, London, E.C.; or will be sent post free for one and sixpence per annum, by Mr. S. Page, 10, Aikin Street, Warrington.

Intending Advertisers should communicate with the Secretary, Advertisement Department, Reformed Church Record, 10, Bewsey Street, Warrington.

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W

Yours faithfully,

ENGLISH CHURCHMAN.

Church Reform.

E have examined, with some little care, no less than seven proposals, or recently published schemes, of Church Reform. They are as follows: 1, Cambridge (Liberal Members), advocating increased Lay responsibility and power. 2, Cambridge (Resident Members), advocating reforms in patronage, stipends, church government, &c. 3, Broad Church Party (Canon Fremantle) in favour of parochial councils, interchange of pulpits between "Churchmen" and others. 4, Rev. Wm. Walrond's General Scheme in favour of Relaxation of Act of Uniformity, &c. 5, English Church Union (Ritualistic), advocating "Church" authority, Diocesan Synods, "Church" discipline, &c. 6, Church Association, advocating full representation of laity,

limited "comprehensiveness," abolition of Episcopal Veto, &c. 7, Bishop Ryle's, which appears to us to be the most practical and sensible of the number from the standpoint. of an evangelical member of the Establishment.

From our standpoint however, as really protestant Churchmen, there appears to be one grave defect common to all the above proposals. Not one of these schemes proposes to remove those doctrinal flaws in "the ship's papers,' which have been taken advantage of by mutinous members of the ship's crew to steer the vessel herself Romeward. Some years since we remember to have seen (in we think it was the old "Rock" newspaper) what has been called "The Sliding Scale " from Truth to Rome. In this "scale," or, as we should prefer to call it, staircase, there were some seventy-seven steps, the first being "Scriptural Truth and Protestant Practice," the last being "Rome." Now, in our judgment, what ought to be the second step is entirely omitted, and such being the case, the person on such a "scale" misses a foothold which ought to be there, and, save by some unexpected power, goes sliding or slipping to the bottom. The first step is, as we have said, "Scriptural Truth and Protestant Practice," the second step is "surplice in Pulpit." Between these two, there ought to be, a Protestant Service Book by which "Scriptural Truth and Protestant Practice" are ecclesiastically maintained, otherwise there will be the facilis descensus (averno) to “priest” which is step 46, and to "auricular confession" which is step 69, on the "sliding scale." To put the matter in a nutshell; if there be a Prayer Book, which sanctions

priests," baptismal regeneration, the real presence, and auricular confession, and if there be men and women who favour these pernicious doctrines, not all the reforms in the world, short of eradicating these from the Prayer Book, will save the Establishment from the principles and practices which thousands in that body deplore as much as we do. Now this leads us to consider, from an ecclesiastical standpoint,

THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK.

The absorbing political topic just at present is "the Irish problem." This, for a time, blocks the way. How it will be solved, if ever, is not our province here to consider. Very soon, however, parliament must deal with disestablishment and disendowment. Ecclesiastically, the ritualists and their party are on the winning side. Even in Liverpool, supposed to have been a protestant stronghold, no less than five Churches have fallen to their lot. The plain fact is, the Establishment itself is on the "sliding scale,” and has already become the most powerful Romanizing agent in this land. As such, can we, as protestants, uphold it? No; we cannot, and we dare not. True protestants, worshipping in its pale, can only defend it conditionally, viz., upon its actual faithfulness to the principles of the protestant Reformation. The Established Church of England must, from a protestant stand-point, be (as an Establishment) either mended or ended. There is no sign of the former, we see then no alternative but the latter. As a Reformed Church we do not object to an Established religion as such, but, as a protestant church, we protest against (what now exists) Established Romanism. There are, as we all know, two great political parties in the state-the Radicals and the Tories. The former are politically on the winning side. They will

