The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-08
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PHILADELPHIA RITUALlSTS.
MASS AND CONFESSION IN 4 PROTEST..
ANT EPISCOPAL CHURCIL
Why ~. Clements Has Bern Arrnigued Re
fore the Diocesan Convention-vesmen
Altnr noYs. CandIes, and GenunrcIInns.

Why st. Clements Has Be~n Arrn,gued ne.
fore the Dioces"n nConvrntion-veuments.
Altar noys. Candles, and GenunectIons.
PHILADELPHIA, May There was a large
attendance at the Ninety-n Annual Conven.
tion Of the Protestant Episcopal Church Of the
Diocese OF PENNSYLVANIA Today. The Rev. vii.
bur Y. Paddock. ID. D. rector OF st. Andrew'A
preached the annual sermon. A little business
was done relative to tho government OF the Con.
vcntion. and then the Rev. DIR. T. s. Buchanan
arose and presented the report OF the commit
tee OF inquiry in the matter OF st. Clements
Church. THIS report has been anxiously
awaited Charges have been made against the
church. and the Committee was instructed IA
get at the facts in reference to tho wide.
spread rumors OF practices and usaRes and
modes OF worship inconsistent with the consti.
tuition and canons. the doctrines discipline. and
worship OF the Protestant Episcopal Church,
and even utterly subvcrsivo OF her Protestant
character. being allowed and sustained by the
vestry OF 81. Clements Church. to tho scandal
Of the community. the disturbance OF the peace
OF this church. and the great pain and grief Of
her people,"
Tho Committee report that many OF the
rumors are true They have found that nj
high celebration" 1t is not unusual for the
officiating priest to partake OF the sacred ele-
ments alone, there being apparently no wish
that persons in tho congregation should COM
mune. There are also PROFESSIONS OF boys and
men In surpliccs carrying banners and cam
dlee. and hymns not authorized by the church
are sung. The priest cclobrnnt on such occa-
sions ofticates in vcstmenis entirely unusual
in this church. He is attended during his min
offices some Of them mysterious. except 10 tho
lnitlsatei. s. and who es well as the clergy, are
pass in front Of the holy table. or even approach
IT,; and in addition to- all that. mrdiately
after consecration the elements are lifted up by
the celehrant and priest assistant. whereupon
prostrntiOns, more or less entiro. take place,
both within and without the chnncel. Many
novelties are introduced Mt holy communion.
Solitary communion and the lifting up Of the
conse"rated elements. as here practised, are
forbidden by the Church. In little hook
known TO have been in circulation called The
Treasury Of Devotion" there nre various pns-
sages which look like the doctrine OF trans-
In relation to tho subject Of confession tho
Committee have ascertained that private ourru-
ing absolution Ia both encouraged and prnc-
ticel in st. Clements Church. There ia no
doubt that the vestry allows these practices. Tho
Committee present the following resolutions:
Rs.o,.i That in the ornion OF this Convention. ,hs
sseefained to be foowed in St Clement. crdlsh Snd
espceely those IN connection with The holy conmn -.
pa bS & sI's 1 w di'SSS m S aa IL H. ee wed a. sg s
calculated TO do serious injury 90 this Church. CREATING
In msny minds whether Justly or not, uniavoahc inn
The principle. ol the Reformation
hf"ffef ht lhc tummiwc on thnnns Dc requested u
prepare and submit to this Convention Tor sdortOn
canon under which parish which, In the Judgment
Of the Bishop the Standing Committee and ~ oihirds
majority OF each order of the Convention shall mHluin
or permit usnves or practices not In conformity With tho
doctrines discipline and worship q the Protesiln, Rpis
copa church, may be deprived OF It's euuton in
the Convention. II not Of all connection with tho Con-
Nenon
Resroi That the report submitted be referred u
he Bishop and standing COMMITTEE to take such action
requisite and proper in view OF the facts set forth therein
Accompanying the report are many papers
from eye witnesses. The services during the
mission nt St. Clements from Feb. to IL last.
were all visited. and one visitor found various
Romsh doctrines preached The Rev. MIR,
Grafton one night preached on Confession"
Don't you dare" he said, as you lovo your
God and your neiGhbor. 70 hinder any one from
coming to confess on" He also laid down rules
for confession. Tho writer ends by saying that
he WIS benefited by attending these services.
but was constantly on his guard against tho
mcdnyal lraven which pervad.d the teach ing.
Enough was seen 70 indicate TINT private con-
fession TO the priest was being extensively prac-
tlsed during the mission.