The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-09-24
Ritualism and Roman Catholicism.

| Not long ago the Rev. JESSE L. LOCKE,
| Ill assistant minister OF the Trinity Episco-
| pal parish. went over to the Church of
| Rome, and since then he has manifested
| the ardor of his new faith by making pill
| grinage to Rome in company with the Eng
| fish pilgrims who went thither last Febru-
! airy. under the lead OF the Duke of NORFOLK.
TO attend the episcopal jubilee OF the Pope.
| Tho Duke Is not only the premier duke of
! England. but is also a Roman Catholic OF
strongest conviction.
Mr.. LOCKE tells tho story Of the journey
in the two numbers of the Catholic World
magazine for July and August. under the
| title OF (" A Recent Converts Pilgrimage
to Rome" The chief general interest Of
the article and its main suggestiveness are
In its Incidental references to the Church 80
lately abandoned by him. Like all fresh
converts his zeal for his new faith is hardly
greater than his dlstrust OF the religious
system from which he has parted. and
which he describes as the "City OF Con-
fusion" No one Of the pilgrims Joined
more heartily than he in the prayers for
the conversion OF England to Roman
Catholicism. provided for the party by the
Archbishop OF Westminster. These pray
ers were said "three times q day all the
way to Rome and on the return journey; :"
and Mr.. LOCKE has no doubt that they will
within a few generations be answered, for
he Is convinced that the English people are
still. at heart. naturally Catholics" and that
the ritualism which has "triumphed In the
Established Church" Is "a Catholic reac-
ton of gigantic proportions" He grants
the claim OF tho rltualists that at present
they keep back some who would 90 further
aud into Rome. were it not that the Church
Of England itself is becoming SO Catho-
lic;" but he IS convinced that they "are
nevertheless preparing their successors
for the next step, which will bring them
into the Church of Rome" The old Trac-
tartan movement. says Mr.. LOCKE. by its
revival OF the doctrines Of baptismal re-
generation and apostolical succession
paved the way for the present rituallstio
belief In the invocation of the saints, the
cultus OF tho Blessed Virgin. and every
Catholic doctrine except the supremacy OF
the Pope" and dtuallsm is the last step in
a movement which Is getting ready to
surmount that single remaining obstacle
in the path to Rome.
In an article on the ritualistio summer
school in Maryland last July. we pointed
out the fact that although the spirit OF the
meeting was hostile to the Pope. the doc
trlnes taught bore at least strong re-
semblance to Roman Catholic teachings. ex-
cept so far as concerned the Papal suprem-
acy. That was opposed almost as earnestly
as Professionalism was assailed. The pass
Ing over Of rtualist to the Church OF
Rome was described as perversion." and
measures to prevent such assertions were
made special subject of discussion. More
over. the Holy Cross Magazine. representing
this extreme school Of Episcopalian ritual
ism. has since assumed that 1t Is particu-
larly obnoxious to the Church Of Rome as a
dangerous rival. This article OF Mr.. LOCKE
does not Indicate any such ami
mostly. Having stopped at rltuali-
ism himself on his journey Romeward. he
regards 1t as only a hating place
at which to prepare for the jump over the
final stumbling block. the supremacy OF
the Pope. Thus he comedies in opinion