An objection.

upon with suspicion, and regarded as innovation. The idea is also embraced that the introduction of the Episcopal Church into our old settled towns must tend to disturb the established religious societies, and agitate the community with increased religious controversy and dissension, which now exist to an extent truly hurtful to the best interests of christianity.

Having stated this objection to a friend who has had some opportunity to observe the results that flow from the introduction of the Episcopal Church into places where for some generations, other religious denominations have occupied the whole ground, he very kindly furnished me with the following very sensible article :

"In reference to the progress of the Episcopal Church, an objection has arisen, which demands serious consideration. It is this:

"The Episcopal Church, even admitting she has many excellent features, cannot now be introduced without breaking up old societies, and sowing discord and strife.'

"An objection of so weighty a character ought not to pass without examination. If there is even a plausible ground for this objection, it deserves to be considered; and should it prove to any extent well-founded, it must be made to appear most conclusively that these evils are abundantly overbalanced by its great and good effects, before the establishment of this church can be hailed as a blessing.

"I have thus stated the case, because it will be allowed that the disturbance of existing societies, and even the occur rence of divisions is not, in itself conclusive against the introduction of religion under a new form. For if it were, then the Reformation would be without justification; and even the propagation of christianity itself among the heathen, originally or at the present day, cannot be defended. Admitting, then, that the interruption of existing associations, and the excitement of contentious feelings may ensue to a certain extent, on the introduction of a new church, without being conclusive against the utility or propriety of the measure, the objection is thrown upon other grounds than the bare fact of the exist ence of these evils. In order to sustain it, it must be shown that the Episcopal Church has in its own character a tendency to produce and perpetuate divisions and discord, and of

The question at issue.

course, is a false religion; or, that, being good in itself, it necessarily produces these evils by taking the work of the gospel out of the hands of others. And it is believed that the objection under consideration, in point of fact, rests upon one or both of these suppositions. Wherever a new Episcopal Church is established it encounters some objectors, who view it with a suspicious eye, as trammelled with the drapery of superstition, and possessing the form, without the power of godliness; and others, who assume it as a given point, that the old existing churches must be diminished in the exact ratio of the increase of the new ones. These, then, are the real questions at issue; and they are, happily, questions of fact that are susceptible of the clearest decision.

66

Respecting the supposition of the formal and superstitious character of the Episcopal Church, it is deemed needless to institute an inquiry. The articles, and formularies, and discipline of this church, together with her general character and history, are open to public inspection; and we may safely refer the decision to that respectable rank which is awarded her by the common voice of Christendom. And we may, with confidence, refer all who entertain doubts respecting the principles and tendency of this church, to her living character. We ask them to scrutinize her influence, established and sustained in her true spirit and purity; and see whether the society which she controls is not elevated, sanctified, and peaceful to an extent that will sustain a comparison with her sister churches; and whether the opposition and strife, which in her progress she may have occasioned, be not incidental, innocent, and transitory.

"The writer of this, from his own personal observation, feels authorized not only to refer to the salutary influence of the Episcopal Church upon her own population, but to go farther, and maintain that wherever successfully established she exerts an elevating and inspiriting influence upon all existing denominations of christians. We are well aware of the fears and jealousies of old established churches toward the introduction of this church; and the same feelings naturally arise in relation to any new church of any denomination. The thought instantly arises that some of their communicants will withdraw, their congregation will be thinned, their own means of support will be drained, and their whole establish

Difficulties obviated.

ment be in danger of decay. And we have observed that these apprehensions are strong in exact proportion to their low moral condition, and sluggish inactivity: and they have reminded me of the poor parson who rejected the proposal of his parishioners to increase his salary, on the ground that as they were so slack in paying his present pittance, if they increased it he should lose the whole. Precisely similar is the apprehension of those languid and spiritless churches which remonstrate against the establishment of a new church, as if it were destined to draw from them their little remaining life, and build itself on their common ruin.

"Now, in all this, there is a misapprehension of the subject, and we undertake to affirm that however natural or plausible may be such fears, they are wholly groundless; and that the introduction of an Episcopal Church where other churches already exist, is attended with no such unfavorable results, but, on the contrary, is followed with decidedly beneficial effects upon the whole christian community.

