The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-22

moved to make, and the absolution following in the
English Oflice for the Visitation of the Sick.
But neither Of these forms corresponds TO the
auricular confession and absouton which DR.. Bat
terson teaches and defends. For what he contends
for is private confession OF lceH persons, ia the
vestTy room or other part of the church build
ing and the giving to pentents thus confessng
private presty absouton.
SO far from Hooker's approving this the whole
drift OF his teaching is against it, as is also the
whole teaching OF Bishop Jewell whom DIR. Batter
Church of England distinctly says "That the priest
should hear the private confessions OF the
people ano listen to their whsperngs; that every
man should be bound to their auricuiar confession,
IL is no commandment or ordinance OF God. 1t Is
devised and established y by men, and was lately con-
LateIan, 1215.) "a Treatise OF the Sacrament
Again he says IN his apology OF the Church Of Eng
land, part III, chap VII div. 2, ''That Christs dis
cples did receive this authority touching the keys,
not that they should hear private confessions OF the
massing priests DO everywhere nova days, and do
It, so as though in that one point lay all the virtue
and use OF the Keys but to the end that they should
go, they should teach, they should publish abroad
the Gospel and be unto the believing sweet SAVIOR
of life unto life, and unto the unbeievng and
faithful q SAVIOR of death unto DEATH"
AS therefore, the only two wherein private
confession and absolution are allowed in the English
Church. and which are countenanced by these great
writer's DO not exist in the American Church; 1t Is
wide OF the truth to say that they, in defending these
confessions and absolutlons which have been ruled
out OF the American Prayer Book, 'may be said
fairly 10 speak the mind OF the American Church."
"The American Church" has spoken out her own
mind onFhe subject and with no indisnct or fater-
Where the English Prayer Book in the first Of
the exhortations TO the Holy Communion, has the
sentence, "that by the ministry OF Gods holy word,
he may receive the benefit OF absolution, together
| with ghosty counsel end advice" In the American
Prayer Book the reference to absolution is left out,
and the passage reads, 'that he may receive such
| godly counsel and advice"
Where the English rubrc, before the confession in
the Holy Communion reads: :-"Then shall this gene
rad confession be made in the name of all those that
are aoar minded II6s,d to reGeISSe" S the Ame, me
bp Inv nd a
| those who minded to receiver 1. e., that the
| priest is to confess as well as the people.
Where the English rubrC directs, after this gene
| raj confession :-"Then shall the priest (or the
bishop, being presenD stand up and turning himself
| American rubrlc leaves out the words pronounce
| this absolutoD,' and substitutes the single word
| "say."
Where "The Order for the Visitation of the
| Sick" in the English Prayer Book Teads-"Here
special confession Of his sins il he feel his con-
| science troubled with any weighty matter. After
which confession the priest shall aosove him lf he
humbly and heartily uesire it,, after this Sort" and
then follows an aosolution; in the American Prayer
| Book, this rubric and this absolution wholly
The only confession countenanced by the Ameri-
can Prayer Book other than the two IN the Morning
| and Evening Prayer, and in the holy Communion,
is that in "a Form OF Prayer for the Visitation OF
| Prisoners" (This form does not exist in the Eng
lish Prayer Book, and was taken by the trainers Of
our liturgy out of the Irish Prayer Book into which
| it was introduced in 1I14l
But the language here used is very clear and pre-
examine whether he repent him truly OF his sins,
exhoIting him to particular confess of the sin for
| tchich he is condemned and, upon confession he
| shall instruct him what satisfaction ought 10 be
made to those whom he has offe endet thereby {" etc
'After his confession the priest shall declare unto
| him the pardoning mercy OF God in the form used
| in the communion service"
Observe here. that the only confession which the
minister rs to eXhort the prisoner to make Is ga par
ticuar confession OF the sin for which he is con-
demned"-that the absoutlOn consists in the minis
ter declaring unto him the pardoning mercy of God
in the predatory form used IN the communion
is to be used ''when prisoner is confined for some
great OF, capital crime SO that Dr., Patterson
cannot plead this Office as sustaining his views of
| private confession and absouton.
repeat, therefore, that the American Church has
right in the minister to hear confession aud grant
absouton outside OF the forms and ways specially
has protested against private confessonals and pri
In the language or Bishop Hobart, ssThe Church.
man justly deems auricular confession and private
absolution an encroachment on the rights of con-
science; an invasion of the prerogative OF the
Searcher OF hearts, and, with some exceptions hos
tile to domestic and social happiness, and licentous
and corrupting in its tendency"
These words, though strong, are not too strong;
for the history Of the confessional is OF the
foulest pages in the annals of the Church OF Rome
God forbid that there should be any revival of such
system in the Church. There is snOthing that will
more invade the sanctity OF domestic life and de-
stroy the purity OF Womans heart; nothing that will
breed more loathsome ideas in the minds OF the So
called pentents and foster lust and crime the
| called father confessors than the teaching and
practice OF private auricular confession and private
prlestly absolution
our American Church, by excluding everything
wisely guadid against this evil. For, however
mild and pure this may now appear in its first be
giLnDgs 1t will not long remain so, for the system
advocated only needs vantage ground aud little
headway, to become as debauching iD its results r(
| the mind, and soul, and body, as the system whcl
it initiates has already proved itself to b'
intention to grant absolution privately when he con
sdered It proper TO 90 So and as TINS Whole subjec
is now submitted to me for my decision and judg
meLJ therefore declare that all priyat tsc DnfessoI
and absolutiOn, only in the way, andunder thu
special circumstances, provided for in the form 10
the visitation OF prisoners 49, in my opinion, con
tIary TO the doctrine, discipline, and worship o
| the Protestant Episcopal Church; aud that
is an erroneous and strange doctrine, which an
bound, as far as in me lies, 10 Danish and drly
away from that portion of the Church over whlc
the Holy Ghost hath made me oYerseer. Hence,
require the ohiciating minister in St. Clement
which lead to or cOuntenance such private cOnfes
sion or private absolution
The second point noted in the paper, marked "M
is concerning prayers for the dead and is in the fol
lowing words:-'rhe opinion that prayers for th
dead are eneaciOus, ana that they are countenance
in the United States OF America, TO form no part o
the teachings Of this parish.
| nr. Patterson, in his paper marked "B, says:
! subject more thoroughly, and asks for tim
to do so. So far IN his investigation Il
, finds that for the first 1900 years OF tn
ChurChs history no liturgy is txtant which does no
contain petition to the effect that the souls OF tn
faithful departed may enjoy perpetual rest and fe
lcitY In the realms OF paradise. The whole suhJec
shall receive his careful attention. AS he has neYe
taught word on the subject, the Vestry need hay
no fear Of his doing so until he has satisfied hlmse
entirely as to the teaching OF the CHURCH. Thoug
Dr. Patterson has not, as he SAYS 'taught word D
the subject" vet he allowed Others TO teac
and preach 1t from his pulpit and priYy to, an
| cOgnizant Of, such teaching without rebuking 0
| M gufaaT ha