The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-09-13
RITUALISM IN ENGLAND.
Report of the Church Commission.

Report of the Church Commission.
The Commission upon the Ritual Of the
Church of England have agreed upon the fol-
lowing report
'To the Queens Most Excellent Majesty
Your Majesty having been graciously pleased
to issue a commission reciting that differences
of practice have arisen from varying tnterpre-
tations put upon The rubrics. orders, and direc-
tions for regulating the course and conduct of
public worship, the administration OF the sacra-
ments and other services contained in the
Book of Common Prayer according TO the use
of the United Church of England and ireland,
and more especially with reference TO tne 0rna-
the said United Church and the yesTments
worn by the ministers thereof az the Tune
dient that full and impartial inquiry
should be made into the matters aforesaid,
the said rubrics, orders and directions, so as TO
secure general uniformity of practice in such
matters as may be deemed essentiaP-and en-
joining your commissioners to make dtligent
Inquiry into all and every the matters afore-
said, and to report thereupon from time to time
as to- them, 'or any ten or more OF them, may
appear to be most expedient, having regard not
only 10 the said rubTics, orders, and directions
contained in the said Book of Common Prayer,
but also to any other laws OF customs relating
to the matters aforesaid, with power to suggest
any alterations, improvements, or amend
ments with respect 80 such matters or any of
them as they, or any ten or more OF them,
'may think fit to recommend
1--WE, our Majesty's commissioners, have in
accordance with the terms OF your Majesty's
commission, directed our first attention 10 the
question OF toe vestments worn by the minis
ters OF the said United Church at the time of
their ministratiOn, and especially to those the
use OF which has been lately introduced into GER
tain churches.
"We ind that while these vestments are re-
garded by some witnesses as symbolical OF doc
trtne and by others as a distinctive Vesture
whereby they desire to do honor to the holy
communion as the highest act OF Christian wOr-
SNIP they are by none regarded as essential,
and they give grave offense to many.
1--WE are OF opinion that it is eXpedieut to
restrain in the public services Of the United
Church of England and Ireland all variations
In respect OF VesGure from that which has long
been the established usage of the said United
Church, and we think that this may be best
secured by providing aggrieved parishioners
with an easy and effectual process for complaint
and redress.
awe are not yet prepared to recommend to
vour Majesty the best mode of giving effect to
these CONCLUSIONS with a view al once To secure
the objects proposed, and To promote the peace
oftbe Church; but we have thoughb III our duty
in a matter 10 which great interest Is attached,
moi 10 delay the com municatlOn 10 your Ma
iesty of the results at which we nave already
awe nave placed in the appendix the evil
danca of the witnesses examined before as, Jne
docnmeuts referred 10 in the evidence, or pro,
dnced before the Commissioners, the cases lalQ
before as which were submitted TO eminent
connsel on either side Of the question, IogeIher
with the opinions thereupon; also the report on
negubject made by the committee oi the Lower