I40 MANUAL OF INSTRUCTION 



At the present time they so greatly outnumber 

 the Episcopal Church of this country, that it appears 

 as a very small body by the side of them. Their 

 numerical greatness and success lead some to think 

 less highly of the distinctive features of this 

 Church, and to question whether there can be 

 defects in those zealous bodies which are doing so 

 much good and increasing so fast, and whether 

 any system really is superior to theirs. 



The piety and sincerity of their members are too 

 distinctly marked to allow us to doubt that they seek 

 to render themselves approved unto God. And then, 

 too, we must remember, that the generation which 

 we see so active did not originate the societies of 

 which they are members. As Christian men, they are 

 doing the work of Christ as they found the oppor- 

 tunity before them. It is a notable fact, however, 

 that as intelligence advances, and many of them 

 read and study, and reflect upon the history of the 

 eighteen centuries past, they are convinced that this 

 Church is in accordance with the primitive Church, 

 and they seek membership in it. 



While we have nothing to do with determining 

 the responsibility of those who are separated by 

 outward arrangements from the Church which has 

 descended to us from the apostles' days, we have 

 reason to be thankful that our lot has been cast in 

 it ; for it is the divinely commissioned witness 

 and keeper "of the faith once delivered to the 



