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

The Detection Of the Marquis of Butte
from tho Established Churc hits
Moral Effect-The Spirit of the Ritual-
lists.
The London correspondent Of the New York
Times writes under date of January 9:
lam inclined to think that the real sensation
OF the weel; has been the news that the Mar
ouis of Butte has turned Papist. This young
man, Just como of age, with three hundred
thousapd pounds o year and peeraSe, has
cone over to Rome. The Times has leader
Column long to prove that it is matter OF no
consequence. The Marquis of Butte is no more
than auy other young man. and his three
hundred thousand year. OF no more ac-
count than any other similar income. 1t IS
only ono vote in the Lords. That is so; but
for all that the fact is serious and annoying.
1t sets every young peer, every young man 10
asking, .sWhat made him do it ?" and it is evi-
dent that tho Times would much rather he
had followed the example OF tue Marquis OF
Hastings. When thoughtful young noble
man, of lllustriOus family, wide connections,
and almost fabulous wealth, goes over at this
period of Ritualistic and disestablIshing ex-
citcment. it is very serioue matter indeed.
1t will influence many who are now waverlns
and uncertain.
Forty years ago thero was one Catholic priest
in England who had been clergyman OF the
Established Church-the Hon. and Rev. Geor?e
Spencer. Now there are for5y such priests IN
this archdiocese of Westminster, and about
two hundred in the country. Lay converts are
probably in proportion. The returns the last
year in, the metropolis arc 22O0, and the
con-or per-verts are mostly from the upper
and middle ranks Of society. The Rltuallst
papers, anticipating the recent decision against
lighted candles and kneellng during consecra-
ton, have been for weeks denouncing secession
to Rome; but tho Gorham decision, which was
that O clergyman OF the church need not be-
lieve in Baptismal Regeneration, sent. over
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 ago,
binds the church not cnly in doctrine, put
down to the minutest ceremony, and that TINS
act is TO be Interpreted, not bY bishops or cccc-
siastical courts, but by throo or four dissenting
or iuGdel lawyers?
Wheth n more or less arc driven over to
Rome one thing seems ceitaln. Cler5ymen
openly admit that the discslabllshment OF the
chur.h is at haud, and mlny OF them are
ready to say OF State control, with DR.. Pusey.
"Beeving, L rejoice to see the curse removed. a.
The first result of this would bc to divide the
oc,ual establishment into four or i've different
and warning sects. 1t IS only the State con-
troll that row keeps them nomlnally together.
In belief they are now tar as the poles asunder.
Tue State policy is to have the utmost uul.
forlnity in ceremony. as TO permit the u'niost
latitude in belief. You may interpret creeds
or articles as you please. follow Pusey or Co
lenso, but you shall not light candle us 6 long
as you can SEQ to read the service, or kneei
when the Rubric says stand, or put wafer IL
the wine, uuder pain of Indictment and I'M
prisonmeCt. a,,.oa
But 1t is not Rtualists alone who are affected &c e.,
by the late decision. They can for Tue mos. p1
BART evade it. 1t does not touch doctrine. BY
darkening their chancels they can lawfully
light their candles. They can bow very 10"
without kneeling. They can put water ID tue
wine in the vestry. They need hot lnceEse per.
sons or things, but burn as much as they IKE iI
promscuousy On tue other hand, by the
Judgment or the prlvy council, it is oblgatolJ J
on the lowest evangelical to wear tho vest
ments, and tc consecrate with his lack TO thc
people. The Rltuallsts propose TO raise funt
to prosecute the Archbishop OF YORK for Dol
wearing surpice and cope.