The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-07-29

what the powers Of that rubric intended as its
spirit II is singular to see the solicitudc OF the
English nobility on this subject. and also their
morality of tho Priest in Absolution.' Not a
lew Of them lead VIGOROUSLY immoral lives,
but they are tho first To suspect priests Of i'm
morality"
Tho British rrcss, however. Joined the hue
Yes; hut II IL important for us In America
70 remember that great many of the alta ks on
the Church of England ara partly political.
Some of the ilcrrsst are by men whose sole aim
seems TO be- political. since for religion they
" Have you examined tho Priest In Absolu-
tom"
II never have soon the book. From what
have heard of it should suppose it WIS a tech-
nical manual. IT, be classed strictly with prQics-
been turned on the Enrl Of Kodcsdalo by some
one getting up in the House of Lords and pre-
lending tO drnOunrc uS obscene n medical man
ual. out of which he should select for reading
those portions that wore least suited for general
publication. Tho misuse OF one book would
have been no greater than that OF the OthOr."
THE CONFESSIONAL.
There sccms 20 havc boon great suspicion.
In that discussion. of the relations between
priest and parlshioncr under the work ngs Of
"Oh, yes Many people suppose that the
priest hears his pcnitnnt out OF morbid curiosi-
~. In rcality. no moro trying and utterly wcari-
some duty than that oi hearing confession is
imposed on the clcrgymcn OF our Protestant
Episcopal Church. You can Imagine medira
discusses not Tor the sukc Of healing or of nrcrs-
sary study. hut OF morbid curiosity; but you
surely cannot imagine that to continue long,
So II ~ with spiritual Diseases and with n CON
lessons duty regarding them"
ono special objection tO the revival Of pri-
va.r confession 60 priests seems TO express it.
self In the phrase habiiual coni"ssion.'"
Ii may bc that "a man spiritual life can be
saved in no other way. There il u close analogy
here with medical practise You may 20 very
rarely to your physicinn- perhaps only once in
several years. or. again, YOU may 40 very often.
or YOU may 40 at regular and fixed intervals.
All depends on the nature OF your disease and
your own wants. That il precisely whit is true
OF confession. The late Lord Bishop Of NASSAU,
who died last October. had been in the habit 81
Regular confession Tor many years. and he has
left his stimOuy ~ Ia liz spiritual uscs."
Are private conf ssiun and nbsolution as
condu ted 10y priests of the Protestant EpisrO-
pal Church. commonly in the church or at the
priests hous" p
Better in the church. because there is more
freedom from interruption. At the priest
house he would be- obliged to lo'k his door.
probably to secure himself from intrusion. be-
sides there IL less ground for scandal when
cont, sSionS are made in church. Tho Roman
Cathoue Church. ~ you know. has a confessions
al hulit Ia III" church. with the priest shut III
from the parishiOncr. except at the opening
Whore the priests ear Is.
Is the resort 90 the confessional growing in
Tho Pro, slant Episcopal Church " America z"
have little doult that II IL. and especially
whore people grow to appreciate more the spir-
itun life and all that Will aid It,"