The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-08-09
THE PRIEST IN ABSoLUTIoN,
Meeting OF tho RituaIIsts-"The
Priest In AbSOlutiOn" Defined.

Priest In AbSOlutiOn" Defined.
From the London Daily News, July %.
A meeting convened by the Holborn
branch Of the English Church Union was
held last evening in thest. Adams school
room, Baldwin's Gardens, under the
Presidency Of Rev. A. II. Mackonochie,
TO discuss the l,pOk known as 1.-THE Priest
in Absolution.' The Chairman explain.
ed that two resolutions would to submit
ted bearing upon circumstances which
had occurred lately with regard to the
book in question and to the Society Of the
Holy Cross. The attack made upon the
book could hardly be supposed to arise
from any great zeal for the purity Of pub.
lie morals, as for IN intention, either
known or unknown to those who com.
menced the agitation, OF attacking the
Society Of the Holy Cross. The Society
was an association Of priests for the deep.
ening Of their own spiritual life, and In
order to aid one another In their work
such subjects "A that Of the way Of get
ting souls would very often come before
them. II was found that young priests
experienced great difficulty in gaining in.
struction as 10 that part Of their duty not.
withstanding one or two old books on the
subject, which touched rather on abstract
principles, and it was suggested that
some book should be prepared for the
purpose. The Society was responsible
for mooting the idea, and 1t had been re.
sPOnsible during The last two years for
publishing the book in order not to ex.
tend, but 10 limit its circulation. The
Chairman having quoted some portions
Of the book to dispute the charges which
had been brought against 1t, argued that
physicians had 10 deal with works which
the world called indelicate, butt would
not DO thought that Il medical student
was diScharging his duty to the public II
feeling OF delicacy prevented him from
acquainting himself with facts appertain.
ing to his profession. He thought they
would agree with him that the Society Of
the Holy Cross was not one which would
be likely toissue an immoral or indecent
book. Colonel Childers did not think
this was q time for them TO be respondent
for they had arrived at a point on which
they were impregiable. Referring to
the recent meeting at Exeter Hal, he said
it made one indignant to think that per.
sons who knew nothing about what they
weE~speaking should question the purity
Of those who taught and practiced con.
iession. II they were to question a man
privately on this subject he would admit
that he had no ground to stand upon but
ordinary report. Mr.. ]. A. Heaton ar.
gued that the first remedy was 10 take
from the Bishops the privilege Of sitting
in the House Of Lords, because thai
would teach them they we're not first Of
all peers and then ministers Of God, but
that their political powers as ministers Of
God came from their being such and
their proper exercise Of it. It would re.
move from them the great temptation to
throw themselves into the life Of those
around them, and thus become political
representatives Of the Established Church
Of England in the House Of Lords. After
further remarks on the same subject BY
Mr.. II. c. Richards and DR.. CoweIl, res
olutions approving Of the firm action
taken by the Society Of the Holy Cross
in refusing, in spite Of the strong pres,
sure put upon them, to repudiate the
book called "Thc Priest in Absolution,
and rCpetting that the Bishops should
have allowed the subject Of confession tc
be brought before the House OF Lordl
without previous consultation with thei,
clergy, were adopted.