The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-06-28
RITUALIsM.

monthly resume of religious intelligence, says;
-'Ritualism Is at present the nightmare OF the
Church, both sides of the water" The term of
description was happily chosen; 1t may not be
hattering, but it is forcible and vivid. year
ago this word 'Ritualism" was seldom spoken;
now IL is on every ones lips. The thing has
leaped into prominence, and, like nightmare,
IL sits upon the chests of layman and cleric,
oppressive, and impeding respiration. It resem-
bles the nocturnal tormentor also, by the
vagueness of the terrors which IL inspires, and
by the indication of want of good digestion in
the victims of its attack.
What is RitualismY 1t would be hard to say
A distinction must be drawn between the proper
meaning of the word and that which it bears at
this particular time. II was really very use
ful word, and very harmless one. But of late
II has lost respectabillty, and has become a
slang expression. 1t means anything and every
thing; it is used for party purposes; II is q
stigma fixed by agtators on whatever displeases
their taste or shocks their prejudices. And
hence, when we are asked what Ritualism is, or
what things are ritualistic, or who are ritualists
we are at a loss how to reply-a previous ques
tion must be asked about the position of the
Inquirer in the theological field. The unlucky
word is banded about, till it must have lost all
perception of its own identity. Hence, we re-
spectfully decline the attempt to say what the
word "Rituahsm" means, as now merged and
lost in the category of cant and slang;Sbut,
going back a twelvemonth or so, aud getting
away from the clamor of press and pulpit, we
will try, dispassionately, to arrange our
thoughts upon the subject suggested by this
much-abused term.
Ritualism is the science of rites and ceremo.
nes in the Church. Perhaps the term might be
more widely applied it might be used, and is
used, of things beyond the precincts of reli-
gion. Nothing is more thoroughly ritualistc
than the military service. Read the United
States Army Regulations, and especially Article
XXXII on ''Forms of Parade" in proof OF this
assertion. Or go to any member OF the Masonic
Order, and you have found ritualist. Still,
for ordinary purposes, we restrict the word to
religion and say that ritualism is the science
has her doctrine, her government, and her
ceremonies; & creed, ministry, and rites;
these last form the subject-matter of
the science of ritual. Where there are no rites,
ordinances, or ceremonies, there can be no
science thereof; but, be the religion what 1t
may, If it have any rites, or even so much as
one, II is SO far forth, aud, in that respect,
ritualistic.
Now, since rites OF some kind or other are
found In all religions, and since religion of some
Kind or other is found wherever human beings
exist, and since there are many religions in the
world, il might be supposed that the term, even
when used in an unobjectionable and proper
way, must still remain too vague o one for
practical discussion. This would be the case if
the religions OF the world were the invention of
men or the developments of human aspirations.
If that were true, the subject OF Ritualism might
be dismissed, or left 10 antiquarians and stu
dents of aesthetics, ,as possessing only transient
interest and holding in 1t no FIRE or light of
heavenly inspiration. But since, in our estimate
of religion, we differ from the Rationalistic
school, we shall proceed upon our own line,
presenting considerations which show that
Ritualism is not science without principles,
nor one at the very name OF which we ought to
grow uneasy.
There is, in human nature, a necessity to
worship. The impulse, however it came there,
is one that cannot be, aud never has been, sue
cessfully resisted. You cannot keep men from
worshipppg; albeit they may worship they
know not what, still they must and will
worship.
Equally certain is it that in worshipping they
are under a necessity of usins forms and rites
of some kind or other. 1t is of the order and
constitution of our nature that this should be
so. Man is a compound being; the body aud
soul are knit together as one. An abstract
spiritual worship cannot be rendered by us in
our present state; it would not be the worship
ofman, for man is not an abstract spiritual in
telligence. External forms are indispensable in
our worship while we are in the body. The
true woIshipper will worship 'in spirit and IN
truth;n he will Ialso express that worship in
word in act, in posture; he will offer his sub
stance and his goods. The body and the spirit
must consent together before the man, VINO Is
body, soul, and spirit in one, can be truly said
to worship.
But God has not lebmen to find out religions
for themselves He has given them a revela'
tion. In other words, he has taught them what
to worship, and whom to worship, in showing
them Himself.
And as He has revealed to them the object o.
worship, so has He laid down certain princl
pies respecting the manner of that worship
which they aIe to render unto Him. Some
broad bold outlines of ritual and cere
revelation, are discemlble at the very
BEGINNING of human history though
dim, they are visible. The rite of sacrifice i
kstioned in the earliest eXtant records; it wa
~ from the hrst, and, as we reasonably
" Divine appointment. The preferences
,st,., ferl - made by Abel to that of Cain i
esc1 open the hypothesis that the name
e6 i, pee OF their sacrifices had been pre-
ae SHD l .arehand, and that one of the brother
49, - ,e,, J ne was bdden, but the other as ht
4hN,,e34{Y In later days, after his deliver
s.eslt s,llt ~ Ppe waters OF the flood, Noah buildet
81 49, el.a' ~ !. Lord. And IN the times of Abra
~ Masses across the scene that augus
lam, tnelous figure of Melchisedek, "Priest o
~ ~ ~ High God, possessor of heaven an(
80 etaVing an Oblatlon in his hands of breat
a me, AID "blessing him that had thu
39s from the first, there are discovered broa,
Lies OF orlmeval Ritualism, established b
49, almighty, and forming part OF the rel
- Of the patriarchal era. After that we com
sye election of the Jewish nation, aud to th
- and ministraions OF the Levitical Prizes
JLnc There we see a Ritual, forid, massive
estic, elaborated to its minutest particu
s..u ~ "a symbolical of Divine and saving trutf
s-.s' .}ed to Gods chosen people, and impose
FaN9stlH alf their children by the direct AN
efri command of the Most High. Thus
@l f1ith may be placed in the records {
fBbag tcediug the advent of Christ, tht