The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-04-27

that it has been commended by so many of
our readers, is the best preof that it falls
within the province Of newspaper criticism.
Whether q secular journal has or has not the
right to treat on such a subject is a question
which we have answered for ourselves, and
we shall continue to discuss any subject we
think our readers take an interest in SO
much for our Jurisdiction. Our correspondent
says:-
you say my dear sir that "these are innovations"
We most positively deny a. for these things
the Church long, Tong after the Reformation, and may
still be found all through Lutheran Germany No
sir; tev ,Oo brought them dtsse are nnouators
not tOe; only bringing the Church back to her
palmy days. and trying to awaken her from sluggish
indifference and cOdness apathy, and hum-drum."
We do not propose to discuss whether can
dies and bowings of the head existed after the
Reformation or not, or whether or not they
still exist in Lutheran Germany. We will even
grant that all our correspondent says is so;
but what has it to do with the question: What
has Lutheran-German customs to do with the
Protestant Episcopal Church ritual of the
United States l.? The customs of the Lutherans
have no more weight as preoedents in the
Episcopal service than those of Rome or
Judaism. 1t may be that the founders of the
Episcopal Church were innovators, but they
laid down certain forms of worship and certain
articles of faith, and formed a Church. Every
one who belongs to that Church is bound to
follow its creed and rubrios. If they do not
they cease to be Episcopalians. Right or
wrong, the worship prescribed in the "Prayer-
Book" is the only ritualism truly Episcopalian.
The original principles and forms of the English
Church have been modified and expounded by
the House of Bishops of the United States.
Their decisions, in opposition to the inno-
vators, is fnal although their consent would not
make ritualism legal until general convention
concurred. These bishops have united in a cir
cular, which is signed by twenty Eight out of
the forty, and which is assented to by six more
who had not time to sign the declaration-so
that the Protest of the Bishops is protest of
four-ffths of the House; and what does this
protest say?-
eve hold, therefore, that the ceremonies,
rites, and worship then QSl4) established,
ordained, and approved by common authority,
as set forth in the Book of Common Prayer of
this Church, are the law of the Church, which
every pastor, presbyter, and deacon of the
same has bound himself by subscribing to the
promise of conformity, in article seventh of
the Constitution, to obey, observe, and follow;
and that no strange or foreign uSages should be
introduced or sanctioned by the private judgment
of any member or members Of the Church, clerical
or ldy." This ends the whole question. We
do not care whether the innovations are
beautiful, or whether they are not. Until
approved by the Bishops and General Conven-
tion they are not lawful, and whoever allows
them transgresses the rule of the Church, and
deserves to be put under the ban by the
Bishop of his diocese. The conclusion is ire
sistible, and for it the founders of the Epsco-
pal Church are responsible. Poor ignorant,
narrow minded creatures, they did not antici-
pate the day when candles, and bowing, and
chants, and surpGces would be essential to
heartfelt worship or necessary to salvation
Unless the innovatOrs cease their endeavors,
the Episcopal Church will be rent with divi-
sion. Already, in at least one of those
churches whose performance we commented
on last Monday, has serious division taken
place; and if the ritualists really love their
Church as they declare, they will keep it a
unit by dispensing with the flowers and the
surplices, and conform to the faith and prac-
tice of their forefathers.