The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-04-22
t'Incense and Burnt Offerings are an
AbOminatiOn unto Me.o


as it did, in a desire to minister to the senses,
and not to the spirit, springing into life because
of a craving for unnatural excitement in
worship which should be only spiritual, it
now bids fair to rival, if not surpass, the
pomp of the Church of Rome. While how
ever, in show it is rapidly verging towards
the rites prescribed by the High Pontif, yet
it lacks the significance of the Roman SERVICE
and does not possess even the poor merit of
being typical of things higher than that Of
mere earthly worship. The modern ritu-
alistic service of the Episcopal Church is
an unmeaning appeal to the sensuous part of
our nature, a glare and glitter which will
please the eye, with no deeper portent than is
visible to every one, and the whole signif-
canoe of which can be appreciated by the most
ignorant persons, who watch with stupid
wonder the performance of the spectacular
exhibition. The smallest child who sings in
his white robes can take in all its meaning,
or its meaning is no deeper than that which
the eye can see and the ear can hear. In this
it is far inferior to the Romish service. There
every group has typical significance; every
gorgeous vestment is but a symbol of some
mystery of the faith; every intonation and
chant is as significant as the sacrifices of the
Mosaic dispensation. How incomparably in
ferior to this gradully perfected ritualism is
the feeble imitation of those who have not the
the excuse of training and habit to offer as an
apology for pomp and circumstance of religious
devotionl
When, therefore, we see such a sight as was
witnessed in most of our Episcopal churches
yesterday we cannot but lament the fall from
the primal simplicity, and feel pity for the
pastor who has to gain his peoples attention
through the white robes of his choristers, or
the chants OF "Amen" by the choir at the end
of each of his prayers.
''The simplicity of ancient times" says the
New York Independent, in an admirable article
on the subject, sis thought to be out ofkeeping
with the demands of the present age. The
Saviour, who was born in stable and reared
in carpenters shop, must be worshipped
with all the appliances of secular magnifcence.
We are not content with the humble accommo-
dations of the primitive disciples. They were
fain to offer prayer wherever two or three
were gathered together in the name of the
Lord, without any yearning desire for pompous
eeremonials. large upper room was
deemed fit temple for the service of praise.
The reality of redemption by the Son ofGOd
took the place Of the Staying of goats and bull
locks; and the ephod, the. dazzling breast
plate, and the shining robes of the priest
were eclipsed by the ornament, so precious in
the Lords sight, of a meek and quiet spirit.
But with the increase of wealth and pros
perity Jeshurun waXed fat and kicked. The
craving for scenic excitement revived in the
hearts of the worshippers, and the rites of the
Pagan were transferred to the communion of
the Christian. At length they blossomed
FORTH with full luxuriance, in the elaborate
ceremonies of the Catholic Church. reac-
tion was introduced by the Protestant Refor-
nation; but a new reaction is now on foot,
which seeks to bring back the ritual of the
middle ages to the worship of the nineteenth
century"
How far this reaction has progressed, can be
attested by the hundreds who visited any of our
High Church Episcopal ceremonies yesterday.
We find half the beauty of the form of prayer
cast off. We find half of that which secured for
the Episcopal service the merit of being the
most beautiful of prayers removed by these
Innovations. In one of these churches we
found the altar covered with flowers, and a
cross erected on the middle of the altar. On
each side of the cross burned rows of wax
candles, which were lighted at the commence
ment of the service by a figure in robes re-
sembling an acolyte. From the seats for the
clergy within the chancel were extended row
of stalls filed with men and boys in white
surplices In front of the organ sat the or
ganist, also in robes. The service commenced
with a chant, in which none of the congrega-
tion were expected to join. The usual form
of prayer was said, save when the people a
the end of each petition said "Amen, accord
ing to the prescribed form, the new rules mad'
the choir chant "Amen," as though it was tn
orchestra and not the people who were as
senting to the prayer. The Psalter was N
longer recited by the minister, with response
from the people. The choir took the matter il
hand, and saved any one the trouble of fndin
the psalm by singing it to an accompaniment
which recalled rather to mind of the march /
Norma. Whenever the name of Christ wa
mentioned, the more ritualistic of the wol
shippers bowed And when the name of th
IFather, Sen, and Holy Ghost'' occurred, Ii
devotees bowed low for the Father, still low,
for the Son, and came near striking with the