, 1877-07-29
THE CONFESSIONAL.


To the Editor Of the 4seas Fork He7aid-
NEW YORK, July 20.-An anonymous friend
has sent ME q pamphlet, bearing the imprint o1
]. Carter, London, 500 Commercial Road
East, entitled ssThe Priest in Absolution; al
Expose OF the Work Published by the Hol,
Cross Society,"" This is the brochure to which
the Earl Of Redesdale, in the Lords, and Mr..
Cowen. In the Commons, called the attention oi
Parliament on the 18th Of May last.
The Holy Cross Society consists Of 100 "Con.
fessors," c]ergymen Of the High Church OF
Mtualistic party OF the Anglican Church, and
in their Instructions to their tconfessors u
have detailed the questions to be asked their
rcnitents in relation to the breach Of the
Seventh Commandment. The Low Church
party, eager to condemn any acts Of their adj
ycrsarics, have brought into much promi-
uence the instructions given those "con-
fessors" while hearing their pcnitcnts on those
sins Considering that the Thirty-nine Articles
reject auricular confession, aud that the sacra-
ment Of penace is rejected By the Anglican
Church, it seems weak on behalf of the Low
Church party, to attack their adyersaries on the
mode IN which they break !. canon Of the
Church. They attack the shadow, not tue SUBJ
stance. However painful it may be in many
eases to hear Of intestine Giscord among the
families Of our friends it is always pleasant to
assist in their reconciliation, and as SO much at
tcntion has been called to this subject the laity
may investigate it for themselves, since their
pastors disagree, anu good may arise from the
discussion, and / pray that many may have
the light Of the true 1aitn shed upon them aud
rclicre their minds OF The discussions Of their
teachers. and embrace the unity Of the Catholic
Church. on riose apostles the Holy Ghost de-
seendcd with seven gifts. among which was the
spirit Of truth, promising to lead them IRON
error aud to be with them all days, even to the
end of time.
Such Of the laity as choose to examine for
themselves I would refer to the prophecy OF
Zechariah. xiii, 1-'s1n that DAY there shall be
a fountain open to the house or David and to
the Inhabitants Ut Jerusalem for the cleansing
OF the sinner.n or to St. Paul's epistle to the
Corinthians, H., =, 1S-"All things are OF God,
and hath given to US the ministry Of rcconciin-
ton. For God, indeed, was in Christ, reconciE-
ing the world to Himself, not imparting to them
their sins, aud He bath placed III us tho word OF
reconciliation. For Christ, therefore, We are
ambassadors; God, as 1t were, cxhorting by us.
For Christ, we beseech you, BE- Eeconciled to
Cod" II priest Of the 's Holy Cross Society,""
IN dealing with sins against purity, shocks
those astute Fathers Of the Church."
the British Parliament, it mny be be-
Of Melchisedec; but ii the pcnitent is chaste the
confcssor may not have need to question; If not,
the sooner they confess and forsake their sins
the better, and II the ordeal is so severe it may
assist III their luture amendment. 10 pre-
tend that it is sufficient to confess to God
alone,'' is, says St. Augustine, ''to destroy the
OF Christ, to contradict the Gospel,
and make void the power OF the Keys, which is
given to the Church," (Hon. 49, II any Of
your renders desire to Investigate, I would rec
om1nend them y visit some Iibrary OF Patristic
literature aud consult Alcuin, of the ninth cen
tury. aud they mar find an t'honcst confession
good for the soul,'' and hope they may be paid
for their trouble and join the Church Of their
ancestors, in which true pardon and absoution
alone can be found that when they are called to
the Judgment seat no stain of sin may cleayc TO
them. and they may be worthy to enter the
Beatlic Presence and receive the reward of
- we'll done" that shall be offered to them on
that day, .'Dlesscd is the man whose iniqui-
ties are forgiven aud whose sins are covered.''
MONTGOMERY.