Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-11-01

An English clergyman sends the iol-
Iovving from London, where the LORD
Bishoo OF London vowed q year ago That
ne would stGTUe out RituGtsD1 :
- Ia addition tosthe two EIcharlstlc
Lights. which, ge are happy to cay, are
" used inS1 M~argareJ's At the Ceie
bration OF the Holy Mysteries, there
wera six tapers on the retA5le. As the
GRAND old music Of The Catholic Church
rolled % 10 Hsrds Heaven, it must nave
awakened responsive chords ID the An
Oelie choir; and we cannot but believe
mat. at the Agnas Del, the glorious Wis
ion Of the poet was realized:
HThs MysterTO OF Mysteries:
The Angels and Arehanges come
on wings OF light from out their nome
IA ranks of glory vince Ing
Ou- souls shall NIX ana blend with theirs
In Inud, thank-onsriEg and prayers,
Before Altar kneellng.
The nrocession, prscsded by a chorister
cnrrvine the hannero of s. Margaret, en-
tares the chuTch-at the west door at nine
an. singing . Brightly CLEANS our ban
ner.n
And a member Of the church resident
in Memphis, sends me the following
trite and sensible remarks from the New
York Citizen Of a recent date:
1.-The striking services n Christ
Church, in Fifth avenue, last Sunday
morning, may De accepted as q positive
advance in the ritualistlc movement,
and as sn Indication that elaborate
church ceremoDials are no longer to be
confined to st. Adams in this CITY. The
service on this occasion was entirely chO-
raj. with aurpliced choristers, a process
si0naI and occasional hymn, q grand
march through the aisles, and d careful
reDort informs US that the whole SER
vice, with its dignity and solemnity, its
banners, and cross, and burning candles,
its beautifully mOdulated music q
moving lines of youthful participants,
was most impressive OF cOurse 1t
vas. or the fulillment would have fallen
far short of the intention. 1t was de-
signed to be impressive.
land in plain language the precise OBJ
jeet OF all ceremonial, religious or seeu-
lar. Ia to make an impression. 1t would
be far from cur intention, q certainly
from our desire, to write a word which
would wound the religious sympathies of
anv nerson OF any sect. But If We deal
nIainly with these matters we must ask
ourselves what, after all, is the real
meaning of the growth in our day. not
so much OF religion, as OF the
expressions and opponents or religion !
This growth is seen In the increased
splendor of our church edihces OF ali de-
nominations, In the elaborate interior
decorations, in the magnificent music,
and in the general devotion to details
which go to make the ceremonlais lm-
nressiysp We have made IN q very
lew years an immense advance rom the
oIanShoayd meeting house. which a
1900 vvritaT classes as less like Gods
housa than (Iodjs barn to the superb
structures which now everywhere raise
their towers and spires to Heaven. Ihe
immediata and inevitable effect OF this
arohiteoturaI advance is an elaboration
OF the eeremonials. Fine clothes prompt
Ana Cathedral-like church
edifices compel cathedral services; and
an wa advance almost impsrceptlbiy,
and ~especiaIIy in the Protestant Eplseo-
nal Church, where every apparent lnno-
cation IL onjy q revival OF some diSueed
amnnia and where even the most
-nronounced position taken by the priest
san And a precedent. The 'LitGrgieal
SaTvice of the School of Catechumens
in Christ Church last Sunday was only a
revival of an old and permitted service.
what next? When Unitarisns cele-
hrate Christmas Day, and Congregation
alista nut flowers ia their fonts az Easter
E~piscopacy is pushed Onward 30 thai IL
Is almost forced to tread on the trail of
the scarlet robes. Nor do we believe that
an ad van In the splendor Of religious
ceremonials in any denomination Is tns
dangerous thing which some people
assume it is. The symbols are not the
substance, and yet they have their i'm
medIate uses az we'll as meanings. You
can catch the eye far more readily than
Won can the ear. If the services
Are Impressive they will make an
imnression, An appeal to the mere es-
thetic sense may go beyond and touch
the heart. These hints may not be
thrown away upon the pronounced PEG,
ole who ara most opposed to pronounced
ritualism. It is always well enough to