The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-02-06
NFESS|ON.
DR.. Bennitt Says it is Volun.
tary--Dr. Stoddard's
Terse Reply.

The Rev. DR.. E. L. Stoddard, rector OF
ST. Johns Episcopal Church, when seen
by a reporter for 1.-THE News" Friday
night refused to be interviewed at length
on auricular confession. All he would
says was
IF | believed in it would have it
in ST. John s.
Rev. George S. Bennitt. of GRACE Churcn,
Van Worst, when interviewed this morn.
ing by a News reporter on the supJecI
of auricular confession in the Ep1seopal
Church Any persons who wish TO avall
themselves of the privilege at any time
may do So
When questioned concerning the state
ment which it is claimed the Rev. George
M. Christian. of Newark, made in one of
his sermons during. the ten days mission
at the Church of the Holy Cross, tnat
it is absolutely essential to confess be-
fore confirmation, and those who do not
will not have their prayers heard by GOD
and will not go to heaven; ". Bennttt
said II don't think he made such state
ment. 1t is against the teaching OF the
church"
Every priest ordained in the Episcopal
Church has said over him by the Bishop
when he Laws his hands upon his head, =
said Dr. Bennitt referring to the rules OF
the church, Receive Ye the Holy Ghost
for the office and work of priest IN the
Church of God, now communicated unto
you by the Imposition of our hands.
Whosesoever sins thou dost forgive, they
are forgiven, and WhoseSoeVer SINS tnou
dost retain they are retained, ana De
thou a faithful dispenser of the word OF
God and his holy sacraments in the name
of the Father, the son and the Holy
Ghost"
..And in the daily services of the
church the priest stands up both morning
and evening, after general confession, ana
pronounces absolution, declaring Goo %
hath given power and commandment to
his ministers to declare and pronounce 70
his people, being penitent, the absolution
and remission of their SINS
sAnd in the warning to be given out
before the celebration of the Holy Com
munion, on the Sunday before the cele-
bration of the Holy Communion, he (the
priest is directed by the church to say,
No man should come to the Holy Com
munion but with full trust In God
mercy and with q quiet conscience
Therefore if there be any. OF you VINO
cannot quiet his own conscience, put re-
quires further comfort or counsel, let him
come to me, or to some other minister
of Gods Word and open his grief that ne
may receive such Cody counsel and ad-
vice as may tend to the quieting OF his
conscience and the removing OF all scru-
pie and loubtfulness.
s'This creed" the rector said, is found.
ed on Christ's teachings, when he sent
forth his disciples, saying, GO We into all
the world and preach the Gospel, and
whosesover sins We forgive they are for-
give, and whosesoever sins ye, retain
fhey are retained" A minister, he said,
might urge his congregation to. confess
for the good of their souls, but ne eouio
not enforce it, For this confession no
stated time is required in the Episcopal
Church as with the Roman Catholics,
where they must confess at least once a
year, but if man had committed a sin,
perhaps against a deceased brother, and
being unable to make retribution TO that
victim wished to ease his conscience ana
went TO the priest for counsel and advice,
1t was in the power of that priest to give
absolution. AS DR.. Bennitt put 1t when
asked why that man could not go TO a
lavman for advice, If you were in prison
for some crime, and the Governor had had
and tell you so. Perhaps it would make
you happier. but it would not open the
jail. The Sheriff must come to turn the
key and set you free. We are the com
rnissioned officers of God. We do not give
absolution through ourselves. but merely
an assurance that God has forgiven the
penitent sinner"
When questioned concerning the proper
tionate number of penitents in the Episco-
pal Church. DR.. Bennitt said in his own
church there were few, as that church
had neither an extremely high nor ex-
tremely low form of worship, but that in
some Of the more ritualistic churches he
understood there were good many.