Christian Cyclopedia

Organized 1873 NYC under leadership of G. D. Cummins.* Regards Scripture as the Word of God and sole rule of faith and practice; accepts the Apostles' Creed (but omits “He descended into hell”) and Nicene Creed, Baptism and the Lord's Supper, and the doctrines of grace substantially as set forth in the 39 Arts. (see Anglican Confessions, 6), but Art. III, of the descent of Christ into Hades, is omitted; rejects the doctrine that the presence of Christ in the Lord's Supper is a presence in the elements of bread and wine and that regeneration is inseparably connected with Baptism; “minister” and “Lord's Table” are substituted for “priest” and “altar” in the liturgy. Polity agrees with that of the Prot. Episc. Ch. For worship the ch. uses the Book* of Common Prayer as rev. by the Gen. Conv. of the Prot. Episc. Ch. 1785, but holds that no liturgy should be imperative and reserves full right to alter, abridge, enlarge, and amend the same as may seem best, “provided that the substance of the faith be kept entire.”