"But  this  connection  is  dissolved  by  the
Revolution.  Had  it  been  matter  of  right,  it
would  have  ceased  with  the  authority  of  the
crown;  being  founded  on  consent,  and  the
ground  changed,  it  cannot  be  allowed  of  in
future,  consistently  with  the  duties  resulting
from  our  allegiance.     Even  suppose  the  Bish-


Constitution  of  the  American  Church.     19

op  of  London  hereafter  exempted,  by  Act  of
Parliament,  from  the  necessity  of  exacting
the  oaths,  a  dependence  on  his  lordship  and
his  successors  in  that  see  would  be  liable  to
the  reproach  of  foreign  influence,  and  render
Episcopalians  less  qualified,  than  those  of
other  communions,  to  be  entrusted  by  their
country;*  neither  (as  may  be  presumed)  will
it  be  claimed  after  the  acknowledgment  of  the
civil  independence,  being  contrary  to  a  prin-
ciple clearly  implied  in  many  of  the  institu-
tions of  the  Church  of  England,  particularly
in  the  XXXIVth  Article  of  Religion,  which
asserts  that  'every  particular  or  national
Church  hath  authority  to  ordain,  change  and
abolish  ceremonies  or  rites  in  the  Church,
ordained  only  by  man's  authority,  so  far  that
all  things  be  done  to  edifying.'     Though  the

*  The  name  of  the  communion  alluded  to  being  changed,
how  clearly  and  with  what  foresight  do  the  words  and  argu-
ments of  William  White  indicate  the  position  of  the  Roman
Catholic  Church  in  this  country — an  alien  Church  depend-
ent on  a  foreign  potentate,  and  committed  by  the  Syllabus
to  principles  hopelessly  at  variance  with  our  Constitution
and  laws.  How  little  can  such  a  body  lay  claim  to  the  title,
reiterated  with  applause  at  the  recent  Baltimore  Congress,
of  "The  American  Catholic  Church."


20  The  General  Ecclesiastical

Episcopal  Churches  in  these  States  will  not
be  national  or  legal  establishments,  the  same
principle  applies,  being  the  danger  of  foreign
jurisdiction.
