The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-01-09 00:00:00

RITUALISM IN LONDON.

On Sundae, the 3rd, at Paul's Church, Lorrit re-
Walworth, of which the Rev. John
M.A., it; incumbent, the Communion service, filth, argil
strictly in accot dance with the Liturgy of the f march
of England as regards the prescribed prayers, was con-411 :
ted in a manner which, perhaps, more closely
reseini the external rites observed in the celebration
of High Mass in Roman Catholic churches than any
which has so yet marked Ritualistic services in the
Established Church. Two practices, specially inter-
dicted by the l'rivy Council—those of using lights and
of prostration or genuflection were adopted, anti,
what Aata additional significance to the preceeilings
was the lact that a serllioll 011 behalf isf the Curates'
Aid Society Was irettcheil by tlw Rev. U. Abbott, the
traveling secretary of that institution. Half an hour
before the toile of comillenrrthelit of the service—
eleven ...chick—the church was crowded, the nien anti
Wollirn present being separated. The altar, in the
mar, 01 which was a brass crucifix, had ad the
praramie of those in Roman Catholic elinreltes at
festival ...ions. Two very tall wax catolies were lit,
▪ I.tin--re heing unlit, and between the candle,tieks
‘....re ',heed vases filled withroil and :trtiticial
A aiwt tlie walls, close to the altar, stood I in il 111 A,
Ow of which displayed, up..ti blue satin, a paintikg if
the Vi l ;in and Coati, and another a el oat, in red 11110119
lire dotted With golden stars, and Is aril.g
this inscription*" Oh, Cross.'iliac lonely flint th,
stars."
Shortly alter eleven o'clock a procession, headed by
• m-el)te carrying a cro-s. aud conamthrz n f about
twenty choristers anti some half-dozen Church of
England clergymen, issued from the vestry anti slowly
entered the chancel. Tine Rev. John Goinr, the
incumbent, anti his two etirateS were apparelled in
white moire-antique Vestlilentii richly embroidered in
criinsott and gold, anti wore underneath tin--inn the clai-
m:Aira and stole. Mr, in sing, Who acted as eel& want,
slid his curates, took lip at the altar the isisitions
respectively which at litgh Mass, tine high priest,
deainat, tual subdeacon eccupy. The choristers wore
white surplice.; over scarlet sontans, anti ranged them-
selves on both Silkg of the chancel. 'Elie opening part
of the service, which was eh intinl throughout to ire-
gorian inn.le, Wait gone through by the three clergy-
men stamling alireaat on the lowermost altar riteii, their
backs to the congregation. Both ministers and
chorkers bowed low when }missing the centre of the
altar where stood the crucifix. The chanting of the
Used was marked by much solemnity - -the clergv man,
rhori,ter,, nild congregation Is ovhig down at the
Abol ir.l% i neat note by the Holy 4:ltoxt of the
Mara. and Wits 1110de sin, li," their actn sin corn.-
Tenting to the gelintleetion made at mass when, in the
Nicence Creed, the w. r.is honnet factas ist" aro
uttereiL
lumrdistely after the freed, the Rev. U. Abbott,
who wore a surplice and white stole embroill rod with
cold croons, preached from the 2ial chapter of the
Epistle of Paul to the R. 11113115, part 1.1" the 29th ver,.
.'llo-cantrisoun is that of the heart, in the spirit, nun! not
. .

,n the later ; whose ia ald of' tot rtrrt i
.
Having mule the sign of the er..ss, and referred to the
festiv •ii if the circumcision of our Lord.
Mr. A' bott spoke of the multiplication of churches in which
what those present conddered consistent worship was prae-
n,,,A. Where formerly there was hut one suns church they
senl.l now mint ninny, mid in them the hearts of the people
were iseoel together in a holy bond of Christian fellow-hip.
The past year Mel strengthened their p.sition. They should
remember that if a Church was to Ito strengthened it was
thustelt persecution it should he done. They had not fit
rends,' d unto olood, len it should trot ho tot gotten that the
b1e..1 of Vie Martyrs was the net of the I 'hurch. Let then.
n weather the movement in whirl. they Wf to enguani had for
object the ef the thuren—the putting of life
inn, it—ind that if this wns t.. be .lone they most all suffer.
Troy dii not Willa a mere Seri,,loll, worship to come ti every
week, and tithing mor, If they scull hove t heir we-hip
acceptable to OKI, told early out what they had in nuts. trey
noo; suffer, And by the nies,,nre of their suffering they might
oatnt the measure of their success. Let them adopt the
principle of tots-resistance which had been the weapon of
the saints. Let them give is passive resistance, for true it
was. and true it always would be, that they who took up the
sword !toddled by the sword They might come to Church
themselvt r. to kneel and talk about relig.on, and all
that Might LiVe thur It naliie but the true c renmeision
was the circumcision of the heart. Ile attributed the
shocking scenes witnessed in Lambeth and other ports
.1 indira to the want of money for the support of God's
priests.
After the sermon the service was proceeded with,
incense bring abundantly lice, at the offertory. The
celebrant, &vim; the con2regation, ..t,tde tliesityi ,f
the cross upon them, and there was a std. mu pause
and general bowing of heads at the words in the
prayer for the Church Milit int —"And tee also
Ow Thy hot!! name
„for al/ This arrant.f ibparted this
1.4 in Thl f..ith and
_fear."
During' the Prayer of Consecration the three
Ministos bent over the altar, and at the words "Take,
en t -thi. is Ng hider," the whole con,re.mtion bowed
their heads. When the prayer was ended there were
fr. orient gemillections by the clercymen before the
altar ; and as the celebrant elevated the bread, not
quite on a level with his head, one of the choristers
swung the thurible high in front of the altar, sending
up a Cloud ..f incense smoke. This was repeated at
the consecration of the wine, and at the conclusion of
the service Mr. Going gave a benediction, thrice making
the sign or the eross Upon the congregation. The
service and sermon occupied two iv

ALL SAINTS', MARGARET-STREET.
Notwithstanding the recent decision tif the Privy
(%nrcil in the S. Alban's ease. and the letter t the
late Bishop cf I. It on to Mr. Mack.tnochie comment.
it. fomol ttrit the extn-ilwßjtualrt