The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-01-23 00:00:00

PROTEST FROM THE PULPIT AGAINST
THE ST. ALBAN'S DECISION.

There was An appreciable diminution of the Ritual-
istic ceremonial observable on Sunday morning at All
Saint's Church, Lambeth, compared to the way in
which the services have for a long time past been
carried out at that place of worship. A public pro-
test, officially recited, was however formally made
from the pulpit by the Rev. Dr. Lee, the vicar, against
the recent decision of the Privy Council in the St.
Alban's case. The modification of the ceremonial was
most marked. There has hitherto been a procession
composed of the priests, assistant-priests, acolytes,
and choristers, 31 in number, bearing the processional
cross, banners, and various insignia, who, entering
from the vestry, dressed in the most advanced Ritual.
istic vestments, paraded up and down the structure
chanting the processional hymn. On Sunday there
was no procession ; the banners were done away with,
as were also the coloured vestments, and the minis-
trants numbered ten less than usual. In place,
also, of a richly embroidered silk stole, the cele-
brant simply wore, besides his surplice, a plain green
stole, which latter was laid aside after the
Homily and during the consecration and adminis-
tration of the Holy Communion. The altar lights, four
in number, were retained; the elevation of the paten
and chalice was confined to slightly raising both from
the altar and bowing low, genuflection being also
restricted to just perceptibly bending one knee at the
conclusion of the consecration prayer. After prayers
had been said, the vicar, ascending the pulpit, made
the sign of the Cross upon himself with his finger, and,
prefacing the statement with the words, oily the
grace of God, Amen," read from a paper to the effect
that whereas judgment having recently been given by
the Privy Council in the matter of "Martin versus
Mackonochie," by which certain results were brought
about touching the form of worship observable in the
Church, and by which certain of Her Majesty's sub-
jects were legally deprived of the right to adopt
such form of worship as they believed to be meet and
proper
'•I, George brederick Lee, vicar of all Saint's, Lambeth,
having in mind the provisions of Magna Charts, and the
temis of my ordination, do hereby solemnly protest
against the said judgment, and against the imposition of
pains and penalties in matters of Church discipline by the
said Privy Council"
The rev, gentleman then proceeded with his sermon,
which, illustrative of the miracle of turning water into
wine, comprised a decidedly expressed dissertation in
favour of the doctrine of Transubstantiation and the
Real Presence, and of the mixing of water with
the consecrated element. The prayers of the con-
gregation were desired for the Lord Bishop of
Salisbury.

At St. Paul's, Walworth, the effect of the recent
order of the Privy Council could be clearly traced in
the change in, or rather omission of, certain practices
which usually mark the services in this church ; but
the sermon of the incumbent lotokened no lack of
Ritualistic zeal on his part. Shortly after eleven
o'clock the Communion Service lagal,, and at that
hour there was a crowded congregation in the church,
the men and women being, as usual, separated, in ac-
cordance with notices posted respectively at the right
and left sides of the porch, " Men this side ;" " Women
this side." The most noticeable change in the appear-
ance of the altar was that, although there were placed
upon it eight candlesticks holding candles, ard alter-
nated as to position with so many vases of flowers, no
candle was lighted. 1.71 to Sunday week two candles
were always lighted at the Communion Service at St.
Paul's. The bannerets di.pla ilia the Virgin and
Child and the Cross surround .•41 by stars, generally
placed against the walls of the chancel hail been taken
away, and nothing in this ris,lect was to be seen except a
. monhcrof streamers alternately red and blue with white
crosses upon them, which depended from the top of
the wads all round the church down to the architraves.
Evergreens were coiled around the pillars and the
baptismal font was elaborately i.corateil with flowers,
On the bide of the font faxing the altar was an illumi.
• nated drawing of the Descent of the Holy Ghost.
The Embellishments of the altar were worked out in
crimson and white. When the procession issuwl from
the vestry, a little after eleven o'clock, it was observed
that no processional cross was borne by the leading
chorister. The celebrant (the Rev. Mr. Bignell), curate
of the parish, and his assistants, two other curates—
occupying at the altar the relative positions of high
priest, deacon, awl sub-draw a at High Mass in the
Poman Catholic Chni,h--w,re app.iri led in green
. vestments, mbroidcred in hoid, wearing underneath
the dalmatiea and stole. The chants were, for the
most part, given with Gregorian music, and the
officiating clergymen performed the greater portion of
the service with their backs to the congregation. At
the Communion there 'vas no incense used, no eleva-
tion of the consecrated elements, awl no genuflections
at the consecration. After the consecration there
were both genuflections and prostritions by the offis
elating ministers.
The following is the protest :-
-- • -

In the Name of God. Amen. Whereas, in the Cam of
Martin v. Mackonochie, a Judgment has been given by her
Majesty the Queen by and wi h the advice of her Majesty's
Most Honourable Privy Council, in which certain principles
are laid down and acted upon, which, if accepted and gene-
rally applied, would seriously damage the Church of
England in the estimation of the Faithful both at home and
abroad.
And, Whereas the said principles, in their nature, tend to
dissociate the present Church as toy law Established from
the Pre-Reformation Church, and by consequence from the
Primitive Church:

And, Whereas, moreover, the said principles, if strictl
applied, are such as to render the due administration of the
Holy Sacraments and the celebration of Divine Service im-
practicable if not Impossible :
And, Whereas, furthermore, without any fresh legislation,
the said Judgment thus tends to curtail the reasonable
liberties and lawful rights of Churchmen of one school of
thought in a manner and tons extent unprecedented, while
it la 3 s upon another school a burden of observances which
neither they nor their fathers were able to bear :
Now We, the undersigned Beneficed Clerks, having in
mind the provision of Magna Charts that the Church should
be free, and our own declaration at the time of our Ordina-
tion, to minister the Doettine, and Sacraments, and
Discipline of Christ, as the Lord bath commanded, and as
this Church and Realm hath received the same, do hereby
solemnly Protest ag iinst the principlea of the said Judgment
. being taken to he the true principle of the Church of
Englmd, and againAt thcir being imposed by penalties and
punishment upon the Clergy if the said Church fir their
acceptance. . -