Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-11-03
RETUALIS1I.
Debate Upon RituaIisiic 0bser-
vance in the Ep scOPai.
Convention. --
The Question to be Decided n,
the Bishops Until Next
General Election.

ONGCA s-A A~ACSA4Ohs
On Tuesday Of last week Che Commit
tee on CanoBs in the Episcopal Cupven
ton presented the following majority re
port upon the subject of rfIualism:
RESOLVED, The House of Bishous con
curing, thst with devout acknowledge
ment OF that gracious presence and as
sistaDce Of her Divine Master which ba,
been so signaily vOuchsafed TO thil
Z church at many g crisis more perilou:
than the present, ensbling her, in the
midst OF sggressIons from without and
innumeTsble shortcomings snd extrava.
! gsnces from within, to maintain the in
tegrity OF her doctrine and the beauty,
decency. and dignity of her worship,
this Convention attributes this haspy re.
suit in great measure, under God, 10
/ that spirit of moderation which has hith-
[ ertO guided the counsels of this Church
Z and which has rendered her averse to all
/ restrictions of the liberty of her children
| in things Indifferent or uDessentisl, so
I long IS unity can be maintained and
| spiritual edifcstiOn promoted in sny
other way. lt is the seuse OF this Con-
ventiOn, therefore, that the enactment
or any7caD0u on the subject of ritual
would be unwise and inexpedient at the
pi esent time. But it is none the less the
sense OF this Convention. that the con-
/ tiDUed maintenance OF the decency and
order as well as the peace and harmony
which, by Gods blessing, have alwavs
characterized this Church; the avoid.
ance Of the dangers Of irreverence and
lawlessuess on the one hand, and of eZ
travagsnce and superstition on the
other; the preservation OF doctrine from
peril OF Intentional or unintentioual
change, and due regard to the scriptu-
raj canon Of walking wisely toward them
which are without, require from all min
listers of this Church, celebrating divine
service in churches or other established
places Of public worship, a conscientious
and, so far rs may be, steadfast adher-
enee to such vestments, ceremonies
practices aud ornaments a., by reason of
long continued use or by authority, are
recognized ss properly belonging TO this
Church, avoiding errors either by excess
or by defect And further, that IN al
mSttsrs doubtful, for the avoidance Of
unseemly disputes and contradictory
practices, which tend neither to good
name DOR TO gGdliness, reference should
DC made to the Ordinary, and no changes
should bs made against the g0dly coun-
sci and judgment Of the Bishop.
On Wednesday, On motion Of William
Walsh, of Philadelphia the special order
of the day, the report OF the Committee
on Canons, respecting Rituslism, was
taken up.
The question OF the indefinite post.
poBement of the entire subject OF Ritual
ism, offered yesterday afternoon, came
up for Consideration.
The Rev. Mr.. T. G. Pitkin, Of Michi- /.
gan, was opposed 70 the motion OF indef- I
mite postponement. He did not want
the elaborate msj0rity snG minority re- ]
p8fts on RilusnsDl to be thrust aside. 4
He thought the reputation OF the Con- /
veDtiOn would suffer greatly if the mat {
ter was postponed. 1t would sppesr to (
the world IS though the Convention was .
sfraid to look the question of Ritualism
in the face. He thought it the duty Of
the Convention to meet this question .
fairly and sgusreIy. The tFo reports
have been prepared with great care
they have been partially discussed, and .
are entitled TO Ogreat Tsspsct. He earnestly
hoped the matter OF Rtuaiism would be
well taken hold OF and disposed Of &C.
sordiDg to the temper Of the C0Dven-
ton.
The Rev. Edward NJ. Van Deussn, of
New York, took the esme view reg-rd-
ing indefinite postp0nGment. He desired
10 meet the questions presented on the
subject Of RilUslism. This Is not the
iTst time the Episcopal Church has been
yTsatly agitsted and eonvulsed with i'm
JOrLsnt questions, sud the speaker pro-
,eeded to enUmeTate q number OF them,
among which was the celebrated con
TOversy regarding the Oxford Bible.
lie confessed that he was divided in
opinion between the two reports men
Toned. he Was opposed to extreme Ri
UsIisn, bat did not go the length that
he minority port Csiied FOR. IA
The Rev: d.. L1bUgb, OF Iowa, thought
his question o. Ritualism wss one OF
he greatest import snce. it has created
deep-felt interest both in and out o. the
1hurch, and the eyes of the entire eoun-
~ are looking TO the action of this Con-
-entiou on this all-engrossing subject.
When it is of such Importance as to call
or the sitting of Royal Commission in
2uglend to investigate it, il certainly be-
loOves us TO take some action in relation
Q Rituslism. England is meeting the
aes,i0n face to face, and il is shaking
he foundations OF the Church in the
mother country; and shsli it be said that ,
be American National Protestant Epis
opal Convention was afraid to take Bit
slism in hand ? He earnestly hoped )
Ot, but that both reports OF the Com
nittee on Canons would b. fully and
RELY discussed, and the sentiments Of 7
bis Convention be made known to the
World on this all-impOrtant matter.
Mr.. s. 3. Ruggles vas opposed to the
1defnits pOstpUnement, kscauEs be !
hoUght that the Convention should look ]
lcsely at some Of the points involved in !
i. \ - -
lent OF Mr.. Disfeeli, Prime Minister to :
England, of the Special Commission on
situslism, and thought that we should {
e thankful in America that We were
bic to candidly and freely discuss the 7
lbiect without State interference. He !
lOught that action should be taken on {
be following points: The burning OF ,
ghis, the burning of incense, making !
be sign Of the eros5, the celebration of :
he Lords Supper, and TevereDces to the I
Toly Table. !
The Rev, DR.. George C. Shattuck, OF {
MASSACHUSETTS,. said he was q Msssschu- '
sits Puritan, sld there was nothing but '
uritan blood IN his veins, and his an I
estOrs were troubled three hundred years {
90 with the bUgbssr OF Rituslism. he l
AZ nothing in the question OF Rjtuslism
nat this Convention need fear TO meet, {
I'd prOceeded 10 relate some amusing ]
istances Of the effects Of Ritualism in s
is section OF country. He regarded the 6
about Ritualism as ripples on {
he ses, which showed there was life and c
etivity In the church, and no possible c
arm can come to the church by full !
lseussion Of the subject. Z
Mr.. Vim. Welsh thought this was
uestion OF vital importance, but he '
lought it s dangerous precedent to in G
'oduce into the Convention. He be- &
eyed the church is on the eve Of prsc- t
cal reformation, such as 1t hss never yet {
zen. With regard TO the question Of I
itualism, be found no trouble or ex- '
tement in his own portion OF the Dio- I
sse Of Pennsylvania. @
Ia the course of his remarks, Mr.
Velsh tosk grounds 10 favor of giving 6
le working classes more opportunity TO 3
'orsbip in the Episcopal Church.. He d
sferred to several facts where "shoddy" {
ad stepped into the church, aud pur- {
nRsed so many psws ct large prices that {
lirty or forty poor families had to leave,
nd could not worship at ALL He men e
oned other abuses in the church indi [
city connected with Ritualism, and
rs himself willing to go any length to {
rant the privilege to the poor, or work. 8
u Glasses. to worship God according TO /
le Episcopal faith. 4
Rev DIR (1eodwin Of phiia6elnhfa / n