The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-10-29
RLTUALISM.
sion.

--latest Aspect of the Great Religious
QUestiOn-The Basis OF Real Ritualism,
The N. Y. World publishes the following upon
Ritualism:-
"Before the close Of this century solemn mass Will
THESE words are not those of Lord Mlcaulay
seeking for a striking rhetorical expression 10
conclude magnificent period, but tae calm,
carefully weighed opinion OF Catholic writer,
Joseph, Count de Malstre. Uttered some deceu-
NUNS since, they must have then appeared
visionary; even to-day, to those accustomed to
the slow growth OF popular revolutious-espe-
cially those of religious thought-they con-
tain an improbable proposition which it is
difficult 10 realize as the truth. Yet, who
shall say, in view of the mighty rel gious throes
OF the churches, that they were not in
sense prophetic, and that before the last days
of 1900 are with the years of the past,
such religious revolution may not have oc.
Cured? Nothing could at the present moment
be mole foreign 10 the ordinary English mind
than any change 'masswards." Yet there are
minds at work in the Anglican communion
whose professed object Is to 'unprotestaltlze tue
Church," not with the intention OF making it
Roman out to erect a barrier between Roman
ism and Auglicanism, or, better still, to create
spirit of mutual concession and promote the
complete reunion OF the Churcnes.
There Is unquesllonably a mighty struggle in
the English religious mind at present. On one
side stands the Roman Catholic Church, to all
appearances steadlastly holding its own, and
even making advances in ITS attempt to become
can Church, divided into three great parties,
the Low Church, rejecting as far as possible
ceremonies or rites az "supersthous mum
meIies," the Moderate High Caurch, holding
more liberal views on these points and the ultra
Ritualists, who 60 so lar as TO introduce a full
ritual, and boldly say that the rites and cere-
nonial they adopt are but the exte rnal
and explanatory signs OF something real
though mystical and spiritual. The Low
Church party regard the Rtualists as
"ROmaLiZers," and perhaps 'semi-doatrous."
The more moderate High Church men tnnk
that the ultra Rltualists are-to use the words
of distinguished New York clergyman on
the outposts OF Romansm," while the RiJuasLs
think of themselves that they conform more
rigidly to the ancient disci llne and dogma of
the Anglo.Ca,holic Church and of the other
divisions OF EplscOpalansm; tnat one section is
DRIVING the people to inhdellty, and the other
Indulping in unmeauing theatrical display. The
Romanists hail the entire Rltuallsuc movement
as one which in its logical conclusion must
bring to their fold those who engage IN it.
kitualism, it would appear, has been called
| into existence to supply a great popular won't
! Tho retormPrs, in their zeal against supposed
! OF reai Papal abuses, went too far, it is con-
sluereo, ia excluding rites and the imposing
| Ceremohlal OF the Church. Ho far the Puritan
| element OF thought went in bringing this about
may be imagined. But ali minds are not of a
cast.iron mould, and the want OF aesthetic add.
! tions to devotion has been again recopnized
! Why ceremonials, pictures, images, yestments
lights, flowers, incense, and, above all, music
should not be employed in churches, it is
ulInCulI 10 see, ii provision is made for their
proper use. In England, ireland, and in some
| OF the churches here, timd exertons have
been made TO introduce them gradually-some-
times almost at the risk of the parsons life,
as in one OF the Dublin churches There has
also grown to respectable dimensions a body
which says;-'If you use bows, lights and
| flowers, why limit us 10 that? Let us take the
! old bona tide ritual of the English Church. that
used IN saram, and let us carry 1t out In perfec-
| tion.n 1t goes further, after the admission of
this idea is made, and says:-"What do these