The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-10-26

Ever since the Tractarian movement in 1886 The
Euglish Church has been in a state Of uneasiness.
The recoil Of the British mind from the extrayagan-
cies Of Puseyism caused serious inquiry to arise
as to the necessity Of any State endowment for
ligious purposes. The case Of Australia was fire.
quenty cited TO show that Englishmen at
tached to the Episcopal form of worship that they
would cheerfully and readily contribute Of their
for It's support-more cheerfully and readily,
indeed, under the voluntary system, from the con-
seriousness Of holding in their own hands the power
to correct abuses by cutting off the supplies.
This state of things eagerly turned to their in
terest by the Liberals, who Immediately made the
abolition Of Parish rates prominent party cry, and
after hard battle actually succeeded in the passage
Of an act of Parliament which enables the vestry
of each parish to determine whether twill be taxed
not for parish purposes Thus the indiscreet zeal
Of few persons, who were unquestionably sincere
in their sacerdotal aspirations, caused the destruc-
ton of the first stone in that towering edice which
dates back to the days Of Henry VIII, but which
seems now likely to be entirely demolished.
On the other hand as was natural, the High Church
or Puseyte party heard in every popular clamor an
echo Of the shontings that sauted the early martyrs
aud read in the expression Of the popular will by act
Of Parliament or in adverse judicial decisions, only
modern versions of the tyrannica and mpous edicts
of Diocletian and Julian. These made the collars
of their coats narrower burned candles at MONDAY,
saluted the with reverental genuhectons, and
claimed all the presty prerogatives asserted by that
older church which they still affected to despse In
many places institutions which We're converts in
everything but in name were erected, and received
the paternal oversight of cergymen in the pay of the
State and under the control of the Church OF Eng
land. These retrograde movements not re-
garded kindly in country where appeals to preju-
dice are never 30 powerful as when they shout "No
Popery;" and with quite another meaning than it was
at first uttered, and out of the mouths of very differ
ent people, the old Conservative watchword, "the
Church in Danger" was caught up by Liberals and
echoed by Chartists until half of England saw in
every clergyman Jesuit. IA s
Ever kept the alert by its fears the public vigil
lance has Just discovered another alarming proof of
the backsliding of the British clergy and the jour-
nails of England are full of Investigations, inquiries
correspondence, and complaints of the practice of
auricular confession by the Anglican clergy. A me-
morial signed by highly -respectablo laymen and by
prominent cergymen of the diocese, was recently
presented to the Bishop of Oxford setting FORTH in
atance thai he Rev. Richard Temple West, curate
Doyne Hill in the county of Berks had been guilty
introducing the practice ofprivae confession,
trary to the provisions Of certain acts of Parliament
The memoralists, amongst other things, state that
an
hourly expectation of her confinement and proceed
| ed to question her in most improper manner, with
the view of leading her to confession that in going
through the commandments he dwelt more particu-
larly on the 18th, and asked her whether she had
ever committed adultery" upon her replying mo- y
he said Eyes but recoect, did you not, before or
after you were married look on man to lust after
| him or for him." According to the statement, the
poor woman "upset" by this language, especi-
ally the clergyman continued, "Now you are lying
there and hope to be delivered and live therefore
you should confess your sins to me-" lie pursued
the conversation, and inquired, Have you been
confrmedg' 'sNo, sir she replied. "Then remem-
ber," said he, "if you die you can never enter the
kingdom Of Heaven if you live, you must receive
\ lhc IVY pPoh NV opJSStHiS W
through want of preparation the curate added,
"Then you cannot enter the kingdom Of Heaven. -
The statement further sets forth that the clergyman
urged upon her ''that she should not tell her hus-
band" and that she afterwards visited by lady
calling herself Sister Ellen and upbraided by her for
repeating the conversation, and again advised not
| to tell her husband. a
Upon the receipt of this memorial, the Bishop Of
| Oxford appointed commission to investigate the
charges and this inquiry has been watched with
the livelest interest by the public. The most able
counsel were retained on both sides, and no pains
or expense were spared. In defence of Mr. West
il was argued that he had only conscentiously exer-
cised the functions of his Office as defined by the
Book of Common Prayer. Knowing the woman to
have led, according to common report, an improper
life he felt it incumbent upon him to question her
closely in fulflment Of the directions in the Order
for the Visitation 'of the Sick which require that
the minister shall ''examine whether he (the sick
person. repent him truly Of has sins, and be in charity
with all the world" After a prolonged examina-
| ton, the commission decided that, inasmuch as the
case rested upon the testimony of this woman it
| must be dismissed. ..@ 4@#
There can be no doubt Of the technical correctness
Of this decision, and Mr.. West may congratulate
himself that he is under the charge of the Bishop
i