CONCISE HISTORY OF THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH.

Part 6.

In the occasion of Irvings death a Scottish clergyman in London held a speech whereby served as text: "And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead". Hebrews 11:4b.

This clergyman said: "Since the days of Luther and Knox there has no theologian been passed away who has raised in the religious world such an upheaval as the recently died Edward Irving who, although he is dead now, still speaks to us whole volumes. His name has disappeared now from the list of the living people on earth, but is, like I in full confidence believe, in the book of the living ones in heaven. He has gone away to the bossom of his heavenly Father where his sincerely meant, although very rude and disastrous misjudgments of much important truth, will have served its turn for ever. His only foundation was like I know for sure, Jesus Christ and the doctrine which he professed, he garnished with all the christian virtues and whilst the wood and hay and the stubbles which he built on that, will consume by fire, he certainly rest in eternity. I will never stop to highly respect him as a human being and to honour his remembrance".

I once more want to say why we wrote somewhat more extensively about Irving. It was not because he would be the founder of the Apostolic Church. We already saw how far-off from the truth this is. It is only to let become known that the Apostolic Church is not a laughable sect, founded by one or another fanatic or imposter who was only looking for himself.When a man as Irving serves a church; when such a famous and noble man devotes himself completely to her service at the cost of his fame and general respect,than such a church is certainly more sublime than the great superficial,deceived multitude thinks. Therefore,nobody who loves the truth can without something just turn aside from it head-shaking and say: "What are on the religious domain after all surprising and ridiculous matters".

A man like Irving had been sent by God to draw the attention to the true Church according to the Scriptures,and we can be grateful to God that He has granted us such a noble servant.

That the Apostolic Church was not Irvings work, is also still proven by the circumstances that its flourishing came after his death.

How little the work of God is connected with work of men also learns us the history of the first group of gifted persons in Scotland,the group of the MacDonalds. Both brothers did not want to accept the called servants,especially not the Apostles.They were of the opinion that the Spiritual work did not need servants sent by God Himself for guidance and explanation of the gifts. They rented a chapel in Greenoch where they held divine services, officiate in preaching and they even served the where sacraments. Soon they fell into married a clergyman fanaticm. Margareth of the Anglican in the summer of Church in 1832.Both brothers died 1833. dispersed and the After their death, their followers have soon been work went to pieces.

Let us take up now again the thread of our story.

We have already informed that the Apostles returned to Albury on Christmas 1838,after their journey to the various tribal areas.

During their journeys they had found the opportunity to deliver the Testimony to various highly placed persons. Outside Europe also Canada and the United states of America were still visited. The Apostles communicated with the most prominent theologians of all kind of denominations. They observed the various divine services with its particular ceremonies;they studied the confessions,liturgies and hymn-books; they examined the influence of the preaching on the listeners and got to know a lot of faith,but also a lot of unbelief and superstition in the Christianity.

In this way they had enriched their spirit with many experiences and impressions,which would assist them in their work.The period of learning was behind them and now the heavy task ought to be initiated: to call up the entire,distraught Christianity to penance,and to bring to the only,true Church of Christ.

Therefore they did not want to give a special name to the groups of believers who had listened to their voice,and who considered the Apostles as to belong to the only Church of Christ. Therefore they spoke about these groups as Catholic Apostolic Parishes in the only Catholic and Apostolic Church.

The word "Catholic" means "Universal" and has therefore nothing to do with the Roman Church. The name; used by the Apostles,indicates that they did not consider their work as a new Church or sect and at the same time that they wanted to learn what the Apostles taught in the beginning why it therefore is also mentioned: "They devoted themselves to the Apostles teaching", Acts 2:42.

We can never draw enough the attention to this. People of different beliefs always name us a sect and speak about the work of the English Apostles as Irvingians, and about us as an unsignificant part of the New-Irvingians. But we will always oppose to this and never let opponents carry us from our standpoint,as if we would be one of the present sects.That danger is not imaginary,because we by many people are looked at as enemies of the Church,and from this there can early be born a mutual sense of enmity by which we go to feel ourselves as enemies opposite people of different beliefs and despisers and mockers of our work.

We should hate the sins,but never the sinners.We ought to try to exterminate the faulty ideas,but to pray for the advocates from that. We have to announce to the Christianity the judgment which will come over her.When she does not convert herself,but at the same time to proclaim the salvation in Christ and escape from the coming judgement for all who want to accept the loving hand of God.

We always have to think of the words of the Lord in relation with John the Baptist,and the Eliah who would come. Matthew 11:14; 17:10-19.

