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

official capacity, for your opinion in the pre-
misses, DR.. patterson at the same time autho-
rizing me to- state his views to you as have
given them above To which assented.
The paper marked 'B" Is DIR. Battersons pro-
position for allayng the difficulties. The paper
marked ''M" contains what I thought was es-
sental and is in the form of q report to the
vestry from the committee already mentioned.
We submit these papers in the hope that you
will be able TO give such counsel as will secure
harmony and prosperity to st. Clements
Church.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
2. P. NORRIS.
THE REcToR's PLAN.
The paper (marked b by which DR.. Batter
son proposed to settle the difficulty, after de-
clariDg his willingness to consult or be con-
suited by any warden or vestryman, "n the
free frank, open-hearted manliness which be-
longs to Christian gentlemen" proposes to COM
NIT the vestry to the defense of the service as it
now stands: THAT is to say professional and
occasional hymns, the invocation, the standing
of the people during the presentation of aims, to
be continued. The banner to be used only at
Christmas and Easter, the feast of All Saints
and the children's festival. The colored stoles
to continue in use until the next General Con-
vention October, 1STl), at which time the de-
cision of the convention upon the subject tif any
be made) shall be obeyed."
THE CONFESSIONAL.
''As to teaching" continues Dr. patterson;
first, private or auricular confession. This
ulAJt6T 10 DC l6II, Us Q6T0IOlOTt, NOluu-
tary; compulsory confession, having never been
taught in the Anglican communion, will never
be taught in st. Clements parish but in all
cases the penitent will be left to make 1t or not,
as his own conscience may decide
Then the Doctor quotes from "Hookers Ec-
cesiastcal Polity" Ga book recommended by the
House of Bishops), among other paragraphs the
following, In support of the confession
'For private confession and absouton, it standeth
thus with u.s.
GThe ministers power to absolve is publicly taught
and pTofessed. The Church not denied to have
authority either Of abridging or enargng the use
and exercise OF that power; upon the people no
such neces ssty imposed of opening their transgres
sons unto men, as if remission Of sins otherwise were
mpossible-neither any such opinion had OF the
thing itself though it were either unlawful or un
profitable" In a foot-note Hooker quotes from
Bishop Jewell l:-"As for private confession, abuses
and errors removed, condemn 1t not, but leave It
at liberty Then adds DR.. Patterson, "Hooker5 3
Bishops and General Convention, tgitout any proviso
or qualification, may be said fairly to speak the mind
Of the American Church" AS for prayers for the
dead DR.. Patterson says he would like to inVesti-
gate the subject more thoroughly.
AURIcULAR CONFESSION SHALL NOT BE
PRACTIsED.
Now the committee of the vestry who were to
frame basis for mutual and satisfactory adjust
ment of the differences between the rector and
the yestry put their foot fatty down on auricular
confession and priestly absolution by reporting
the followiDg:-
That they have agreed upon the following as
l. Auricular confession, by which we mean
private confession, to be followed by priestly
absolution, either with or without penance en-
joined, shall not be practised in this parish, or
taught or encouraged as a proper Christian
duty, either as preparatory to the communion
or without reference to that sacrament. There
being no intention to exclude the services for
the visitation of the SICK or prisoners, or the
godly counsel to troubled minds contemplated
by the eXhortation to the communion, or to in
terfere with the duty to hear the confession of
an oppressed conscience bona tide seeking relief
in that way; but in no case shall private absolu-
ton be given, unless where specially authorized
by the rubrlc.
g. The opinion that prayers for the dead are
| efficacious and that they are countenanced or
| warranted by the Protestant Episcopal Church
of the teachings of this parish.
3. Bowings to the altar and prostrations be-
fore it, not to be practised by the cleagy, aud to
be forbidden to the choristers.
AS TO CEREMONIES.
The banner to be carried only on Christmas
Easter, and All Saints, and on the childrens ser
vices when desired.
Water not to be mingled with the wine in the
| chancel.
The question of colored stoles to be left tC
| await the action of the next General Conven
| tion.
Nothing new to be introduced into the ser
| vices, and no changes made therein, withou
consultation with the vestry, and acquiescenct
| by them.
THE BISHOP GIVES HIS OFFICIAL COUNSEL. O,
THE QUESTIONS AT IssUE-THE INNOVATION
THAT HE CONDEMNS.
The Right Rev. Bishop indited letter t.
! p. z. Morris, Esq, on the 9th of February last
in answer to q note from that gentleman, will
accompanying papers, stating "We DR.. Bat
terson and himself submit these papers in tn,
nope that yon VIII be able to give such coanse
as will secure harmony and prosperity to st
Clements Church" Then says the Bishop
''The subjects thus laid before me are grave ant
momentous, and feeling the need of Divine aid
have earnestly sought wisdom and truth from
GOD, VINO has promised to give the Holy Spiri
to them that ask Him." The Bishop then quote
the paper drawn up by the committee and tha
by DR.. Patterson, and then says:-
1t will be seen by this answer LDr. Batterson's T.
the YestTyl that the decision OF the report
evaded. That whatever the teaching or practic
was before the 18th OF January, 1871, Dr. Batterso
wished it "tO be left as heretofore" That he mad
no offer to discontinue the practice and attempte
TO Vindcate his course by an appeal to certain pas
sages found in the Ecclesiastical Polity of Richar
Hooker Not point was conceded
AS the request OF the vestry was based on a stat
Of things existing before the 18th OF January, an
continue the practice and teaching alluded to woul
not have been made, IL follows that the plan sui
mitted by DR.. Batterson in order as he say!
vestry, and to quiet all differences OF opinion O
matters Of ritual, ETC., does not yield one thing
the Vestry, but virtually reafflrms his preYiou
teaching and asks ito De left as heretofore" to hi
practice.
This view Of DR.. BattersOns s plan is confirmed
the following extract from sour note dated Februar
2 and which you say DIR. Patterson authorized yo
to state as his views, aud which also DR.. Batterso
saw and added an interneatiOn in his own hant
''As TO the first (confesslon), the rector though
his presty once gave him the right not only to hea
the confession OF peni ent sinners, Seeking relief
that way, but 70 follow the confession, when satl
administered in private, and he declared that b
could not conscentiously undertake TO say that tn