(To THE EDITOR, or THE " SPECTETOB.") SIRS I read
with much interest the statement in the Manifesto of the Lambeth Conference that the Bishops and clergy of the Anglican Church would gladly receive in exchange for an offer to re-ordain ministers of non- Episcopal Churches a commission from authorities of these Churches to officiate to their congregations. I am, however, startled by the statement of the Archbishop of Armagh that Archbishops, Bishops, and clergy might be willing to receive Presbyterian ordination. I would like to assure his Grace and those who are like-minded with him on this subject that the Presbyterian Churches would no more desire to re-ordain them than they would wish to re-baptize them. When Episcopacy was abolished in Scotland by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland of 1639, no one proposed that ministers ordained during the first Episcopacy, 1610-1638, should be re- ordained. When Presbyterianism was re-established in 1688, and the power was in the hands of very zealous Presbyterians, no one thought of re-ordaining those ordained by Bishops of the second Episcopacy (1660-1688). Within my own memory at least two clergymen of the Church of England have been re- ceived into the Church of Scotland, and no question about their ordination was raised. An Episcopal clergyman is ordained by a Bishop and two presbyters of valid succession; that is, as we would put it, three presbyters, which is what we require. With regard to the offer to our ministers of Episcopal ordina- tion, I must call attention to the fact that re-ordination was not required in Scotland under either the first or second Episcopacy, and I am very much mistaken if it would be acceptable to Presbyterian ministers in these days.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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