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THE

Reformed Church Record,

TH

JUNE, 1886.

The Church Times

On the Episcopacy of Our Church.

HE Church Times in its issue of April 16, 1886, has written an editorial article on the ecclesiastical validity of orders in the Reformed Church of England. We regard the testimony of the Church Times as important chiefly for three reasons :

1. It cannot be said to be friendly to our principles. 2. It has knowledge in the matter of ecclesiasticism.

3. It is well aware of the efforts made to throw discredit on our position.

The published testimony to the validity of our orders, by such men as the late Dr. Pusey, of Oxford, and the late Dean Stanley, of Westminster, practically has long since set the matter at rest; and for the Church Times now to vindicate our position is, to say the least, honourable, and must be very distasteful to such men as the Established prelates of Liverpool (Ryle), London (late Exeter, Temple), and Worcester (Philpott), who must be at least foolish in attempting to question the validity of an Episcopacy which is identical with their own. We can scarcely wonder at the Church of Rome, in the face of the action of these prelates, describing them as respectable laymen. As for Bishop Ryle, with all his boasted protestantism, it ought to be generally known that he has treated us, because he thinks that we are weak, in a way in which he dare not treat Romanism, because he believes it to be strong. And we commend to such an autocrat the words of the Church Times, which are as follows (April 16, 1886):

"We believe that Dr. Gregg is still Bishop of the Reformed Episcopalians in England He derives his orders from a Bishop who was consecrated by Bishop Cummins after he had seceded and before he was deposed. His orders are not invalid, and he CAN ordain and consecrate. . . In America it is held that the irregu larity of the whole proceeding and the heretical intention of

may

those concerned have made all the consecrations of the sect null and void, but we are unable to accept this conclusion." [The italics, &c., are ours. We thank the Church Times. We have long been grateful for the courtesy shown to us by the High Church party. It be well here to state that the Right Rev. T. H. Gregg, D.D., was duly and canonically consecrated a Bishop in the Church of God, by three validly consecrated Bishops in the Canterbury succession, and that the orders of the Reformed Church of England are exactly the same as those of his Grace of Lambeth. The orders of the Reformed and Established Churches of England stand or fall together, and no one knows this better than Archbishop Benson.]

THE

The Church Association.

HE annual meeting, held in Exeter Hall on the 14th ult., was well attended. The chair was taken by Lord Robert Montagu, who delivered an admirable address. Having stated that the object of the Church Association was to preserve protestantism in Church and State, and having expressed regret at the apathy of the people, his lordship drew a graphic picture of the parallelism, in the 17th and 19th centuries, of Rome's tactics as regarded Ireland and England. His Lordship's personal experience in the Church of Rome showed to him the terrible political efforts of that Church, from whose thraldom he has mercifully been delivered. He closed a calm, courteous, learned, telling, and most able address by urging that all should unite on the basis of protestantism; that John Bull, now napping, should awake and put on his boots for active work; and that the time has come when the battle of the Reformation must be fought over again.

The report read, and we presuine prepared, by the secretary, was, as described by a subsequent speaker, "pessimistic," and reflective of "surrounding gloom."

The tone of the meeting was decidedly good, and the spirit of the speeches excellent. Much good advice was given; many suggestions made; but we are bound to state that much as we sympathise with the Association in its principles and object, we left the meeting with a heavy heart. We were told what we were not to do: we heard fully of those things against which we should protest. But there was an undeniable admission that beyond this the Association (described by one speaker as "the only protestant organisation in the Church of England") had admittedly no leader and no practical policy; and while one excellent friend urged the audience to "set forth an arm to be thoroughly united," we were not told how this union was to have any practical effect.

The spirit of the meeting was, as we have said excellent, and it is with true sorrow that we feel that such must evaporate unless utilised as the motive power of something practical. We do not like to criticise, and we do so with mingled feelings, but if "the only Protestant organisation in the Church of England" can find more than enough space for its largely advertised annual meeting on the floor of the Lower (Exeter) Hall; if the platform had upon it almost, if not altogether, men, noble men, whose grey hairs indicate that they are not young; if the audience were composed of

a vast majority of ladies of mature years; if scarcely a young man, lay or clerical, was to be seen in the room; if nothing practical, as a check for Sacerdotalism, were even suggested, the very excellence of the spirit which undoubtedly prevailed; the very goodness of the speakers, and the speeches, which struck a sympathetic chord in many hearts, indicated that the new wine of the perennial grace in those hearts must soon burst the old bottles of negation, and, except a new bottle be found to retain and contain it, must evaporate in sound of lung and plaudits of the hand.

