St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-03-25
RITUILISM IN A SCOTTISH PRESBY-

I'LL <aLlSM IN a SCOIIISh
TERRAIN KIRK.
If the souls of the departed are conscious
OF events transporting in this world, what
must be the feelings of old JOHN KNOX as
he looks down from over the jasper walls
and sees ritualism practced in the Free
kirk of Scotland. One of the phenomena
of the age in which we live is seeing unex
pected things in still more unexpected
places. This is as true of sacred and ecclesi-
astical things as 1t is of secular or profane
matters. And of all improbable novelties
the introduction of high Anglican ritualism
into the Presbyterian kirk of Scotland would
seem to be the most incredible. Indeed,
the ideas of sacerdotalism, Recommendation
and ritualism seem to us wholly irreconcil
able with the essential dogmas of Presby-
terianism which the Free kirk seceders never
abandoned when they Quilted the establish
ment in Scotland on account of the state in
reference with church matters. And yet we
read that the Rev. DR.. MUIR, of the Presby-
terrain kirk at Leith, has been taking an adj
vanced position in favor of ritualistic services,
SO far advanced in fact as 60 shock the bulk
church of England. 1t is only recent &C.
currence that ritualism has been allowed to
revive in the established church in England
after it had been allowed to slumber in the
dust OF the conventual church services since
the last OF the STUART kings. However i'm
probable it might have seemed since Arch
bishop LoUDAY, the last ritualistic primate of
nCrla md &, -
services of the Episcopal church would ever
become anything more esthetic than the old
reading desk dialogue between parson and
clerk, with the stereotyped sermon delivered
in black gown and cassock, still there was
saving clause in the prayer book which rem
dered the resurrection of sacerdotal pomp
and ornate service possible in the rubric
which directs that ''the ornaments of the
church and her ministers shall continue as
they were in the second year of KING Ed
WARD VI" But there was no such
saving clause in the confession of faith of
the Scottish kirk. In fact the whole history
of the Scotch covenanters was a rugged
protest against ritualistic forms, and so
strong did the spirit of apt-ritualism pre-
vail among Scotch Presbyterians the attitude
of standing in public prayer in the churches
was adopted to indicate distinct separa-
ton from all the forms of the established
church Of England which encouraged ritual
istic services
And now to see a prominent min
lister OF the Free kirk establish
ment not only adopting Episcopal
forms, but even going so far as to
practice system of indulgences. is almost
enough to recall the spirits of the great host
OF covenanters who have passed over the
flood, and thousands of whom went up
through fire and war clouds in testimony of
their devotion to an anti-ritualistic faith, and
have them trOoping back in their blue stock
ings to avenge themselves of the sacrilegi-
Gus indignity done their faith by one who
holds his commission from the church of
their establishment.
DR.. NUNS first eccentricity was to adver-
tise his sermons in the Saturday papers as
''Sermonettes, - an odd way of attracting a
Scottish Presbyterian audience, to whom the
sermon is the chief feature of public wor-
ship This advertising Of sermonettes was
followed by his wearing il the
pulpit huge purple hood, which
he explained by the fact that Gran
vile college in Tennessee had sent him the
degree of doctor of divinity. To the Presby-
terians of Scotland a purple hood on a
preacher must have been as irritating as a
red flag to a bull, and DR.. MUIR must have pre-
sented as anti-Christian an appearance as the
Scarlet Woman Of the Apocalypse. But the
most anti-Presbyterian doctrine introduced
by Dr.. MUIR was his sale of indulgences. He
advertised that he should offer up PRAYERS
and grant absoutions for small sins to any
virgins in Leith who could be wise enough to
contribute a certain amount toward buying
new bells for his church. In the service of
his kirk he organized choir Of men and
boys in SUPPLIES and has included candles
and incense. How he could introduce all
these things, without riot, in Presbyterian
church, is hard to imagine. When arraigned
before his Presbytery, upon a charge of
ritualism, he expressed desire to remain a
pastor of the the Free kirk of Scotland vet
at the same time he avowed his belief in
the doctrine of baptismal regeneration
as held by the Greek and Roman
churches, but not held by
the Westminster divines and Protestants
generally. ''Sin," said he, sis inherent
in the child at its birth. Sin disappears
after baptism. There comes regeneration
in the baptism in the case Of all children
baptized" He admitted having said on one
occasion in his own church: my prayer to
ALMIGHTY COP this morning is LORD grant
in Thy mercy that no more brother MARTIN
LUTHERs be sent to Thy church on earth.
Amenl'" He also admitted that at funeral
in Porto belIo be had pronounced a blessing
on the dead Although DR.. MUIR is quite
satisfied in his own mind that he has all the
supernatural prerogatives of the priesthood
the Scottish bishops of the Episcopal church
in Scotland refuse to ordain him. All of
which leads to the conclusion that as DR..
MUIR obtained his DOCTORS purple hood from
q small college in Tennessee he is trying in
a small way to advertise himself as a sensa-
tionalist.