The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-05-24

Tho Risuhl Prosecutions in Englsnd.
The sable London correspondent
of the New York Times writes under
date of April 4:
The decision of the Dean OF Arches
on the Ritual prosecutions was given
on Saturday. 1t fills a pamphlet
of over seventy pages, and took four
hours and twenty minutes to read it.
It decided against the curate of st.
Albans on three points, and upon
one in his favor, but left each party
to pay his own costs. It is consider
ed so far triumph to tho Ritualists
that they will not appeal. The right
to wear the vestments, to drape the
affairs, and to use other ornaments of
the churches is not disputed. This
Judgment aM-:as tie right TO nave
two lighted candles on the altar, but
declares illegal the censing of per
sons and things, and the use of in
cense in any way during the COM
munion service, the excessive eleva-
tion of the sacrament and excessive
kneeling, and the mingling of the
water with the wine as part of the
ceremonial. On Sunday, the day
after this judgment, st. Albans was
crowded to see what difference it
would make. 1t required q very
close observer to find any. The
vestments were as splendid as ever;
there was so much incense that no
one could sec whether the elevations
and prostrations we're excessive, and
the few drops of water were added
to the wine before, and not during
the communion service. Nothing
has been, gained to the Protestant
party, and much lost, by this deci
sion. But they will not give it up
SO: the next prosecution will be upon
the doctrines, of which all the prac-
tice of Ritualism are but symbols or
forms of expression. The civil court
which decides II the last appeal upon
what is the faith of the church by
law established, refused, in the Ger
man case, to determine the question
of baptismal regeneration. Every
member of the church of England is
free to believe as he likes on that
point. The same liberty of con-
science would probably be declared
upon the question of absolution.
The one doctrine on which judg-
ment will be sought is that of the
real presence. This is the one that
will divide the church into two
bodies, and lead to the establishment
of both, whenever a decision either
way is given. A decision in favor of
the doctrine would drive out the
whole Protestant party; one against
it would equally compel the instant
secession of the whole Anglo. Catholic
party; and the Protestant will press
for decision. The church is really
divided-unity does not exist. The
differences are vital. But for the
legal establishment and endowment,
there would not be pretence of
unity. To the Low Church, or Pro-
testant party, Ritualism is Popery;
to the Ritualists, the doctrines and
practices of the Low Churchmen are
proclamation and sacrilege. Let the
Privy Council affirm the Protestant
Interpretation, and the entire High
Church party would either become
an independent ecclesiastical body
or go over to Rome; and this matter
may be determined within the next
two years, for this slow old country
is full of life and is moving, for good
or evil, with a terrible rapidity. I
have been but few years in Eng
land, and have seen the Tory party
carry household suffrage against the
protest Of earnest Liberals, and Mr..
Gladstone move the disestablishment
of the Irish Church, after having
been for thirty years its staunch de-
fender.