New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-10
REFERS TO THE COMMENTATORS.
BISHOP WHITEHEAD THINKS DIFFERENCES

hEFERN ~ 1HE tOMuEN 4 Al OhS.
BISHOP WHITEHEAD THINKS DIFFERENCES
CAN BE RECoNCILED-CONFEssI VOL
UNTARY IN CHURCH TEACHING.
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The questions which you sent to me can
scarcely be answered in few words. There Is
great deal Of misunderstanding concerning these
matters and much thoughtess speaking and
writing; but do not believe that among intelli-
gent. we-read church people OF various party
affiliations there need be any very great differ.
ence Of view. provided all will listen sympathet-
ically TO the explanations Of others.
First-Concerning the Eucharist Or. Pussy,
Mr.. Mackonochie Canon Carter and Or. Liddon,
and other so-caled Catholic leaders made dec
laration as follows more than thrtv years ago:
We repudiate the notion OF any present sacri.
flee or any view OF the Eucharetic offering az
Of something apart from the one sufficient Sacri-
flee and Oblation OF the Cross. which alone s
that perfect redemption. Precipitation and salts.
faction for all the sins OF the whole world, both
original and actual" which alone is meriori-
Gus. (See Article OF Religion, XxXI)
One famous passage from Jeremy Taylor puts
In clear language what We suppose to be the
teaching OF the advanced party OF the English
Church" concerning the Eucharistic Sacrifice,
called the mass:
Now. what Christ does In heaven He hath
commanded us to do on earth that is. 20 repre-
sent His death, to commemorate His sacrifice,
by humble prayer and thankful record and by
faithful manifestation and Joyful Eucharist. TO
to lay IL before the eyes Of our Heavenly Father.
so ministerng in His priesthood and doing ac-
cording to His commandment and example-the
Church being the Image Of heaven. the priest
the minister OF Christ the holy table copy ~
the celestial altar. and the eternal sacrihce ~
the Lamb slain from the beginning OF the world
being always the same
The Rev Edward Bickersteth a well-known
evangelical, in his Treatise on the Lords Sup
per-" says:
The Lords Supper was designed TO represent
and commemorate and show forth the LORDS
death as a sacrifice for sin. This is done az the
prevailing mode OF pleading His merits befors
God. What We more compendiously ex-
press in that usual conclusion Of our prayers.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord we more fully
and forcibly represent in the celebration OF the
Holy Eucharist when we plead the virtue ana
merits OF the same sacrifice here which our
great High Priest Is continually urging for us
in heaven.
Citing these utterances and commenting upon
them an English ritualist &C. W. f. RusselD
remarks:
There is the Doctrine Of the Eucharistic sacrf'
fee defined by an evangelical divine IN IAN
guage which every English Catholic would wish
to make his own.
And every intelligent student OF the Prayer
book knows that 1t Is strictly In accord Win
the teaching OF the Episcopal Church. which
calls the bread and wine "oblations," and the
Eucharistic action "a perpetual memory OF that
His precious death and sacrifice" the memorial
Thy Son hath commanded US to make" this our
sacrifice Of praise and Thanksgiving" our
bounden duty and service
The following verses OF a communion hymn
from the authorized Hymnal. which IL widely
used In the Church. expresses. l should judge
the general sentiment and belief OF Epscope'
lians OF all parties:
HYMN NO rs
And now O Father. mindful OF the love
That bought us. once for all. on calvarys TIs~
And having with US Him that pleads above, 4.
We here present, we here spread forth -
That only offering perfect in Thine eyes. =,
The one true. pure. immortal sacrifice -,
Look. Father. look on His anointed face =.
And only look us found In Him;
Look not on our misuslngs OF Thy grace,
Our prayer so languid and our faith so d'm'
For 10. between our sins and their reward
We set the Passion OF Thy Son our Lord.
second-You ask What is the attitude OF the
Episcopal Church toward the doctrine OF auricu.
lar confession?
The Episcopal Church certainly does not teach
compulsory" or enforced" confession. II such
a thing there could be. But by the very terms
OF the commission given 10 the priesthood
would seem that there is inherent In every
priest the right to hear voluntary confessions
OF those whose consciences are disquieted by tn'
knowledge Of sim and in some cases 70 exno's
| 10 confession Says DR.. Vaughan In one OF M
addresses 20 young clergymen;
! Most clergymen. whatever their church view VIEW.
J find themselves compelled sometimes 10 recei.'
confessions In other words. they are the ns.
urai referees In cases OF conscience. ana chnnv~
| II they would, evade the necessity or anm'n"
tering privately TO spiritual disease.
The declarations Of the Episcopal church I"
this country upon this subject are as follow"
In the communion office;
! because IL Is requisite that no one sho w.,
| come 10 the Holy Communion nut WIN .s.
| trust I'm Gods mercy and quiet cohscieu 80.
! therefore IL there he any or you VINO ny w..
means cannot quiet his own conscience ne'e a.,
| but requireth further comfort or counsel. -
| him come 10 me or 10 some other minister ~
| Gods Word ana open his grief that ne ma, ~,
! ceive such godly counsel and advice as IN -.
| tend 10 the aueting OF his conscience ana wv
| removal OF all scruple and doubtfulness
In the visitation Of the sick:
Then shall the minister examine whstner ~. 80
rerent him truly OF his sins. being IN cnst,.ss
| Win Ali the world exhorting him TO fors.ss
| from the bottom Of his heart Au persons W.