Transfer the spirit of those present at the last Church Association meeting to the practical agency of the Reformed Church of England, and we believe that in fewer months than the years during which the Church Association has existed such a throb of Christian protestantism would pulsate through the British Empire as to make it instinct with life.

The day may not be far distant when we, as a Church, may hold our first public meeting, and we know at least. one honoured member of the Council of the Church Association whom we should like to see in the chair on such an occasion, and who, as a thinker and a leader, was once described to us in the very suggestive words :-" What he thinks, he says, and what he says, HE MEANS."

The spirit of the Protestant Reformation in England is not dead, and by the grace of God, both politically and ecclesiastically, the dear old land shall yet again feel its power; and the candle lighted by the Lord Jehovah shall never be extinguished. "When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him."

NEW ZEALAND.

Bishop Gregg has received a letter from Wellington, New Zealand, under date March 26th, 1886, from which the following is an extract :—

"We have three churches under Bishop Hadfield; they are all high, and getting worse. Could you send us out a faithful man, one who will preach salvation through Christ Jesus alone? for many who dislike the increased bowings and turnings will not go to chapels.”

[We can only state that anything which our Church can do to help evangelical and Protestant Churchpeople in New Zealand or elsewhere will be both a pleasure and a privilege.]

A

Anglicanism.

VALUED Correspondent sends to us the following in reference to an Anglican Priest trained at All Saints', Clifton, and now beneficed in the Diocese of Bishop T. L. Claughton, the Anglican Prelate who describes the work of the Reformed Church of England as "mischief":"The belief that the following will be of interest must be my excuse for writing. As to the truth of it, an eye witness told us on our way home from Church last Sunday (May 9, 1886.) Mrs. having recently died, the room in which the corpse was laid, was hung in white, massed over with crosses ; candles in numbers were incessantly burning; one was kept alight on either side of the head (of the corpse) with a crucifix above, and in front of the face. But (and it is this which cannot but make one burn), until the funeral, the Rev., a clergyman of the Established Church of England, came round every day, in his vestment of some

sort, and prayed alone over the body for a considerable time, doubtless a series of Romish prayers for the dead. If you have not already heard of this, I think it must surprise you. I could not believe that things had reached such a fearful state as this, and in dear old Southend too! It may be the practice for ought I know; and since such men follow in the corrupted steps of Rome so far, one is prompted to ask, 'Is such a service accompanied by a fee?"" [We feel grateful to our worthy correspondent for his valued letter, but, alas, if he were only to look more closely into such a system he would, like the prophet of old, "see greater abominations than these."]

E

Romanism and Ritualism.

NGLISHMEN, remember that your very name is Christian, and therefore, for yourselves, for your children, for your coun try, and moreover, for the European nations, stand fast by your glorious Protestantism. If Protestantism is lost in England, which is the bulwark of the European Reformation, Protestantism is lost on the European continent, and our efforts at the evangelization of Italy, Spain, and other parts of the world, will fall to the ground. Let it not be said that when we in Italy are freeing ourselves from the grasp of Popery, England is rushing pell-mell into the embrace of Popery. Let England remain what it has been for more than three centuries, the beacon of pure Christianity, the light of the world. If you have received immaculate the inheritance of your glorious Reformation, it is your duty to transmit that inheritance immaculate to your children and grandchildren. Pray to God that, as He has made England what she is, the first nation in the world, through the Reformation, she may remain what she is. Do not encourage, with your presence and your prayers, Popish idolatry in disguise. Be on the alert, because many bona fide Churchmen are entrapped gradually into Romanism by ritualistic traitors. Remember I am an ex-priest, an ex-monk, and I know more of Romanism than all the English Protestants put together, and I tell you that the Ritualism which is now a leading feature in some of your places of worship, is nothing else but the preparation, the forerunner, of Romanism in your country. Therefore, oppose it by your words and your prayers; refuse to subscribe to it. Beware of Papists in Christian garb and Protestant disguise. If persons wish to turn Roman Catholics, they have perfect liberty to do so, but we must condemn those who are not true to their Protestant profession. Stand by the Church of the Martyrs; by the Church of Latimer, of Ridley, and of Cranmer; for the purity and simplicity of your Protestantism. Will you save your glorious Reformation, the mother of your civil and religious liberties? Englishmen ; the Bible, and the Bible alone, and your Reformation and your country are safe. Stay by the Bible; shield the Bible with the mightiness of your nationality. Defend the Bible from all attacks within and without.-Gavazzi.

REPLIES TO CORRESPONDENTS, &c. [Our Replies &c., are given in good faith, but we do not accept the responsibility of their legal accuracy or otherwise.]

