The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-19
A Defence Of Ritualism.

To THE EpIroR OF The SUS-Sir: 1t hap
pens every now and again that some one
arises. as II from a sleep. TO discover that
ritual IL really beginning to have an influence
In the ngllsh and American Churches. ana
almost invariably he 10 one who misconoeives
these communions to be Protestant secU.
But Il Ia authoritatively laid down by the said
communions that they are part and parcel
Of the Catholic Church. the Holy Church
throughout the world TO quote from the
TIE Deum.- that had its be ginning. not under
Henry VIII, but on the first whitsunday.
the Christian Pentecost.
Viewed. then. as the matter actual y stands
Catholic and ritual Is the normal privilege
OF the English Church. as ordained In the
rubric on Ornaments Of the Church and Of
the ministers thereof" So. then, -the meri-
can Catholic Church in the United States
called on the title page OF the Prayer Book,
but seldom elsewhere. even by Bishops In
their oficial documents. the Protestant
Episcopal Church. in saying: This Church
is far from intending to depart from the
Church OF En- gland in any essential point OF
doctrine, discipline or worship: or further
than local circumstances require" may be
taken To approve OF the historic ritual that the
Church Of England authoritatively commands
In general. but inclusive. terms.
For one thing. IL has been authoritaaveiy
decided by the Bishops to whom the matter
was referred that the mitre and cope. the
yestments proper to a Bishop. are legal In
the American Church, SO II there 10 now any
whine left on that score the whine Is against
! the Church and not against the individuals
assumed to be disloyal
The cope and mitre question being no
| longer a question. stands somewhat as the
outward and visible sign Of inclusion OF all
! those matters Of orn ament or ritual the Church
! of En- Gland embraces and ordains In the un
| depiably inclusive terms OF tho Ornaments
| rubric.- which 10 a. follows: And here II
, II to be noted that such ornaments OF the
! Church, and Of the ministers thereof. at all
| timea In their mnistration. shall be retained
and be In use. a. were In TINS Cnurcn OF Eng
| land, by the authority OF ParliSment IN tns
VI. Moreover. the authority Of the Church
sG ,S 81 ri: naSTs a
ment has not dared 70 obtrude upon the
hs Church sSd e. ss
~ Can't csnsersury and York are members Of the
Hense q Peers TIA, aes,rc 70 lay
down hs IN ICY cS.ie GIS ~ denial are these;
.uthoaTit.t nsl and dosmatiosiiy her catho'
sscond-Ths Ornaments rubrio' 10 stu In
o5Third-The historic ritual Of the catholiSS
this l. late day for Idle dreams OF successful
0pfRSaTtSS&That Church butterfly: Which s,. q
and rsxn. he King az ,o mot S SsttSs
lie tRG ARSsi Sos.S oras. :.,
{, cI e iss SsuTsS 70;
sai1 sc, sh q syc S bur IN noS.s are
a. va II 10Y Sy ess,sA Y no s.p:..
70 such an IN ,1st n.essur. o. ssips snd
sf cSerSSn az Inc .Sthoriy bette
or grrster than that Of civp oentSs actniteio :
BY al msnner Of Commercial or other wor s1E
Fm Of individua lism which can Ss mou'ds ,s
wholly 70 themselves. and thcreiore. ss su.
Il 70 be-anythips and nothing
Church an spt q n,y. he sn cpDSol
Mat history Esehhs;; : s99Stss'|n p .syne
sticks and haa good hope q sttcsing 70 tns
bitter end % lons e men en- ns Wa pr ~
mudness Of r,lisioys Ssptesstson y a osieFsho,
the Catholic Church Or any psrt o. ~, ~
history = roek, hard snd faSt ad fsainP' IN IA
Affairs and change Of inetitu ttons the ChufSi
persists and remains the most formSoaos'
''Ss Ss as. Sss ssssrd - -. n.ss~ = nm.