The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-04-07

out our Methodist Episcopal schools, OF the or
ganization by Mr.. Robert Raikes of the modern
mission Sunday School, and we earnestly com.
mend to the Church at large the interests cd our
Sunday School Union, and call for speeiaI col.
lection on that day in behalf of its benevolent
department
The papers of the Methodist Episcopal
Church have for some considerable time BEEN
discussing the questions which will come up for
consideration in their General Conference.
There appears to be the usual interest mani
tested in the action of that body The episco--
pacy, the presiding eldership, and the term Of
pastoral service sppear to be of special interest
The Fruits of Ritualism,-Tbe Low
Church Episcopalians have reason to look after
their ritualistic brethren. The distance between
the High Church Ritualists and Rome is not
very great, at best. and there is clearly grow
ing tendency to lessen it. While the ritualist
movement in this country has not been carried
so far Popeward as it has in the English Church
the leaders In 1T here are unquestonably as am
bilious for its full development and go to such
ceremonial lengths as they believe may be ven
tured upon without rebuke. As marking the
gradual advances made in this direction the SER
vices in the church of st. Ignatus, in this city,
on Good Friday, worthy of more than pass
ing notice.
The altar, stripped of its usual ornaments.
showed only cross draped in black, standing
out against white background, and Aanked Ly
two black -shrouded candlesticks AS the wor-
shippers entered their pews, it was noticeable
that they crossed themselves before they knelt
ba
men and boys fitted about performing various
offices, and bowling reverently when they passed
in front of the cross The services opened with
procession in honor of the cross. The shrouded
cross borne by boy in purple gown, was fol-
lowed by the company of choristers, the deacon.
the sub deacon, and lastly the rector, Dr. Ever
all walking with clasped hands. After the
chanting of the Litany, the rector, accompanied
by his deacon, mounted the altar steps and
chanted in English portion of the Reproach-
es which in Greek and Latin form a marked
feature of the Oriental and Catholic services on.
Good Friday These are not to be found in the
Episcopal Prayer Book Then DR.. Ever and
his deacon took down the cross, unveiled it, and
reverently placed it in the centre of the altar.
After singing to it, the strict form of the Romish
ceremony, to present the cross for the kisses Of
the faithful, was not followed but instead a re-
sponse chanted, and three ancient anti
phons, not contained in the Book of PRAYER.
were sung. The cross was then again shrouded
and restored to its place Next followed the ante
communion service, before beginning which the
rector stood at the foot of the altar inclined his
body, and engaged in a brief and inaudible duo
with his deacon. An attendant shifted the BIZ
BILE from the Epstle side of the altar to the Cos
pei side. Before reading the Gospel DR. Ever
devoutlEs crossed himself, in which act he was
initiated by the congregation generally When
the words gave up the Ghost were reached.
all fell on their knees After the reading the
rector bent and kissed the open book These
are old usages in the Catholic Church, it is true.
but what shall the Protestant Episcopalians say
of them, what have they to do with them?
There were, Furthermore, second procession
with all the forms of those in the Romish church
es, and differing chiefly in lack of bright colors
and Priestly trappings the service of the
Three Hours Agony" including the reading of
meditations and closing with the singing of nine
hymns-Eraminer and Chronicle
Methodist Lay Representation-The-
Committee appointed by the Methodist General
Conference to consider the matter of Lay Delesa-
ton in Annual Conferences will report plan
substantially as follows THE district stewards
shall elect annually as delegates to the Annual
Conference one laymen for each six quarterly
conferences in the district and an additional one
for fraction of two thirds Provided always
that each district have one representative No
one can act as lay representative in the Annual
Conference unless he be twenty-one years old
and member in full connection for FIVE con-
secutive years before his election Laymen are.
to sit with the ministers in the Annual Con-
ference and deliberate together as one body.
but they shall vote separately whenever such
separate vote shall be demanded by one-,hird
Of either order and in such cases the concurrent
majority vote Of both orders shall be necessary
to complete an action. Laymen shall have a
right to speak to all questions in the Annual
Conference, and to vote on all questions, except
such as relate to the conduct, character or rela-
tons Of travelling elder, and in the election Of
ministerial delegates to the General ConferenceV
Christian Union
--------.ss.s-----zy.
The PTussian Minister of Education
complains that the steady increase If crime OIL