The New York herald., 1869-04-26
RELIGIOUS SERVICES IN THIS CITY.
TRINITY CHAPEL.

The Ritual or the Church the Visible Ex.
pOnent Of Her DOctrine-Lecture by the Rev.
DIR. Dix
The third OF course Of lectures on the Incarna.
ton was delivered last evening by the Rev. Dr. Dix
In Trinity chapel the subject being 1.-THE Ritual Of
the Church the Visible Exponent OF Her Doctrine. 4"
The reverend gentleman referred ut considerable
length to the SUBJECT explaining the signihcation of
the several rites performed IN the Church, showing
their origin and defining their characteristic fea
lures. He remarked that the rites observed were
public form Of divine worship performed since the
beginning OF the Christian Church. No man had q
right TO make ritual all having been instigated by
divine authority. There was a ministry in three
orders for no other reason except that such ministry
had always been in the Church. The holy sacraments
were revered because they were commanded. And
faith had always been the rule or the Church. To
secure proper representation of the characteristic
truths Of Christianity the Church mad always en-
ployed liturgies. A liturgy was the same thing as
the creed. From the beginning the Church had used
tureies as solemn functions, not addressed to men
but to God himself, as solemn acts OF worship. The
reverend gentleman then proceeded to explain the
meaning OF iturgies, showing that they were public
manifestations OF worship to God, and adding tnat
worship was duty enjOined by natural religion.
The liturgy was framed to represent and
bring to mind the great sacrifice made by the
Redeemer, who died the cross to save
mankind The rites performed were done
by his own command, having desired his
W
tons 1t was the continuation OF the obaton of the
High Priest himself IL showed the intercesslon Of
stratd the spiritual presence for wos ,naa tbe
rite would be nothing The liturgy Of the Catholic
Church was ike the creed, Of apostolic origin, and
was substantially the same throughout the world.
Tnis rite might be celebrated in very different
manner or might be surrounded by different access
s0rles 1t might be represented magnlicenty or kept
within the bounds OF austere simplicity, External
accessories affected In no substantial way the act
sef The nOnessentials might be used at will, modi-
az mr. nm la fuup IN moi, "a
everywhere substantially the same. In Oriental
Chr.stendOm 1t was performed with spendor and
grand ceremonies. In the Anglican branches 1t was
plain and simple to fault. These differences might
have been expected, for nations differed senti-
Roman and Greek churches with considerable gran
deur, In some instances almost amounting to gor-
geousness. Tnat however, did not in any way
greater degree Of religious awe at the magnitude OF
the rite. In this Church 1t characterized by COM
plete simplicity, without any ceremonous display.
fhe desire to substitute grandeur for their simplicity
would be FOOLISH The taste OF the people was averse
to snowy ceremonies. 1t was as true that rituasm.
considered as service to God, was capable OF devel
Opement and improvement. Without sacrificing
sugnt Of their native dignity the services could be
made more attractive ana more solemn. But there
was no necessity TO copy the Roman or the Greek
churches. but, building upon their own material
there was room for some extension ofsome important
accessories. While rejecting all nonessentas there
were yet some features, to abandon which would
be derect Of duty. Those points should be strongly
and determinedly maintained Doubtless there were
would be opponents to the Introduction OF many
Essential clements but they should nevertheless be
carefully guarded, and though the attempts to main
tain them should fan those supporting them should
not be discouraged. Essentials and nOn-essentlals
should not be mixed up together. BY recent de-
csiOn the two altar lights which had been in use
from time mmemorial, and which were used at the
time Of the decision by three thousand churches
were suddenly forbidden. Those lights, at the time
Of the holy sacrlnce had historical and theological
significance. They dated from the time the Chris
tians worked In the dark in consequence, and n-
piled the two natures In our Lord Jesus Christ; and
while the decision must be accepted there were some
points that could not be given up without commit
ling q breach Of duty. There were some who
thought that all they had TO 90 to be
saved was to make an act OF fath such
persons saw no use In rtualism, so that the inteli
gent advocate Of that theory opposed 1t. Yet
there were some who mstoOk the divine worship for
religious service; that the minister was their minis
ter instead OF Gods, and soexpected the minister
turn mis- face towards them rather than to the altar
Persons who held that theory were decidedly op-
posed to the psalter, which they considered was o
mere prose dialogue. In fact, they liked ritual
that was not congreg a0nal In Its character because
they appeared not TO think that the ritual was an
offering to God. Now the ritual might be plain but il
nevertheless could express the truth Of Jesus Cprl
but when deprived OF Its essential accessories II be
came mere form. The lecture was listened to with
great attention by large and fashionable congrega-
lion. a,1-~.