The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-15
Excitement In the Church OF En- gland.

On Friday the House Of Commons passed
TO it's second reading a bill directed
against extreme Rtualistic practices In
the Church of England During the de-
bate il was made evident that on both
sides Of the House the prevailing senti-
ment was strongly against Rituaiism'
and the motion for a second reading was
passed by the great majority OF 139 to
ST votes. This victory for the Protestant
party was obtained in the face OF the
bitter opposition Of the representatives
of the High Church party and in spite
OF the opinion expressed by Mr.. BALFoUR
that, although abuses exist and should
be removed, the bill is injudicious and
unnecessary.
The measure abolishes the Bishops
right of veto on proceedings against con-
tumacious Ritualistic clergymen. and
provides that these may be deprived OF
their livings when they persist in dis
obedience. The debate upon 1t, one OF
the most exciting in the history Of Par
liamentary discussion OF religious and
theological questions. afforded striking
evidence Of the intensity Of feeling which
has been provoked by the spread and
increasing aggressiveness Of extreme
Ritualsm. 1t also made manifest the
continued dominance Of incorporating
Protestant conviction in the Church OF
England. Sir WILLIAM HARCoURT ex-
pressed this sentiment in a speech Of
great vigor and passion. Conditions,
l. ,-oaohaI ota xuhopa ~
the right of veto is left to the Bishops
and laymen are without rights in eccle-
siastical as we'll as in civil matters it will
be better to disestablish the Church.
Great as are the extremes to which
Rtualism has been carried in this coun-
try they have not yet gone SO far as in
England. One London vicar has re-
signed his church rather than yield in
the matter Of the invocation of the saints
and the alteration of the Real Presence,
but there are five other London incum-
bents of the same spirit who persist in
defying episcopal authority. A vicar in
Leicestershire instructed tho children in
his schools to celebrate May day as a dis
tinctively religious festival of the Virgin
MARY and to carry garland in the Sa-
cred Mothers honor. The headmaster
OF q national school at Davenport was
told by the vicar to add Hail! Mary" to
the prayers he was in the habit Of reading
1t the school. These are simply few OF
very many illustrations We might give
Of the sort Of practices which have
aroused the bitterness of feeling that
brought about the remarkable majority
In the House OF Commons on Friday.
In this country, also, it has been made
evident in the course Of the discussion
Of the proposed change Of name OF the
Episcopal Church, with view, primarily,
10 getting rid Of the term Protestant
and substituting Catholic" that the
evangelical party in the Church il still
powerful and that the aggressiveness
Of Ritualism has increased the intensity
OF its Protestant sentiment, and, appar-
emily, added TO its numerical strength by
bringing into sympathy with IL many Of
the Broad Church and also of the
more moderate Of the High Church,
schools.
The enthusiasm with which the second
reading Of the Church Discipline bill was
carried by the Commons indicates that
there is a stormy time ahead for the
Church Of England. The Ritualism
against which the bill is directed is an
outgrowth Of the most passionate and
the most ineradicable conviction. Many,
II not most, Of the extreme htualis,io
clergy whom it would subject Ia ths
penalty Of loss Of their livings in the
event Of the continuance Of their prso-
uoe- ara Of the spirit Of martyrs. and
no force Of law will be able TO restrain
them from the no~t daring obedienos
Ca their convictions