John;named by the Lord the greatest of the Prophets,has,as far as is known,not done any miracles.His task had been predicted by Isaiah 40:3-5. Thus the Apostles called after 1830 had also not the task to do miracles,by which as a matter of fact usually nobody is convinced, Luke:16:31, but their task could be that of John:to summon to penance and to the old paths.

We,however,want to remark that the Lord has still granted through the Apostles and their co-operators to many believers great bodily blessings by anointing and by laying on of hands.But the blessings have never been used as a means to prove their mission,Their evidence is their doctrine to the Scriptures.

Short time after their return,Christmas l838,light was thrown on the dark words of Ezekiel 1 by prophecies,where there is a question of Cherubs. It was revealed now that these Cherubs represent the fourthfold discharge of office of Christ. With reference to this various parishes in England were gifted now with the fourthfold service.

Thereafter most of the Apostles returned again to their tribal territories. Mr. Cardale,the Apostle for England,received the full power, when the circumstances would make this necessary,to call back his co-Apostles so that in difficult matters the complete council could take a decision.Rightly they attached great value to common consideration, like also once the prophecy had spoken to them that in their twelve in consensus of opinion would be the sense of Christ.

Already at the end of 1839 Apostle Cardale had to make this authority.

The summer of 1840 saw therefore Apostles again in Albury.

What had happened?

The execution of the prophetic prescriptions from Ezekiel 1 had given cause to false ideas about the relations between the offices to one another and in particular to the office of Apostle. As a consequence a heavy struggle had been risen of which we read in a sermon of the Angel-Evangelist from Bremen, Mr. Ludwig Albrecht, the following:

"It was a period of great tribulation. Because the Apostles had to take against the erring servants,in particular against their co-workers who had false ideas,strong measures which,however, with the help of God,was crowned with good result.Most of the ministers gave God mercy to acknowledge and to accept the pronounced truth by the Apostles.

The Apostolic co-operators and the Angels of the parishes let themselves gradually teach better about the character of the Apostolic office and were,some,however,with great trouble cured from their mistake which had lodged in their minds. If they had persisted in this,the with so much struggle and trouble initiated work of the Apostles could have suffered serious damage".

Shortly thereafter came a new tribulation:the laying down of his office by Apostle Mac-Kenzie about which we have already written.

In l842 the "liturgy" was published of which the complete title reads: "The Liturgy and other worships of the Church".

This Liturgy is mainly the work of Apostle Cardale who was very much at home in the old languages and in the scriptures of the churchfathers.The word "liturgy"was originally used for the service of the Holy Supper,also named Eucharist--(literally:Thanksgiving)--. This service has been dealt with in mentioned document the most extensively,even made to central point.For all circumstances of the ecclesiastic and spiritual life prescriptions can be found in it. This liturgy is highly praised,also by opponents who praise it for the beauty and sublimity of the language.

The priests were left free to replace the prayers of the Liturgy by free prayers if the Holy Spirit would urge them to it.However, practically spoken it can be said that as good as always the prescribed prayers were read out which brought the disadvantage,that the service is very automatic.

A great advantage of a liturgy is that it is avoided that the prayers are prolonged;that one repeats himself;that something is forgotten or that sometimes it is done whether the Lord has to be informed something that He would not know.

Also it is avoided to make the error to once again extend in the afterprayer still a piece of the sermon which for the sake of the time did not appear to full advantage,by which it is like the Almighty is being taught.In spite of the unquestionable advantages which presents a liturgy,it has a great disadvantage that overshadows the advantages;the service is dead.

It would maybe useful to use a liturgy as a guide by which unity would originate in the ecclesiastical practices,but by what each servant is allowed to express in own language his own emotional needs. Also the sacerdotal vestment is introduced in 1842,and although these were not prescribed,all the servants have accepted these.

