New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-11-02
RITUALIsMS CAUSE AND REMEDY.

RITUALISMS CAUSE AND REMEDY.
THE TITLE OF PRIEST USED IN THE BOOK OF
PRAYER THE KEYSTONE OF RITUAIISTIo
CHURCHEs-A DECLINE OF RITUALIsM PRE-
DICTED WHEN TIE IDEA OF PRIESTHOOD
SHALL HAVE DISAPPEARED FROM THE LITURGY.
TO the Editor OF The Trfoune.
SIR: The Protestant Episcopal Church has
lately been startled by the discovery within its borders
OF an exotic Overshad0wing proportions have eI
cited the worst of its spiritual COMMITMENTS In
the earlier stages Of development it attracted but
little the attention OF Gods husbandmen IL noticed,
was deemed thing OF small moment, one having but an
ephemeral existence, "a season, and hut season. OF
grow and decay that the breath OF pety would
soon wither and destroy But its growth has oeeh uo
growth of years. silent and steady, till at length Is
found to be firmly rooted IN the soil OF the church, put
ting forth It's gaudy foliage, dIusing us
poisonous qualities, and threatening destruo-
ton to all who come within its influence.
How came 1t therea How happened it that in border
40 carefully kept and tended surrounded by every pr
iua safeguard this seed of evil was deposited In Prot
estant soil Surely an enemy hath done this" But IL
not an enemy it to be accounted Tor Can ha's
beer that the sprung from deposit THAI
had lain for in the soil Of the Church. that had
escaped vigant eyes of its pous founders and been
overlooked amid the ceansngs Of the Reformationf IL
has sprung into life from the Liturgy OF the very Churcn
whose alarm it now exctes and whose desuucuon 10
now threatens Uncover ITS root trace every nDer anu
YOU will fud that its life, its nourishmen It's support
derived from the Protestant dogma OF the Priesthood
Uproo destroy this and Upas tree dies, ana your
Apostolic and spiritual Church will flourish
The order of the Priesthood which exists IN tie
Protestant Episcopal Church was derived from the
Romisn Church. II is not mere name both the name
and Office have significance and meaning that were
deemed essential to the existence and influence OF mo
church that founded it. priest IN the Romsh Clurco
L.. 40 nafsp
sacrifice aud such official appointment was indispen-
sable to the establishment and support OF the dogmas OK
church which laid claim TO miraculous power ana
declared itself to be the custodian OF the souls OF fa
members, both in this world and IN the next Ihe
secret of the wonderful Influence that the Romisn
Church exercises its adnerents Is found IN hei
assertion that hers is heavcD-derived Priesthood
under whom they taught that their destiny Is In her
hands in virtue of which she demands that their chill
drep IL need be- shall be baptized in the womb, with the
alternative OF their exclusion from Christian burial
and TO the priest oral confession must be made that be
NAV absolve them. The priest anoints them for tho
grave and he 1t is who claims to detaln them In or
relieve them from purgatorial pains and penalties
But admitting all this to be true OF the Roman Church,
what, you will ask has this to do with the Protestant
Episcopal Church and Rtualismi Everything, seeing
she too has a Priesthood. But you, surely. are not
prepared TO her priests claim like prerosatye
and powerl reply not ALI but Is not indisputaoe
that do And have they not found some warrant
such assumption in the teachings OF their churchs
Listen to her form and Of ordaning priest"
Hear what the officiating Bishop says when, having laid
his hand on the head OF the candidate be utters these
words Receive the Holy Ghost for the office and work
% priest whose sins thou dost forgive they are Tor
cyeu and whose sins thou dOst retain they are re-
tainedD Then follow this made priest into the
sanctuary Perchance he Is assisted by deacon or lay
reader. whom he permits to open the service oy
reading to the end OF the Confession But TINS done:
YOU discover that he - foroldden 10 read
the AbsOlution Remission OF Slas; that TO De pro-
nounced by the priest alone Mhy this eAciusVehes.
pei truth that God has gwen power and commandment
70 ministers to declare and pronounce to HIS people
being peDitent, the absouton and remission OF then
sins" But does not this marked exciusyeness Deray
the claim TO presty funetions Ana nave no. .ne , y.
ths s1e Espnnge them from your
urgy, the name OF priest Abolish the ounce ana VIII
DESTROY the very stronghold of Rituasm. Abolish It.
and the hat Will nave no SOIL
Both the name @y a one pTes he great High Priest
who is passed into the heavens Jesus the son OF Coz
there no ntereessor out ne cha more 70 aS
once for ALL Abolish the name and once OF prizes, o
your Liturgy. and the minister OF he Phst bs waS
ordained TO be-their servant ana lnsuuctor' Al, Co.
Abolish II, aud the administration Oh tue Lorus sup
mar will be what Christ designed IL 10 be, conmemo
ratye act; showing forth OF his deatn 'lu ne come
again" public avowal OF the Churehs state,ul 10
membrance OF the sayiors Dying oVe means VI gfaes
~ the sincere COMMUNICATE . ,,-.
Rtualsm TO be contrary 10 the saases OF Tue oaI:
suffice eradicate the evil IL must De uprooted THO
strong hand of the Church 10 that every noer DC re-
offices aud Liturgy down TO the standard OF Apostono
teaching Let this be done, and tie beneficial resus
viii soon DO apparent In united spiritual cnurch whoss
,rna nrotesfant LArxAN
Neic- York. Oct. 90 1874