The New York herald., 1871-12-04

The Pastoral Oi tho House Of bishops Read
No Row DIsturbanco--Amr uiar Confess
sion. the Worship Of tho Saints and the
virgin Mary Cona.snned.
The fashionable edince at the corner or Filth
avenue and Thirty-nfth street, known as Cnrist
church. which has become celebrated or noto.
rlous latey for Its connection with DR.. Ewers
troubles and subsequent vacation was yesterday
comfortably 1Iled by congregation who anxiouslv
awaited any alNslon WHOM might be made by the
RI ht Rev. Bishop Potter, who ofciated In the ser
vices, assisted by the Rev. Mr. Pratt OF Staten
Island. But, much to the disappointment OF many
present, the courtiy old gentleman VINO fills the
Eplscopate of New YORK. and who Is, by a his tastes
naturally aversc to any row among his nock which
may be fomensed oy eishcr lay or cleric, simply
contented himself with revilng the pastoral letter
OF the House OF Bishops, which lately met at Rati-
more, to his congregation. This letter was very
voluminous, and IL is only certain parts OF 1t that
may be interesting TO the Episcopal readers
OF the HERALD. The letter. as read by the
Bisnop was In substance as follows:-We counsel
you TO bear In mind that while on the one hand We
must not suffer ourselves to deny any real good by
reason OF mere popular oatcres against ritual FORMS
so, on the other nand we are to allow pr0feS.
slons Of sedenyng labor and service to blind rs to
the actua dangers Of any INC. ement IN the Church.
what Is known as "Rituaism'' ~ mainly
QUESTION OF TASTE, TEMPERAMENT
and constitution until 1t becomes the expression OF
yet TO express Itself ny ritual In questionable and
DANGEROUS ways - connected with the Holy
san6ov ai WSs Socrne : poy
alteration is undoubtedly Inculcated and enc0ur.
aged BY that ritual OF posture lately introduced
for the administration OF the holy cOmmunion.n
AURIcULAR CONFESSION.
In speaking Ol the dangers connected with pres
ent movements in the Cnurch there other points
on which yonr bishops must not he silent he first
relates TO private confession. Whenever o human
soul IL possessed OF searching and sincere repent
ance. ana longing after deeper spiritual life,
the oxcccding s,niuiness OF sin and desire for an
authoritative assurance OF forgiveness. And then,
on the other hand,
FRIVOLOUS AND WORLDLY PERSONS
simply because they desire to rid themselves or any
sense OF present responsibility or future retributon,
by some teachers In the Church OF these two entirely
different spiritual states TO insist upon private con.
Christians or as essential to any hign attainments
In religious life. Meantime, the fact that pard Is
90 Sy M s on
In Christ, as well as IN the use OF the means OF
grace, Is utterly passed by.
WORSHIP OF THE SAINTS
saint worship. and especially its elimination in
TIE WORSHIP OF THE BLESSED viRGiN.
The annals or our under the covenant dispen-
sations. as wcll as beyond their limits, show that
there nothing to which our fallen nature Is more
Inclined than the worship OF the creature rather
tnan the Creator. And TINS propensity TO evil has
IN A sENsU0Us DISPOSITION TO
deiy and adore the tenderness and love OF woman
hood. The error OF which we speak has arisen
chiefly from THIS.
TiIE TEACHING OF THE CHURCH
In this matter is plain and clear. She permits and
offers to her children the opening or their gricfs In
private To some minister or Gods Word. But she
docs not make this the first resort; che does not pro-
vide Tor Its frequent recurrence or UNIFORM practices
she does not impose by ecclcsiastcal ordinance;
she does not hold declare 1t necessary TOR tho for
gveness OF sins, or the attainment OF nigh degrees
OF spiritual advancement: nor does she connect with
II blessings which be secured only by It's Oserv.
ance. She simply Offers and cOmnends this privi-
ege to those Uf her children who cannot quiet their
own conSciences by sell examination
IMMEDIATE CONFESSION To GOD
with faith In Christ, repentance and restitution.
wherefore to make this seeking OF comfort and
counsel not exceptional customary not free but
i[ not by actual law at least by moral Obil
cation and spiritual nccessities), 10 rob CnrIsts
provision OF It's mercy ana 10 change II into an en-
gine or oppression anu source OF corruption.
HISTORY DEMONSTRATES THIS
The experience OF families and even OF nations,
shows tnat the worst praccal evils are lnseparabc
from TINS great abuse. 10 pervers the godly coun-
sci and! advice winch may quiet disturbed cou-
science into the arbitrary direction which Suppants
the conscience IL to do away with that sense OF
mOIal responsibility under which every man .'shall
give account Oi himself TO God"
There Is no SIN more continuously and dectSlvely
marked by the signal dsplcasurc or God than that
we do not anticipate general prevalence OF ten
dencies to Maro,atry. which some have done much
to encourage, we nevertheless feel that their slight
est indlcatOn demands our immediate and decided
repronation. The bare suggestion that
THE lNTFRCRssION OF Tue VIRGIN MARY,
or any Other saint is in any way to be sought In our
approaches to the throne OF grace, indgnlty
the one ony Mediator and Intercess0r which we,
HIS apostolic witnesses cannot too strongly dts
ttnctly forbid IN HIS holy and ali-suicicnt name.