The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-08-23
MASS IN THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND.


The development of the Catholic movement
within the Church q England has now reached a
point which we should suppose must be surprising
even to the most saaguine of those OF its early
pioneers who are still alive to see the ruitage OF
their seed sowing. Ii is no use blinking the acl
that a very large section of the Church OF England
is Roman in everything but the name, and, what
renders the fact more significant and serious, j.
that there seems to be no power 10 the Church.
either judicial or moral. competent to check the
movement A correspondent who visited Hlgh
Church recently in pleasant suburban community,
informed US that a considerable number Of the
congregations on entering the church made gen
uhexon when they reached point opposite the
10 called altar. In commencing his sermon the
minister used the Roman Catholic invocation, " In
the name of the Father, &c. making the sign Of
the cross at the time aud although there were
neither vestments nor incense used during the
communion, the celebrant in consecratiDg the
elements, used, without any attempt at c0mpro
MISE the position which has recently been declared
illegal by the highest tribunal 10 the Church. The
communion is now openly called mass, and in
the columns of High Church contemporary a
correspondence has been in progress Tor some tine
on the question why should not the whole
masses be sung7" Most OF those who have taken
part in the discussion have, we observe, the cour-
age to urge their principles to their logical results
and there are several churches in the metropolis
it would appear, in which the question has received
practical answer in the affirmative. There are
some timid souls however, who seem to think that
going the whole is going rather too far aud it seems
that there is practical difficulty in the way, from
the fact that the music of the Roman Catholic
mass does not go well to the English equivalents
of the Latin words and the writing of mass music
has yet to be cultivated by English composers.
The correspondence Is Instructive, as showing the
direction in which thought is teuding in large
section of the Church as BY law established.
The next is from the Protestant Gtwchman -
As this is an Episcopalian paper its testimony is
very significant. 1t admits that to grapple with
Ritualism is fearful contest, but declares it can
not with safety be deferred much longer that the
issue must be made "if we would not surrender
all that was won for us at the Reformation at a
priceless cost, +" Its statements are such as may
well lead all serious Christians to ask Whittier
i, the Episcopal ChurcE'driiting?' Let them be
read and pondered.
"On all sides there has been a rapid growth and
development of Rtuaism. La almost every do
cese of the land its advocates have appeared, and
IFS corrupt practices have been adopted. In the
city of New York its churches have multiplied
four-fod and its adherents are to be found among
rectors of venerable churches and professors in
theological Summaries. 1t has so sadly infected
the General Theological Seminary as to lead ma
iority of graduating class to enter into Re
treat Ia form of Righteousness known only to
Rome under the spiritual direction of Father
Conlessor In Philadell hia, it bids defiance to
the Bishop of the diocese, and practices, unblush
ingly, auricular confession to the beguiing of un
stable souls La Baltimore it holds a place of die
nifty and honor, by controlling and directing the
services of three large and hOurshing churches
one of them the mother parish of the diocese
La Boston it has transformed the church once pre-
sided over by the earnest evangelical Bishop OF
Colorado, into mass house, for the celebration
of its strange rites. La Chicago it finds a congo
NAL home and enthusiastic advocates. In Nash
vile and Memphis it erects its huge affairs and SUI
per affairs, lights Its candles, plants Its banners in
professions, and claims favor IN high places In
Louisville it fouts the venerable presiding Bishop
of this Church, and virtually bids him go on his
way, while it pursues its own course unchecked and
undaunted These are some of the results of the
evasive policy of the General Convention of 1868
The terrible fact is before as that Rtual$n, has
gained nightly IN strength during the past three
years. One significant event tells this unmistaka
bly,. A venerable and learned Professor in Nash
otah Seminary, ventured to attack in the Anert
can Churchndn a book prepared and circulated by
Ritualists, The Churchman's GUIDE" proving
NEST clearly that it was nothing less than a book
of R lmish teaching, part of it the work of Igna
thus Loyola himself. How has he been treated for
his fidelity to Professionalism? AT the late Con
vention in Wisconsin, he, whose name was always
first on the list OF Deputies to the General ConVen.