pull down the Establishment; the latter would try to keep it up. Its Romanism will, in either case, increase. There is this difference: as an Establishment, the State is responsible for its romanism; disestablished, the responsibility of the State, in this respect, ceases. Romanism we cannot accept, therefore the sooner it comes down the better. As a Church we place our religion before our politics. The Radicals, as a party, care "for none of these things;" hence they accord to us, as a Reformed Church, a fair field and no favour. The Tories, on the other hand, know that our success means the overthrow of the Roman leaven in the Establishment, and with that, the overthrow of the body of which that leaven has become a corporate part. Hence, as a party, Toryism can, to be consistent, give us no quarter. And to do them justice, the Tories, as a party, have had no mercy upon us. A wealthy Tory Magistrate once said to us, "I know that your principles are right; but your success means the downfall of the Established Church, hence I must oppose you. In fact, I must act either against my party or against my conscience, and I don't know which is the greater sin." He is a dear good fellow, and we can only say that he has stuck to his party, and in the long run we believe that he will feel that he had wished he had followed his conscience. For true protestants there is absolutely no ecclesiastical hope in the Church of England. And when it is disestablished it must be disendowed, so that the romanizers may not have public money wherewith to propagate their pernicious nonsense. A Dignitary of the Anglican Church, who is now deceased, said, in effect, to Bishop Gregg, when the Reformed Church of England was being organized, "Disestablishment will soon come; then disruption; then protestant churchpeople will be looking out for an ecclesiastical refuge. Organize your work on evangelical, protestant, and conservative Church lines, and patiently wait, and when disestablishment comes, you will have a large influx to your Reformed Church." This advice we have followed. We have a Revised Prayer Book, a Revised Hymn Book, Revised Canons and Constitution; and as to organization, we have divided the whole of England into Dioceses. As Churchmen, we are evangelical, protestant and conservative, and we find, as we are being understood, that we meet with increased sympathy from truly evangelical and protestant members in the Church of England.

A DEFINITE POLICY.

There appears to us to be one great want in the present crisis amongst the evangelical and protestant Ministers and Members of the Established Church viz. They are not united as to a POLICY. They want exactly what we have, if they could have it without abandoning their prestige and privileges in the Establishment. Let any one of them read our Revised Prayer Book, our Hymn Book and our Canons (published by Messrs E. Marlborough, 51, Old Bailey, E. C.) and our personal knowledge of many of them assures us that they would feel that these are what they want. For a work of Reform there must be practically two things viz. (1) A definite folicy and (2) suitable people to carry it out. There is no doubt that our work has been, and possibly is, misunderstood, and misrepresented, but the tide is turning in our favour. One thing is quite certain; We know exactly what we want to do; and, by God's help,

we mean to do it. No weapon hitherto formed against us has prospered, although many have been tried. Through God's mercy, we have continued until this day. During the past few weeks, a new site has in one case (Lancashire) been purchased for us at a large price (£900), and in another case we have, on the recommendation of those outside our own body, been asked to accept a still more responsible trust, in another part of England. Our policy has been put to the test; it has stood the test; and a consequent favourable reaction has set in. Three stages (to use the words of the Dean of Canterbury) must be experienced, viz., the pooh-pooh stage, the pelting stage, and the prosperity stage. God has done great things for us, whereof we are glad; and we thank Him and take courage. Our policy is in a word that of a truly Protestant Episcopal Church, and we mean so to continue; and the chief reason why we have not adopted that name is because it is that of a foreign branch of the Church of England, which is, if possible, more Romish than the Church of England herself.

THE REVISED VERSION OF THE OLD

TESTAMENT.

The Rev. J. S. Kroenig reports in his last journal: "There is one subject which requires a serious and prayerful attention of the Lord's people, viz.: that to the Jewish Missionary a new obstacle has been put in his way by the Revised Version of the Old Testament. Already has the Jewish press exultingly rejoiced that the Christology (ie. the teaching about Christ) has disappeared in that Revised Version; and in a recent revision by the Rev. Dr. Alder, the delegate chief Rabbi, the reverend gentleman hoped that the Revised Version will form the basis for a new edition of the Jewish Bible."-The Jewish Intelligencer, April, 1886.

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