National Republican., 1874-06-05
gatiosal gepnbTifau
RITUALLSM.
POSITION OF REV. DR.. GRAMMER ON


POSITION OF REV DIR. GRAMMER ON
THE SUBJECT.
The Baltimore AmericGn OF Saturday has the
following comment upon the speech Of Rev. Dr.
Grammer at the late Diocesan convention:
It may NOT be out Of place to remark here that
g speech made BY Rev. DR.. Grammer, Of Bslti-
tOessOD rUs.Se 81 SSs tkns tSS RSunS and
the position that there WAS, as Jet, no settled
well dehned rule OF ritual IN the Church, had
considerable influence In inducing this partiSs
change Of action on the part OF the majority Of
In his very interesting speech during the PRO-
Grammer said that the committee, 10 repairing
adverse % the petition Of the Church gf the Holy
brought 10 q report founded on mere rumof, and
attempted 70 make light on the ground ol Ritu-
alism: ne thought T. would be wrong to make IN
example Of this one little church. He was never
In church where the Credo was sung until hS
came into st. Johns church. He found no multi
so disposed. He would not draw the lines In this
matter until some serious violation Of the law
took place A committee has not the right, ON
the single issue q Ritualism' to say what church
To this Rev. Dr. Grammsr has sent the follow
Ing letter In reply:
GEORGETOWN, D. c., Msy 90, 1874.
To TIE Editors Of the BdHinaors American:
GESTLEMxS: In your issue Of the S0th instant,
(to-day,) you credit me with having inauenced
The action OF the late Diocesan convention Of
m.Sy mMsryIand IN regard 70 the Chapel Of the Holy
WIN you favor me BY letting the public know
that II my speech had any ihhuence. It was not
the existence OF that lystem In the Church was
deplored and It's excssses condemned by the
speaker; but as IL had been admitted and was
churches II seemed to inconsistent to let these
great oaks stand untouched, and yet look aghass
at the appearance Of sprouting acorn.
Iregarded IL as Inconsistent TO admit into the
ministry, clergymen holding sacramentarian doc
nc ef.c,es sSsI2 shurc5es from ISs
The last general convention refused to pass 3
prohioitory canon on Ritualism, and yet the CON-
Ipittes on the "Chapel Of the Holy Communion
asked the Diocesan convention to exercise the
authority which such Damon only could give
Those who styled themselves "SonserTatiys
other Diocesan committees in extending or assist
ing churches, without making this issue, and yet
they refused to recognize or admit them to the
declined to unite with q majority in applying
force unauthorized by dehnitiye legislation and
As the beginnings Of this system were not sup
pressed upon the plea OF conservative federation
am willing now to abide that test and let the issue
ripen that II may be seen how the general conven
ton Of the Church will either consent or refuse to-
ylndlcate the Protestant character Of our doc
trines and worship. We need to have this Ques-
Liou decided by law, and not by the unauthorized
Judgment OF q divided committee.
The Diocesan convention Of Maryland has,
almost unanimously refused, in the past, ever ID
utter Its voice upon this doctrinal and RitualsLo
controversy from professed regard for the proper
controlling authority.
Why should the convention decide on RItualism
rather than on the system OF sacramentariansmi
, whom the former Is but the flower OF which the
latter is the root.
And finally urged them, as now, that liberty
without law was as much 70 be deplOred as law
without liberty.
Since writing the above have read an edito-,
rial in Ths Church and SLATE, q leading Low
| Church paper, Of the 18th ult., from which eKi
| tract these wise eounsels:
Men enter the ministry Of the Church under
| an implied contract that If any change is made,
| either IN Ebridgng or extending liberty In the
method Of public worship, Il shall be through tho
course provided in the constitution OF the Church
| But what becomes Of thiS safeguard If men may,
| accomplish by canon law that which they would
fall to accomplish through alteration Of the
| rubrics:
"To insist upon accomplishing the desired re-
suit by canon law may seem TO subSerye presene
purp0se and 10 be In the interest OF the truth and
purity Of the Church; but II must be remembered
| that II Is special legislation, and upon very
Questionab principle. II cannot reasonably bo
| expected. therefore, thaS II will permanently
su6serve the interests Of the truth The time will
| come when such legislation will have established
| precedent which may oe used with fearful power
against, as Il is now proposed to use It In behalf
| oL the Protestant!sn Of lae Church"
Very RESPECTFULLY, 5Our;,