The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-16
THE GROWTH or RITUALIsx.
The New RON Party" In the Episcopal
Church and Its Defence.

To TnE EDITOR OF THE suS-Sir: ! was
much Interested In your editorial OF April
on -Ritualism and Rome IL was clear
and kindly analysis OF the situation In the
Episcopal Church: but 1t made no mention
at all OF new party which has arisen In that
Church and has attained no mean proper
tions. although. as yet its existence hardly
seems TO be known to many both within and
without the Church
have before me copy Of the Lamp. pub
lishsd at Garrisons, N. Y. a paper vigorously
and ably edited In the interests OF this new
school. In It the Rev Spencer Jones' author
OF England and the Holy See. tells US that
there are four parties In the Anglican Church.
viz: An Anslo-Catholic party. a school OF
Protestant Evangelicalsm. a school OF IA
tionalism and. In more recent times. Roman
school 1t Is TO the Inst and youngest OF
these that he himself belongs. and OF II the
Lamp Is an advocate
What are the principles OF this Roman
school? We are all familiar with the Low
Church" accusation Of -Romanizing.' for
years brought against the Ritualists. II
taken in the sense 10 which II was meant.
viz; that Rtualists are consciously working
TO make converts TO Rome while at the same
time hypocrtically pretending to be loyai 70
Anellcanism the charge was grossly onen-
sive and conspcuously untrue, But the new
school Of Ritualists not only admit that tnes
o a,s fed frsaNly shd honestly announce their
intention to persuade all Anglicans 70 return
TO obedience TO Rome, Beside this clear anu
Reformation, what do such trihes as mass
vestments, incense and elaborate ceremonial
tof which correspondents In your columns
But the prin ciples Of the young and vigor-
Gus Roman party can best be seen oy sot hs
5o edt .nf A smteS Is the
Author OF Division" we read:
Protes,snu who glory in their sectaIian divisions
and AnTS s,oc who sS SSry n men sheT sSame
Wherein lies the remedy. save 70 ecknowI,,
years sesf aso ana by SSr ACTON aHe The
necessary measures which will In due time neal our
Ing US 10 the Universal Father Of chnsssndom and
reunlting US with the Holy Roman Church, the
sides the seat OF supreme authority, the centre Of
Catholic unity. the Chair OF me Blessed aPos,ie
and on this rock viii build ny churs and the gates
OF he'll shall not prevail against II"
SO that when you spoke q Ritualists as
rejecting the primary OF the Bishop OF homei
usurpation. that statement IL no longer true
Of Rituulists as whole. but only OF those who
have failed 70 advance with the latest devel.
opment Of the party The Roman psrty
claim land truly so. It seems TO me, that their
o1nse the SsSs and i, nssS o~.r 1 snd
fruit. Says the editor of the Lamp:
The terminus sd suem Of the 9Itosd Moysmens
e %ppy ,hs c.,sSs:
the sanctuary" and are able to redever the keys
Of the kinxdom wrested by force from him int
gave them.
This Roman marty is no insignihcant or
ne9ligible quantity, but L. fast growing In
number of the Lamp had contributions not
only from this country but from well-known
anglican clergy in England and even IN Japan
to emphasize his belief in the NECESSITY O.
return to union with the Holy See he has
nnai contribution to Rome like a rsod Cath
ollie USITAs.
ORANGE. Easter Monday.
To THE EDITOR or THE srS-Sir: ! at
tended the Church Of st Mary the VIRGIN for
more than seven years heard confession
taught but never heard II insisted upon.
Once TO my knowledge q person said to the
late rector: Il do not think shall ever go
to confession" Father Brown replied: Con
fession l. a privilege. not an obligation: the
Church does not command IL ] am bound
to tell you that you do not know what help
you are nezlectinR But that Is all shall
say The subject was never mentioned
again. That person never went TO confession
and was never Reproduced for not doing 40.
As TO the low and the high mass, let me
say that there are always two, usually three,
times every day In the week when person
VINO really wishes to receive the communion
can do so. The hours are from 9 TO 8 in the
morning The service il read and Il short.
In the quiet church are only those who have
come 10 receive the Blessed Sacramen mt.
II any one for good reasons cannot come to
church at these times. let him test the kind
willingly and nicely his needs will be met
The high celebration Is an elaborate and
are csS es by
There Is a sermon before the communion
service, and then q long offertory. During
wonder at the .vestments and the incense,
turn sQuarcly about and gaze into the west
haRs stood kns Tor
reached Is this as good time TO receive
the communion as In the rest and Quietness
of the enrly morning?
As 10 fasting communion. Jeremy Tay-
lor SAYS; 1T Is a Catholic custom that they
receive IL fasting. This Is not a duty com
mandcd by God a e, matter OF divine
despises this custom gives nothing but the
testimony OF an evil mind
The contrast between Protestant Episco-
pal Church in America layman. rising leis-
urelv, breakfasting heartily. proceeding COM
fortably to church and demanding the com
last cup Of coffee then returning home 70
denounce the practices" Of the priest at the
altar and that priest. rising at daybreak,
! assisting in the earlier services. offlciatine
through the long and fatiyuinc ceremonial OF
tho high celebra ton, and receiving the eie-
ments at midday without having tasted food
is strong Taken together with the naive
reason given by -Churchman for wanting
-the law OF the Church positively defined
! lin order that he and others who agree with
! him NAV not be -taunted"l. II makes lively
| appeal n the smiles OF the satirist. but IL
doesn't seem at home among the learners Of
| Christian charity.
"Taunting" ought TO be an unknown word
between people who profess to believe in
: ore Catholic and Apostolic Church" At
| this season Of our lords Passion IL recalls
: too much the activities OF the Scribes and
! Pharisees Personally I never heard IL
| among RitIalists coward any one, but human
! nature Is human nature. and II -Churchman
brings to his discussions with them the spirit
| he shows In his letters fear there will never
| be wanting weak ones enough TO exchange
| charges of heresy with him, and scold about
WHO Is in the true Church and who isn't
truly pitiful sight
| If I repeat here what once heard said. II
| Il not 10 reflect upon any other kind Of Chris
tians. but In Justice TO my own. ! heard
| an agnostc airily ask a like-minded physi-
| clan: What do you think Of these Ritual
lists. anyway The doctor ans wered: "Ifyou
| mean creed. Idon't believe In any creed. Ifyou
| mean practice. all I know :. that when l
a. Ia 40 he m