Apostle Sitwell writes about it:"Except some smaller sects the entire Church consents that a certain vestment is pleasing, - that it is not decent when somebody officiates in his everyday clothes in the service in the house of God. The Church has always and rightly claimed that white is the suitable colour for the vestment of the servants of Christ.The Presbyterians make an exception on this because they have adopted the black tabard of Geneva like they also have removed the altar.Like this there are still others who use the black,doctoral toga or just an ordinary,black dress when they preach,forgetting that also preaching is a service which is realised for the Lord.The English Church has,in her opposition against Rome,rejected the alb of the Catholic--(is meant: of the Roman)--Church and replaced by superpellitium of the deacons and thereby abolished all the distinction between the garment of priest and deacon. The Greek and Roman Churches have maintained the old alb with belt,mantle,chasuble and stole for the priests,albeit that some difference in shape exists of this. With the re-establishment of the order in the house of the Lord---(the author means the structure of the Catholic Apostolic Church)--- no special light has been given with regard to that shape because the garments do not alter the essence of the worship,but only are a matter of decency.The only route therefore was to adopt what has been transmitted as use of the universal Church and to give to each office its own garment:the deacon his superpellitium; -(a black uppergarment)-;the priest his alb-(a long,white cloth from the neck to the feet)-;the member of the committee his mantle- (the sign of authority)-;to the priest who officiates the Eucharist, the chasuble-(an uppergarment without sleeves,on which before and behind a cross has been shown)-,and the stole-(long silk bandfurbelow,borne crossed and shoulder by the priest which has to represent the yoke of the Lord,therefore symbol of the subjections to Christ)-of the colour which indicates his office class".

As symbols were introduced the altarlamp which always burns---(in order to testify that Christ is the light of the world)-,and two candles which burn during the Holy Supper to the right and left side of the altar and in which the light is represented,distributed through Apostles and Prophets,as foundation of the Church.Incense to express that the only confidence for the adoption of all worships is put into the intercession of Christ alone,and at the same time to testify faith that the Holy Spirit prays for the believers with inexpressible lamentations. Later on also the use of holy water was introduced,at the entrance of the church as symbol of the bath of rebirth,and a serious remembrance to this that everybody who enters the sanctuary of the Lord,have to stand firm in their baptismal mercy,and to walk in justice of life.

In 1847 for the first time the sealing took place by laying hands on of the Apostles,which action was administered to adults.Also the anointing of the sick people with consecrated olive oil was initiated now.Mixed with spices of four sorts this oil was also used with the sealing,and with the consecration of the called priests.This oil was consecrated each Whit Monday in Albury by an Apostle.For the last time this happened in 1900 after which the passing away of the last English Apostle-(Woodhouse)-,put an end to this custom.

By applying the entire construction of the Israelite Tabernacle to the structure of the Church,there came into being a very complicated system of priesthood, by which still not one parish has ever had a complete priestly governing body.In the meantime the work extended in various countries of Europe.

Everywhere opposition was met. Clergymen of the various Churches who acknowledged the Apostles as ambassadors of Christ,and started to teach now their own parishes according to the doctrine of the Scriptures,were dismissed and sometimes persecuted.

In an annual report,drafted by Apostle Carlyle for 1852,about his work in North Germany,comes up that the Evangelists from Koningsbergen and Memel were exiled. A priest was thrown in prison because he had consecrated the Holy Supper.As at that time there still did not exist religious freedom in Prussia,only the servants of the Statechurch had been allowed to baptise,and the consecrate marriages by which great difficulties arose.In Marburg and Kassel all the assemblies of the parishes were forbidden by the police.In Silezia in two parishes the celebration of the Holy Supper was interrupted for a period of eighteen months. Add to this that the parishes were very far remote from each other and which hindered very much their paucity in obtaining pastoral care.

Except Marburg all the parishes in North Germany were guided by only four angels.Diligent work,however,did increase the number considerably,so that finally North Germany has been a very fertile field of activity,probably the most fertile.Especially the revolution year 1848 had been rich of blessing,in particular in Germany where many noble families and highly placed officials and officers joined the work of the Lord. Even various servants were called from them.

It is difficult to come across exact data with regard to the extension. In England,32 houses of worship and 9408 members were counted on March 31. About Canada,the United States,British India,Australia and New Zealand, where parishes were founded everywhere,no data can be found.

It is possible,however,to give the following specification of the cities of Europe,where parishes were founded.In various large cities even often more than one churchbuilding can be found,for instance in Berlin and in Hamburg,where next to the large cathedral smaller chapels can be found.The cathedral of Berlin is very large.From the others I visited the one in Mullerstrasse,which certainly offers 400 seats.The cathedral in Hamburg can even contain 800 people.In Brunswick there is a beautiful chapel which also has a couple of hundred seats.All the churches have an altar and gave us,Dutchmen,a real Roman impression.For Germany and England this is not that disturbing,because in both German and English churches altars can be found everywhere.

For the European continent I let follow data up to and inclusive the year of 1899:

In London there were initially 7 parishes,of which one had to be abolished very soon.The Cathedral overthere is a large building,in Gothic style.

In Spain no parishes could be founded,and also Poland does not appear in afore-mentioned list.