The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-01-26
RELIGIOUS TOPICS ABROAD.


from the Established Chur hits
Moral ERcct-The Spirit or the Ritual
lists. sYN
The London correspondent Of the New York
Times writes under date Of January 9:
I am inclined to think that the real sensation
of the week has been the news that the Mar
quis of Butte has turned Papist. This young
man. just come OF age, with three hundred
thousand pounds year and peerage,- has
gone over to Rome. The Times has leader
1" fhe %ser M no OF
than any other young man, and his three
hundred thousand O year of no more ac-
count than any other similar income. 1t is
only one vote in the Lords. That is so: out
for all that the fact is serious ana anncj ing.
1t sets every young peer. every young man 10
asking, "What made him DO it ?" and it is evil
dent that the Times would much rather he
had followed the example of the Marquis Of
Hastings. When a thoughtful young noble
man, Of iilustrious family, wide connections,
and almost fabulous wealth, goes over at this
period Of Ritualistic and disestabl'shing ex-
citement. it is very serioue matter indeed.
1t will influence many who are now wavering
and uncertain.
Forty years ago there was one Catholic priest
in England who had been clergyman of the
Established Church Hon. and Rev. George
Spencer. Now there are forty such priests in
this archdiocese Of Westminster, and about
two hundred u,.t in the country; Lay converts are
year in the metropolis are 22OO, and the
con--or per--verts are mostly from the upper
and middle ranks Of society. The Rltualist
papers, anticipating the recent decision against
| lighted candles and kneeling during consecra-
tion, have been for. weeks denouncing secession
to Rome; but tie Gorharn decision, which was
that clergyman Of the church need not be-
hundreds; the Colenso difficulty has sent over
hundreds more. WHAT then is likely to happen
when the Queen in Council decides that an act
OF Parliament, passed three centuries $40,
binds the church not only in doctrine, but
down to the minutest ceremony, and that this
act is to be interpreted, not by bisaps or eccle-
siastical courts but by three, or fodF dissenting
| or intidel lawyers
| :, Wheth r more or less are driven over to
tome, one thing seems certain, Cergyrnen
| openly admit that the disestabilshment Of the
chur.h is at hand. and many OF them are
Believing. I rejoice TO see tine curse removed"
The first result OF this would be TO divide the
actual establishment into four or Ave different
and warning sects. 1t Is only the State con-
troll that DOW keeps them nominally together.
!n belief they are now far as the poles asnnder.
The State policy is to have the utmost uni.
fcrmity in ceremony, as to permit the utmost
latitude IN belief. You may interpret creeds
or articles as you please, follow Pusey or CO.
lensO, but you shall not light q candle as long
| as you can see to read the service, Or kneel
j when the Rubric says stand, or put water in
the wine, under pain OF indictments and inn
Bnt it ts not Ritualists alone who are affected
| by the late declsion. They can for the most
i part ovade ii. it does not touch doctrine. BY
darkenfng their chances they can lawfully
light their candles. They csn bow very low
without kneeling. They can .put water In the
| wine In the vpstry. They need not incense per-
1 sons OF things, but burn as much a. they like
promiscuously. On the other hand, BY the
Judgment OF tka prlvy council, IL lis obligatory
on the lowest evangelical 70 wear the vest.
4 mentBs and to cOnHecrate with his back to the
peoples The Rituallsts propose TO raise fund
70 prosecute the Archbishop Of York for no,
n wearing surplice and cope.