Trifles -It is so; but remember Young's words: "Small sands the mountain, moments make the year, and trifles life." Profane Words.-The Act 19 George II., c. 21, sec. I, provides that if any person "shall profanely curse or swear," the penalty on conviction before one justice shall be, for "every day labourer, common

Altars. The assertion by Bishop Ryle that "The Church of England has no altars" is, we regret to state, not correct. The Coronation

Service is our authority, wherein the word "altar" in reference to a structure in the Church of England is found about fifty times. Balham.-We have not seen the letter to which you kindly refer, and we know nothing of it.

Autocratic Popery.-We are credibly informed that the American branch of the Reformed Episcopal Church (which has not any jurisdiction over the Reformed Church of England) is seeking for a Bill in Canada to "depose, deprive or remove any person or persons bearing office therein " We feel ashamed of such a proceeding; and for our own part, if we desired Papacy, we should prefer it genuine from Rome than spurious from America. Ore of the great mistakes which our American brethren of the R. E.C. have made is that they have tried (thank God, without success) to rule the world from the United States. We have much sympathy with the American R.E.C., but absolutely none with the bumptiousness (we can use no better word) of some of its members. As thorough ingrained dissenters, the ecclesiastical assumptions of such men are, to say the least, ridiculous. Canada. The first Synod of the Reformed Episcopal Church in Canada was organised, under Bishop Gregg, in the City of Montreal on October 29, 1879. The American R.E.C. had not any synodical existence there until May 26, 1880.

Moncton, N.B.-We deeply regret such language from a Christian Minister. "Sounds straightforward, but lacks truth". When he thinks of it, we feel that none will regret more than himself having penned such words.

South Africa. We take the following from the London Record, April 22,
1886. "BISHOP BECCLES. --A letter has been received from Maritz-
burg in which is said "Bishop Beccles has written out from England
to the supposed leaders of the Colensoite scheme at Natal, offering to
come out to them and step into Dr. Colenso's shoes, if invited to do
so, irrespective of jurisdiction and mission, and in defiance of the
Archbishop of Canterbury." Church Review. [Bishop Beckles has
since contradicted this statement. -ED., R.C.R.]
Wellington, N.Z.-The R.C. Records have been, and will be, forward-
ed as requested. A copy of Canons has also been sent to you.
Rumour.-Do not forget the lines:

The fertile brain of an ingenious youth
Suggests within himself a wish and then,
Most strictly economical of truth,
His wish becomes the subject of his pen.

Crushed. Just look up :-

The darkest cloud by Him is riven,
That we may see the yon bright heaven,
Look up, and you shall surely see,

The ray of light which shines on thee. Orangeism.—If Orangemen will honestly support good King William's motto, "The Protestant religion and the liberties of England I will maintain" they have our hearty spmpathy. But if they mean to tack themselves on to a political party regardless of religious principle we say the sooner they become disorganise and abolished the better. Edgbaston. We thank you for your valued communications, which we have read with painful interest.

Hymns. "The spacious firmament on high" and "When all Thy mercies O my God," are both by Addison.

Church Association. The Church Association has, we believe, truly at heart to defend the doctrines of "the Protestant Reformed Religion established by Law;" but it never can supply Protestant Episcopal services to distressed churchmen.

Churchwardens. In the Established Church of England it is not necessary that a Churchwarden should be a communicant; in our Reformed Church it is. In both, they must be admitted. Minister's Stipend.-Remember that a scandalous maintenance makes a scandalous ministry. How can a minister be free from cares if

those to whom he ministers allow him to have them? We often think of the late Col. Martin's words, as he looked at the luxuries in the house of a rich professedly Christian family, where he went to plead for Heathen Missions : It is very evident that the creed of the owners of this house is, Do not seek first the Kingdom of God." Manuscripts. We cannot undertake to return manuscripts. Worn-out.-We should not say that you are worn out. hope not. Remember the following lines, and practice them: Great temperance, little care,

Easy work, and open air.

At least we

Norway. Your proposed trip ought to be very enjoyable. We are glad to hear that the Hotel at Falside, on the Nord Fiord, is a comfortable one, and that the climate in June and July is almost perfect.

Pure Truth Mission.-We are much pleased to learn, by the fourth annual report, of the progress of this good work. During the four years of its existence 88,492 publications have been circulated, through its instrumentality, chiefly amongst the sailors visiting the important and increasing port of Hull, and the financial expenses incurred have been sin.ply nominal. The secretary is Mr. G. Stephenson, 12, Crown Terrace, Aulaby Road, Hull. Ritualism.-The Rev. R. J. Noyes, B.D., Rector of Fertagh, has recently published (London, Wileman) a tract on Ritualism, the wilful sin of Heb. x. 26. Mr. Noyes' pamphlet is both clear and able. We heartily commend it.

