New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-15

inc OF the Story OF the Passion from St. Johns
GOSPEL three priests taking the parts OF Christ
PLATE and Caaphus. and the choir repeating
the outcries OF the crowd. At the close OF the
service the crucifx was upfted from the altar
and when the vicar had proclaimed. Behold
the wood Of the Cross" 1t was placed on the
altar steps. Priests. acolytes and congregation
then advanced in turn, Frustrated themselves
before the crucihx and kissed 1t.
Mr. Kens,. going forward from his place.
seized the crucix and attempted to carry it out
OF the church with loud outcries Of denuncia-
ton Of idolatry in the English Church. An I'M
seemy wrangle ensued. ending in his arrest
and prosecution in the police court n com
mon brawlcr.
The objections to Mr. Kenst's method OF dis
turbng services and shocking worshppers
whose sincerity is not to be questioned do not
need 10 be stated He only excites by indiscreet
zeal sympathy for those whose practices he dis
likes and exposes. At the same time it Is clear
from the letter of Bishop Talbot that no other
course open to him. II he considered it TO
be his duty to direct public attention to ser
vices which he properly condemned as illegal.
The churchwarden in Marylebone was able
after four months delay to obtain summons
from the London Consistory Court for the re-
moval Of the illegal books. crucifx and Stations
OF the Cross. This was because he had local
and official connection with the church in ques-
ton. Mr.. Kensit an outsider appealed in
vain 10 the Bishop. The services in three
churches against which he protested had been
In progress for years without interruption.
When he unwisely took the law into his own
hands and wounded the sensibilites OF worship
pers at a service invested with peculiar .solem-
nifty in their estimation. he exposed himself
to prosecution as q brawler. In the same spirit
another Zealot was fined for attacking an in
cense-bcarer.
While the London Consistory Court Needed.
after four months inaction, the second appeal OF
the churchwartlen and ordered the removal OF
the Stations Of the Cross and other illegal
ornaments from the church, the service itself
was repeated many times elsewhere in London
or Good Friday without interruption. On that
day as for many years past. there were pro-
cessions headed by Protestant monks in the
East End with halts at stations for outdoor
addresses and hymns. The University missions
OF oxford and Cambridge adopted this Good
Friday ceremony in tina. quarter many years
ago and extreme Rtualistic churches have
taken it up in one form or another. 1t has be
come almost as common in that quarter as
metrical versions Of the "Reproaches" or musi-
cal cantatas Of the Crucihxion IN west Emo
churches The Veneration Of the Cross and the
Washing Of the Altar may be unusual services
but the rendering Of the "Tenebr@" with weld
effects OF total darkness. and also Of dramatic
recitals Of the CrIcifxion scenes based on ths
fundamental idea of the medi9val Passion Play
arc not uncommon.
All these services may be without warrant IN
statute ecclesiastical law In the English
Church. but they are permitted by the tolera-
ton and discretion Of the Bishops Apparently
there Is no method OF prohibiting or restrain
Ing them unless a church warden with loca!
following appeals to the Consistory Court
Rtuas,ic vicar only needs to secure the sup
por, Of the officials Of the parish and OF
strong body Of sympathlzers in the congregation
In order to vary and from his own point 81
view 10 enrich the services Of the Established
Church The bishops do not interfere So long
as there is 40 local revolt against new ushges
Thosc who do not like tho services can worship
elsewhere urdor more congenial conditons'
TIE pEssIMIsTIC EvANGELICALs
II az impartial observer from the planet
Mars were 70 drop down suddenly into London
and without going about among the churches
to conten, himself with reading the outspoken
and despondent evangelical weefly press ne
might be inclined 20 draw the has'y differences
that Professionalism in England Is a failure. mat
the bishops are trimmers for the sake 81 peace
at any price hat large body Of the clergy are
lawbreakers and false to their ordination vows
and the Thirty nine Articles. and that the BULK
Of the immense fund contributed annually for
the conversion Of pagans In foreign mission
fields might be more prohtably expended In the