(a) Subdivision. The Rev. W. J. Conybeare, a well-known Church of England clergyman, has made the following subdivision : ( t) High Church—normal type, Anglican ; exaggerated type, Tractarian (or Ritualistic) ; stagnant type, high and dry. (2) Low Church—normal type, "evan gelical ;" exaggerated type, Recondite; stagnant type, low and slow. (3) Broad Church—normal type, liberal; exaggerated type, concealed infidels; stagnant type, only a score in number.
(b) Laws and UsaRcs. By the laws and usages of the Church of England and the Protest ant Episcopal Church, those only who have been Episcopally ordained can officiate as ministers in their sanctuaries. Ministerial interchange is for bidden with non-Episcopal clergymen. The re ordination of all ministers joining them from churches not Episcopal is required. All persons to be communicants in full must be confirmed by a bishop.
(4) Reformed Episcopalians. Reformed Episcopalians hold that Episcopacy is not neces sary to the being, but to the well-being of the church. They have, therefore, carefully preserved through their bishops the historic succession of the ministry as found in the Church of England and the Protestant Episcopal Church of America. They have eliminated the word "priest" from their prayer-book, the dogma of baptismal regen eration from the office of baptism, and everything savoring of transubstantiation from the commu nion service. They receive members from other Christian churches without requiring them to be confirmed, leaving confirmation to their own choice, although the rite of confirmation is ad ministered by their bishops to all who, for the first time, ratify their former baptismal vows.
They recognize the validity of the orders of the clergy of other Christian communions who arc regularly ordained to the sacred office of the min istry and receive them into their ranks without demanding re-ordination. They conduct their services without candles, incense or colored vest ments, and have no sacerdotal features, such as a sacrificing altar, super-altar and the like. Their clergy preach the great essential doctrines of the Christian faith as taught by the fathers of "The Reformed Church of England" by which title it is known in law, and as they were also taught by the evangelical bishops and clergy of the Protest ant Episcopal Church.
(5) General Facts. During the American Revolution, some of the leading patriots, including Washington, and a majority of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, were Episcopalians. The marked influence of the wisdom and conserv ative spirit of these and others of their co-relig ionists was felt in our wisely planned, generous and comprehensive civil government.
The Episcopal Church, in its broadest sense, has stood preeminently for the Christian nurture of children, for improved styles of ecclesiastical architecture, for rich and reverent music, for the observance of sacred seasons, and for multiplied forms of practical philanthropy. The Episcopal Church is recognized more or less in every church thoroughly organized and aggressive. Bishops in fact, if not in name, exercise administrative Episcopal authority among them, as witnessed in presiding officers hearing various titles, and in local, state and national secretaries with other functionaries of kindred character (See Evisco