Cl)c General Contiention of 1S71. I REPORT OF THE COUNCIL OF THE 31mefican PRESENTED TO THE UNION AT ITS REGULAE MEETINGS, HOY. 9th, 1871. NEW YORK ; PRINTED FOR THE AMERICAN CHURCH UNION. 1871 . REPORT, ETC. The Council of the American Church Union, in making their Report to the meeting of the Union, assembled so soon after the adjournment of the General Convention of the Church, feel that they are called ujjon to enter ujDon a review of the proceedings of that body, especially with reference to the bearing of its action upon the principles and interests which the Union is established to maintain and defend. INCREASE OE THE EPISCOPATE, ETC. Before proceeding to remark upon the action of the Conven- tion with respect to matters of controversy within the Church, the Council would advert to the jiractical work accomplished in the amendment of the Constitution and Canons. So far as the Council are able to discover, these amendments are all of them such as may under God’s blessing tend to increase the efficiency of the Church’s organization, and to promote the dissemination of her principles. A Constitutional amendment, now finally adopted, removes some of the restrictions which formerly hindered the increase of the Episcopate and the division of Dioceses, substituting for those restrictions the requirement of some provision for the support of the Bishop. Though the Council would not be understood as giving their entire approval to this latter clause of the amendment, which seems to bring into undue prominence the merely financial considerations pertaining to the division of Dioceses, they feel that the Union is to be heartily congratulated upon the prospect of a wise development of the Episcopate. The condition just referred to may possibly embarrass some project for the division of a Diocese, under cir- cumstances which make siich a division really necessary ; but its 4 ordinary effect will be the prevention of ill-considered action, to be followed by unavailing regrets. Nor can the Council fail to remark that Dioceses unprovided with funds for the support of their necessary institutions, the Episcopate, Missions, Schools, etc., are peculiarly liable to become the prey of persons, who, refusing to expend their money in sustaining the regular work of the Church, are ever ready to use it in the interest of a party. The increasing opportunities for Church extension are constantly calling for new means of Missionary work ; and it is most grati fying to see that the General Convention is ever ready to devise such means. The Dioceses of Texas and California, each finding its field entirely too large for the supervision of one Bishop, ap- plied to have their boundaries reduced, so that the district set off might become distinctly Missionary ground ; and though this could not be accomplished under the present Constitution, an amendment to legalize it is proposed for adoption in 1874-, and meanwhile, obviously as a temporary measure, Assistant-Bish- ops are to be authorized to supply the pressing needs of Episco- pal ministry and supervision. In connection with this, the Council call attention to the great development of the Mission- ary spirit in the Church, as shown at the late meetings of the Board of Missions and of the General Convention, more especial- ly in regard to the Indian tribes and to the colored people at the South. SISTERHOODS, ETC. The importance of lay co-operation, through organizations for special work, whether in the education of the young, or in charitable’ ministrations to the poor, the sick and the erring, or in the more ordinary routine of the Church’s duty to her children, seems now, more than ever before, to be recognized. Not only have Sisterhoods to a great extent overcome the suspi- cion with which at one time they were regarded, but there are signs that men also are to have their services accejited, even if not called by God to the sacred Ministry ; and the Council are , informed that, chiefly through the influence of the Rev. Dr, Craik, provision is now made by Canon for the employment of Readers, somewhat as in the Church of England during the past few years, to supplement the Ministry of tlie Clergy, and make up to some extent for the lamentable deficiency in their numbers. 