New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-05

,-,ro,r NV savine that the rubrlcs 81 the Prayer
Roo,, were only the briefest sort OF Indications
~ what tho priest was 10 do and that he had TO
depend upon the old traditions for the proper
method of carrying out the intent Of the rubrics
so briefly outlined in the Prayer Book. Inc
vestments he used ne added. likewise found
their authenticity in the traditional customs OF
the Church.
BEGINNING OF FATHER BROWNS CAREER
The Rev. Thomas Mckee Brown, to whose
efforts Is due the founding Of the parish most
generally identified with the progress Of the
rituaIist movement I'm this country movement
which its advocates and adherents love 10 can
the Catholic Restoration. has so long peeh
known as the foremost exponent OF the princi-
pies OF the rituasts that more detaiied de-
scrption Of the steps by which he arrived AZ
this eminence has value. After the death OF
the Rev Dr. James De Koven Warden OF ha-
cine College in 1879 Father Brown was the
acknowledged leader Of rituasm in this coun-
try His earlier education was obtained at 'he
Episcopal Academy IN Philadelphia where ne
was born in 1871. He was graduated from
Trinity College where so many Epscopalah
clergymen have obtained their academic euu-
cation, with the class Of 18Th In another Yedl
no had been graduated from the General Theo-
logical Seminary. in this city, and began MS
work as assistant at the Church or the An
nunCiation. in West FOurteenth-st me loii'N
inc I.ear he came under the potent influence or
the Rev Dr. George +. Seymour, VINO was lhtH
rector Of st. Johns Church. BROOKLYN ana 10
the influence Of this clergyman the RAPID u1
velopment Of the theological tenets that hau a.
ready taken root In the young clergyman
Ius, how early in his career Father Brown
became devoteGly attached 10 the hope 81 realiz
Ing his visions 81 the establishment OF a pa ~,
which should exempify his hcheis reRarunE 'ne
faft, and
believed To have existed in the Church or Eng
land before Cromwell time VIII perhaps .nn ne
be known but IT IS certain that In i0'N, VA
nlans for such a parish were N5liE ulSCuSN''
widely i'm Episcopal CirCles The pnncpCs "i
the Catholic Restoration were then heIu , 10y
many Fpscopalians who had LITTLE opportunity
to nut them into practice owing 10 'ne sta
fast opposition of a large majority OF 'he lnHu, ,
ential priests Of the Episcopal Church. ii,au,"
bv Father Brown. however a BODY or NV
York Episcopalians did form sucn " pa NJ 11 -,
1870 under the name of the Church OF ~. Mary
the Virgin The building occupied 10y ths
church al first stood in West FortN-ni h-st. any
during the first wears Of its existence the PARISH
was far from strong in numbers or IN Weaith..
From its very inception the Church OF -
Mary the Virgin was widely ana naISn! 80
cised by the Episcopal clergymcn ana LAY NJ .
,,.bo hold differing opinions regarding the rem
doriny Of the services. At first the CrluclSn W"S
Of a bitter sort but as the years passed + aohet
Browns moderation and tact han 'hrH enVrt
until for the last few years preceding MS uSd'"
the practices OF the parish over when ne pre-
sided had ceased to cncounter any married. OPP
position from the Low Church meh. faruE oNins
10 the character OF Father Brown TINS parish
has long been considered the leading exponent
IN this country Of the principles Of the Calh0"c
Restoration. Its services have long possessed Il
picturesqueness that has attracted the curious
as well as the pious and on sundays more
strangers are TO be seen at the church than are
10 bo found al any Other Episcopalien Church IN
the city St Mary's was one or the hfst fpls-
conalian churches in this country TO introduce
the use Of candles ana incense ana elaborate
ves,ments Its musical services, too. have taken
on n most elaborate character. and many people
attend the services Of the church or that ac-
count 4 vested choir ~ men and boys is sun.
plerentcd by a choir Of mixed voices and iu!i
orchestra.
The church structure occupied at present by
the PARISH was bulk in so by the ala OF fuLds
furnished almost entirely hy one member OF the
parish.
MASS AS CELEBRATED At ST MARYs
The most striking architectural feature in the
church is the high altar. with its marble taber-
nacle great candlescks and richly enbroid-
cred altar cloths. Its prominence. elevated