The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-11-03
4 BLAST 4GAINsT RITU4LIsM.
Pastoral Address of Bishop Smith, of
Kentucky.

On Thursday evening last, Bishop Smith, OF
Kentucky, the Senior Bishop of the Protestant
Episcopal Church in the United STATES, ad-
dressed an immense congregation at Calvary
Church. New York, reading pastoral letter
which touched with decided emphasis on some
OF the questions concerning which the General
Convention refused to take action. The sub
stance OF the pastoral letter is as follows:
The full representation which attended the
Convention is referred to as matter for praise
and THANKSGIVING, being without precedent IN
nine years. During that period the church has
had to deplore the loss Of sixteen OF its tore-
most champions, Two Of them being presiding
bishops. Grateful mention is made OF the
abundant spiritual increase and growth and
progress of evangelical principles, while regret
is expressed at many examples or unpronta-
be services" Thanks are given Tor the reunion
as national church and for the harmony m OF
purpose and action thereby secured. The labors
of the missionaries are characterized as noble
and faithful, while it is lamented that the offer
ipgs OF the churches have not been commensu-
rate with their endeavors, although l! ls men
toned as qualifying this report that there Is
great deal done that does not appear In any
reports. The work Of benevolence, it IS said,
has been the subject Of grave considerations,
while tine subject Of Christian education has
received 8 large measure OF practical attention.
The Christian family "beins. more and more
regarded as divine institution" and IN sup
port OF the church, satisfaction ls expressed
that the legislation Of the Conve ltion has done
not little to strengthen the households OF
the communion. The work of the church, the
necessity Of labor on the part OF the ministry
and Of corresponding efforts ON the part OF
the laity are next referred to, With
and the scriptural teaching quoted that ,'those
who preached the Gospel should live by the
Gospel" The necessity of enlarged associat-
ed effort in works Of mercy and education ls
pointed out, ss there is much that cannot
otherwise be done, and wish put forth that
men and women may be found who will devote
themselves to this effort. Such associations,
it saws, however, must be free from entan-
CLING Vows and enforced confession, and
be in strict submission to diocesan au-
thority. It is spoken Of as matter
E OF painful observation, especially IN large
cities, that tho churches are too little
used, and are sometimes, in summer.
aud as there can be no private ownership IN
consecrated places, it is urged that more ire
duent services be held as in England, and the
churches be thrown open as mission houses.
Family prayer and daily reading OF the
Word of God, now too much neglected, are en-
Joined. The welfare Of the church is next re-
ferred to, its most dangerous assaiants being
pointed out as the growing evil of inhdelity,
Unitarianism. that extreme lndlvldualsm
which in matters Of salvation shuts up the
soul from intercommunion, and the unscrptur-
al and uncatholc pretensioDs OF the Bishop OF
Rome. tne latter being cited as tho great bar
to tie union Of Cbrlstendom. The letter con-
tinues: 'sBefore we leave this topic, we must
also warn you against confouuding medieval
belief or usages with those Of earlier and purer
ages, and against their practical substitution
for the beliefs and usages OF our own Reformed
Ill, ID On,,ffn O ri
trine Of the Holy Eucharist, which implies that
after conservation the proper nature OF the
elements of bread and wine does not return;
which locahzes in them the bodily presence
of our Lord; which allows any alteration,
other than that of our Blessed Lord himself,
"who rose again from death, ana took agalh
His body, with flesh, bones, and all things ap-
pertaining to the perfection OF mans nature,
wherewith He ascended into Heaven, and there
sitteth until He returns to judge all men at the
last day." which, IN any way, asserts that HIS
sacrifice on the cross was not ~ full, perfect
and sufficient sacrifice, oblation and satlsfac-
tion for the sins Of the whole world;" and which
would add to our liturgy ceremonies and rites
designed to teach all or any Of those things.
We would at the same time deprecate most
earnestly those extravagances IN Rltualsm re-
Gently introduced, which tend to asslmllate our
worship to that of Church, not sectarian but
hostileto our own. And we must also urge you
to remember that the reverent obedience to
their bishop and other chief ministers, promised
by the clergy at their ordination, would if
faithfully rendered, prevent these evils. The
clergy are exhorted to be diligent in their
duties in view of the vicious times in which we
live. Amusements similarly referred to in
former pastorals are again pointed out as mat
ters requiring attention, it being further said
that, I'm our day there is a icentiousness and
grossness in the theatrical and the like enter
tainments that would have been shocking to
our fathers" Moderation in dress and man.
ner is urged upon all, prevailing extremes be-
ing referred to as ''the scandal Of Christian
nations in our day and generation" The pas
endeayor end % to walk in godlincss, 90 and righteous
ness to the attainment Of salvation, and closes
with o paternal benediction.