The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-02
RIttlaIisIn.

We print to-day more letters called out
by some remarks made by us concern
ing the progress Of Ritualism in the Epis-
copal Church Of this country and in the
established Church of England. These
remarks have been Inexperienced, it
| seems as critical of the position assumed
by Ritualists as veritable branch of the
Church Catholic" Our use of the term
Ritualist to describe this party of Epis-
copalians is complained of as involving
a suggestion of the very sectariansm
against which the "Anglo-Catholics
revolt with so great bitterness; but we
used il simply as descriptive term COM
monty employed and in no other sense
and with no implication of a controversial
| character.
As Mr.. TOWNSEND, one of our CORE
spondents Of to-day, SAYS, these So
called Ritualists are terribly in earnest.
They are the most earnest party in the
Episcopal Church, both in this country
and iii England The spirit of the mar
tyrs is in them, and ridicuie and attack
which they regard as persecution serve
only further TO intensity their devotion
TO the doctrine in which they believe.
Toward the Roman Catholic Church.
toward the Pope himself, their attitude
is friendly, but against Professionalism in
all its forms they are arrayed in violent
opposition. They look on it with con-
tempt, and their Ceaseless effort is TO
drive away every trace of il from the
Episcopal Church. The official designa-
ton of that Church as Protestant
they reject as a compromise with an he
rctical enemy, and in General Conyen-
| ton after General Convention they have
insisted and will continue To insist that
Catholic shall be substituted.
The secession of the representatives Of
the" Low Church party who organized
the Reformed Episcopal Church, in 1913,
was grateful to them, and probably they
would be glad to see every remaining
Episcopalian of that school departing to
join the seceders. This Low Church
party. once so powerful, seems now, how
ever to be reduced TO insignificance in
the Episcopal Church, or, at least. it
makes little show in the conventions,
Diocesan and General. while the High
Church or Catholic party becomes
steadily more aggressive and more in
tluential.
This development, as we have pointed
out is one of the most significant in our
later religious history. and only as such
have we discussed it, II is revival of
medievalism and during the last genera
ton II has changed the whole character of
the Episcopal Church. Over against it
is the influence of the Broad Church
party, with its somewhat close approxi-
nation TO the" New Theology ;" and be-
tween these two the only contest for SUI
premacy seems now to be waged But
as the Catholic party is terribly in
earnest and the other is calm. judicial
and philosophical the chances of victory
seem to be with the first.
Ritualism. therefore, has been viewed
by us simply as significant movement
against Professionalism As such it is dis
trusted and bitterly opposed in Eng
land, but here, where there is no State
Church, it is gathering strength stead
lily without provoking any considerable
alarm in the Episcopal Church Appar-
emily, MIR. TOWNSEND is justified in say
ing that this Catholic party" has well
nigh converted the whole constituency
of the Episcopal Church into general
acceptance Of its beliefs, in theory if not
in practice" At least, the usual Episco-
pal service of to-day would have seemed
utterly strange to nearly all Episcopalians
generation ago. Meantime, it will be
observed, even the close approximation
of the Ritualists to the ritual and doctrine
of Rome gains for them no favor from
the Roman Catholic Church, They are
still looked on by it as Protestants and
heretics, with no title to the name of
Church.