New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-20
LAW DIES INTO DEsUETUDE.

=. oocen,s as proved the existence OF a crisis in
-. church OF England. The reality Of this is
..or,ed by one who UP 10 a short time since was
~.,rlarly regarded as the leadt. he Opposi-
IN Parliament. II is admitted by the First
-, n the Treasury. by the Prime Minister Of
Island and by His Grace the Lord Primate
[~..,snan exaggeration to say the opinion has
80, expressed 10y all sorts and conditions Of
7, is now indisputable that England is
ro,ed bv what is termed alike 10y friend
.rs foe. the crisis IN the Church
1,s causes are manifold. First among them
,s, he placed the dsObedience of incumbents
.,a o. Bishops 10 the laws by which they are
,onnd. and herein. and especially to Canon SO.
vz Every minister being preacher, and hav-
,re anv Papist recusant or recusants in his
,srsh. and thought fit by the Bishop of the
sooese shall labor diligently with them from
.,,,s n time thereby 10 reclaim them from their
.rrors II the incumbent be unable TO dis
charge this duty. he is required TO provide
.sDsble substitute. IF he can procure none,
- shall inform the Bishop. who is required to
snpoint preachers 10 perform the office, and even
"a undertake it himself He is obliged to use
his besr endeavOr. boy instruction. persuasion, and
oil GOOD means ne can devise. to reclaim both
.bsr and all other within his diocese so az
iscted
This law has died into desuetude. Its disre-
rsrd has derpened the ignorance Of the clergy
as 10 Ronish doctrines. their rise. nature, refu-
tstior and temperance in the Church Of
England among those 80 affected II has
gradually mised large numbers Of the clergy as
10 the actual legal. moral and historical attitude
0, the Church OF England TO the Church Of
Rome They are either unaware or unmindful
o, the fact that IN Canon 80 the Reforma-
Ton is described as the abolishing Of Popery"
IN the Church Of England. The revival of the
ohiration authorized by Canon SO would be
attended hy some conscientious objections
The disregard Of il is answerabe for the amaz-
ng ignorance Of many Of the clergy Of the
Rornish controversy: for undisgused aversion
rom missionary aggression upon those so af-
fec,ed and for that sympathy toward Rome
which has al length ripened into desire for
complete reunion
WALsH's NOTABLE BOOK.
second-In dealing with the causes Of the
crisis We must discriminate The same fact may
be both cause and effect. Physical health IS the
cause Of walking. ! walk TO be healthy. Il is
also the effect OF walking. I am healthy because
! walk So in the crisis now prevailing in our
Zion some Of its causes are also effects. Fore
most among these may be reckoned a volume
Untitled the Secret History OF the oxford Move
sent by Walter Walsh. II published in
SEPTEMBER 1891 by the Church Association
This society was founded in ls'ih. at the request
o. several diocesan bishops. 20 ascertain what
the law was respecting ritual and rubrics. 1t
spent $50 600 in ecclesiastical suits 20 aid the
Anglican Epscopate. IL may be doubted II even
che member Of the bench ever ielt throb Of
.
for this stupendous concession 20 their official
and pecuniary needs From series Of circum-
stances inevitable when litigation is resorted 10.
the society became unpopular Nevertheless.
Mr. Wslsh's book. thus introduced has gone
through FIVE editions in one year Its writer
has been gathering material for his purpose
for twenty years. He has taken between four
and Eve years 10 pen the Indictment
The volume is beyond all doubt q startling rev.
slaton. 1t shows that secrecy marked the move
nent which has now attained such dimensions. II
publishes details, hitherto carefully concealed.
concerning the nature. character discipline.
signs and aims OF secret societies orders sodaI-
ites and confraternties. 1t places In the hand
Of the man In the street facts which are new
even 70 those who complacenty supposed they
had complete knowledge Of what was going on
facts which should either be- justified or re-
tracted. II drags into light degrading supersti-
tons, tyrannical regulations caprcious and
even cruel exercises OF authority. II revives the
unsavorv story Of the origin OF the Priest in
Absolu,ion" which Archbishop TAFT said in the
House Of Lords. was "a disgrace 10 the com
munity" and It gives a long and humiliatne
series % incidents which have never before been
subject 10 the searchlight Of an indignant and
trustful nation. There are expressions in the
volume which might well be omitted without
impairne IT'S purpose. but IT must be owned
the writer is careful TO let the leaders II this
deeply laid purpose speak in their own words
the verifying references 10 which abound IN his
pages. The book has been denounced by Lord
Halifax and by many who regard him as their
leader u has been reviled abused and We
hementy disparaged But. so far as ! am
aware 10 incident recorded has been falsifed.
Living men whose utterances are found here
have nor denied them societies whose molellke
movements are dragged 10 the surface have sui
lenly accepted excavation and exposure. Who
can wonder that the interest thus created Is
thousand times stronger than the prejudice pro
'oked by the auspices Of the association under
which the volume was presented? This book is
al once an effect and cause.
WHAT THE TINES" HAS DONE.
The Times" newspaper may well be placed
IN the same list on April Il. 1898, a letter
about TWO dozen lines In length appeared. II
was headed "Lawlessness in the Church" II
vas signed by Canon Fleming, vicar Of 81.
Aichaels Chester Square. Canon Residentiary
q York and Chaplain 70 Her Majesty and TO H.
the Prince Of Wales The latter called at
IGNITION 10 the prevalence Of unauthorized ser
wees IN the public worship Of the Church Of
England. Such was the effect Of that initial
statement that now. for nearly twelve months.
'Ae priceless pages Of The Times" have con
1Nheo communications illustrative alike OF
Sanon Fleming's letter and OF much Of Mr.
"asns book On two occasions five columns
we're occupied with extracts from devotional
MANUALS used by neo-Anglicans. authorized by