Mildmay-The Mildmay Park Conference will, God willing, take place on June 23rd, 24th, and 25th instant. The subject is "The Believer's Separation unto God."

Holiday Home. There is an excellent Holiday Home in connection with the Y.W.C.A, at Oxford Terrace, Southend, Essex. G.F. We thank you much for your lines, but we are so pressed for space that we cannot always insert, when we would, much that is excellent and useful.

W.D.R.-We feel truly obliged for newspaper containing notice of meeting of our General Synod.

The Rock.-Yes, we have seen, and read, the article on the "Prayer Book Revision Society" in the Rock of May 7, 1886. But remember that the Rock (as it now is) is not what it once was. It now describes itself as "popular" i. e., that it desires to be so. We do not believe that being "popular" means of necessity being right. Popular We papers, and "popular" writers, like to be with the crowd. prefer principle to popularity, and we consider that Lord Ebury, the Hon. and Rev. E. V. Bligh, and those with them, are worthy of all credit, because, whether the cause be popular or not, they have through evil report and good report, stuck to principle; and without Prayer Book Revision you might as easily stem Romish practices in the Church of England, as by filtering the Thames at its junction with the ocean, we might hope to purify that river nearer to its source. Chester. We feel grateful for your kind words, and deeply sympathize with you in the state of affairs to which you refer.

Politics. As a Church we have not any politics. Our members may be radicals or tories, liberals or conservatives as seemeth best to themselves. Individually our people may be partizans on one side or the other; but officially we are politically neutral. J.C.--We thank you very much, but we have a copy. ber that our space is very limited.

Kindly remem

Anglo Irish Clercial Society.-The Hon. Secretaries are the Rev. J. H. Rose, Vicar of Clerkenwell, London, and the Rev. T. Rooke, Vicar of Fakenhall, Redditch.

The "Times."-On Saturday (May 1st, 1886) for the fourth time in its history, the Times, owing to the large number of advertisements, consisted of three full sheets, or twenty-four pages. The three previous occasions were on June 21 and 26, 1861, and June 14, 1884. Decrease of Methodism.-The London correspondent of the Manchester Guardian writes :-A friend who has seen the returns of Church membership from 28 districts which comprise the strength of British Methodism outside the metropolis informs me that they show a net decrease of 1,140 members on the year. Whilst Lancashire Methodism more than holds its own, Yorkshire Methodism shows a decline. Nearly half of the net decrease reported is in the Hull and Halifax and Bradford districts, where in the past special revival missions have been most vigorously carried on. Many of the prominent leaders

in Methodism are beginning to question the wisdom of these spasmodic religous efforts, and to advocate working the circuits more on the old lines. The numbers of members "ceasing to meet" increases nearly every year, and some idea may be formed of the annual wear and tear where it takes on an average 45,000 new members to fill gaps caused by death, emigration, removals, and lapsed members. The Lye, Worc.--The term "preach" is in church matters, one of a legal character. But the Bishop has no power to prevent the Vicar delivering a religious or other address in the Congregational Chapel ; neither has he any power to prevent the Vicar from asking the Minister of the Chapel to deliver such address in the pulpit of the Church. This queston received a practical solution years ago by Bishop Gregg in the parish of East Harborne in the Diocese of Lichfield, adjoining that of Worcester to which your special case refers.

Sacramental Wine. In the Reformed Church of England the Wine at the Lords' Supper should, if possible “be the pure juice of the grape.” "The Cedar is Fallen.”—This booklet (London: Partridge. Brighton : Friend.) is a beautiful and touching Tribute of Respect to the late Earl of Chichester, from the pen of one of the earl's personal friends, the Rev. J. B. Figgis, M.A., of Brighton. We cannot say too much in its favour.

