Editorial February 19, 1903 Issue

Not "The Church of America"

CONSIDERABLE has been said in the newspapers and elsewhere about the proposed change in name of the religious denomination known as "The Protestant Episcopal Church of America," and it is interesting to note that among the names suggested are, "The National Church of the United States" and "The Church of America."

The right of a religious body to change its self-bestowed name is one that cannot be denied, and if "Protestant Episcopal" no longer describes the denomination, there can be no question of the propriety of a change, but the selection of a name implying that this particular denomination is the Church, that it is the State Church, or official Church of the United States, will not be relished by the American people, either as members of other churches, or as citizens of a country whose constitution guarantees religious equality.

The confidence with which the names, "The National Church of the United States" and "The Church of America" are advocated seems to betoken an utter disregard of propriety, and is in the nature of an insult to other religious organizations. The following editorial in the Boston Herald of February 13, the title of which we have placed at the head of this article, is a merited rebuke to what it justly terms a presumptuous proposal:—

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Editorial

"Speak, Lord, for thy Servant Heareth"