Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-07-17

YOUR readers were l to say few words
about Baeeher's church, where dissent
and apniause are as regularly expressed
as in The theaters), and the highly ritual
istic establishment known as st. Adams.
At the former there is every Sunday 10
be met with a vast concourse OF sueh
people as read the Tribune and L1depeH-
dent as their bible, and love the plain
ness OF speech of the sensational drama
and the gestures OF the stage, sanctihen
nv n contradictions observance OF the
forms Of what was once known as Con-
gragatiopalism. To these may be added
the usual number of curiosity people,
sensation hunters,) and you have
Beecher's congregation. Hundreds are
turned away from the door of this rell8-
iOus free-and-easy every Sunday, disap-
nnjuted at their failure to hear the man
who. / am well satisfied, does more
TO encourage skepticism aud lnhae!-
itv than all the Charl2tGn spiritual
lists that ever lifted voice or grlmaceu
in Doiworth Hall. His sermons are
no longer labOrei forts to guide bis
congregation by holy precept, bat poiii-
zeal editorials strung cut 70 SUIT the
tastes OF his audience, filled Ia with Jss
and Jokes and interspersed with Daren-
laughter and q" bring down the house"
Chase was his text last Sunday, and
seymour this, and following the train +
the sensational daily, his prototype IN
journalism, he bsmOans the want OF dis
elimination on the part of the Democ-
rgcy that has led to its choice of Seymour
and B air, instead of Chase, who IA poll
ties is the refiux of Beecher in religion,
aud Bennett in journalism altogether
unreliable.
Only in less degree injurious is the
acting and genutiectiOns at st. Adams,
where rituaiism has eliminated IN Gor-
geous robes and symbolic worship thst
II at variance with Professionalism and
the spirit of the age. Il is nothing more
or LEGS than revival of the services OF
the Church of England in the reigns OF
e lward and Elizabeth, when the refor-
nation was not yet completed, when
books were few aud the intelligence OF
the Priest was little superior to that OF
the clown, aud both learned the lessons
of Holy Writ through symbolism,
that like hieroglyphics to the Egyp-
tisns, was to them as books are 10
US now. This slmOst absurdity would,
am satisfied, scarce find any opposition
were it not for the evil consequences
that surely follow its adoption. 1t in
duces schism, begets any thing but broth
erly and sisteriy fellowship, estranges
the children from their dear mother, and
ss a standing offense against the simple
ity that is the chief charm of the beautl-
fuI services of the Episcopal Church, pre-
vents her growth and subjects her to the
sneers and taunts as following Rome, of
all other Protestant bodies. In the RO-
man Catholic Church we consistently
find a high ritualism and beautiful SER
vice, that appeals to the emotional of
mans nature; in the Episcopal Church
we should find q simple ritual
of praise and prayer combined with the
calculation OF scripture according to
church usage. This is the distinctive
feature of the Episcopal Church, and
that marks it from all others, What 1t
has been turned to at St Adams, your
readers will better understand when l
tell them that it is simply impossible for
a well instructed chuTchmaD, after the
old forms OF the church, to follow the
service. What, between bowling and
scraping, dressing and undressing at the
communion table, geautlections, many
and frequent, and other interpretations
Of the ruOTics, too many to MENTION we
cannot realize ones self in an Episcopal
Church, and must, il not informed, be
lost in conjecture that it is a new
religion, combining the esthetics Of
the day in music, painting aud
costumiDg. I have tried to, but so far
have failed to discover what of good has
been accomplished by this revival Of old
and obsolete ways. As an instance Of
its kind it stands alone, being only in
small part copied by Trinity Churches,
- o,ycrv GruAav tho aarVina ia al
ministered very closely after the man
ner usual in English CsthedFGls.
ART AN9 ARTISTS.
Nearly all the leading artists are out of
town on their usual summer tour. Mr..
Noble passed through few days ago on
his way farther north. l had the pleas
ure of meeting him at Schaus', where
got look at the much advertised MAUD
Muller" II have forgotten the artists
name) II is faulty in this only (Which
is almost everything that the wondering
and wishful hay making Maud OF Whit
tier is represented as you have seen Ar
cadian shepheTd6sses on the stsge dressed
picturesquely, bUS out of all proportion
with the means Of the class she repre-
sents. Every combination of color and
dressing has been avaiied Of by the ar
fist who represents her by the rill lost in
the contemplation OF what might have
been" Il is nothing more nor less than
the portrait of a Fifth avenue belle en-
costume. The design and coiOring are
excellent, and the face of the figure
beautiful in dreamy, abstract thought
fitness. TIE prints of it are handsomely
gotten up, and speak well for the ad-
vance with US of the engrRveI's art.
J. NJ. X.