RECEIVED WITH THANKS. -The Montreal Weekly Witness - Birkenhead Daily Albion (April 19, 1886)-The Marchioness of W-Prospectus of Fever Thermometers and Stylographic Pens Bristol Mercury (April 22, 1886) The Montreal Daily Herald (April 13. 1886) The Church Union (New York, April 15th, 1886)-Treatment &c. by J Marion Sims, M.D. (Indianapolis, U.S.A.)- Portsmouth-Astley-The Natal Mercury, (March 29, 1886)-Protestant Pillar (March, 1886) - Memorial Card, Mr. Stephen Head, Ibberton -Wayside Words (May, 1886)---The Coal Measures, and what they teach, by Handel Cossham. F.G.S. Coal and its Uses, a lecture by Handel Cossham, Esq., F.G.S.--The Birmingham Daily Gazette (April 27, 1886)-Prospectus, Wynch Bros.--The Bristol Mercury (April 24, 1886)-Monthly Intelligencer, Birmingham Christian Evidence Association (April, 1886)---C. de B., Nice - Railway Guide &c., Colonial and Indian Exhibition Church Defence and Church Reform (E.C U.) -The British Protestant (May, 1886)-Life and Light (May, 1886) -The Irish Temperance League (May 1, 1886) — Edgbaston-The Liberator (May 1, 1886)—Guild of S. Alban the Martyr (London: Cull) --Are not Anglican Orders a fact in history? (Rome: L. Piale. London: Parker)--The Voice of Warning (May, 1886)-Prospectus of Mildmay Midsummer Conference, June 23, 24, and 25, 1886 Battersea-The Weekly Record (Gillingham, Dorset, April 29, 1886--The Silver Morn (May, 1886)-The Sentinel (Timaru, New Zealand)--H.C.S, New Zealand, 26th March, 1886 The Sunday Closing Reporter (May 3rd, 1886) - Circular (containing two resolutions) from the Church Association-Circular of Father Ignatius' Eight Days' Mission in the Town Hall, Westminister, from May 16 h to May 23rd ult.-Prospectus of the Church Portrait Journal (11, Burleigh Street, W.C)-The Braintree and Bocking Advertiser (5th May, 1886)-What and where is the True Church (London: S.P.C.K.)-Quarterly Paper of the Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society (May. 1886)-Statement of the "Guild of S. Alban the Martyr"-The Montreal Herald (April 28, 1886) — "Life," "Accepted," "One," (Pure Truth Mission, Hall) --The Fourth Annual Report, Pure Truth Mission, April 30th, 1886) – Advice to Dyspeptics-Callander, N.B. -The Northern Daily Mail, West Hartlepool, May 12, 1886-The Sunday Closing Reporter (May 3rd, 1886) -J.C., Patricroft New Wanstead, E.---The Earl of Ranfurly—Silver Hill, St. Leonard's-on-Sea—The Rock (May 7, 1886) The Christian Age (February 3, 1886)--Chester-Ritualism, the Wilful Sin, by Rev. R. J. Noyes, B.D. (London: Wileman)-The Natal Mercury (April 19, 1886)—Rev. R. J. N., B. D.-The thing vulgarly called "Disestablishment, &c.," by the Archdeacon of Taunton (London: Ridgway) –Memorial to Convocation of Canterbury from English Church Union, signed by Lord Halifax-H.G., Warrington-The Porcupine (May 15, 1886)—-Circular, British Medical Association-The Rock (March 26, 1886)-The Church Times (April 16, 1886)-Bolton-Patricroft-J.C.-H.G.— Mildmay N. Streeter-House of Commons-"The Cedar is Fallen," by the Rev. J. B. Figgis, M.A. (London: Partridge.)

OF THE KING. The Authorised Hymnal of the Reformed Church of England. Price Is. 6d, 2s., and upwards.

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MISSION HYMNS, 2d.; 6d.

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This Book deserves to succeed and we hope it will do so.-The Record.
A singularly good collection and rich in standard favourites.-The Rock.

I s.

A very capital Hymn Book, free from any Romanizing taint.—The Christian. Sound and Scriptural. - The Protestant.

In every way worthy of the title.-Protestant Pillar.

A pure Hymnal We trust it will have a great sale.-Protestant Standard.

A Singularly full and complete collection.-Night and Day.

Free from the taint of Sacerdotalism.-British Protestant.

A truly Evangelical compilation.-Voice of Warning.
The best Hymn Book extant.--Protestant Times.

London: E. Marlborough and Co., 51, Old Bailey, C.E.

Common Prayer, may be had by sending a stamped and addressed envelope to Mr. F. T. GREGG, T.C.D.. Southend, Essex.

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THE REVISED BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER.
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This is the only authorised Prayer Book of the Reformed Episcopal Church in the United Kingdom, and its use is enjoined in all congregations having canonical union with the said Church. It is undoubtedly the best revision of the Book of Common Prayer ever published. It has been pronounced even by the Right Hon. LORD EBURY as an improvement on (and is cheaper than) that issued by the Prayer Book Revision Society. London: E. Marlborough and Co., 51, Old Bailey, E.C