New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-11-14
CHURCH FREEDOM.
CATHOLIC ACTION OF THE EPISCOPAL
CONTENTION

or RrTuALlsM-CHANGE OF SENTIMENT A"o'U
THE pELEGATEs-DR. sEYMoURs RE1Eo iioN VI
THE LAST VICTORY OF THE ANri-oAihoiio
pApry-Nu1p REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON
c.NoNs-wElKNEss OF THE TWO CANYONS PASSED.
-rorrRANcE TOWARD RITUALIsTs ASSURED.
- ~. p6ftor of TIE Tribune
S,p. The Episcopal Church has passed
,hroncb tremendous crisis threatening In the eyes Vi
IRE world TO rend her in twain; but as usua sne mas
come out OF it successfully and whole ee mas 'iu
Gated 10 the world her broad founaauohs anu
the liberal ncusiveness of her walls The scene whch
vour reporter depicted OF the extreme Low Churcuau
d tho C,tholic seated by side In the Courtyard OF
81 John Chapel during the secret session OF the Con-
on,on with the High Anglican and the Broad Church
man standing in front OF them. and all engaged
In grateful change Of grace or merry speech.
Their hearts unlocking each to eseh
as some,hipc more than mere fortuitous incident;
IL was q typical development Of the comprehensive
spirit OF the Episcopal Church This Church mas SHOWN
in the late Convention as perhaps never before tha'
instead Of committing the old blundcr OF rejecting she
has now the skill TO use the services Of her children,
who however differing In their mental structure ana
tastes glove her and would toll for her." limo was
and not long since, when one OF her sons IN view o inc
manner in which MethOdists had been trcated a'
the close of the century and in view OF the manner
In which the oxford school OF thought was treateu "
vcars ago TO say nothing Of the manner in which the
Rtaliss have heretofore been treated cried aloud:
Omy mother whence ia this unto thee that thou mast
good things poured upon thee and canst not hep Ihe;
dbearest children and darest not own them3 Why
hast thou not skin TO use their services nor the
heart to rejoice their lOvei How is 1t that whatever
Is generous in purpose and tender deep in devotion,
fhy flower and thy promise falls from thy bosom
and finds home within thine armsf VINO hatn
pat this note upon thee to have a miscarrying
womb and dry breasts to be q stranger 10 thine
own nesh thine eye cruel towards thy little onesf
Thine own Offspring the fruit OF thy womb who love
thee and wonl toll for thee thou dost gaze upon with
fear though porten or thou dost loathe as an Oh
fcnse at dost but endure, as If they had no
claim tut on thy patience. sefpossession and vigilance,
10 be rid Of them easily thou mayes Thou makest
them stand all the day idle the very condition OF thy
hearing with them; thou bddest them begone where
they Will be Welcomes or thou sellest them Ior
nought to the stranger that passeh by Aud what VIII
thou DO in the end thereOtP
Taere have been, there may yet be, those who woud
drive the Rituaiss TO the wall If possible. but thank
God tho Mother Is OF that mind change is inau'
Clrated to-day The net result of tho Convention has
been not TO suppress Rtualiss but to recognize
ami to satisfy them Henceiorh the Catholic school or
thought has admitted standing In the Ango-Ameri'
can communion. The Church has virtually said to the
so-caIled Rualists I trust you your mother un-
derstand you notwithstanding all the camor do not
believe you are going to Rome. or that you aim to Pa
paze the Church have no fear or that. DO not
believe you arc Jesuits in disguise. recognize that
there may possibly be room for warming up my ser
not however That all my children shall do as you
do for recognize them aud their plain services well
as now Gn.zc yon and your more ornate But 80
on with your missions your medlta0as and retreats,
IL Won like Go with your lights your altar crosses,
your yestmcns and your early and frequent and fast
ing communiOns; go on with your sisterhoods and
brotherhoods your reviyals and prayermeengs, your
sign of the cross your guilds banners and professions.
Yes even recognize that incense and crucifxes do not
symbolze false doc,rne my other children ought not
10 say they do. Only want you to be PRUDENT what
Is not wrong may not always be expedent trust you.
DO not abuse my confidence in you do not leglslate,
and never again propose to be pestered into
leg1slatng' on the length Of your cassocks or the
number of your lights. And now that have not, at the
call OF some ny other children-who, perhaps. have
not understood you well as dO-diiven you out, but
on the other hand have showed TO the world that there
ia annie room for you well for others in house
hold now say, remember that look for works at
your hands Go forth freely indeed bnt see 10 1t that
Won Gather souls into me-souls which grant 1t is
least possible others who do not use your means
might not reach. Meantime, my Catholic Children
If you prefer be caled by that namC- intrust you
70 my lenient Bishops who well assured, will be
wise fathers ana not hard masters over you Listen
10 their gentle counsel Cease my dear children,
and ALL wranGDg with each other and all now direct
upon the world tie esb and the Devil that zeal and
determination you have for the past six years displayed
against one another Go forth each set OF you. with
your own means, and let the next four years be an
olymuad o: fruits incathered to the Lord"
IL must confessed this speedy settlement OF the
great dulty is unexpected TO all. and probably the
observant world less than to the various parties
within the Episcopal Church During The discussions
in Convention the presentation Of petitions and memo
rails and drafts Of the reports of the Committee
on Cauons the amendments and substitutes, the transit
o the canon back aud forth between the two Houses
and finally the Conference Committee, the slowly de-
welcoming action OF the Convention under such con-
fusion and cloud that it and may yet doubtless be
especially those at distance, to
make up their mind as TO what finally took place. But
II is evident that the secular press detected long before
hand the true state into which affairs were settling The
Herald Significantly said: "And so Rtualism is dead.
J.itG" TIE TRIBUNE on the day gave similar
inti,natoD After the battle daily evening paper
marked on uusatisfactorness of the result
stated that the avictOry forthe High Church
party; result except in the REORGANIZATION OF
seymour probably met all their expectations, and the
editor concludes with the trust that the Rtualists will
be tolerant Of those who do not care for forms Four
weeks ago it was No quarter to the Rtuallsts;"
1t hoped they will be gentle toward those who sought
70 crush them Again the tone Of the secular since
the Convention is you must have ceremonial let IL
he OF the right kind" The article which took this
ground ought be printed that it could be framed
and hung In every Episcopal cho!rroOm. 1t is not,
however, simply the unpublished boots and tho soled
surpces Of which IL spoke that may be remarked upon;
II is something IT is In exceptional cases positive
ireverence among choir boys and men. The old clerk
that used TO make responses in the threedecker
DAYS was az least reveren Better all right minded
Rtualsts better by far return TO him than have the
transferable sham Of a gorgeous ceremonial conducted
by irreverent men and boys even though they be IN
clean surpces But while the secular press arc calmly
oeryant the Convention has really treated the
Catholic party strangely enough there is at least one