The New York herald., 1845-01-16

that all the Tractarian Innovations are the signs,
rian apostacy; and as men of sense they cannot be
ignorant that the faithful laity of the Church will
not endure patiently any Of these party signs of
apostacy, however innocent in itself, or however
respectable tne usage or authority under which it
has been introduced, if the introduction haa taken
place since the commenc ,ment of the Tractarian
schism, or more especially if it has taken place by
the influence OF any persons whether uneq uvocally
or doubnuy connected with the Tractarian sect.
Irving the archbishops and bishops full credit for
piety and wisdom, and for 30 much of observation
and sagacty as must teach them what is the public
feeling, and the necessity Of conforming 10 that
feeling when It is friendly and laudable, we may,
we nope, confidently rely upon the result of their
lordships' deliberations.
we Will, moreover, not conceal it, that the con-
duct OF contemporary concurs with our conf
dence IN the bishops to determine us not wantonly
to interpose at the moment. The Times has become
suddenly as violently anti -Tractarian as it was
before Tractarian, and how violent was It's Trac-
tartan zeal, perusal of its files for the last six
years Will tell. Bringing 10 its new service what
the late Mr.. Smith, Of Norwich, called "the zeal
OF proselyte and the fury of a renegade" the
times would be sure to distance our more sober
because more practical pace BESIDES we care not
who knows II, we have an insuperabe objection
TO "hunting in couples with the Times" We do
NOT IKE deserters In our ranks-we dslrust the I'm !;
and can even suspect their violence to be no more
than disguised hostility; certain it is, that from
Queen Caroline and Henry Hunt to the League
and the Tractarians the clients of the Times have
rarely been fortunate. Our contemporary seldom
deserts them, It IS true, until it has destroyed them.
And this is another reason why we should spare
insulting the Tractarians just now. When the
Times takes leave, we know that the undertaken
has probably been sent for.
which the decision of the bishops will be expected
but, except specially challenged by some particular
occurrence. we shall be SILENT
THE BISHOP OF ExErER's LETTER ON THE OBsKa-
VANCE OF THg RUBRIc.
Letter to the Clergy Of the Diocese Of Ereter O6seryance
Lord Bishop Of Ereter.
BIsHoPsrowE, Nov. 10. ls44.
REv ANp DEAR BRErHnxN,-I address you on q subject
fvery deep interest al-the diversity practice in
the worship Of Almighty God-which, in concurrence
with other unhappy has threatened involve
in state of painful had almost said perous disunon
That the mischief has not been felt strongly in this
diocese in Others while it calls our especial
hankulness to Almighty God may. hops be ascrbed
the Church the part Of the laty and less rejoice
in thinking to the general soberness and discretion
you, the clergy.
But here very far from being exempt from
the common evil There parishes.in Devonshre and
still more in Cornwall which
have arisen between the minister and the le from
causes for which neither he nor they have been primarily
responsible.
Discussions of important principles in other parts of the
Church, though they found among vehement par.
tisans either side have led In several instances
very painful results While they have excited in many
Of the clergy Hveler of the responsibility inn
posed them by their engagements to the Church. and
have made them socous to follow out its acquisitions
posed the lay to the reception Of any change by exhi
biting too many instances Of the fatal consequences of
chaDge introduced has elsewhere been by private
individuals, whether from simple desire of novelty
part of Systematic attempt to bring back our Church
nearer to the corrupt usages from which reformed
log, and growing evils which recently induced to
have to the unusua bnt strictly canonical
Standing may truly add whose high personal qua
6cstions pre- eminenty ht them to form the Council of
sixteen members Of the General Chapter of the Cathe
dra Of Exeter oSether with the Archdeacons Totnes
and Barnstsple he Archdeacon of Cornwall being unor.
Room and gave to me the benefit q their united dsibea
tona Another distinguished prebendsry eluctaniy de-
,ansd By .skns.' sent to rs his Judgment founded on
tant districts in Cornwall.
They were unanimous in deploring existing evils, and
10 experimenting greater il some timely check be not ap
pled. And. they were not unanimous in advising what
that check shoald this very Of unanlmy gave to
urged by able and experienced men on either ada After
discussion Of three hours than twohirds Of the
whole number sgrsed in advising me- that the only pro
to be- at once to restrain all undue change and to look to
the law sole guide OF that law the law Of the
whole Church Of England including under that compre
hensve the pastors and teachers alone but the
people a.c-tha s the State of that Law. and
tablsS uniformity Of public prayers snd admin ira
ton Of sacraments and other rights and cerenonis"
This object good in ITSELF becomes nestimable when
look to the evils which it alone prevent. But uni
formity, s manifest only be secured by laying
down one rule This the law has done. Aud, process
Of time has introduced reaxaions in practice ssu.
ing in the great evils deplore it IL aconvncing
proof that the true remedy for those evils be sought
in returning to faithful Observance Of the Act Of Uni
fornity.
That act has, in truth every claim law can have ON
the dutiu end cordial obedience Of churchmen Based
liturgy itself be purely spiritual in s origin and sp
plying temporal sanctions only to enforce the use Of IT,
this illustrous statute bears the character Of
iemn compac by which the church, having provided
the nation pure form Of Christian Woship received for
that form the assured protection and support Of the
for this very reason 10 holden to be essential and unda
mental and declared to be in the great
sct act Of union between the realms Of England and
Scotland.
Now do not say that every departure from any mi.
cute direction Of the Book of Common Prayer enshrned
violation Of the national compact; but ssy that the
tuy Of strict obedience to cannot b too strongly felt
IN VOWS a '1s W. dsy
that pie &C. 90 often undertook the of souls
y otherwise admitted to serve in any other oss
n the house Of God To The sriot fulhlmen therefore,
Of that duty aithfr minister Of Gods word will think
it hardship that his bishop should now recall him He
" ms 4 general doubt and and s aouy &c hs Jns
the only rule BY which practice in public prayer can
be honestly or safely regulated.
hdent'y anticipated from the clergy apprehend
less ready acqiescence In the the part Of
instruct them In the nature Of the changes introduced
aud Of the reason for which they are ntrodueed-not
from love of change, but prevent change-to enable
u.s. at LENGTH find rest for ourselves amidst the nuctu-
alton Of usages around US, and to md 1t 10 strict obe
diei - to the law.
Need add that this very purpose Of en.urins stability
well as uniformity In our public worship, s the very
end and object of the staute thus declared In Its pre-
amble In regard that nothing conducsth to the
settling peace Of this nation (which desired Of all
good men) to the honor Of religion and the props
cation her.e than an universal agreement in the public
worship of Almighty God and to the intent that every
within this realm may certainly know the rule to
which he 10 to conform in public worship, and admins.
traton Of the and other rites and ceremonies
Of the Church Of England"
For these scuple not to address you all In the
language Of most earnest entreaty-entrcaty which
thankfully acknowledge after the experience Of years.
you have never yet disrsgsrdsd but which I now put
forth with far greater anxiety than before testified
that you will ell with In discountenancing
every attempt TO divide into parties, by rendering
steady unsrm end psaceful obedience to the laws Of
the church. especially In ell thst relates the public
worship Of Almighty d. az eDjoned in the Rubric Of
the Book Of Common Prayer. II to this my earnest
treaty add am bound 70 add the language Of autho
rty and order you WILL an sure in only the fuller
- -.