The New York herald., 1845-01-16
Puseyism In England,
fFrom the London Herald. Dec. OIL

Puseyfsm In England.i
tFrom the London Herald, Dec. 0l
We had no idea of returning to the subject of
the dissensions in the Church 20 soon but it seems
to be our duty to state to readers the circum-
stances which are taking place In the diocese and
city OF Exeter.
i And, first. let Us premise that there is scarcely
possesses SO much strength and predominance az in
that city. An unusual degree of harmony and una
nlmity has always prevailed, and the general tone
and spirit OF the place was that of the old Enssh
High. Church theology. Il is important % bear all
this in mind, in order that we may fully under
stand that 1t is no ebulhtion Of " dissenting" or
evangelical" party.spirit that we now have to
contemplate.
This being promised, we next have to remark,
that when the Bishop of Exeter felt It necessary to
ask the advice of his chapter, touching the rubrl-
cal disputes which were springlng up IN his do
manner All the jssiors were In favor of "carry-
ing out the rubric"-i of assuming the surplice,
and reading the prayer for the Church militant,
&c while all the seniors counselled caution and
Oae Of these, DR.. Bull, canon resdentary, has
Just announced Letter on the Rubrlcs and
Canons Another, Canon Martin, chancellor Of
the diocese has given his reasons tor hesitation in
who coincided with him and DR.. Bull, were Chan
ceor Pott, recently Archdeacon Of London, the
Archdeacon OF Exeter, the Archdeacon of Barn.
staple. and Canon Rogers. In these six names we
rience; but their six votes were outnuinbered by
ten or twelve young prebendariee, and thus the
bishop found the decision Of his chapter Counting
merely BY the head) prepeIlins him forward.
81 do still think it highly desirable, under the
cent circumstances of the church, that the bishops
should concur in some uniform solution of ques-
tlons arising on dubious or conflicting rubrcs, and,
with respect to the rubrics which have fallen into
desuetude, the memorial, instead of expressing any
opinion IN favor OF the general revival of such
brcs. left that subject to the consideration Of the
bishops on its own merits. 1t was my confident
nope that any rules or recommendations emanatng
from such general conference would evince, in
things OF no essential importance, that considera.
tlon for the feelings of the lay members of the
church, and that desire to avoid innovations in our
public worship, which his Grace the Archbishop OF
Canterbury has recommended to his clergy in his
charge Q, iS4l, and believe on various subsequent
occasions"
Such is the tone of the senior members Of the
chapter Of Exeter. But this is only part Of the
subject. Let US now observe how the rubricaI
movement has been received by the laity of this
High Church city.
Il was not until Tuesday, we believe, that the
bishops letter was made public, and vet we find
that as early as Thursday one parish in Exeter met,
and on Friday another
The parish OF st. Lawrence met on Thursday,
the 9th, and unanimously agreed to a series Of re-
" That the sermon having been for many years
most important but distinct part of Divine service,
and during the lives Of the parishioners and their
cred their sermons in gowns, the Pensioners view
the introduction OF the surpice into the pulpit as
an attempt to bring again into use practice long
discontinued. and as precursor Of many danger
Gus Innovations"
That although the parishoners have cheerfully
given to all collections for specified purposes,
whenever required by their ministers, they will
trust their urch-wardens will firmly decline to
join I'M and as tar as they can, prevent its establish
ment"
on the aity in general instantly resist any change
in the performance Of Divine service, however
unimportant or trivial that change may appear to
be, lest in these times it be made an excuse for the
and to the revival Of obsolete forms and ceremo.
nies heretofore part OF the worship of the Roman
Catholic Church"
They then speak of these changes as likely "to
be the means Of driving the congregation to other
places Ct worship than those to which they have
been accustomed" J" and desire the chdrchwardens
to wait upon the minister of the parish, "and re-
spectfully to request him 10 continue the Church
services in the manner he has hitherto performed
them"
On the following day, the 9th. the parish of St
Leonard met, and with equal unanimity agreed to
these resolutions:-
any of eur churches any OF those innovations which
have been attempted elsewhere.
"That they regard such measures as highly inju-
dicious, and calculated very seriously to nure the
Church in her highest and best interests, by alien
ating the veneration Of the laity, and by driving
from her communion many of her most attached
and conscientious members.
'.That they protest against the principle Of limo.
vation, which, when once conceded, will inevlta-
bly, involve other and more important changes.
That they surprised that the pastoral letter just
issued should hold out an expectation that an en-
forcement of uniformity will lead to the restora-
tsnvSr rf hot in npnn vftssno thA nuAv-
ties introduced elsewhere have been enforced in
parishes previously peaceful, have disuniop strife,
and contention been promoted. That they, there.
Se CT wG
and more particularly such ecclesiastical rulers as
have supported and abettedi, incurring the deep
responsibility of all that disorder which has already
begun to manifest itself and which they consider
dom, if in like manner patronised by other prelates
to the no small detriment Of the national establish
ment, and triumph Of all those who are watching
for her overthrow"
Such is the first response Of the aity to the call
for obedience to forgotten rubrics, which, as the
Archbishop of Canterbury observed, from being
forgotten have all the effects when revived OF no.
velties and innovations. Here are two meetings in
two days in place where there are few dissenters
and fewer Low Churchmen; and the language una
nimously adopted at each is OF the most decided
and Incorporating character. What does this
II the Bishop of Exeter thus fails, who, after
him, will have a chance OF success 7 And by fail
ure we do not mean inability to oblise his clergy
to comply with the rubrics; but an inability to sa-
tisfy the minds of the laity.
II these two specimens furnish anything like a
fair sample, as apprehend they do, of the public
mind, then the question will very soon be seen TO
be-whether the rubrics were made for the Church
or the Church for the rubrics (which of the two
is to be preserved, and which surrendered?
From the Morning Herald
prqyraM We have heard and we hrleve the
statement to be substantially correct, that the
archbishop and bishops have lately interchanged
several communications upon the propriety OF TAX
ing some steps tor the complete extinction of the
Tractarian schism. II the most reverend and right
reverend lords had taken the advice of the public,
including all the most jealous and sincere friends
OF the Church, they would have long ago adopted
some such step as that which it ID now said they
mediate. y were, however, unjust to the most
reverend and right reverend bench, at least to the
great majority, TO conceal the difficulties opposed
to the course which II, we trust, now about to be
taken. case Of necessity, satisfactory not merely
N \ lee L. Ill