New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-07
VIEWS OF BISHOP GRAFTON.

REAL PRESENCE AND CONFESSION DECLARED 70
BE IN ACCORD WITH ACCEPTED
TEACHING
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: A declaration OF the teaching 81 the Hin
Church. or Catholic party, on the subject Of the
Holy Eucharist, that u.s. on the real objective
presence Of Christ in the Sacrament can b
found in the third volume Of the Life OF Dr.
Pussy" page 40. 1t was put forth by Pussy.
Kebe and Bennett. and signed by well-known
representatives Of the Catholic school.
The difference thus stated between the doc
trine Of the Roman and the Anglican position
seems TO be this: They agree in holding a real
objective. actual presence effected by the act Of
conservation. They agree in holding that this
presence is after heavenly or spiritual man.
ner that our Lord does not have locally 10
move in order so 10 manifest Himself. and that
the mean by which discern and receive Him
is faith. They differ in that the Roman the
ology using the Aristotelian metaphysical dis.
tinctlon between substance and accidents. dog.
matically defines the mode OF the presence By
the term transubstantiaton: while the Angli-
can equally asserting the fact OF O. special pres.
ence of Christ effected by the conservation.
leaves the mode OF union between Christ and
the elements an underlined mystery.
This doctrine Of the Catholic party in the
Anglican Church came up for adjudication be-
fore the Arches Court and the Prvy Council In
the case Of Sheppard against Bennett. In the
Court OF Arches the judges ruled that there 10
a change in the holy elements after the conse-
Grafton, and that they convey in divine and
inenable way the body and blood OF Christ seem
necessary differences from the language OF the
communion service alone" With respect there.
fore 10 the charges against Mr.. Bennett for
describing the Presence in the Holy Eucharist
as actual and objective l must hold that By
the use of these expressions he has not con.
travened the formulares Of our Church"
The Privy Council on appeal affirmed this de-
cision II was delivered by the then Archbishop
OF York a Low Churchman. whose sympathies
were as were most OF the court. not with M
Bennett THE respondent" the Court said,
maintains a presence which is Ito use MS own
expression) real. actual objective a presence
in the sacrament. a presence upon the altar
under the form Of bread and wine" The Cous
held that. I'VE fnd nothing in the articles and
formuIaries to which the respondents position
is contradictory or repugnant." Mr. Bennett
had also taught that the Holy Eucharist was
a sacrifice and that Christ was under the sac
ramental wells TO be adored, and on both OF
these counts and by both courts his teaching
was held 70 be allowed by the Church
THE CATHOLIC VIEW OF CONFESSION.
A declaration Of the Catholic party signed BY
its leaders on the subject Of confession can be
found In the fourth volume OF the Life OF Dr.
Pussy" page 266 II states that. while We
hold that the formularies OF the Church OF Eng
land do not authorize any priest TO teach that
nrivate confession is a condition indispensable
20 the forgiveness Of sin after baptism and that
the Church OF England does not justify any
parish priest in requiring private confession as
a condition Of receiving Holy Communion. We
also hold that all who under the circumstances
above stated" preference here being made 10
the exhortation in the communion office) cain
the privilege OF private confession are entitled
10 IT, and that the clergy are directed under
certain circumstances to move persons TO sucn
confession
BY the 18th canon Of 1903 the priest, under
severe penalty, is enJoined TO secrecy In respect
OF all confessions confded to him. There have
been no judicial decisions given on this subject
In the Book Of Church Law" however. revised
by the eminent ecclesiastical Judge. Dr. ". Phill'-
more. We read page 1850: From these authori-
ties it will be seen that the practice Of private
confession is clearly recognized as having
place in the system of the Church OF England"
A catena of authorities OF English divtnes who
since the Reformation TO the present day have
held and taught the same doctrine as that put
forth by Pusey would All volume. II may
therefore be concluded that the doctrine SO
taught is in harmony with the Prayer-booH
and the Church's doctrine. II any think othe1'
wise It is because they do not know what the
Catholic party teaches.
Having answered your two questions allo"
me TO say that they have little bearing on tns
present agitation in England. The agitation
there is only in slight degree a religious one
It is largely and chiefly political The Churcn
OF England Is not State-paid church. But an
oppressive King George u. about IT'S sup
pressed convocation. TIL 1880 II was not al
lowed to meet, and since then only 70 deoa'e'
and has no power to pass canons for the weh'
being and government OF the Church There 10
no good reason why Churchmen even II the
Church is the officially used one In England
should not have the right to govern itself JUST
as the established Presbyterian Church OF SCOT
land has. The Catholic. or High Church party
which is now potent In England is strugshhs
for n readjustment OF the Church's relation "
the State and for the recovery OF its rsh'ia'
freedom inherited from the Reformers
NOT A REVIVAL OF MEDI.EvALIsM
IL II ho' iiS oDJeSt W tcNi't
is not seeking union with Rome. save as II -
seeking and praying for the reunion OF III
Christians. As Catholics they believe IN .
ministerial priesthood for they hold the whV'.
OF the baptized and confirmed form sacerdo'a
body. They are Recommendations. for they oe'
lieve that, as In nature all Of Gods gifts come
TO us through ordained means They are CON.
sentative. holding to the ancient historical
order OF Church government. and the unive'
sally accepted and liberal creeds leaving o'ne'
questions as matters OF private opinion ~
England II is a struggle for freedom, out '"e S.,
will be no disruption OF the Church. There ""
be little secession either to Rome or u,sse
The English people are somewhat stup'u' &c
for their own good beiligerent. They rous.
Quarrel with one another and pound one o"