, 1881-03-20

!
n honse divided against itself. The principa
source at the present trouble is what is called
RituaIlsn,, a name populariy but not alto
gcther accurately intended to designate the
| remarkable increase of ceremonial in the
| Church Of late years,-the disposition to
| give prominence to and to eXageerate the
! importance of what may be called the exter-
! nails in worship. It would not be fair to say
! that i'll this latest movement III the English
! Church the spirit Of worship Is sacrificed! Tor
the letter, for the leading kltuallsts' are ll Of
| eucy is to make too much Ut mere forn,--to
magnify the latter at the expense Of the
spirit This singular outburst of ceremonial
| issn has been more OF less CONSPICUOUS since
rect OUTCOME Of the Tractarian movement.
| which derived Its, name, from the famous
'.Y'ructs for tho Times" published at Ok
| ford, 1S.:*;-1S41. 1t was not tho object Of
| that movement to introduce OF even directly
encourage radical change Of ritual; but it
/ trlnes the ultimate tendency Of WINCH was
! to beset q strong sympathy with the historic
Church Of the Middle Ages, anu thus to cX-
agEerate the Importance OF me outward
visible i'll various ways. 1t was seen i'll tho
increased power of tic High Church party
i'll the revival Of Catholic doctrine and iii the
development Of the ritual. It was seen also
III tnc Tefl}ill VI IUllllc anu LIE
higher taste which was displayed in all
matters affecting church decoration. 1t was
not less visible in the numerous secessions
both from the clergy and lalty,-secessiotis
which Mnle il great stir at the time, and
which, from tho high standing and ability of
some Of the parties, greatly strengthened the
Roman communion throughout the country.
1t was not, however, till about fSG3 that what
Is now known us the ritualistlc movement
bccatne either very pronounced or very
1F fnefbs ~
the church restoration movement that the
interior ct the church was made to resume
very much the character and appearance it
had in Catholic times. The restored church
had loW and open benches,-the separated
cI,Anccl, the altar table. with its coverings OF
different color, according to the ecclesiastical
seasons; its candiesticks and cross upon or
over 1t. It was almost natural that in such
circumstances the celebration of the cont
nlnnion should become more freQuent and
tached to choral services. The tidal wave of
ceremonial worship had set in. and to these
comparatively Nnlnlportant clianges others
OF a more radical, but not illogical, character
were soon to be added. Special Vestnents,
such as abs. and stoles, and chasubles, and
tuniclcs, and copcs, In certain proportions
and 1t certain times, began to be worn by the
officiating priest; lighted candles were placed
on the altar at holy communion; incense
was burned either in " "tllnrlble," Or stand
munion wine; wafer bread was used, and the
elements were elevated either during or after
cnnsecration. These and other changes III
dlcated the tendency of the new movement.
OH Mt this ceremonial worship without ask
ing ones self the question, Why is it that
such clergy aud such people should remain
outside the Komisll communion?
OF course SO wide departure from the
general practice of the Church for over three
ft1,nt5rpi taarS with the hriQf iufaryoE 0f
Alarr's reign, created In many quarters, in
circles both high and low, q feeling Of sur
prise which gradually assumed tile form of
Indignation, As far back US 1853 the whole
riots because Of q persistent attempt made
by St. George 's~i1l-the-East to Introduce
eucharistic vestments; and such outbursts OF
popular indignation have been not uncoul-
mon since. The Ritualists claim, however,
that the law Of the Church is on their side.
Book OF Common Prayer, euacts " that such
ornaments of the Church, and Of the minis
tiers thereof at all times Of their mlnistratlon
shall be retained, and shall be in use as were
of Parliament In the second Year Of the reign
Of King Edward VIZ On this subject there
is much difference Of opinion. The question
turns on the kind Of vcstments which
m are here referred to as ornaments.
prescribes that at the time OF the communion
the priest that shall execute the holy min
istry shall put on him white alb, with
yest1nent,-that is, a ,chasubte Or COPE" and
TINT the assistant shall put on 'likewise the
is to say, abs with tunicles." This, the
nitualists hold, is all in their favor. 1t is
held, on tue other, hand. that the Second
Prayer Book of Edward VI, to which ref
which remains in the present Prayer Book,
retained the surplice only, This question Is
much complicated by the fact that after the
accession Of Mary the old worship was re-
stored. 1t is divided question, and likely
to remain so while the kitualists defend their
but on grounds Of doctrine and Of expcdi-
ency. Into these, however, 1t is not proposed
now to enter. Enough has been said to III
!tlcate what ritualisn means, and to make
lntel1lTlble the lines Of the controversy which
now agltates the English Church.
In proportion as efforts have been made to
suppress the rituallstle tendencies which
have so strongly and in so many quarters
manifested themselves, SO do the Rituallsts
seem to gather strength, It IS the old story
comes the strength of q movement. Since the
first report Of the late Royal Commission the
vestments have been introduced into more
than thirty churches. In consequence OF
tie aty IL nna oa oaf f dse as
what they called the Roulanizing tendencies
of the RitualistS, and in consequence also of
the difficulty experienced by the Bishops in
dealing with the offending brethren, a Com
Nlittee Of Conyocaiion was appointed to con-
slider the subject. This Committee reported
in 1866 that yestments and altar lights,
whether legal or not, should not be intro
duced without the sanction Of the Bishop,
and that censing OF persons and things, ele-
Walton after conservation, wafer-bread, and :
the presence Of fnon-com,nnnicants were to be
discouraged. The famous cases Of Mackono-
chic, Of st. Alban's, London, and Of Simp-
son. i'll the Diocese Of Essex, brought mat
ters to a crisis. Opinions were obtained id
1866 at the Instance of some Of the Bishops
from five en1inet1t counsel, aut0ng whom
were Sir Ronndel1 Palmer and Sir Hugh J
(now Lord Cairns, against the legality Of !
all Rituallstic Innovations. Rival opin- |
ions were obtained by the counsel !
Of the English Church Union. from equally
eminent counsel i'll favor Of the legality Of |
vestments. OF these last counsel all were in |
favor Of veStments all but two were in favor |
ot altar lights, and all were against incense. !
on the mixed chalice and on the wafer-bread ]
they were about equally divided. Such was !
Eroduced into the House OF Lords having for |
!Ments to the ordinary surpllce and hood. !
This bill, which found favor with many and !
which was also bitterly opposed as interfer- !
ing with the rights and liberties OF the |
Church, was finally withdrawn; and Royal /
was appointed to inquire and re-
port. The report advised the restraining in /
the public services OF the Church all yarla-
ions in respect of yesture from established !
custom, and the providing OF avgrieved Dnr-