Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-08-30
From the Church Intelligencer.
Another Letter from Bishop Atkinson.
TUNBRIDGE WELLS, july "a. lSt

To THE EDITOR OF THE CHURCH INTEILIGENCER
My Dear Sir We reached London on the 2Sth
of June, and on the next Sunday attended morn
ing service at ST. Adams, Brook street, Holborne
This is one of the most advanced of the Rituals
tic Churches IN this country, and the mode of wor
ship adopted there eneables us better to under
stand the innovations which this school is intro
ducing into the services of the Church. There is
nothing very peculiar in the building itself, ex-
cept that the chancel is screened by railing from
the space occupied by the congregation, and is
entered by gates which are shut when the ser
vices terminate. The Robes of the Priests, how
ever, differ from anything in use for at least three
hundred years. Gown and surplice are altogether
discarded, and in their stead we gorgeous vest
ments of green and gold, called, believe, Dolma-
tic and Chasuble. The service is of course cho-
raj, the Psalms are chanted, and the Prayers in
toned. This however is not unauthorized, nor is
it unusual in England having always been main
tanned in cathedrals, and in of the larger
churches. But that which is unusual is the burn
ing of lights on the Altar, and the of Incense.
During the whole service, boys swinging CEN
sers in the Chancel censing the Priests and pour
ing out volumes of smoke which circle around
the chance and escape into the other parts of the
building. Hymns and Anthems are also intro
duced into the service some of which addressed to
the Virgin Mary, and others in honor of the Sac
rament, appear to verge on ldolatry
The sermon was not liable to exception in point
of doctrine, being exposition of the Gospel for
the Day, which declares the blessedness of those
who suffer for righteousness sake, the preacher
applying it, as might be expected, to himself and
his party. Their sufferings however have not
been very great so far. The populace does not
interfere with them as it did some years ago,
and Convocation has censured them very gently,
acknowledging the excellence of their motives,
and the influence they have excited in drawing
good many careless people to the Church. I be-
ieve it is felt in England, as, am sure it ought
to be there and as we'll in our own country. and T
an A.
is greater and much more pressing danger than
that even of perversion to Rome, the danger of
sinking into inideity. I fear this is greatly in
creased among the educated classes of this peo-
pie: | understand that the young men of Oxford
and Cambridge are very much under the influence
OF irreligious Writers. In the former University,
this has been somewhat checked of late by the
effect produced by the sermons of Mr. Liddon.
whose learning, depth of thought, and cultivated
eloquence make him, at present, a power in the
Church of England. Still the literature of the
day is unfavorable to Faith. The two men who
have most sway over thought and opinion in this
country are Mr.. j. S. Mill, and Mr.. Carlyle, and
these are rather boastful of their want of ortho-
doxy The Periodicals which most read re-
Aect similar views, and apprehend that in socie-
W tney are very common, and openly expressed.
At the same time, powerful efforts are making for
the religious welfare of the people. New and
handsome churches are being built In every di-
rection, and all that I have attended, whether
new or old, Rltuallst1c or Evangelical, seem to
have full congregations of decorous, and at the
same time, earnest worshippers.
In the evening of my first Sunday in London, I
went to heariSt Bishop of Oxford preach a charity
sermon at St, James's, Piccadilly. He is regarded
as perhaps the best preacher and one of the abest
men in the Kingdom. His eloquence is extern
poraneous and his manner animated. Having
letter to him. made his acquaintance at the time,
and have received much kindness from him since
At his Invitation ] went to attend Conference of
his Clergy in the city of Oxford but was detained
80 long in London, that the Conference had
closed when reached the College where it was
held. visited, however, the Ashmolean Museum,