Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-07-28
PuSEYlsM.

OuI IeuueIS arc aware mat the established
(EpiscopaD church IN Great Britain has fallen
into state of embitiered disunion, on the
ground of "Puseyism." What that is, many
will be glad TO learn from the following article
from the London Observer-the more cspecin-
~, as no one doubts that the controversy, like
all foreign fashions, is destined to have its run
in this country, as in England
In the year 1888, the late Rev. DR.. Rose, of
Kings College, the Rev. Mr.. Percva, DIR.
Pusey, and two or three other clergyman, met
in the house of the first named Rev. gentle
man, when talking over the progress Of dis
sent, aud the unpopuaritv and even practical
neglect into which High Church principles had
fallen oI late years, they came to a resolution,
to form themselves into a society, though with
out any formal organization, to use their ut
most efforts to revive aud bring into practical
recognition the class Of principles to which we
have referred. The celebrated "Tracts for the
Times" had their origin in the meeting in Ques-
ton. These tracts appeared at irregular inter-
walls, and were published at prices, varying ac-
cording TO the quantity of matter from two
pence to sxpence. The tract soon attracted
general attention, from the startling doctrine
they advanced and as the tendency Of all of
them was to exalt the authority of the Church,
and increase the importance of the clergy, by
investing them with q special sncSedness Of
character, the new class OF opinions made rap
id progress among them, Every successive
tract became bpder and bolrr in its tone, and
approached nearer and nearer the doctrines OF
the Church of Rome. The principal writers
were DR.. Pusey, the Rev. Mr.. Ward, the Rev.
Mr.. Williams, the Rev. Mr.. Newman, and
one or two others. The series proceeded until
it reached No. 90 which so openly aud strenu-
ously advocated the Popisb principles, that the
Bishop Of Oxford felt called upon to interposc
his authority, and put an end to the further
publication al the tracts. The last number of
the series, No. 90, created a deep sensation, es-
peciav as il was soon discovered that il has
contributed To make several individuals 90
openly over 10 The Church Of Rome. The
doctrines now held by the Puseyiies, who are
sometimes called Tract arians, 81 closely resem-
bic the doctrines of the Roman Catholic
Church, that there can hardly be said, on most
points, To he any essential difference between
them. Among the points to which the Pusey-
ties attach special Importance, is the assump-
ton that all The clergy of the Church of Eng
land. in common with those of the Church Of
Rome, have descended in a direct line from
the Apostles This is wha; is called apostolic
cal succession. They also maintain, that chill
dren, baptized by the Established clergy, are
regenerated when the water il sprinkled upon
them; but they refuse To recognize the bap-
tsm of the ministers of other denominations,
as baptism at all. They hold that there is M
hope of salvation without the pale of the
church. They denounce the Reformation,
and look forward with eager desire TO a union
between the Church of England and the
Church Of Rome. They maintain that the
Church has an authority above that of the
State and that the Sovereign and the Senate
are bound To submit to the dictum of the
Church. They lay but little stress on those
doctrna matters which The Evangelical cler-
gy in the Establishment regard as essential to
salvation. They attach much greater impor-
lance 10 the writings of the Fathers than 10
the narratives Of the inspired evangeliSis and
The epistles of the apostles. They hold in
deed, that the scriptures ought not 10 he read
at all by the laity, unless accompanied by the
exposition Of their meaning to be found in the
Book of Common Prayer. They virtually re-
lect the atonement, and set aside az fanaticsm
what is regarded by other parties as the relip
ion of the heart. They look upon religion as
mainly consisting in the observance Of forms
aud ceremonies. They MAINTAIN that the
bread and wine in the Sacrament are converted,
when consecrated by the clergy, into the ac-
tuaI flesh and blood OF Christ, and that the Sa
crament constitutes kind of continuation of
the atonement Of Christ on tie cross. II is for
maintaining these two latter points, in the ca
thedral of Oxford recently, that Dr. Pusey has /
been convicted Of Popish heresy by a board Of
divines, and sentenced by the Vice Chancellor
10 two years prohibition from preaching within
the precincts of the University.
That Puseyism has made great progress in !
Great Britain, is an unqueslionable fact, and
this TOO within short period Of three years.
We fad the following statement in this rela-
ton, in late London paper
II is calculated that out Of IL, 900 clergy in
England and Wales, 5000, or three lourths Of
the whole, are deeply tainted with it. In Scot
land, again, the whole Of the Episcopal clergy, /
with the exception Of three or four, are decd- |
ed Puseyies. In Ireland, also, the heresy is |
making alarming progress. Ii is calculated
that the majority of the Bench of Bishops are I
more,or less deeply tinged with it. Those of
The Prelates who most openly advocate Pusey- |
lite principles are the Bishop Of Exier, the |
Bishop of London, and the Bishop of Oxford.