New-York tribune., 1899-03-24
ENGLISH CHURCH RITUALISM.

INCONSISTENCY OF CERTAIN OF ITS PRAC-
TICEs WITH THE RUBRIcs
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: The letter Of Dean LEROY in your issue
OF March 20 will. think. open the eyes OF many
Episcopalians to evils Of advanced ritual and Its
Inconsistency with the rubrics. rules and customs
of the Church since the Reformation. But no
doubt a plain line Of demarcation may be drawn
between ritual that is not inconsistent with those
rules and customs. and ritual that has direct
influence leading to doctrines which the Cnurch
has always protested against
Such ritual observances as flowers upon the
altar. colored hangings and stoles, presentation
of the aims upon the altar with an orertory
hymn sentence. vested choirs. professional
hymns more frequent services than our fathers
were accustomed to. more thorough observance
OF Lent and fasting days and some other Things
OF that kind. great advance upon the IN
difference OF former days, have raised to nigh-
er level the worship Of the sanctuary, and are
not at all inconsistent with the rubrics, canons
or articles of the Church.
But there is another class Of ecclesiastical OBJ
servances introduced into many parishes and
carried by some TO great extremes. though per-
haps not to as great ones as those described IN
Dean Lefroy's article, which are utterly incon-
sistent with the declarations and liturgical rules
Of the Church
Frrst-Confession to the priest expected regu-
larry, and sometimes enforced, with special
priestly absoution There is nothing in the
Prayer Book upon which this can be rounded
The recommendation to the COMMUNICATE VINO
has some care Of conscience to come to the MIN
lister for godly counsel and advice gives no
ground for the practice
Second-The use Of the wafer. the enforcement
OF fasting communion. and the reservation OF
the sacrament (the latter In defiance Of the ex-
press rubrc that IT shall not be so reserved) are
the most obvious foundations OF the Romanstlc
advances made in certain parishes. They are All
founded upon the idea Of some material presence
of our Lords body and blood in the sacrament
of the Lords Supper. especially the reservation.
The chief argument IN behalf OF this is that 1t is
necessary to have the sacrament ready Tor the
case of instant use for dying person.
Well, now the Church has provided for that
very case saying in the r1ibric that where there
is any "impediment preventing, the sick person
shall be instructed that If he do truly repent
him OF his sins" etc. "he doth eat and drink the
Body and Blood of Christ though he doth not re-
ceive the sacrament with his mouth
But the true underlying reason OF the reser-
walton is not the great concern 10 administer 10
the sick to have the bread and wine kept In
a 'taberna cle." with sanctuary lamp burning
pie Here comes I'm idolatry 1t is nothing more
nor less than that. And with that comes In
easily marioatry, invocation Of saints, etc.
This kind Of ritual is the direct opposite OF all
the purest ages Of the early Church and all
that the Church since the Reformation has shed
the blood of her martyrs for; Of all the writings
OF her standard divines; OF all that her sincere
members have held most dear. 1t is, then, for
those who wish to keep the Church practically
and doctrnally as she has been for the last 800
years to be on their guard and stand fast in the
faith once delivered unto the saints.
CHARLES f. PHELPS.
Brunswick, ~ j.. March o. 1899.