Omaha daily bee., 1889-11-05

arc now built aspiring in grandeur TO
the great Gothic piles of the old world.
Likewise in church interior frescoing is
now seou everywhere. The walls, cell
ings and windows are imaged with Bible
scenes.
"Church services have undergone the
same transformation. Brass bands are
now heard IN the music, where n hundred
years ago the organ was barely toler-
ated. In the old days mixed quartette
led the singing, consisting OF simple
hymn and psalm tunes; now robed CHOIR
listers render masses, canticlos aud ora
toros. Responses In the service, once
spoken by the congregation, are now
chanted. Clerical vestments are chang
ing. The plain stole and surplice are
seen giving way TO the more gorgeous
dress Of the Roman Catholic clergy.
The cassock bound at tho waist, the col
ored and embroidered stole, the rich
cape over the shoulders, the beretta on
the head, these now are oil seen in
Episcopal churches.
THAT these changes all indicate
steady progress toward Roman Catholic
rites and usages no ono wIll deny. Tho
whole Episcopal church has not swung
into line IN this procession, put il is
true, nevertheless that the tendency OF
the great body of members is that way.
In speaking of dress l should have
mentioned the changes in Episcopal
garb. The bishop sometimes wears n
purple cassock or long silk apron,
ofteutimes the university hood.
The practices and customs OF many
OF the Episcopal clergy are coming into
st TRANCE conformity with Roman pre-
cedcnt. Celibacy, poverty and lasting
are encouraged; the priestly face is
shaven, n long black coat is worn on
the street, working brotherhoods are
encouraged, and Bishop Potter, Of New
York, has given his assent to the with
drawal of young men and women from
the world to devote themselves to holy
works and holy living. How strangely
Roman all this sounds. Take, again,
important doctrinal teachings. Tran
substantation is u doctrine no longer
taught by Roman Catholics alone. The
apostolic succession receives Episcopal
assent, praying for the dead is not un-
known, and the Importance of auricular
confession is urged.
mot long ago Prof Peabody, of Har-
ward college, delivered an address in
this city in which he asserted that the
body 'of Christians are now dividing
into two contrary camps, one of which
is making for Rome and the other for
liberalism under the name of Unitarian
lSlH. utb WAS " sage TeInaTh, W my
mind. Whatever loyal Episcopalians
may say, their body, followed by all the
other reformed communitions, is on tho
way back to the bosom of that mother
from whom it turned in those eventful
days of the sixteenth century"
Forms of church government de-
velop in the same direction. HER
archical arrangements grow in favor,
and just now the introduction of pro-
vincial system with archbishops into
America Is being agitatcd. The regard
in which the minister is held is chang
ing, as from Il position of social inter
course and converse with his flock he
comes to be looked up to as u holy man,
without the world of enjoyment. And
over and above all these changes comes
the proposition that the name OF the de-
nomination be changed; that the idea
of denomination be discontinued. Some
would call 1T the Holy Catholic Church,
and claim that it has come down unln-
terrupted from the days of the fathers
as Gods only church in which the whole
body of the saved must be gathered.
Those who argue thus believe that the
Baptist or Methodist or Presbyterian
cannot escape hell fire.