New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-03-14
TIE CLERICAL PIPE.

We thought that there were troubles enough
in the Protestant Episcopal, or, as we wish to be
civil, we will say the Catholic" (nOt Roman
or Romish) Church, already-but here is fresh
one. Somebody of the strajghter sort writes to
ritualistic" newspaper in this city to in
quire whether it is just the thing for clergy
men to smoke pipes in Lent. 1t does not seem
to have occurred to this casuist to ask whether
it is just the thing for clcrgymen to smoke pipes
at all. When a controversy upon that point
does arise, there will be good deal to say on
both sides of the question. James the First,
to whom we owe our present version
of the Scriptures, and who was in
his time the head of the visible "Church"
of England, was of opinion that tobacco was
of the devil, and printed his COuntcrblastn
to prove it; while, on the other hand, many
pious clergymen have been great smokers,
and there is even n particular kind of nipple
ment of fumigation known in England as
the Churchwarden's Pipe" Sir Isaac Newton,
"child-like sage, sagacous reader of the works
of God, and of his word sagaciOusn was a
great smoker SO was Robert IIall--but ne
was Dissenter. 1t may be, therefore, con-
sidered rs settled that there is no inherent
ungodliness in smoking cigars, cigarittos, or
pipes, whether the same be of clay, or briar-
wood, or meerSchaums, or hoOkahs. The
question is whether it be sin to smoke in
Lent, and whether clergymen by that indul-
gence set q bad example to their parshioners.
Upon the whole, after careful consideration,
in which we got no help from the Fathers,
because pipes were not invented in their day,
we have come to the conclusion that inasmuch
as the purpose of Lent is to mortify the car
nal man by hunger, and moreover considering
that tobacco sensibly tempers the importuni-
ties of appetite, therefore, if its use defeats
the moral force of fasting that use should be
instantly abandoned. We should have the
same opinion in regard to brandy-and-
water and bitters, only it happens that these
are appetzers, and might be recommended
to increase the rigors of abstinence. But Just
in proportion To the degree in which taking
tobacco in Lent dmnishes the consumers
peckishness," just in that proportion NAV
smoking (and also chewing) be considered a
violation of the discipline of the " Church.r
We cannot give better opinion than that.
Nor can anybody else.
1t is because we heartily wish the differences
of the Protestant Episcopal (or "Catholic,)
Church well adjusted; it is because we are
weary of controversy about minor matters of
mere ceremonial, that we deplore the intro
duction of new element of debate. We be-
leve that the Episcopal" Church. especiaIly
with the greater attention which it is recently
paying to good works, might be a most useful
and benefcent organization; and it il not.
therefore, with much satisfaction that we omen
from week to week the newspapers calling
themselves, or called by others, "Episcopalian.p
only to find endless disputes about rubrics
and genuflexons, and triune dimensions. and
vestments, dc omnibus reJus, until we have
actually got down to tobacco pines If
these things go on, there must be schism.
and that at no distant day. IL would
have come already here, if the pres
ent Bishop of New-Yorll had not been one
OF the wsest well as one of the best of
men; for if the Church" here had been nm
der hot-tempered and li'igious prelate. there
must have been rupture. by kindly forbear.
ance, 10y tact which never fails him. bv the
force of his fine personal character, by humor-
ing notions when they seemed to be harmless.
the Bishop has thus far prevented an explosion
and kept his flock well together. He has had
hard time of it in the past, nor is he likely
to have an easy time of it in the future; but