The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-02-23
BISHOP KAlNs SECOND LECTURE.
Tie Uses and Advantages Of Ritoalistic OBJ.
serVAnces Bs he Views them.


J The Uses and Advantages Of Ritualistlc o.
ssFyRnces % he Views them.
Having shown in his first lecture IL
necessity and therefore the lawfulnel
Of church ceremonies, Bishop Kahn Q,
planned last evening their uses and az
vantages,
he pointed out in the first place ho,
their observance tended to promote tha
decorum which becomes the house q
God. he then dilated on the tendenc
which over.familiarity fosters, toward
carelessness and even irreverence in tn
holiest things and most sacred places
To guard against this propensity, societ,
has its code Of recognized etiquette, thl
Observance Of which 1t makes incum
bent upon its members. Nations, too
insist on the rigid observance OF certain
well.defined formalities intended to up
hold the national honor.
How minute were the ceremonies pre-,
scribed by Almighty God, when the
High Priest OF the Old Law entered be,
fore the Holy Of Holiesl For the same
reason, the church prescribes appropri.
ate ceremonies-namely-to keep alive
In priest and people the awful reverence
due TO the Divine Majesty.
A third advantage Of such ceremonies
10 that they throw q asafeguard around
the very essentials of religton-a barrier
against changes that might yitiate sacra.
mental acts. AS long as the prescribed
ceremonies are faithfully observed, there
is little danger that anything will be
done or omitted that might iRvalidate
these acts.
Still another and iar.reacbing adyant.
age Of ritual observances is found in the
vast amount OF instruction which their
symbolism imparts, and imparts often.
times in way much more attractive and
persuasive than the most eloquent ap.
peals. Everywhere in the great book Of
nature, as well as in the inspired pages
OF Gods holy word, teaching by symbol.
ism is employed; why should not the
church also employ this means TO con.
vey the sacred truths committed to her
guardianship? When the impressions
made upon the senses and Imagination
inspire religious feelings and lead 10
holy thoughts and affections, why should
not the senses be forced into the service
Of God?
The full meaning OF f>many Of the
church's ceremonies is indeed Hnintel.
ligible to those who are ignorant of the
doctrine OF Ohrist's real
presence in the eucharist, around which
all these sacred rites may be said to
cluster. SIf Christ is truly present, moth.
ing that man can offer Is too precious
no homage can be accounted extrava.
CANT in It's demonstrations of profound.
est reverence. The spirit that inspired
the Magi to present their costly gifts at
the feet OF the Divine Infant, inspires
the church to offer Him ell that is rich
est and grandest. This principle God
enforced in the worship in the temple,
and this same principle guides the
church in making Christian worship az
as possible. But this use ol
ritual can be fully understood only by
those who believe in the real presence |
Of Christ on the altar.
This suggests another important and
necessary use Of ritual in the Catholic
church. The great sacrifcial act, by
v hich Christ is rendered present on the |
altar, cannot be well conceived save az
surrounded by solemn and fitting cere-
monies, just as appropriate ceremonies
were prescribed by God himself in the
opening Of the Jewish sacrifices. Our
church service is not restricted to prayer
and preaching-the essential act OF
Christian worship among Roman Catho.
lies and all other GhFietians. vi ante
date the Reformation, Is the sacrifice oil
The body and blood OF Christ. This sup.
poses necessarily liturgy such as is
Iound among Catholics and all Oriental |
Christians. The rites that compose the |
liturgy, being OF ecclesiastical institu.
ion, may be modified by the authority
which has created them; but they can.
not be entirely abolished.
Intimately connected with church
said the Bishop, are the DIFF. |
ferent vestments worn by the ministers |
who ofticiate at the altar. II officers oI
military organizations and other socie.
lies wear regalia to designate their rank,
Why should it seem strange that the
ministers Of religion should be clothed
IN vestments indicative OF their office
and respective functionsP There Is evil |
dent propriety in this, unless indeed the
minister Of religion possess no distinc.
i've powers apart from the laity.
To the question whether abuses might
not creep into those ritualisLic observ.
ances, the Bishop admitted the posi-.
bility, and even the probability where
individual tastes were permitted to die
late the ceremonies to be employed but
against such a contingency the Catholic
church has made provision by placing
the regulating OF all such matters in the
hands OF q committee OF Cardinals,
called the Sacred Congregation Of Rites.
Attempts have been made, remarked
the Bishop, to copy many OF our cere.
monies, and 1t is no wonder they have
met with opposition and even ridicule
As meaningless and incongruous per.
Our ceremonies are all in
harmony with our doctrines, and very
grow out Of them but they
cannot with any propriety be dove.
tailed into q system Of doctrines the
very reverse OF ours.
After briefly summing up the points
81 this and the preceding lecture, the
Bishop concluded by announcing that
IN next Sunday afternoon he would ex.
plain the chief ceremonies used in cele.
orating mass and administering the sac.