The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-05-11

thorough knowledge viii prevent many OF the
troubles which result from Infringement of rights
TO the duly constituted ministry is intrusted three
personal rlghts-The right to preach the Word, the
right TO administer the sacranents and the right TO
lead the won hip OF the people.
The power to preach was given by our LORD Him
self to the Apostles. This is the great end OF the
Christian ministry. II we say that the conditions
OF preaching are altered In our day we Ial into
former day was - to AWAKEN Saa' men, but now it is
directed mainly towards those who are ia the
Church; a change Of style is therefore thought to
be reached IL we agree TO this we place Infant
baptism above preaching.
ii minister hears error preached from his pulpit
and fails to notice 1t, the results of the error are
chargeable upon him.
Tie prlesIiy work, or the right to administer the
sacraments, is the second point. The sacraments
are fountains of mercy placed under the charge of
Gods ministers, and 1t IS their special ONCE to dis
pense them rightly. In infant baptism the judgment
OF the minister is required in the matter OF god-pa-
rents, and he is required TO see that infant baptism
is not deferred for too great length of time after
birth. This oversight is especially necessary Mt the
present day, when so many frivolous excuses are
given for postponemeDt Of the duty
In the matter OF the administration OF the Lords
Supper, the minister is required to duly advertise
the time OF celebration, and see that no unworthy
persons partake OF the sacrament. The minister
has the right to repel from the communion those
who are notorious evLlvers, those who nave done
any open n wrong to nelghbor, or those who live in
The exercise OF this Office Of the keys should only
be exercised after due deliberaton and advertise
ment Many serious difficulties have arisen from
an inludicIous use OF the power given to the
minister.
The minister has the right to omit the sign OF the
cross in baptism bot has right to any 9th er word
or words from the service, and any such omissions
are an excess OF priestly authority
The next point is the liturgcal right, or the right
to lead the worship Of the congregation. In the
matter of the superintendence of church music the
minister has special right. 1t is his right and duty
to suppress all unseemy tunes, voluntares and In
terludes and with his decisions no music committee
can interfere. We are gradually working up to a
better standard OF devotional music, but we cannot
reach It until many OF the tunebooks now In use in
a. al %
The duty of the minister to catechze the children
is important. The spirit of the rubrics concerning
the private instruction of the children by the minis
ter is fully carried out IL it is that proper in
structon is given at home, and when the children
are gathered into the church and publicly instructed
by the pastor. The Church holds the clergy respon-
sible for the instruction Of the children, and If he
sees that Inc end is carried out 1t is all chat is re-
quired. The infringement.of the laity should how
ever, be guarded against when 1t publicly comes
between the pastor and the children in the Sunday
school. That institution is very well and is excel
lent when properly superintendent by the minister.
The matter OF the power of refusing the burial
ONCE by the clergy mas lately been brought into
who have publicly placed themselves outside of the
pale OF the Church the clergy have the right to re-
OF the Church. But It should be that all cases
refused are so notoIiously out of the pale as that
there will be no doubt in the mind of any one.
The use of the church building is right of the
clergy for anything pertaining to church matters,
and IN this no interference should ever be made by
The salary of the rector is also a right of the
clergy. A vestry have no right to cut down the
salary Of minister, when they wish to force him to
resign. This is mean and petty trick, aad the
business men sitting as vestrymen would not dare
to act IN THIS manner TO one OF tnelr own number
On the other side OF the subject the rights of the
laity is next to be considered.
In the early times the laity had many rights
which they have not now, they having been gradu-
ally Withdrawn either by custom or by special
The laity in the Church in our country staud on
higher ground than they do in any other country.
| This custom DR.. Pusey speaks OF as an unhappy
These statements have been completely refuted
by the learned Bishop of Maryland, who has shown
| that We have not adopted any unknown precedent,
| and that have proceeded according to laws held
to since the Church was first formed In Jerusalem.
The rights of t0e laity in the American Church are
based on Gods Word, the Book of Common Prayer,
and eccesastic right
| Of the people. The clergyman can so arrange the
| service 10 exclude the laity. When such por-
| clude the congregation, it is an infringement OF
right While desire to see more cultivate musi-
cal taste in congregation, do not wish it to be
| had at the expense OF devotion.
Respecting the choral service wish 1t distinctly
understood that heartily approve OF it under GER
tain circumstances. The music should, however
be made su5servlent to devotion. But where there
| are but one or two churches in town. those who
wish to unite in spoken service should not be pre-
vented by the giving choir the portion intended
| especially for the whole congregation
ber of our Churcn is entitled to everythn ng which
the word Protestant expresses 1t is in this particu
lar that the laity have their most especial rig hts
| thing which may tend to carry back our Church tC
the errors of Rome. The rights of the laity cannot
| be interfered with by the clergy.
| 1t has been declared over and over again, how
ever, that the vestry or private individuals have ne
| right to interfere with the rector concerning the
manner in which he conducts public worship. The
| whole Church gives the rector his rights, and NJ
| layman or booy OF laymen can deprive hin o.
| them.
But when the rector by preaching or the use OF
symbols ineulcates injurious or heretica doctrine
| the vesry have remedy which is the presentmen
OF the offender TO the Bishop or the authority OF th
Church. This is their canonical right, but they arr
not the ultimate judges OF the truth error of thu
doctrine taught. They can put the rdctor on hi
trial only.
OF bishop or priest before them as rule OF con
duct This is not in accordance with the cathol
spirit which should guide all nations. The laymaI
should not humbly believe everything which is pu
before them by preacher. But they should ex
ercise good judgment. They should not belieV
every nut shGq a. R sne pha Su o actie
to how far the ayity TO follow the preaching
OF the clergy The teachings Of the clergy are how
ever, to be received with respect and well con
sdered, because they come from men who havt
6een set apart by the Judgment OF the best In tn
| Church.
In connection with this subject OF lay rights
l comes up the question can minister be dis mlsss
by yestry? Whether the rector or people can tax
difficulty. The matter is to be referred TO the bsho
as sole arbiter. A rector, with the consent OF tn
bishop, in cases OF difficulty, can dissolve his rela
tions with church. church with the consen
| OF its rector can dissolve the relations.
| A Vestry cannot dismiss rector without his con
sent without putting themselves in opposJion to tn
ecclesiastical authority but they can do so with tn
consent OF that authority, whchis the bishop. TN
IL on the same ground as where IL is held that min
ster cannot OF OF his own accord dissolve his paste
raj relations without the consent OF the eccleslasti
cal authority ST the bishop. II ne does so, he lay
| himself open to the censure OF the Church.
If the power of the laity is 80 great IT is import
ant that the power should be exercised with discre
tion. It IS very important that all who compose tn
| laity 4hOuld be communicants in good standing 4
the Gauren: Ihe lay 10 1ne %