The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-01-29
RIlualisr.t I'm England.


The ritualistic struggle has at length
reached phase in which it must be settled.
The archbishops and bishops have prayed
that this cup might be removed from them.
They have compromised, evadcd, winked,
and done all in their power 10 avert the final
conflict; but they have simply allowed the
movement its free growth to such dimen-
Sions that it can now hardly be dealt with
without IL serious split in the Church. The
RitllaliSts now boast that they have $4,000
adherents Of high rank aud wealth, and this
means cIergymen (about $1,000 and leading
laymen only. They have over fifty important
churches in London alone. But they now
have something stronger than all their
churcheS-a martyr. Such, at least, they
call the Rev. Mr.. Tooth. Mr.. Tooth iE-
tensifes the Catholic ritual-he out
Romes Rome. His church (St. James,
is perfect scent-bottle to all the people
OF Hatcham. His wardrobe seems to
have a variety Of vestments, etc., sufficient
to make small ecclesiastical museum.
Lord Penzance, appealed to, ordered the
Rev. Mr.. Tooth to conform with the Public
Worship Act passed by our Judalc Premier
to stop the "masS in masquerade" Mr.
Tooth said he was clergyman, and took no
orders from any terrestrial government,
al
the Bishop OF his diocese interiercd and OF
dered him to dc>ist. But Mr.. Tooth replies
that even il Bishop chooses to bend to the
arrogant claim OF the State to legislatc for
the Church of God he must disregard that
Bishop. This was a poser. There seemed
no eud to it but to send MIR. Tooth to
prison for open and persistent violation
Of the law: but the awful scandal
this must cause, and the certainty
OF the terrible struggle it would preclpl-
tate with several thousand other clergy
men, made the authorities pause. A course
OF leading articles was then administered
to Mr.. Tooth. But therein he reioiced, for
they brought such crowds to his church
that there is hardly standing-room. His
church wardens are all with hun; his peo-
pie are rich, and so is he; and all the Rit-
ua!ists have rallied around him as stand
ard-bearer, have lashed themselves into a
revolutionary state of feeling, and declare
they will all leave the Church ii the rebel
is sent to prison. believe that this deter
mined attitude Of the rebels-which has so
frightened the poor Archbishop that he has
excused himself from sitting as asses
sor in similar case at Folkstonc-
would have prevailed had it not been
that the trouble reached the pitch OF
regular fist-tight in the church last Sun
dav. While morning services were going
on amid a blaze Of candles and cloud OF
incense, every conceivable observance pro-
hibited by the new law being ostentatiously
presented, some persons near the door be-
gan to shout, I" No Popery Go to Rome J! y
| The shouts were taken up-increased in eX-
| tent-and came from about dozen intense
| lv-eXcited men. The church-wardens and
others pressed their way through the
| densely-crowded aisleS towards the in
truders, and there was a scene OF wild con-
| fusion in the church-everybody standing
| up in their seat-and the services totally sus-
pended The intruders were not "roughs," j"
but wildly-excited gentlemen, and they at
once gave battle to those who came to put
them out of the church. 1t was found
to be very difficult thing to do. The
combat was prolonged and fierce, and
though the "No Popery" men were at
last elected, it required four times their
number and half-hour'S effort to do 1t.
When 1t was over, Mr., Tooth resumed the
celebration OF the sacrament fOr it was
that which was interrupted), and among
the performances were six little boys in co;
tune kneeling behind him, each holding a
lighted cande-the clergyman having his
back to the congregation all the time-and
the candles now elevated and now held
down. The congregation then celebrated
! their victory by singing Faber's hymn, be-
ming
Faith OF our fathcrst living stul
In spite of dungeon, fire. and sword"