0 THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION. But the work for which, probably more than for any other, the Convention of 1871 will be remembered, is the thorough revi- sion of the Canons upon Theological Education. Without enter- ing into greater detail than would be possible in this Report, the Council can only state that the effect of the new system must be not only to raise the ordinary standard of requirement for ad- mission to the Ministry, but to render it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for unqualified persons, even in exceptional cases, to be advanced to the Priesthood. The Council are persuaded that the Union have cause to rejoice in this, independently of the geneml considerations which must be at once apparent— the greater dignity and efficiency in all departments of Church work of a trained and educated Ministry, the advantage which such a Ministry must give the Church in her continual controversies with the ablest minds, whether on the side of Rationalism or of Romanism, and the edification of our people in the faith once delivered to the Saints. Beside these, the Council apprehend that sound Theological Education is one of the most powerful friends of those principles which the Union is more especially oiganized to maintain. Uo earnest Churchman, familiar with the controversies of the day, can, it is thought, have omitted to notice that ignorance, and its twin-brother, prejudice, are the chief opponents which obstruct the progress of Church principles on every side. Were it not for these, it would seem hardly possible for doctrines held and taught by a long series of honoured divines in our own and our Mother Church ever since the Reformation, to be- confounded with those against which that Reformation was a^ protest— or for practices that can be traced to the Primitive Church to be charged with symbolizing doctrines, the conclusive proof of whose falsity is to be found in their hav- ing been first heard of in later times. The Council firmly believe that the greater number who now oppose the Church’s distinc- tive principles would be converted into earnest advocates of them, if they were thoroughly learned in theology and Church history ; and they would therefore impress upon the members of the Union the duty of doing everything in their power to pro- mote the cause of education for the Holy Ministry. 6 ( the hymnal. Several other matters connected with the legislation of the Church might worthily occupy the attention of the Union, such as that Canon which opens the door of hope to erring brethren who have been deposed from the Ministry, and that which pro- vides a regular and judical tribunal for determining differences between Ministers and Congregations; but the Council will not do more than mention these as the most important. The adop- tion by the Convention of a new Hymnal for the use of the Church, and the withdrawal of the authority formerly given to the Bishops to license in their respective Dioceses hymns from the collections known as Hymns Ancient and Modern and Hymns for Church and Home^ seem to demand more extended remark ; and the Council regret to say that there seems to have been in this action a departure from the policy for which the Convention was otherwise distinguished, of giving increased facilities for the practical work of the Church. It is certainly very difficult to see why, except upon the most narrow principles hymns used during the past few years by tens of thousands of our people in hundreds of churches, and found to promote true devotion and the heartiness of our worship, should not be retained in the new Hymnal. This, the Council regret to say, is the fact; and they cannot find that in the hymns now for the first time introduced there is any compensation for the loss, while some of them are wholly unsuited to be used in our churches under the sanction of the General Convention. At the same time, the Council gratefully recognize the advance made in the new Hymnal over that which has been for many years ordinarily used ; and they would not be understood as expressing any opinion as to the lawfulness or expediency of continuing to use Hymns Ancient and Modern. Ho action upon the subject is recommended to the Union; but the Council are satisfied that individual members may be most usefully employed in preparing, before the next General Convention, suggestions for the improvement of the Hymnal, and educating the mind of the Church to adopt them. EADICAL MOVEMENTS. The Council have now to refer to the movements, so