Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1906-03-07
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: 6 r e II O N | A L /.
BY REV. J. BARRETT.

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Church ceremonial has come to be
called ritual and one who practices or
uses ceremonial is consequently called
a ritualist. Popular misuse of this lat
ter word has given authority to it's
converted sense.
Strictly speaking. ii rite, is a form
Of words. while the accompanying pos
lures gestures and the use Of Orna-
ments have to do with the ceremonial.
Many people object to ceremonial in
worship because they think it is un
necessary. Some feel that spiritual
things are forgotten in the show Of ex-
ternals. Some think it is all unintelli
gible. Others have inherited deep
predjudice against it as savoring Of
superstition.
The first objectOrs are IN one sense
correct, Ceremonial is not absolute
ly necessary to any service, no teacher
Of the church has ever held so. 1t is
true that vestments do not add to the
eloquence OF the sermon or validity
OF the sacraments. The priest using
the communion service without
vestments, candles or crosses and
in a place where proper postures
would be incongrl Gus, say for some
dying person in an isolated place far
from civilization or the help of others
he would just as truly be administer
though before the church altar where
the most renowned singers were voc-
ing the anthem to the solemn and
sweet strains of the pipe organ. SO the
validity of any service Or sacrament
does not depend upon ceremonial so
long as there is the necessary, matter
and words with the reoired intention
of qualified minister.
But the objection, that ceremonial
is unnecessary, in another sense. de-
pends upon the question, whether it is
useful?
1t is useful, it can hardly be calle d
unnecessary. And here lies the great
reason for all church ceremonial. 1t
is intended to be an aid to devotion.
What can be more fitting than to
kneel in prayer. to stand in praise and
sit while listening?
The same logic underlies the acts of
bOwing the head when the sacred name
of Jesus is mentioned ana crossing
oneself with the badge of our salvation
when reclting the articles of faith and
genu1ecting upon one knee before the
present God in his temple
So it is with the vestments worn by
the clergy. We try to make as much
as possible of the Office and minimise
the personality of the individual offici-
ant, covering him all up with vest
ments, only leaving his head above the
robes that he may lead the service.
The poorest priest in the regulation
Vestment, appears before the public
just the same as does the wealthlest.
You will not find one with frock coat
or another with cutaway, one with
thread bare clothes, or another with
garments o. the finest texture fresh
from the tailor's, on which, with the
sermon, the congregation can mediate.
Before God the poor and rich are all
alike.
But people whether they believe in
an ornate ceremonial at church or not.
are sometimes greater ceremonialists
than they believe.
The bow from the lady, the lifting
Of the gentleman's hat. the warm hand
shaking with a friend, the elegancies
in the parlor, the little niceties in soci :.
ETY. are all bits of social ceremonies.
These may often be empty and mean
ingless. but society has long ago de-