The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-01-31
The Proposition Of the <ngio-ta th-
o%lics.'

The ~proposition 70 unite tho forces o'
the Catholic " party ~ the Episcopal
Church in this country with the so-caiIed
- ~ritualists Of England. as made a. a
meeting here on Tuesday, does not seem
to be Of much importance, for the suggested
bond Of union Is only the common puhhca-
ton in the Two countries ~ an ngIlsh
" ritunlistic " paper already established.
OF more interest, n not significance. IL Tie
expression of opinion by The English repre-
sentative 81 ,hiS paper that the new hinS
will look more favorahly on IN" ritual
istic " movement than did Queen VICTORIA
and that consequently the change of SOW
ereiyns will bs 20 is advantage.
II is not probable. however, that this
= Catholic " party will find its hopes Justi-
fed under EDWARD, though is fng''sh
representative ses- reason for encourage
ment in the cirCumstsnc" that n san
dringham, which is the private chapel OF
the Prince and Princess of WALES the
service has always been OF a good order.
tina, Is. good IN The eyes Of the iitualists.
The new King is not likely Ia embarrass hi'
reign by stirring up the hornets neat OF
religious and ecclesiastical controversy
which would be provoked surely by any
royol stimulation 81 the e Catholic " move
mon, in the Church ~ England, To say
nothing W the bitter resentment he would
excite among the Dissenters. he would
eslspe-a,e the hardly less violent oppo-
st.ion 10 1t in the Establishment itself and
hasten the disruption OF the union between
Church and state. The continuance OF
that union is only made possible by the
Crowns refusal 20 take sides in the contro-
versy and rcsolUtcly keeping hands on.
for otherwise the Establishment would
soon be- torn 20 pieces by tho radically
conflicting elements.
The distinction bet the " Catholic
party 81 the Episcopal Church in both
England and this country and the Protes-
,,nt party. with iis various divisions. Ia
really broader than that which exis's
between anv two sections NJ Professionalism.
EAccpt IN the matter Of the recognition ~
the Papal sovereignty, that party Ia In
substantial agreement with the Church OF
Rome, So much 50 Ina, representatives
sought vainly. a few years ago 10 get from
the Pups recognition 81 the validity Of the
Anglican clerical orders. Meanwhile the
Low Church " party Is Protestant In i,s
doctrines and impulses. and 10 the last
degree Jealous OF any encroachment Of
the distinctivcly Roman Catholic doctrine
AMI spirit. and the Broad Church party
leads 10 an extreme about as far from the
one as from the other.
In this country the Episcopal Church.
borrowing the English policy. keeps these
conflicting elements together In q common
CAUroh Icy avoiding eSaspcratlng inter
ference u;'h any Of them. II IL asserted
tha, the strength ~ the " Catholic " or AZ
least she Ilgh church " party IL greatest
I'm tho college Of bishops, hut as Ia shown
In the inability Of that party 10 get mar
rage made s~arramcntal and therefore
lndissoluble 10y the General Convention Of
the Episcopal Church. u is not practically
dominant. Compromise always results,
and IL appears in all the considerable do
ceses. and notably in the New York
dioccae, FOR example. Here by tho side
Of churches closely approximating Roman
Catholicism in doctrine and ritualistic
practice are churches so " Broad that
they almost verge on agnosticism
Moreover, the Episcopal Church in this
country is now largely recruited from
members Of other Protest ant dcnomina-
lions in whom the old tenacity Of specific
reii nous conviction has been weakened