The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-08-02
AN ANGLICAN Letter.
"Rome Has the Full Faith"-Many
Long to Be ReconciIed.


ing the Anglican point of view is pub
lished in the Liverpool Catholic Times
and Opinion in the issue of July A:
Sir:-Though / am not member of
your communion, l shall feel very
grateful if you can find room in your
paper for this letter. 1t is not
polemical in any sense, but an attempt
to present to your co-religionists the
view of the Anglican Church as an
important agent in the work of the
fredericksburg of England. 1t is a
great grief to us that we should be
considered by all those of the Roman
obedience as merely Protestant sect,
with no aspirations after the Catholic
Ideal, and no love for Historic Chris
tianity Is it right that such miscon-
ception should be endorsed and fos-
tered by those whose learning should
make them better judges of true re-
ligion? l think that a great many
Roman Catholics in England would be
willing to confess that amongst the
English Protestant sects the Anglican
Church stands alone If they do not
grant this l cannot but think that they
must be ignorant of the great progress
which we have made during the last
half-century.
PROGRESS in Anglican Church.
The condition of the Anglican
Church during the eighteenth and
early nineteenth centuries, with it's
utter lack of spirituality, it's indiffer-
ent clergy, and it's irreligious adj
herents, was deplorable, but 1t no
longer obtains.
Ever since the Oxford Movement OF
1910 there has been a steady trend IN
the direction of Catholicism, or, as our
enemies term it, "Romewards.' In
hundreds of churches the Holy Eu-
charist with Catholic ceremonial has
become the principal Sunday service.
This custom has obtained in over 24O
churches in London alone. Fasting
Communion is taught, and Facilitated
by early celebration for those wishing
to make their Communion. All this is
accompanied by sound teaching on the
Real Objective Presence, and the
Eucharistic Sacrifice. Such books as
DR.. Cores Body of Christ" and DR..
Stones History of the Doctrine OF the
Holy Eucharist" which have by their
own intrinsic merits won their way
into Roman Catholic circles, are no
exaggeration of the views held and
expressed by many devout Anglicans
on the Blessed Eucharist. One more
point: The Practice of Confession
is spreading rapidly, and there are few
districts indeed where there is not an
Anglican priest willing and anxious to
hear the confession of the pen1tent.
This is not generally known because
of all Catholic practices the one most
hateful to the average Protestant is
Confession, so that even Anglo-Catho-
lies do not speak of it much except to
one another. This steady trend is OBJ
vious to friends and foes alike, and
the latter have formed societies fol-
the express purpose of molesting
Anglican Catholics.
Views of Many AngIicans.
May l be allowed to express my view
of the present situation? l would not
dare to do so were l not sure that
am voicing the opinion of many of my
co-religionists who, like myself, are
longing for a reconciliation with
Rome. l believe that the full Catholic
Faith is that taught by the Roman
Church, but after a careful study OF
the history of my own Church l can
not believe that she in any way for
feited her privileges at the Reforma
ton to the extent represented by hel
opponents. She took great care to
maintain the hierarchy intact, and she
preserved at least the two Sacraments
of the Gospel, though, under the 1nt1u
ence of foreign Protestants, she die
for the time being give deh
nitely un-Catholic Interpretation tt
hem. Still these ordinances remained
and the unworthiness of their minis
tiers did not detract from the grace
which is conveyed lex opere operate
Thus the forms remained. 1t only
needed a sufficient body of opinion tt
re-introduce the Catholic interpreta
ton of them. That opinion is nov
prevalent, and the Old Faith is re
turning to England.
How to Unite.
Meanwhile there are thousands o
Anglicans-cler and laity-who ar,
living lives OF truly Catholic devotion
with all the aids to devout life which
the Church supplies, but who, in spit
of their affinity with modern Roman
Catholicism, would be the last to dc
sert the Church of England in he
hour of need. Individual conversion
to Rome can only hinder the genera
conversion, and one Anglican Catholic
who means so much to us, can max
very little difference to the Roma
Catholic millions throughout tn
world. The present disunion OF Chris
endom is impossible as permanen
state; we must believe that Protes
ant Christianity is but temporar
measure designed by the God OF a
Christians, which has served and col
tinues to serve to stimulate Cathol
cism.
One more point. Is it not probabl
that the whole of the Anglican Churc
will be more easily won for CATH
licism by the lifelong exertions OF ne
own members than by the exertion
of those who stand outside her an
feel no sympathy for her in nc
struggle?