The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-05

Episcopalians of low church or broad
church preferences must view with increas-
ing alarm the elaboration of ritual both in
this country and in England, and the stiffen-
ing of doctrine which accompanies it, 1t is
said that of S,1S3 churches of the establish
ment in England which provide weekly
communions 4,3S4 use altar lights and 2O26
provide eucharistic vestments, that is a
chasuble, white or colored, to be worn by
the minister during the communion office.
Ten years ago in only 3776 English churches
was there weekly communion. The extent
of such practices in the United States
among Episcopalians, as reported in the
Living Church Quarterly, is interesting,
though it is impossible, from data at hand,
to make comparisons. The figures quoted
below affect only the churches in the larger
cities, 662 in all. OF these 1914 use altar
lights seventy-five colored vestments and
thrty-seven incense.
Members of the Episcopal Church in the
United States appear to get along more
tremendously, in spite of differences of Opin-
ion among themselves, than do their
brethren in England In fact, there has re-
Gently been good deal of friction among
English communicates under the establish
ment over the performances of the extreme
party, which is pleased to call itself Cath
Ollie. A certain layman, Mr.. John Kensit.
has been attracting much attention to him
self by his interruptions of services that
displeased him. He took the stand that the
services in churches dominated by the Cath
oI;o Ion, of
England. He rose and professed in the
midst of special services, such as the ven
Grafton of the cross, on Good Friday, and
declared that such practices were idolatrous.
When he had become notorious in and about
London during Lent for his sharp protests
the doors were in a few instances closed
against him; but he declared that services
held behind closed doors were illegal also,
and the war continued. On being arrested
for breaking up. meeting he threatened to
summon the bishop of the diocese as a wit
ness to prove that the row had been caused
by illegal practices.
Mr.. Kensit's name has figured a great
deal in the English newspapers, religious
and secular, since early spring, and 1t was
natural that it should have risen in the
Convocation of Canterbury, consisting of
both clerical and lay delegates, held two
weeks ago. The mention of Mr.. Kensits
name caused laughter in the lower house
of the convocation, and the subject of the
right of bishops to prohibit services not
contained in the prayer book was discussed
in both houses at length, and such right
was acknowledged and defined in the lay
branch in a resolution. However, the
learned bishops, while talking about it.
were disinclined to take any direct action
in the matter.
There is, of course, sharp distinction be-
tween doctrine and ritual. 1t is wholly pos
sible to exaggerate greatly the Importance
of ritual. but the questions at issue between
the Anglo-Catholics, as they sometimes call
themselves in distinction from the Roman
Catholics, and the low churchmen, are
questions of doctrine. or of ritual involving
doctrine. 1t is a grave question, for in
stance, as to what the communion office
meaus-whether it is, in effect, the mass
of Roman Catholicism, or the memorial
supper of Professionalism. A Methodist or
a Unitarian will be amazed to see the con-
struction put upon precisely the same office
in the American prayer book by the priests
in different parishes In such extreme
churches as the Ascension, of Chicago, and
St. Ignatius, of New York, persons not fa-
miliar with the niceties of ritualistic prac-
tice would be puzzled to know whether they
were in a Roman Catholic or Protestant
church. To all intents and purposes the
service is the same: but Episcopalians OF
this extreme type declare that they abide
by the prayer book. and they offer an
abundance of evidence in support of their
position.
In the general convention of the Episco-
pal Church which meets at Washington in
october. the advanced" delegates are likely