carefully prepared before the late Convention, to secure changes in the Prayer Book and in the system of the Church, such as the } / 7 Union would have been bound to resist with all its power, if they bad been at all likely to succeed. It will be remembered that, about two years ago, nine Bishops united in an appeal to their brethren in the Episcopate for the liberty to use “ alternate phrases ” in the Office for Infant Baptism, Disaffected persons were thus encouraged to hope that the Convention of ISYl would so far yield to their demands as to weaken the witness of the Church to her faith in the “ One Baptism for the Remission of sms.” Certain newspapers have for three yaars kept up a continual cry for changes in the Prayer Book and in the Canons, to favour the views of that section in the Cimrch which repudi- ates her plain principles ; and several Memorials — some of them asking plainly for radical changes in the Prayer Book or in the Canon regulating its use, and for the removal of the barriers which keep dissenting ministers from officiating in our churches, and some of them, while really intended to accomplish the same object, so carefully drawn as to tempt conservative but unwary Churchmen to sign them— have recently been circulated far and wide throughout the Church. In the presence of this apparently formidable organization to subvert Church principles, the Council felt that the true strength of the American Church Union was in quietness and confidence. They have, therefore, presented no counter-petitions or remonstrances, and sanctioned no publications to counteract the influence of the movement. They felt that the mind of the Church was too firmly settled in regard to these matters for any danger of radical change, and that active opposition would only give an undue importance to a party, whose impotence could best be demonstrated by the result of its labors. As the Council look back to the Conven- tion^ now past, they find the policy of the Union abundantly justified. A declaration has, indeed, been put forth by the Bishops ; but it may at least be doubted whether the proposi- tion which it denies has ever been affirmed — the Council will not say by any theologian of our communion, but by any person whatever, with the exception of those who have at the same time assailed the Church’s teaching. The unanimity of the declaration, securing the assent of Bishops known to hold the highest views of the Sacramental teaching of the Church, is the answer to any possible charge that it involves a surrender or compromise of the truth. Such a charge, the Council are aware, IS likely to be made by two parties, not for the first time united' 8 in an attack upon the true principles of the Church ; hut the Council, while not called upon to consider the policy of making such declarations, are confident that the position of the Church, with respect to the doctrine of Baptismal Regeneration, is as secure as ever before against the attack of Romanists or other opponents. This concession, if it may he so called — this denial of that which was never affirmed — is the sum total of the result of all the agitation for revision and liberty during the last three years. The Memorials which had been so laboriously circulated were indeed jJresented; but the Council are informed that the venerable Prelate to whom they were intrusted in the House of Bishops did not even cause them to be read or referred, but moved that they should be laid upon the table. In the Lower House, the Committee on the Prayer Book reported that it was inexpedient to grant their prayer ; and so without debate, and it would seem without regret, they were consigned to their tomb in the archives of the Com’^ention. They are not even to be printed in the Journal. Thus ends the story of the great agitation to break down the principles of the Church’s Ministry and Liturgy. The Council feel that there is in it abundant cause to thank God and take courage. For the future they are of opinion that the Union will find it necessary to keep a careful watch upon those whose efforts have thus been met; and they ai’e confirmed in their con- viction of the importance of the organization, which, even by the fact of its existence, ready to act at any critical moment, exercises no inconsiderable influence for good. The policy of the Union is not to keep itself before the public by unnecessary protestations, but