New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-13
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
MASS AND CONFESSION BOTH EPISCOPAL
AUTHORITY FOR THEM CLAIMED THROUGH THE
PRAYER-BooK AND THE PRACTICE
OF THE CHURCH.


To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: AS a clergyman OF the Episcopal Churon
and a constant reader of your valuable paper may
claim the privilege Of voicing the sentiments "
many of our Southwestern clergy in regard 10 lhe
above subjects? The discussion being carrieu oN
In your paper should be the cause OF mucn near :.
searching among the clergy and lsity OF CnuIcn
which has always boasted OF her compfehen''
ness. When we find the Bishop OF Springheio anu
the Venerable Archdeacon Of New-York taxing u,a
metricnlly opposite views In regard TO the iuiiu"
mental truths OF our Church. we cannot but resi-
the absence Of a voice that shall declare wha' =
the truth and what ia not.
The questions which you have been propounoihe
must be answered by reference to the fornuai4e s
and rulings OF the Mother Church from when we
derived existence. And think am safe III
saying that to those questions there can be out o
answer. and that an affirmative
The mass Is simply another name for the holS
Communion as your readers have been already
Informed. 1t is the doctrine OF the mass. however
that is in question. II by the doctrine OF the mass
you mean the doctrine OF the Real Presence OF
Christ In the Blessed Sacrament. then most assui
eddy We a Church. do believe in 1t. and preach
II TO our people, in spite OF all that those hgh III
authority may say 10 the contrary. We 90 ho'
teach characterization. as the Roman Church
does do teach the carnal presence OF ChTi''
We simply teach that after the prayer OF conseci"
ton the elements. T. e.. the bread and the VINE
become the BODY ana Dlood OF Ch'lst. Nhet '"
deliver the bread we say. THE Body OF Our LORD
Jesus Christ: and when deliver the chalce we
say. THE Blood Of Our Lord Jesus Christ II the
body be eaten and the blood drunk, then they must
OF necessity be present.
In this belief supported by nearly all OF
the early Fathers OF the Church 1t was held oy
St. Jerome ST. Chrysostom. St. Hilary, St. Igna-
thus St. Irenaus ST. Clement OF Alexandria 81
Cyprian. ST. Athanasius. ST. Augustine and many
others. And when We come down 10 later Angh-
can dvines we find this belief held by such giants
in the faith as Mede Andrewes. Hooker. Taylor
Hammond. Cosn. Bramhall. Usher, Pearson rat
rick. Bull. Beveridge. Wake and Waterland Inc
belief Of the celebrated Hooker is contained in the
following quotation from his writings: WHAT
these elements in themselves II skileth not' II
is enough that TO me. which take them. they are
the Body and Blood OF Christ; His promise In VII
hereof sufficeth. His word He knoweth wnlch
way TO accomplish" From this doctrine, always
held in the Church OF England the daughter
Church OF America has not departed and dare not
depart. II this teaching is heresy, why do not the
bishops of our Church pronounce against II? 1t Is
taught In every diocese IN this country, and there
we come now to aurlcular confession. Is the
deacon Of Of In spite Of the learning and
piety OF the latter, must confess that he is Iar
fession. ard she does permit It TO be both taught
and practised. There may be nothing authorize
Prayer, with the exception OF the modest ending
OF the exhortation in the Holy Communion. out
nevertheless such teaching has always obtained In
our Church For eighteen hundred years the
Church has practised confession. and until the
Church has set her seal against the continuance
OF this practice which she has never attempted 10
do II will obtain in our Church.
We must bear In mind however. that this con-
fession is 20 be voluntary, and compulsory.
AS a priest OF the Church. have no right 10
compel my people TO come TO confession, but am
Obliged listen to their confessions TX they insist
upon coming. This power is given to every priest
al the time OF his ordination in the following
words: Receive the Holy Ghost for the Office and
work OF a priest in the Church Of God, now com
Whose sins thou dost forgive. they are forgiven;
and whose sins thou dost retain they are retained:
And be thou faithful dispenser OF the Word OF
God and Of His holy sacrainents. In the name OF
the Father. and Of the Son, and az the Holy Ghost
Amen"
Now. maintain that this is plain English. able
be understood by the people: and so long as this
forms part Of the ordination OF priests we shan
continue to believe that we possess full ahsolving
power. whether for public orefor private
II you look at the morning ana evening services
in our prayer-book you will find that. after the
general confession. the absotton fs to he said by
It. because such authority has not been delegated
TO HIM. II must he said by one OF the two higher
orders. and II is the teaching Of the Church that
at that precise moment pardon Is conveyed 10 the
truly penitent II this authority IL committed unto
the priest for public II seems strange that its
exercise in private should for one moment be
called In question
II this discussion shall but to open the eyes
OF American people TO the fundamental truths
OF our Church and 10 her unwaverinR adherence
10 Catholic doctrine and practice. then surely
much benefit must accrue TO US II Is time that we
ceased npologizng for her position: let bravely
proclaim the message have received from our
fathers. PERCY T. FEM.
Texarkana. Tex. April %. 1893