Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-12-08


understanding Of II, we may fitly enough
call a new religious order We do not
wonder that men of moral earnestness, in
an organization Ike the Church of Eng
land, which claims to represent and en-
body the nations religious life. should
suggest 1t as thing needed and impera-
tive"
The Rev. Melville K Bailey. writing in
the Charchnldn on " Ritualistic Expression
of the Eucharist" says: alt will scarcely
be disputed that the true metaphysical
basis, the exact expression of the Divine
Thought, was given in the first Eucharist.
Every essential feature of that Eucharis,
is exactly known, and so is the relation OF
all one to another. First, there was one
Supreme Figure to the priest and sacrifice.
Second, there were the Apostles, the com
municants. Third, there were the eIe-
ments. The Priest was Lord and Master
OF the Disciples, and had absolute power
over the elements to make them His Body
and Blood. The COMMITMENTS adored
their Lord and consumed His Body and
Blood. The elements were purely passive
being consecrated and consumed. Does
not the simple statement indicate TIE ra-
ture of each and their exact order of rela-
ton one to another? Now, as coming
from above, this original pattern must re-
main Interchangeable as the metaphysical
basis, whatever be the rituaIistie expres-
sion. The Eucharist, as from God. mist he
ever the sane, whether in tht htnds of
Roman priest or congregational deacon
But the benefit derived may be modified
by the degree of truth with which we
mirror 1t in mind, and this again will m
falllngly determine its ritualistic express
sion. The Apostles may show us what
these ought tC be. They differed. Peter
was changeable, Thomas was doubtful. .Ju-
das was detached and Withdrew when the
Celebrant paused space that these Who
were so minded might depart. Perhaps
John may help us most, if we can only nv
the bright beams Of light from his GosDeI
read his mind. First of all, he must nave
adored with exceeding reverence his 7 ord.
Next, he must have had tranquil equality
Oh love TO his brethren. Last, surely. hs
must have received the elements as if thew
were indeed the sacred, broken body and
flowing blood of Him who even Their in
will died for him. We note that there
would be three degrees in order of reyer-
ence-chief for his Lord, then for biz
brethren, and less than either for the sie-
ments. Yet we shall do well if we attain
to his reverence for those. Nothing. now
ever, can be more certain than thar none
OF the Apostles did such reverence to tins
elements as TO merit the term of alteration
Christ Himself, not his parts, CT Lin
through Ills parts, either actual or renre-
sentative, did they worship The Institu-
ton and their example show us with pre-
clsion what Is the changeless metauhvsical
basis of the Holy Eucharist, and what 81 is
when rightly imprinted on the clear mir
ror Of the human spirit. That scene in al
its intellectual exactnesS, depth of tender
ness, and pure sanctity we strive perpetr-
ally to reproduce. What, now, are tha
necessary limits Of ritualiStic express;on7
Clearly, 1t is vigorously limited against
any distortion OF the original Fucharis4.
That, in It's spiritual substance, was exactly
right Is the same now. and should be %
shown. Ritual IS to express what is not
what Is not. Denial of the Gun mains
true expression by excelsior of an essential
element. Elevation of the Host is a distor
ton. We cannot conceive of our Lord
elevating the element and bidding the
Apostles adore Tt while He was present.
The entire metaphysical basis in the mind
of the worshiper is thus thrown ont Of
equilibrium, though the eternal archtype
in the divine mind cannot be- The erro,
of Rome lies IN exalting the clements
which stand third in order Of reverence.
far above their true place. The err Of
irreverent worshipers who seem MOI per
fectly to discern the Lords body is while
ranking them third in order Of reverence
to depress them far below their true place
Neither form OF distortion is necessavv
Christ Himself is as truly present in tbs
last Eucharist as in the first, and Him we
adore, loving our brethren and regerencirp
His sacred body and blood. But if the Of
iect of worship be exactly the true oue
God in Christ, and not Christ's parts. WHY
need there be any limit OF ritualistic eE-
preston, except what the necessity OF ma
ture imposes? The instinct of worship
which fills the human heart conscious OF
the unspeakable gift of grace will never be
satisfied until it has expressed itself in the
highest eloquence and splendor attainable
by art. True, since worship in Its essence
is purely spiritual, the soul of the humble
priest in the plain country church may
burn with as deep alteration as tina. Of the
priest before the high altar Of the city
temple. But where the means are at con-
mand, and the invariable equilibrium OF
the first Eucharist Is maintained. to CHECK
Its free, spontaneous expression in ritual ig
simply like trying 10 check the music OF
the sea or the splendor Of the autumn for
ests."