quietly to watch for the time when it may be necessary to act. RITUAL. The next subject to which the Council would refer is that of Ritual, and they feel that the Church may heartily congratulate herself ujion the failure of all attempts to restrain her liberty in this respect. The Council do not wish to be understood as op- posed to well-considered, liberal and fair legislation to iiroduce greater uniformity ; but, on the one hand, they conceive that the present is by no means a fit time for 2iermanent and decisive action, and, on the other, they are admonished, by the history of the English Church, of the danger which attends any Act of Uni- formity. The view which the Council hold is one in the correct- 9 ness of which they are confirmed by the expressions used in the Resolution finally adopted by both Houses and in the Pastoral Letter. “ Ritualism is mainly a question of j.taste, temi^erament and constitution, until it becomes an expression of doctrine.” As such, since the tastes, temperaments and constitutions of men cannot be reduced to uniformity by any known process (though, as in the Roman Church, which the Council do not regard as a model to be imitated, they may be rigidly repressed). Ritual is only to be condemned when it expresses a false doctrine ; and this the Convention, in common, the Council are assured, with every member of the Union, “ decidedly condemns.” PASTORAL LETTER — ADORATIOIf. The Council jwoceed in conclusion to remark upon the Pastoral Letter ; and they do so with profound reverence and submis- sion. As connected with what has just been said, they would first direct the attention of the Union to the passage of which the first words have been already quoted. It is there said that the objectionable doctrine expressed by certain Ritualism is that of the adoration of the elements in the Holy Eucharist. The Coun- cil are quite aware that the passage in question may be claimed (on both sides, as they have already remarked in regard to the declaration on the force of the word regenerate as a condemna- tion ot the adoration of our Blessed Lord as spiritually present in the Eucharist ; but the Council, after carefully perusing the par- agraph in question, consider themselves amply justified in re-as- suring the members of the Union upon this point. The “ awful error” spoken of is the adoration of“ the elements themselves; ” and Ritual acts intended to set forth the doctrine of Eucharistic adoration, in the sense which implies no such error, are only dis- couraged on account of their being liable to misconstruction. Otherwise the Bishops would, to adopt the language' of Sir R. J. Phillimore in pronouncing the judgmentof the highest Ecclesi- astical Court in England, have “passed sentence upon a long roll of illustrious divines, from Ridley to Keble — from the divine whose martyrdom the Cross at Oxford commemorates, to the divine in whose honour that University has just founded her latest College.” DUTY OF MODERATION AND SUBMISSION. If the Council are correct in the view which they have taken of this part of the Pastoral Letter, we have in this only one of 10 those cautions which it seems to he the peculiar province of the Bishops to address to the Church, and which should certainly he reverently heeded, even if the danger to which they are directed he not apparently very formidable. The same i-emark applies to what is said in the Pastoral of the suj)posed tendency to Saint- worship and to the undue use of Confession. While the Council are not advised of any Ritual or teaching hy any of the members of the Union, which would have been interfered with by the j)as- sage of either of the Canons adopted by the House of Bishops, or which would be condemned by the Pastoral Letter, they deem it their duty to call upon all whom they may influence to con- sider, whether, at least, they may not have caused their good to be evil spoken by unwise acts or words, and they appeal most strongly to all their members to avoid such for the future. The Council might be considered as exceeding their oflice if they were to express any opinion on controverted questions of doctrine; but they cannot refrain from the suggestion that since the kneeling prescribed by the Rubric, and recommended by the House of Bishops to be the posture of those not necessarily occupied during the Communion of the people, is a sufficient expression of adora- tion