The Sun.
London, England, 1870-09-09 00:00:00

RI I UALISTIC SERVICES AT LAMBETH

The Church of All Saints, situated in Lower Marsh,
Lambeth, is gradually growing into notoriety on account
of the ritualistic services which have of late been held
there, and on Wednesday night another of these cere-
monies took place, the ocsasion being the anniversary of
the "Association for the promoticn of the unity
of Christendom." Long before the hour appointed,
eight o'clock, the body of the church was com-
pletely filled by a highly respectable congregation,
and very soon afterwards the spacious galleries were also
well occupied. The ordinary decorations of the church
are of a very showy character, and the only additions
were in the shape of lovely bouquets of flowers, and plants
in pots. which adorned the altar and other parts of the
chancel. From the chandeliers, which are suspended from
the lofty roof, and which contained innumerable wax
candles, were hung baskets of flowers and ferns, with ivy
trailing from them, and when the tall candles on the altar
were lighted up, the whole had a very imposing effect.
Precisely at the appointed time the organ pealed forth
" Ave Maria" and the head of the procession appeared at
the door of the north side of the chancel. First came a ban-
ner-bearer, carrying a large silk banner surmounted by a
cross, and then followed the choir, which consisted of the
choiristers.of All Saints, Lambeth, St. Mary's Lambeth,
and Christ Church, Clapham, the officiating clergy, the
incense bearer, &c. They were all attired in handsome
vestments, and at different points in the procession were
silk banners of the different orders. During the progress
of the choir, incense was freely burnt and the hymns were
sung with great ability. The procession passed along the
north aisle to the west doors of the church, and returned
by the main aisle. It consisted of upwards of 200
persons in all. ' On arriving at the altar the
acolytes deposited the candles they had carried
on the Holy Table and took up stations on either
side. The clergy were conducted to their respective
seats, and the choristors having taken their places, the
service began. The Rev. W. Hunt, the precentor, intoned
the " Miserere," and the usual evening service was one
through, intoned by the Rev. Dr. F. G. Lee, vicar of the
parish. It was strictly choral. The sermon "was preached
by the Rev. Thomas Hugo, M.A., F.S.A., rector of South
Hackney, who took for his text part of the 21st verse of
the 17th chapter of St. John's Gospel, " That they all
may be one." The reverend gentleman said they were
met to commemorate object, and they looked forward to
what God would when he saw fit in his mercy grant,
namely, the unity of all Christendom. He argued,
taking the text for his foundation, that this result
would be brought about, and urged the congregation
to earnestly pray for the consummation of the blessed
promise. He pointed out the schisms which from the
,foundation of the world had been allowed to exist, and
drew attention to the fact that only a few centuries ago,
namely, at the time of the Reformation, a great sever-
ance took place. He was quite content to accept
the good which came out of that severance
when it was apparent, but how was the
so called Reformation brought about ? Why it was the
work of courtiers, men who sought popularity, and did
what they did for political purposes, ratherthan the work of
religious men, and men who had the spiritual welfare of
the population at heart. This, he declared, was palpable
to anyone who studied the history of the period, and who
would take pains to examine into the characters of the
men who existed at the time of the Reformation. During
the address several persons, who evidently widely differed
from the rev. gentleman, left the Church. The offertory
taken on the occasion will be devoted to the restoration
fund, there being a debt still due amounting to 2470.