The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-02-09
A Cure for Ri.uallsm.

A Cure for RitualIsm.
New York Times funny man.
Bishop Littlejohn, Of Long Island, re
Gently forbade Ritualistic clergyman to
conduct service in his diocese. Were the
other Bishops to follow this example,
Ritualism would speedily come to an end
as disturbing element in the Church.
Either the Ritualists would abandon those
doctrines and practices which are contrary
to the faith and discipline Of the Church,
or they would withdraw from it. In
either case there would be an end OF the
unpleasant spectacle which is offered by
the existing conflict between the great
body Of the Church and small but active
party.
Still It must be confessed that this
method OF stamping out Ritualism should
be resorted to only as an extreme measure.
Among the Ritualist clergy are some Of
the ablest and best men OF the Church,
men whose unseltish devotion and piety
cannot be questioned, however much we
may disapprove Of their conduct. Could
the Ritualists be persuaded Of the error OF
their ways, and led to voluntary
abandonment OF Ritualism, such result
would be far more satisfactory than would
be the virtual expulsion OF the Ritualists
from the Church. Fortunately, there is
reason to hope that the evil OF Ritualism
is durable. An advertisement recently ap-
,al -, In al NJ
which promises TO effect this cure. The
advertisement was headed "Ritualism
promptly relieved and cured by few APP
plications OF Hodges Liniment." 1.-THE
advertisement can be trusted, the dawn
Of harmony In the Church cannot be long
delayed.
1t may seem odd TO person unacquaint-
ed with theology, that an erroneous re-
ligious belief can be cured by Imminent.
There is, however, good reason to believe
that Ritualism Is closely connected with
the spine. The Ritualist clergymen has a
spine that Is unusually straight from the
neck downward. The curve in the region
scientifically called the ''small OF the
back" is very slight, but in that precise
region there Is a llexibility which permits
the spine to bend to an extraordinary ex-
tent. A similar flexibility also character
ICES the neck. Thus,the Ritualist spine is
both abnormally rigid in certain parts and
abnormally flexible in others. When we
find this condition OF the spine present in
all cases OF well-defned Ritualism, and
never find 1t unacCompanied by Rtualism,
we are justified in deciding that the two
are very closely connected.
Now, II we have liniment which will
remove the Ritualistic peculiarities OF the
spine, may 1t not also remove all the other
symptoms Of Ritualism2 The author Of
the advertisement already quoted most
unmistakably asserts that his liniment will
cure Ritualism; and 1t is at least highly
probable that it acts directly upon the
spine. It Is not supposable thaTan ad-
vertiseinent which does not tell the truth
could appear in arespectable newspaper.
We have, therefore, reason to feel conf
dent in Hodges Liniment, and good
Churchmen ought TO give it trial.
Why should not Bishop Littlejohn try
this liniment upon the Ritualist clergy
man against whom he has just been COM
PEELED TO take stern measures? Let this
clergyman be summoned before commit.
tee OF the Diocesan Convention, and told
that an earnest, loving effort for his cure
is about to be made. Then let his super
fluous vestments be removed, and the lini-
ment applied by the more vigorous men,
bers OF the committee. How many appli-
cations would be necessary to give the
liniment a fair trial we are not told. The
advertiser speaks OF 80 few applications"
which may mean three or more. Even
though twenty applications should be
needed, the committee should persevefe.
In all probability the patient would begin
TO improve alter the second or third appli-
cation, and in the course OF few weeks
would be perfectly cured. What triumph
this would be! How gladly would the re-
stored clergymen write to the advertiser to
the effect that latter using ten bottles oil
your liniment l became confirmed and
aggressive Protestant, and have no doubt
that with the aid OF hall dozen more bot
ties shall be able to identity Rome with
the Scarlet Woman" Instead Of driving
the Ritualist brother over to Rome, or Civ.
ling him the opportunity to regard himself
as martyr, the application OF the bene.
ticent liniment would make him loyal
and valuable Churchman, and a happy
and contented man. Should tho liniment
succeed in this one case, 1t could imIe.
diatelybe applied to all other Ritualists in
the Church, with perfect confidence that
| It would permanently and completely cure
them.
1t has been suggested by m ARDEN
Presbyterian that the Hodges Eminent
mentioned in the advertisement is really
nothing else than q textbook OF Calvin
istic theology written by the late DR.
Hodge, OF Princeton. This is in ingenious
suggestion, but 1t is not trustworthy
q Hodges Eminent Is put up in bottles
: and Is to be rubbed in. Theology canno
be put in bottles, and cannot be rnbbet
, In with the palm OF the hand. 1t is idl,
TO pretend that Hodges Liniment" i
anything but what 1t processes to be, ant
, It Is hardly fair to take from the invento
i, OF method Of curing Ritualism the meri
: that Is his, and to give 1t to an eminen
' Presbyterian who never paid any atten
: ton to the distinctions between diiteren
kinds Of Ohurchmen.
As for another theory put forth b
worldly and irreverent persons that th
word Il Ritualism" in the advertisement
misprint OF Rheumatism" 1t deserve
nothing butoontempt. Here 10 priceless
Invention intended to cure the one ey
that disturbs the peace Of the ohurcl
What must DO the heartlessness Of tt
man who tries to dash eur Joy and hoE
y by pretending that, instead OF curing X
IS tualism, Hodges Liniment is meant
a cure Rheumatisml The existance OF sue
!. man gives US very painful view OF ialle
y human nature.