to our dear Lord, more pronounced devotion, if liable to be misinterpreted to His dishonour, may well be refrained from. And as regards all matters of Ritual, the Council confidently ho]3e that such a prudent and conciliatory course^may be adopted as to disarm those who would attack Church principles through their outward expression, “ to cut off occasion from such as seek occasion,” “that he that is of the contrary part maybe ashamed, having no evil thing to say of us.” POSITIVE TEACHING — THE SACRAMENTS. Bnt in conclusion, the Council feel that they and the Union have abundant cause for thankfulness and satisfaction in the positive teaching of the Pastoral, reaffirming the teaching of our Book of Common Prayer, upon points whei-e some have attempted to obscure it. We are taught indeed no new doctrine, but in times of conflict there is need that the trumpet be blown, and with no uncertain sound. If there be, perhaps, some appearance of weak- ness on the side where the Bishops conceive that there is danger of attack, there is certainly no such appearance on that side where they lead forth the Church to battle. We are taught to regard baptized children as taken up into the arms of Christ, 11 and made God’s own children by adoption and grace, and heirs of God, to be tiained and educated as such. The spiritual Presence of our dear Lord in the Holy Communion ” is fully re- cognized, and the objects of that Sacrament are declared to be first, the memorial before God ot the One Sacrifice for sins for- ever; and secondly, the strengthening and refreshing the souls of the faithful,” The very inadequate conception of the Eucharist, simply as a means of keeping the sufferings and death of Christ in remembrance among His people, is thus put entirely out of view. CONPESSIOIV. Nor do the Council fail to observe a similar distinctness of positive teaching in regard to private Confession ; and they hope that the teaching of the Pastoral Letter may have the effect of quieting the minds of those good people, who have been afraid of the very name. We are taught that “ whenever a human soul is possessed of a searching and sincere repentance, and a longing after a deeper spiritual life, there come also with these things a keener sense of the exceeding sinfulness of sin and a desiie for an authoritative assurance of forgiveness.” The Church, we are fiM-ther told, “permits and offers to her children the opening of their griefs in private to some Minister of God’s word.” She “offers and coinmends this privilege to those of her children who cannot quiet their own consciences by self-examin- ation, and immediate confession to God, with faith in Christ repentance and restitution.” Though such words are much the same as those contained in our Prayer Book, the Council trust that they may fall upon some ears with renewed force ; and they feel themselves fully justified, while they urge dutiful submission to the warnings of our Fathers in God, in dwelling with peculiar emphasis upon their positive teaching, which proves that they and the body of Churchmen belonging to our XJnion are one in all great principles of Christian doctrine. PEACE AND UNION. Such godly union and concord the Council feel that it is the duty of all Churchmen, as it is also a great object of our Society, to strive for, by the firm, uncompromising and yet kind and con- ciliatory assertion of the distinctive principles of the Church ; and the Convention just closed, notwithstanding all the warmth 12 of its debates, and the wide differences of opinions which existed in it, cannot, the Council think, but strengthen our faith in its final attainment. The meeting together in one Council and round one Altar of all the Bishops from every part of our land, with the Bishops of Lichfield and of Nassau, worthy repre- sentatives of the English and of the Colonial Episcopate, with so many of the Clergy of the same Church, and the clerical and lay deputies from all the forty Dioceses of our whole country, including not a few of the members of this Union, is the visible demonstration of the greatness and. unity of our Church, and the assurance that by faith and charity, by each one doing his part in the great work committed to us by God, firmly main- taining the truth, manfully battling against sin, denying self for Christ, forbearing one another in love, and submitting ourselves to the law of the Chiu’ch, and to