Religion: Episcopalians

The most definite declaration of belief made by any Protestant Church during the last five years of religious controversy was made at Dallas, Tex., by the bishops of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the U. S., which is the counterpart of the Anglican or State Church of Great Britain.

In their declaration the bishops leave no room for quibbling. They present the Apostles’ Creed, and say in effect: “Take it or leave it.”

The Apostles’ Creed affirms that Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary, that he descended into Hell, that he rose (bodily) from the dead, and now “He sitteth on the right hand of God.” These statements have been stumbling blocks to many within the Church and without. The bishops emphatically pronounce that belief in these statements has been, is and shall be required of all those who desire baptism or ordination in the Protestant Episcopal Church. ,

Teaching of these facts concerning Jesus Christ is obligatory upon every deacon, priest and bishop.

At Dallas the “faith of our fathers” triumphed without opposition. No bishop dissented—and it was probably the first time in 2,000 years of Christianity that so many bishops have assembled to discuss their creed and have not disputed among themselves.

Five bishops prepared the report. They were: Rt. Rev. Arthur C. A. Hall of Vermont, Rev. Joseph B. Cheshire of North Carolina, Rt. Rev. Thomas F. Gailor of Tennessee, Rt. Rev. Reginald H. Weller of Wisconsin, Rt. Rev. William T. Manning of New York.

The report was received with loud and prolonged applause. It was adopted unanimously. Henceforth, the creedal position of the Protestant Episcopal Church is as definite and clear as the latest and most exact map of the U. S.

Excerpts from the report:

“To deny, or to treat as immaterial, belief in the creed in which at every regular service of the Church both minister and congregation profess to believe, is to trifle with words and cannot but expose us to the suspicion and the danger of dishonesty and unreality.

” Honesty in the use of language —to say what we mean and mean what we say—is not least important with regard to religious language and especially our approach to Almighty God.

” Objections to the doctrine of the virgin birth or to the bodily resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ are not only contrary to the Christian tradition but have been abundantly dealt with by the best scholarship of the day. . . .”

” Some test of earnest and sincere purpose of discipleship for belief and for life is reasonably required for admission to the Christian Society. Accordingly, profession of the Apostles’ Creed, as a summary of Christian belief, stands and has stood from early days along with renunciation of evil and the promise of obedience to God’s commandments as a condition of baptism.”