"To explain this, it must be borne in mind that the number of churches of all denominations is never multiplied beyond the real necessities of the population of a place. In point of fact no such case can be pointed out. In proof of this, we may refer to New England, where the largest proportion of churches to the population exists, and point out places where there is one church for every five hundred souls, and yet they are all well attended and sustained, independently of the floating mass of infidels and reckless worldlings to be found in every place. Indeed, there is little danger that men will be found any where, who will carry zeal, true or false, so far as to incur the heavy responsibilities of a new religious establishment without the warrant of a sufficient population to sustain it conjointly with those already in existence. Allowing, then, that there is no danger of overburthening a place with religious institutions, it will be seen at once that no objection can arise against the introduction of an Episcopal church, except on the supposition of its engrossing an undue proportion of society. But this is a view which other denominations will not be disposed to take; and which, if just, and arising out of a real superiority in this form of christianity, not only removes the objection but supplies a powerful argument in its place. And yet the results, even in such a case, are not such

The preceding statements verified by a reference to facts.

as the timid and the jealous might apprehend. For the intrinsic advantages of no denomination are so commanding as to secure for it a sudden and controlling ascendency; and the bonds of old associations are too strong and numerous to yield to any such consideration. There are so many prejudices to be overcome, so many local attachments to be sacrificed, so many family, social, and secular interests to be resisted, and so much hazard and sacrifice to be incurred in transferring connections from an old to a new church, that changes in the classification of society to any great extent, cannot, under even the most favorable circumstances, be suddenly effected. So that the materials employed in the establishment of a new church are fragments gathered from the churches in being, and from the floating mass of society. It does not seriously detract from the numbers of any ; and then their partial losses are more than supplied to them all by the addition of new individuals who are drawn out by the common excitement, and also by the increased zeal and attention of their former adherents. In a word, a new church is a healthful stimulus to the cause of religion in all its interests; and operates in proportion to its own intrinsic excellencies to stimulate the sluggish circulations of the moral system, and to purge it of its corruptions.

These statements might be abundantly verified by reference to authentic facts. From many of a similar character, one is selected as an example. In a town of eight thousand inhabitants there were ten churches of various denominations. At the time of the introduction of a new Episcopal Church a large proportion of the people did not attend any place of worship habitually, and the congregations were generally thin. The churches were in a dilapidated state, and only one house of worship had been built within a century. There were less than twenty male communicants in the two most wealthy churches, and only three Sunday schools in the town. The new church, it was generally feared would be gathered at the expense, and to the injury of them all. The result is as follows:-Four new houses of worship have been reared within two years, and very extensive improvements made upon others. The several congregations have all been increased, the communicants greatly multiplied, the Sunday Schools augmented to ten; and a state of general prosperity and har

Other Facts.

mony has succeeded to one of jealousy and strife. The change in the entire aspect of society is striking and happy, and its moral standard elevated. It is proper to remark that no increase of population, or change of circumstances has taken place in connexion with this change. It is attributable solely to the establishment of a new church, whose peculiar worship and discipline, united to piety and zeal among its members, rendered it a fit instrument in the hands of Providence to exert a reviving influence upon the christian cause. And there are many individuals in that place who now see this subject in a new light. They can look back with regret and shame at their short-sightedness in opposing and aspersing as an evil what God designed for good. May this example, which serves to exemplify our present subject, prove serviceable in promoting more liberal sentiments, and a more christian spirit between different denominations. Let it teach us that the prosperity of our neighbor is inseparably connected with our own. The advancement of the church in every department and branch is a common treasure, in which all partake, and in which all should rejoice. Let us leave it to a selfish world to act on the monopolizing principle, and to set up the interests of an individual in opposition to the welfare of the whole."

In corroboration of the position taken in the preceding ar ticle, is a statement of facts with which I have been furnished from another source. While passing through a particular section of one of the New England States, as from time to time I stopped at a small village, embosomed in the midst of a beautiful landscape, which the hand of the Creator had thrown around it, I was frequently led to notice and admire the neat and orderly appearance of every thing connected with the place. As I occasionally stopped in this village a day or two, I had an opportunity of observing the degree of interest that was felt in religious matters. I was at once struck with the apparent deep piety, fervent zeal and christian devotedness of the people. And it delighted me not a little to find that the Episcopal Church was leading the van in the benevolent movements of that christian community, and was regarded as second to no other church in point of spirituality. It was obvious that an unusual harmony and kindness of feeling, among different denominations of chris