the wise counsels of those set over us in the Lord, we may prosper as we have not before, and eventually secure the triumph, in the Church and Nation, of those principles which we believe to be Scriptural, Primitive and Catholic. By Order of the Council, S. R. JOHNSON, D.D. President. New York, November Qth, ISYl. Whereas, Continued attacks, arising from grave misapprehension, have recently been made upon the American Branch of the Confrater- nity of the Blessed Sacrament ; And, Whereas, The language of those Associates of the C. B. S., whose communications have been published, has, on highly important points, been perverted, and held up as expressing what was neither ex- pressed nor to be implied, and as indicating designs and action on the part of the American Branch of the C. B. S. which are not true ; And, Whereas, It is due to our Right Reverend Fathers the Bishops, and to our Brethren the Clergy and Laity, whose minds may have been influenced by the above named attacks, that they should be officially cer- tified of the incorrectness of the charges made ; Therefore, Resolved, That we place on record the following state- ment, namely ; I. That it is justice to the American Branch of the C. B. S. that a distinction be made between the personal acts, words or designs of any individuals who may be Associates of the C. B. S. and the acts, words or designs of the Confraternity as an organization. And that any unauthor- ized acts, words, or designs of the former, if any there have been or are yet to be, should not be charged to the latter. II. That the American Branch of the C. B. S. is not and never has been a Secret Society. < HI. That the American Branch of theC. B. S. did not interfere in any manner whatever with the late Episcopal election in Massachusetts ; that it was not organized for the purpose of mingling at all in Church politics ; that it has not so mingled at any time ; and that as a Confra- ternity it is wholly averse to ecclesiastical or any other intrigue. IV. That the members of the American Branch of the C. B. S are not associated for any other purpose than solely and strictly to promote the Objects,” and conform to the “ Rules ” ,set down in the Manual of the Confraternity, which are as follows, viz : .o’ 1 i * * ‘ i • ■ 1 . ■ ^ A . • , ‘ ‘ • • * ' ’ 4 . , . :■ ,not«n9dbiqqj»im pv^ig rrtQil ,3i'j£jj£ hounhtuYJ _ , -ipjfnlaoD 9fi] -dofrij-iH. /ifiwamA sriJ .npqri abijai uaad vhuaQS'f . ---^. • ’ i -.o •>••:- . :, . ; ’terraulfi. sdl -(Jin ,.3 .a .0 orfHo 33j'fiiooa;A .paoilj^ ip s'gsopp/sf sdT ,wiTj\VH ,WL. JmiHOqaii vfdgid no ,^lld jbodfeHtrnq risVcl uv/jd arrohJjrjjniJfrimoo odod'/f -x'd ipdfiPri ?.n-ff iad'ti p;rrf389iq'/9 esqa bfod brfK tb^jibvi'oq rtbbd ,?dnioq odi po no*do£ bri£ afigiaab' g'nijfioibni 8JJ bn;^ ,f;o^(qdT^ 9tru?'’in'n bogaoiq ; arnJ Jon s'uj dpklv/- .8 .H .0 odi To' donjnH rri,-jhoinA ddr'to vTa(f (Wiqd^.iH pjij a(9tLli'i bn-pavpi^ Jd^j/l liiopj -jab >\ Jl ,(43Vto\\'H fisod 9V£iI vBfc abniffl pcjodw .vJuiJ btu^ -e».dj njjdjoit ' tvo o3 hiui -lO'j 7jlBi'>fOo ad bIi;ou8 '(aiiJ Jisdi ^aijuUji bairiBq ovodfi adl vd baaitaulhd : abfini n'j)i'i;;do odtlo H^afrioorrmni ;»di 'lo fTaHr} -aJ£J3 gpi7/olidT arij biooaT no aaclq a-// JjiilT ,N>-''V\ri‘A : '(laaiBri ^naui ji Jj dj .8 .H .0 adjlo donj>'ia nuDi iamA axU oj > d )i;xiT .1 ynt ip gxpgxyab 70 sbiov/^ ,:i} 0 B . Ixsxiocnaq adi naav/Jad abx.m ad noiJDnxjaib K) xb:iow ,«job' adi bxiB .8'JI .Oaili’to ad '(Khi od-v ^iBxxbivtbni -lodjfJixnu ’(nxj JBdJ bnA .noiiBxixixxgio hk a£ yji rridJr.il no'''> adi 'Ip eng/sab lo naad av^d aiadi 1; pormol adi'to enpiaab lo ^sl/iov/ ,eJ3B baxi ■ .lajjfif arii ol bag'i/xda ad Jon bbxoxla ,ad oi Ja x aiix lavan bnft ion 8i .8 .H .0 adi lo dan£iS nixonamA adi JbiIT .11 .7iaiao8 la’iaaH n noad ax;xl -T ni a'l-jliaini ion bib .8 .H .Ooililo dan£i8[ nxai'iaui A adi jxxiiT .111 ; ar?aanda£s-i»xl'/l ni noiiaafa Ifiijoaaiq.'i ai£l ailj i(ji// la/aiBilv/ larmBni ■{n£ daiudO flt li£ i£ gnilgnimlo aeoqiuq axli -loT basinKiqio Jon anv/ ii JedJ ■ -£ilnoO £ 8£ J££b lin£ ; omii vn£ i£ bal'gnixn os ioxi and ii iedi ; t jiiiiocj .angiiini lariio ynxi lo iBaiif-Biaabaa oi aaiavf; vHodv/ ai ii vJxmai ai£ 8 adJlo dan/n9 nx/jharriA adiloaiadniarxi adi JtdT .VI aiomoiq •"‘i yjioiiiy bns vlaloa nndi aBoqiuq ladjo '(nxj io'l bai/daoaaB ion do i£mi£M adi ni nwob Jaa, " aaluH adi oi imolnoo bna ",aJDaidO “ adi : siv ^wodod 8£ am d'jidv/ ,'(Jimoi£iInol'> ;di