The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1903-01-10
"H1eH CHURCH" METHODISTS
Extreme Ritualistic Congregation
Established in San Francisco.

San Franciscos aggressiveness even IN
matters religious is about to be manifested
again, saws the San Francisco Examiner: IL
has not been long since she took enthusiast
cally to the Anglican Church when 1t over.
stepped the conservative Episcopal lines and
embraced all the traditions of Catholicism ex-
cept his Holiness the Pope of Rome, and now
she is ready to uphold and support the latest
religious project-a High Methodist Church.
There is 10 be such an organization here
church which will have gowned rector,
boys vested choir, early morning commun-
ion, feasts and fasts, and ritual which,
emitting the printed prayers, will be identical
with that of the Episcopal Church.
Those who will be responsible for turning
topsy -turvy the old Methodist ideas of simple
gospel service are the members of the organl-
cation recently founded and known as the
Park Church. This congregation is composed
of wealthy Methodists from all parts of the
city. When they organized as religious body
it was with the understanding that the church
should represent the fashionable and arlsto-
cratic Methodist element OF this community.
Rev. Charles o. Oman, who is a convert
to Methodism from the Episcopal Church,
was the very man they wanted for the pastor,
or rector as they will term the Office. He
understood the ways of the ritualistic church
and better than any other Methodist clergy
man could introduce the new order OF things.
Then, too, he was in sympathy with the move
ment for High Methodist Church. So he
was placed in charge and the people are being
instructed in the use of the rituallstc service.
The innovation of ritualistIc Methodist
Church came on Christmas There was early
morning communion, followed by sacred
service at 1890. The Episcopal form OF ser
vice was used
The congregation is worshiping in Draper
Hall, 943 Stanyan street. A S35, 600 stone
church building is to be erected at the Park
Panhandle, and the calculation is that 1t will
be ready for occupancy by next Easter. The
people have decided to defer the use of clerical
vestments by the rector, the boy choir and
the professional and occasional features OF
the service until they are established IN their
new church home.
One rather pronounced step is the deter
mination of the members to rename the or
ganization Park Church did well enough to
start with, but now that the contaglon OF rltu-
aism has,spread among the people the name
must include a saint. The Methodist demon
ination has never glorifed the saints, and 1t
would hardly do in the critical state OF the
venture for the Park Church to take position
from which it might have to recede. So St.
Andrew has been decided on safe and
satisfactory name.
'.St Andrew brought his brother to Christ,
they say. land surely there is beautiful
lesson suggested in his act. For that reason
ST. Andrew is most appropriate name
Rector OXman was not averse to discussing
the mission Of the High Methodist Church.
"The Park Church is not Introducing the
Episcopal ritualiSm in Methodism," he said
'We are merely following a movement IN
England which aims at the re establishment
of the original form of Methodist church Wor-
ship. The Methodist Church started as a sect,
something like the Salvation Army. Wesley
never intended it to be a church, but when 1t
did become one he adopted the ritual of the
Church of England.
We are not introducing anything that is con
trarv to the canon. or, to be more correct, the
discipline of the Methodist Church. We will
use the ritual of the early Methodist Church,
which, with the exception of the printed pray
ers, is the same as the Episcopal, and when 1t
comes right down to it, why should our ser
vice be different from the Episcopal? Is not
our church the Methodist Episcopal? The
NJ. E. appears in the name OF every organlza-
ton in our denomination and as long as we
are not prohibited why not make use of the
Episcopal form of service if we wish to?
Yes. expect to don the clerical vestments
as soon as we are in our new church build
ing; in fact, have them now, but as we have
decided to go along quietly as long as we are
obliged to worship in hall, | think it best
not to use them for the present. There IS
nothing in the Methodist Church law which
forbids 81 clergyman to wear vestments. In
fact, there was some agitation at the last con
ference IN favor of the gown, but no action
was taken. The question will come up again.
and perhaps next time it will be carried. and
then the vestments will come in general use
among MethodiSts.
"There is nothing in the canon which ex
cludes fast or feast days. The truth of the
matter is this: The Methodist ministers have
been careless in their administration of the
services and the church has drifed away from
the forms and customs with which Wesley en-
lowed it. In the early days of the organlza-
lion there was a great deal of street preaching
rough work-and that was when the ritual
of the church was broker and in ii measure
shelved.
take the administration of the sacrament,
for instance. People now take the element,
the bread in their goved hands. | will not
permit this. | am teaching thai this element, |
being consecrateG, is sacred and that it must |
not come in contact with gloves.
"The High Methodist Church is being |
started because there is demand for it. | |
think the recent claim that we are emotional !
lists has given tremendous impetus to the
movement. The cultured, advanced Metho-
1ists want a. conservative, rituallstlc church,
and find many Episcopalians who wish to
unite with us.
M E11poDE I'M EOTTp DAvS