The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-10-04

ly. We lay it before our readers:
THE ORAToRY,
BIRMINGHAM, August 5, 1868. :
n.y. Dear Father Coleridgc--You ask me
what / precisely mean, i'll my Apologia,
Appendix, p. 26, by saying, dpropos of An
glican Orders, that :" Antiquarian argu-
ments are altogether unequal to the urgeD-
CIV of visible facts" i will try to explain ::
1.-The inquiry into Anglican Orders
ever has beer to me of the class which /
must cali dreary; for it is tlreary surely to
have to grope into the minute intricate pas
sages and obscure corners OF past occur
rences in order to ascertain whether this
man was ever consecrated, or that man
used a valid form, or certain sacramental
intention came up to the mark, or the re-
port OF register Of an ecclesiastical act can
be cleared of suspicion. On giving myself
to consider the question, never have been
able to arrive at anything higher than a
probable conclusion, which is most unsatis-
factory except to Antiquarians, who delight
in researches into the past for their own
sake.
H.-Now, on the other hand, what do
mean by "visible facts !" mean such de-
finite facts as throw q broad antecedent
light upon what may be presumed, in a case
in which sufficient evidence is not forth
coming. For instance:
1.-The Apostolic Succession, it's necessi-
ty, and its grace, is not an Anglican tradi-
ton, though it is tradition found in the
Anglican Church. By contrast, our Lords
one, high and low, holds it. 1t is not only in
prayer-book and catechism, but in the
mouths of all professors of Anglicanism.
Not to believe it is to he no Anglican, and
in persons in authority tor three hundred
years, who were suspected to doubt or ex-
plain it away, were marked men, as DIR. Co
lenso is now marked. And they have been
so few that they could be counted. Not such
| is the ApostOlical Succession and, consi-
dering the Church is the colanna ct frma-
nientun, ririatis, and is ever bound to stir up
| the gift that is in her, there is surely a
strong presumption that the Anglican body
has not what 1t does not profess to have.
wonder how many of its bishops and
deans held the doctrine at this time; some
who do not, occur to the mind at once. One
knows what was the case thirty or forty
years ago by the famous saying of Bloom
field, Bishop of London.
2-f there is q true succession, there is
a true Eucharist; if there is not q true
Eucharist, there is no true succession
Now, what Is the presumption heref ]
think it is Mr.. Alexander Knox who says
1 or suggests that If 80 great gift be given,
it must have custos. Who is the cpstOt
Of the Anglican Eucharist The Anglican
offending an Anglican, describe what sort
Of custodes they have been, and are, ts
4 their Eucharistf 30 bono castos,n in the
words of the poet, /" Gus co,nDseadaui Fvliun
Means =" Is it not charitable toward tho
bulk Of the Anglican clergy to hope, Il
believe that 30 great treasure has moi
been given to their keepfngf Aud woult
our Lord leave himself for centuries il
such hands Z Inasmuch, then, as the " sac
rament of the Body and Blood of Christ,
in the Anglican communion, is withou
protective ritual and jealous guardianship
there seems to me strong presumption
that neither the real gift ncr its appointed
guardians are to be found in that com
muniop.
3.-Previous baptism is the condition o
the valid administration, of the other sac
raments. When was in the Anglican
Church, 1 saw enough of the lax admins
tration of baptism even among Higl
Churchmen, though they did not, of course
intend it, to fill ME with great uneasiness
OF course, there are defininite persons
whom one might point out, whose baptism
are sure to be valid. But my argumen
has nothing to do with present baptisms
Bishops were baptized, rot lately, but a
children. The present bishops were con
secrated by other bishops, they again b,
others What have seen in the Anglican
Church makes it very difficult for me t.
I deny that every now and then bisho]
: was a consecrator who had never beef