New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-14
THE ANTI RITTALISTIC AGITiTION

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THE ANTERITTALISTIC AGITATION.
The excitement over ritualsm in the English
Church continues John Kensit. the bookseller.
who was arrested some time ago for denounc-
ing n rtualistic service Is said to he organizing
: n band of Jealous young Professionals to travel
through the country in pairs. like Wlcfs poor
ureachcr>.' in the interests OF Professionalism.
connie of SUNDAYS ago there were half a dozen
disturbances in churches in and near LONDON
aud nj one church there was almost rough
andtumblc fight between forty 'bouncers
hired 10 maintain order by the rituallstc par
son. and twelve "brawlcrs" hired by Pro''s-
liant agitator. In the parish church OF Sund'r
land on a recent Sunday Mr.. Jowett rose up
during the service 10 dcnounce the dolatrouS
mummcry. in The name of Almighty God.
while the organst pulled ont his loudest stops
to drown his voice The papers are full of let
tiers reports. arguments AMI addresses on 'i'
subject. and that bulwark of Professionalism the
Church Association. has issued Il "Manifesfo ana
Appeal" in which it says: Your children are
being indoctrinated with lying supcrstifiohS,
'all intended TO Increase the power of the priest
Your wives ana your daughters are being
Grained TO come 10 the new cura'e' rs tn"
your homes will hcnccforth he under the di'
..vi,lcd mastery Of the spiritual director. VINO
"In the name of God issues his own commands
"to minds brought mp in his Jesuiical training
"and Incapable rs yet of Judging between the
true ana Tie false.
In the mean while the Bishops who the
official leaders OF the Church. are saying noth
ing. or next TO nothing with the result that they
are denounced as opportnnists and lrimmcrs by
the extremists of both parties. The Church rs
sociaton declares that they select FOR th"ir OK
"amining chaplains men who hr" themselves
soaked in Romish supcrstitions. :" that th"E
are themselves the fountain and source OF the
corruption which is everywhere fernentlng Ike
"lcaven" While the ritualists dccar" that the
Bishops are not always rs "tatholIc as th'y
ought 10 hc. they agree with the Irotcsthh'S
that rituaism is making great strides IN inc
Church \ riualSt clergyman in Liverpool
The other dnv boaStcd that the work of TN" i'"f
nrmg;iun * undonr. More than half IN"
churches to the number of S.l>S. are ri'ualSil'.
ho sayS In 202G maSs-ycstmcnts are worn: iir
L3'I alfar.lights are burned in broad mid
,la,. and in GOA the Eastward position i
adopicd or Wears. curatc~. assistant curat's.
canons nrchdcacons deans and bishops no less
ihnn lively" thousand are connected with tn"
rituall>iic movement. according 10 this an
lhorty.
OF course II must hc understood That the
question ~ issue j. really ono of do trim" rather
than Of ritual Indeed. some Of the most lniiu-
entail leader, of The movement attach little I'M
portance 10 ritual except ~ II Symbozes anu
teaches what they regard aS divine truth. Tho
great Dr Pus"y himself was only an indifferent
riualist What. th'i. are the doctrines IN
volvcd; In reality there i only one. II -
whether She sacrifice of ihc mass can be revived
I'm IN" English Church. The doctrine OF the
mass ~ Il r,ccnt writer has expressed H. I'm
piles the claim of the priesthood 10 call down
The corp0rcal presence of God. - that. IN me
word. Of -. Augustine. The faithful are ahir
'carnally ard viSihly to press with their tee'h
the body and blood Of Christ. I'll" Engllsh
Reformation auiagonized this doctrine. ana IL
the opinion ~ Protestant Churohmcn II cannot
De lawfully held in the English Church. The
AngloCaiholics. however. maintain that the
doctrine Of the Real Presence. rs they d"Signat"
H. Is obligatory on all Churchmen There arc
many ritualists of course. who do not see thar
this is the true meaning Of the movement. Bn'
the leaders do. and they are trying win en'ir"
sincerity and good faith 10 bring the 'hurch
back 10 "A belief IN the doctrine. They may
draw some metaphysical distinctions between
their doctrine of the Real Presence and the lrl-
dentlne doctrine of Reconsideration. But
the distinctions are decidedly tcnuous. ana
would not appreciably affect the belief OF plain
people. l. the English Church To teach the doc
trinc Of the mass! That Is the real question ri
issue in the Church to-day. and that Is why In
spite OF the great good done by the R'iualis's,
thc Proicstan,s In the Church are now So vio-
lcn,ly arraycd against them.