Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-12-29
EPISCOPAL MASS.
II INTRODUCTION IN A NEW YORK CHURCH
COMMENTED UPON.
R,s,7 WhakUs 0pinion-O,hsr Diviles E1-
g-sss Their yisws--Ihsy Do Not Regard
1t as an Innovation, but asa
Riiualis6c Tendency.


Philadelphia Press
The celebration Of High Mass, with
olItbe ancient ritual OF the Episcopal
CFr-ch, with incense and affairs aNaze
with candles, by tue Church OF the Re-
tsemer. of New York city, for the first
lime. on Christmas sunday, has created
considerable interest and caused no
T,te comment in church circles OF this
,Ity, especially among EpiscOpahans,
who are not high churchmen. The
rss OF incense aud the ringing Of gong
An she prayer OF conservation are said TO
be- deemed by the body Of the Church
as radical Innovations and something to
os regretted.
MASS CELEBRATED.
The first part Of the service referred
t1 was much the same as ia an ordi-
nary "high" Episcopal church. Pre-
v1us Co the commencement two acOlytes
entered the sanctuary from the Sacristy
aud, going on Co the high alter,
lighted the many candles and then re-
ured. A loud amen was uttered. the
organ played the prelude 10 the process
si0ual and the procession passed slowly
ont of the s0criSty door aud moved
down the side aisle and up the broad
center TO the alter. At the head OF the
procession was the thurifer, clad in
cassOck and medieval tunic, by his side
walked his assistant, or bOaJ-bearer,
who from time 20 time replenished the
censor with increase.
Next came the crOss-bearer with
simple cross. Then came the choir
boys, and after them and before the
men OF the choir was carried the ban
uer Of the Blessed Virgin, &c teach the
great lesson of the incarnation. The
men wore caSSOchS, 20 emphasize the
priesthood Of the people. The cruel
fer, bearing a large CrucifX, marched
after the choir and just before the cele-
brant, who was preceded by TWO AGO.
lytes, each with two huge candles. The
last in the procession was the Celebrant,
Father W. Everett Johnson, who wore
white chasUble.
The thuriier, still swinging his CEN
sor, passed into the sanctuary TO the
right or epiStle side of the altar, the
choir took their places in their stalls,
and the celebrant, preceded by his as
SiStants, went up 10 the altar, the in
troit was chanted. Then the priest
threw incense on the book, and the
thurifer. bowling, offered incense TO the
priest, who read the gospel, standing
between two acOlYtes who held candles.
The creed was then chanted, the con-
gregation bowling low at the 'Iucar-
natus."
AFTER THE SERMON.
After the sermon the otfertory was
sung, during which the priest again
censed the altar, aud the thurifer, TAX
ing the censor, cenSed the ceebrant,
acOylytes, choir, and passing out TO the
chancel gate, censed the congregation.
In the prayer OF conservation gong
was rung, its sound announcing the
conservation OF the elements.
The thurifer, standing in front Of the
altar, censed repeatedly and retired as
the congregation came forward TO take
communion.
The service over, the procession
passed out OF the church IN the same
order as at the entrance, with the eX-
ceptiOn Of the thuriier, who walked
just before the celebraOt, without IN
cense.
In his sermon Father Johnson is said
TO have sarcasucaliy referred 10 The
Epis opal Churches 0u Fifth Avenue as
"the rich Episcopal Sunday clubs BE
made an earnest plea fer ritua.ism, say
ing he would rather nave members TO
sever their connection with the church
than stay and attempt C. drag down the
rest of the congregation.
The procession into the church was
declared 10 show that the church's first
service TO God is IN goiRg into the
world carrying 10 men the emblems Of
salvation. The clouds of incense eX-
pressed mans cry OF interceSSiOn and
presence Of God, and the Chasuble
signifed the covering of multitude Of
sins by the sacrifice.
WHAT BISHOP WHITAKER THINKS.
Bishop Whitaker, talking on this sub
ject, yesterday, said:
1.-The church has no authority to
make such innovations in its ritual, and /
the Episcopal Church, as a whole, re-
grets such radical steps. Personally, l
have never seen incense used in any Of
our church services. There is ten
dency In human nature to either give
too much attention to ceremony In wOr-
ship or to underate its value. The use
OF gong in the prayer Of conservation
would seem 10 indicate belief in tran
subStantiatlon, but not necessarily"
When asked II he thought IL was
taken as step from Professionalism, the
Bishop replied: Il consider IL an evil
denCe Of no such spirit. IL is but rit-
ualistlc tendency. In fact l can but
generalize as the church in question is
without my diocese and l am unsc-
quainted with Father Adams or his
congregation.
FATHER DAVENPORT SAYS IT Is MOTH
ING NEW.
"I think the ritual TO which you re-
fer" said Father Davenport, Of ST.
Clements Episcopal Church, well known
for It's High Church tendencies, "is not
new. There IS nothing new in the mat
ter exceptingthat 1t has just been In
trOduced into the Church OF the Re-
deemer, in New York"
WHAT MR.. MORTIMER THINKS.
Rev A. j. Mortimer, Of st. Marks l
Episcopal Church, said: The services
held al the Church OF the Redeemer on
Sunday are identical with those held In
81. Clements, Evangelist and Annunci- |
athn Episcopal Churches, in this city,
every Sabbath, and the same ritual has
been In use I'm one or more churches 10 |
this ci.y for several years. 90 not !
consider the use Of the gong anything |
more than a convenience for those who !
are so seated that they cannot see tie |