The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-08
I" Asgresslve CatholIcity."

A"nuptial mnss." as 1t is described. was
| celebrated at the Episcopal Church Of the
Redeemer in Park avenue last Wednesday
after tho solemnization Of marriage; and
1t is spoken Of as the first ceremony Of the
kind which has ever been conducted in an
Episcopal church in this country.
The administration of the communion at
wedding is not. however, an extraordinary
occurrence In the Episcopal Church. and tho
service at the Church OF the Redeemer seems
to have been novel only. II it was novel at
all. in its thorough ritualistic elaboration.
The display Of candles. the free use OF In
cense. the rich vestments. the procession
led by thurifer and cross bearer. and the
rest Of the ceremonies were in accordance
with ritualistic principles accepted by q
considerable and apparently increasing
body Of the Episcopal clergy and laity in
both this country and England.
The wedding at the Church OF the Re-
deemer, accordingly introduced no essen
tial innovation. 1t followed precedents al
ready established In the Episcopal Church
by the teachings and practice OF the Catho-
lie party. as they call themselves. This
party. according to Mr.. LOCKE. formerly an
assistant minister Of Trinity parish. but
now a communicate Of the Church Of Rome,
accepts every Catholic doctrine except
the supremacy of the Pope" and the
Holy Cross Magazine. which Is Its more
special representative. seems to justify him
in SO saying. Undoubtedly. too. there was
very close resemblance between the
nuptial mass celebrated at the Church Of
the Redeemer on Wednesday. and the mass
as celebrated In the Roman Catholic Church.
Its underlying principles were substan-
TALLY. II not exactly. the same. Moreover.
the inferential treatment OF marriage as
sacrament 10 In strict accordance
with ritualistic doctrine. which consequent
ly and logically. we believe. makes mar
rage indissoluble otherwise than by death.
though under the law OF the Episcopal
Church divorce Is allowed for adultery, and
practically many Episcopallans have OBJ
tanned divorces for other causes. and have
married again.
In Its bold obedience to the firm convic-
tions OF the Ritualists. the Church of the
Redeemer seems to have followed course
OF conduct which the more pronounced of
the party have definitely determined upon.
The last number Of the Holy Cross Ma0a-
zine devotes much space to advocating such
plan and to pointing out that the time is
ripe for 1t. In the earlier days OF the
Catholic revival" says this uncomproms-
Ing writer. lit seemed best to go slowly,
and wisely So" THE Bishops were often
sharers with the people In vague and name
less fear that something dreadful would
happen calculated to bring ruin on the
Church." and it was necessary to educate
them to federation. II not sympathy. But
now the situation has changed. The need
OF caution lest the movement should be
backed by such opposition. no longer ex-
lists. The conservatives" IL says. "are
out OF the count now" and the merely
progressive Churchmen" who are not yet
prepared themselves to go to the extreme
OF 1.-The Catholic revival will DO neutral.
Hence this Htualistic organ calls upon
the Catholic party to cast aside all COM
promises and go ahead unfiinchingly. The
rtualistic movement must be sent along at
full speed regardless OF the timorous. SIN
cense. that most scriptural and significant
symbol. is used In comparatively few OF
our parishes;" proper vestments for the
Holy Sacrifice" are not worn "as commonly
as one might expect In these late days"
the Crucifx. in professions or above
the pulpit. is not always seen In our
churches;" "the use OF the sign OF the
Gross. that potent sacramental In its iniiu-
ence upon tho physical nature Of man.