The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-05-01
RITUALISM.
Rev. Joseph B. Shepherd Dis
cusSed 1t Yesterday.
He Points Out Errors of Policy In the
Episcopal Church of Maine-Urges
Aggresstve Methods.

He Points Out Errors of Policy In the
Episcopal Church of .Maine-Urges
Aggressive Methods.
At ST. PauIs' church yesterday morning
Rev. Joseph b. Shepherd preached ser
mon in which he touched upon matters
| of policy connected with the Episcopal
church of Maine. He took his text from
Proverbs Isl "Through desire man,
having separated himself, seeketh and in
termeddleth with all wisdom
Rev. MIR. Shepherd thought it was true
| that narrow mindedness is the curse of
the world. just Jas true as tit is that mar
row -mindedness is the curse of this
church. He oontrasted the liberal man
with one narrow-minded and said, "the
most liberal minded man theIworld ever
Christ
The preacher referred to the fact that
for the past few months there has been
considerable debate, if not controversy 60
ing on in the Episcopal church here in
Maine about matters of vital interest to
its success and welfare. Many of us have
refrained from taking part in it for a
variety of reasons. But as tbs smoke of
the battle is clearing away. sober minded
men are asking what the battle has been
about, what are the issues at stake. A
mum berllof sermons have been preached;
one by Rev. Asa Dalton, d. D., of st.
Stephens church contains the gist Of the
controversy. The main contentious of
DR.. Dalton Is that ritualism Is the chief
cause for the present condition of our
church in Maine.
"By ritualism is meant not merely q
florid ceremonial, but the assumption Of
sacerdotal (priestly) claims and preach
ings, such as lower to forgive sins,
auricular confession, fasting commu-
Mon the mass, the assertion that ours and
the Roman Catholic churches are the
only true churches with an authorized
ministry. Assimilating the costume of
the clergy and the church service to the
outward and visible standard of the
Roman church"
Rev. Mr.. Shepherd was happy to say
that we in Portland know but little of
such ritualism but that there are parishes
here in Maine whose clergy sympathize
with this sort of thing. There can De
no doubt-until lately-the preacher had
looked upon ritualism as merely coolest
astical esthetioism, an attempt to make
ornate the editce and service of the
church But manifesto lately issued by
an association of the riuualists in Eng
land called the church union, has materi-
ally changed the opinion of many people.
The gist of that manifesto is to be found
in this statement. 1--WE deny the right
OF the crown of England or the Parlia-
ment to determine the doctrine, the dis
cipIine and the ceremonial of the church
of England"
Rev. Mr.. Shepherd mentioned other
statements in the manifesto and thought
if they meant anything they meant that
sooner than submit to the law of England
the.Church Union people would withdraw
from the English church and go to
Rome.
"But what has all this to do with the
rltualist of Maine," asked the preacher
who continuing said, "much every way.
| There is no ,,arty of men in the Episco-
pal church SO subservient to English
thought and custom as the ritualists The
leaders of the movement are not to be
found in the United States but in Eng
land and what the ritualists do in I'm g.
land they will do in America"