The Central Glamorgan Gazette, and General, Commercial, and Agricultural Advertiser. — 1876-01-28 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

HIGH CHURCHMEN AND ROME. PROPOSED SECESSION FROM THE  CHURCH OF ENGLAND.  A London correspondent writing on the 24th says The alleged conspiracy within the Church of England has this basis et fact. Several members of the High Ritualist party had a private conference recently with certain representatives of the Church of Rome in this country, in order to ascertain the conditions on which the would-be seceders would be recognised by the Pope, as their chief bishop, in case they set up an independent Catholic branch of the Anglican Church. The =pored-, bility of joining the Roman Church in a body was recognised on both sides, and while the object of the High Ritualists was to obtain smne practicable terms of recognition as a branch of the Catholic Church, the policy of those Romanists whom they consulted appeared to be an encouragement to individual Ritualists to "coma out," without any distinct assurance that on the proposed conditions the Pope would consent to "take them in." The result of this "intrigue" was that, ending themselves between two stools, they were practically nonplussed. Before giving up the idea of forming an independent Episcopal Church, on " Catholic" principles, three bishops, who were supposed to sympathise most with the Ritualists, were solicited to join the seceders in joining their separate church. These prelates refused to head the rebellion, which seemed for the time at an end, yet, as most of these disobedient clerics are still within the Establishment, they cannot be expected to sit down contented while being prosecuted one by one under the new law, and fresh attempts at a schism may be looked for, giving rise to occasional " mysterious announcements," such as that put forth on Saturday. If Lord Penzance's judgments in the pending cases go severely against the Ritualists, they may be compelled to eat the Gordian knot by open secession.  In reference to the rumoured probable seeessM, the London correspondent of the 3fanchester GWardian writes as follows :—I am informed that what this means is this: Some of the ritualistic clergy have been speculating as to what they should do now that their bishops have, in their opinion, committed suicide by accepting the Public Worship Regulation Act. I only use their own language, and I refrain from quoting their strongest phrases, when I my they regard the Roman Church with veneration and have no doubt as to her divine authority; that they look upon their own bishops with detestation, and speak of them as "traitorous Erastians " and as "cowardly, mendacious, and guilty prelates." To remain longer under the rule of such bishops, they say, is intolerable, but if they secede to whom shall they go? To Rome, of course; but shall they leave their people behind them, or can they manage to obtain such terms from Rome as will enable them to take their people with them? Then there is the question of their wives. The Roman clergy are celibates; many of the Ritualists are married men. How is this difficulty to be avoided The result of these sombre speculations has been the drawing up of a proposition or a petition which has been or is to be submitted to the Pope. This document proposes driving a bargain. These Ritualists believe they are priests validly ordained; but the Roman Church considers there have been no valid ordinations in the Chureh of England wince the days of Oranmer. The memorialist*, therefore, offer to be re-ordained pro eon,/ dione, just as one is baptised conditionally when there is a doubt as to the fact or the validity of hie former baptism. Then some of them have wive*, built is argued that the celibacy of the priesthood is only a matter of discipline. The Pope, having " the keys," can grant a diepensa, ion • which will permit this irregularity, and it can be understood that, while the married priests shall be allowed to continue in their office, no married man shall hereafter be ordained. Thirdly, for t. peoples sake the use of the Prayer-book in English shai. continued, and only the Communion Se-vice, or peril.. • not e.,en that, shall be sail in Latin. If the Pope .II sonsent to th'se conditions, they will come out from 'he Establishment '' with their people," and set up a • .7..TAiat Church," like that of the Marmite or Armens:, acknowledging the Pope AS their chief bishop, accept:: - and teaching" all that the Holy Roman Catholic Chur...h believes and ti:aches," Including the dogmas defined o ,the Vatican Council, and differing only from the 'tom:- :Catholics in retaining a national independence. I an..lven to understand by those who ought to know that thc. 1, uot the *lightest probability of the Pope's acceptruicc^4 , this offer. The" intrigue" will probably result in nottu, but the mortification r,f those engaged in it. The number of Anglican clergymeu eugs;ed in the "Intrigue" has been stated to me, but. MI I imagine the names of some gentlemen have been added to the list without their sanction, I refrain from giving the figures.