Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-11-02

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THE RITUAL.
As we dwell Oh these things, dear breth-
rem, our minds reCur to others of which
we must nos fail to Epssk.
We counsel you 10 bear in mind that
while on the one hand we must no: suffer
ourselves 10 deny any real good by reason
of mere popular OUtcries against ritual
forms, so, OF the other hand, we are never
to allow professions OF self-denying labor
and service to blind as to the actual dan
gers OF any movement in the church.
What is known as "rituslism" Is mainly
q question of taste, temperament and
constitution until it has become the ex-
preston Of doctrine.
The doctrine which chiefly attempts as
yet to express itself by ritual in question
able and dangerous ways is connected
with the Holy Eucharist. That doctrine
Is emphstically g novelty in theology.
What is known as eucharistical alteration
is undoubtedly inculcsted and e1cour-
aged by the Titusl Of posture lRlely intro
ducsd among as, which finds no warrant
in our "ofics for the administration of the
Holy Communion"
Wherefore, If q teacher suggests his er-
rOr by act or posture, be places himself in
sntsgonism to the doctrine OF the church
and the teachings Of Gods Word, and puts
in peril the souls of men. In the presence,
therefore, OF this danger, we call upon the
ministers Of this church TO bear in mind
that while they should always cherish
and exhibit that true and genuine
encs which devOutly recognizes 'ths dig
nifty Of the holy mystery snd the gress
peril Of the unworthy receiving thereof"
yet It is the bOuBdsn duty of each one 70
deny himself the outward expression Of
Whist TO him may be only reverence, IL
that expression even seems TO inculcate
and encourage superstition and idOlstry.
AUkIcULAR CONFESSION.
In thus speaking of dangers connected
with present movements in the church, |
there are other points on which your
bishops must not be silent.
The first relates to private confession.
Whenever a human o is possessed by q
searching and sincere repentance and 3
longing for a despsr spiritual life, there
comes also with these things g ksensr
sense OF the exceeding slnfulRess of sin
Rnd q desire for an authoritative assur-
Rnce of forgiveness. And then on the
other hand frivolous snd worldly persons,
simply because they desire to rid them
selves of any sense Of present response
billy or future r~etTibu5ion, seek for the
same assurance. Advantage is taken by
some teachers In the church Of thsse two
entirely different spiritual states to in
sist upon private confession TO q priest as
either the absolute duty Of al christians,
or a. essential TO any high sttainments in
religious Life. L
The experience of families, and even of
nations, shows that the worst practical
evils are insspsrsble from this great
abuse. To perVert the gOdly counsel and
sdvice which may quiet 3 disturbed con-
science into the arbitrary direction which
Eupplants the conscience, 10 10 do aWay Il
with that sense of moral responsibility
under which every man "shall give &C
q Of himself 70 God"
WORSHIP OF TIE SAINTS
Another point Of danger is q tendency
toward saint worship, and especially It's
elimination In the worship OF the Blessed
Virgin. The annals Of our race under the
convent dispensstiOns, e. well as beyond
thsir limits, show thst there is nothing to
which our fallen nature Is more fearfully
inclined than the worship Of the creature
rather than the creator. And this pro-
pensity to evil has always found Its most
attractive Development IN & sensuous dis
position 90 dsify and adore the tenderness
and love OF w~omanhOOd. The error Of
which we speak has arisen chiefly from
this propensity Of our nEture, and il !
foundi it's apology in perverted view Of /
the yeneratiOn due to her whom "all gem
erEtiOns" are to "call blessed" :
There Is no sin more continuously and !
decisivsly marked by the signal displess-
ure ofGOd than that Ofidolatry In its mani
fold varieties. Hence, although We do not :
anticipate q general prevalence Of tenden-
ciss 20 Mariolstry, which some have done
much to encourage, We nevertheless feel ]
that their slightest indication demands
our Immediate and decided Reproduction.
The bare suggestion that the intereession :
OF the Virgin Mary, or any other saint, is
I'm any Way to be sought In our approaches
to the Throne OF Grace, il an ~indignity TO I
the One only mediator a intercessOr \
which we, His apostolic witnesses, cannotf
too strongly nor distinctly forbid In His !
holy and all eficie name. |
DEPARTURE FOR TIE LITURGY, I
As fostering tendencies Of which We re- I
gret 70 see any tokens among ne, we must :
not fail 20 point out the danger arising s
from our devotional and doctrinsl books, S
alien IN their character TO the whole !
spirit of the liturgy, which have of late I
years been insidiously multiplied In Eng I
land and America Such works are chiefly !
borrowed from sources confessedly hostile
20 our communion, and tend only to =
weaken a undermine the loyalty of :
our people, and especially Of u youth, Q
70 the primitive faith and worship Of our n
church. Moreover, let IL be borne 10
mind thst the rich treasury Of our own
devotional authors Is full OF all things ,
that minister 10 education, while the in u
spired Psslter and other holy scriptures,
too little studied by most of us in this age a
Oh hurry anu ulEH@tf EchNG Wholly MlEu- 1 Il
out excuse this disposition to seek such 3
aid as we have pOintedly condemn.
The books just mentioned are not the q
only ones against which our people must 3
be warned. Publications are scattered
through our parishes, the whole aim Of 3
which is 20 undermine the Legitimate
authority OF tbs chief pastors of the \
church, 70 inculcste irrsverence, to stir \
up strife, to excite suspicion, 70 advocate 3
fsthe fecsiOus maintenance Of groundless )
opinions" to lead to division and schism. I
It was the solemn counselsof st. Paul to I
"mark those that cause divisionsn IN the Z
and 70 avoid them and their y
teachings. 5
We hold that II nothing more than what
IL clearly indicated by our rubrics is 70 +
be permitted in one direction, We are Il
bound in the veriest Justlee 70 condemn a
counterpart disposition 10 diminish L
In any manner froR their prescriptions Is n
10 order and worship. d
TIE SPIRITUAL PRESENCE. :
That mart of tbs letter which deals with !,
Hhikh views" about trsnsubstantistlOn is F
far more uncertain In tone. For instance, y
what can be more eonoilistOry than this IA
q
To argue that the spiritual presence Of q
oar dear Lord in the holy communion for
the nurture of the faithful is saoh.R pres y
sDcs as allows worship to Him thus and =
present Is. to say the least, to be n
wise above that which is written in Gods
Holy Word. For the objects of bis holy
sacrament, as therein revealed, are 6rzs, AZ
he memorial before God Of the one sac rs
riice for sins forever; and secondly, the
strengthening and refreshing OF the souls
The faithful. Moreover, no one can
All 10 see that it Is impossible for Tia com. y.
non mind TO draw the line between the IN
Of such an underlined and myste- n,
presence and the awful error Of TC
,dorina the elements themselves. be
Nr1AJ XOnK cOasIa Of