TRENDING TOWARD CATHOLICISM.
Mr. Kensit, a citizen of London, England, has presented a petition to the House of Convocation, which is a protest against increasing ritualism in the Church of England contrary to civil law. Among the illegal ornaments and practises in use are the following, which we take from The Examiner (Baptist), of October 14:— “Unlawful ornaments of the minister: (1) The alb; (2) the biretta; (3) the chasuble; (4) the cope; (5) the dalmatic; (6) the tunic or tunicle; (7) the maniple. Unlawful ornaments of the church: (8) A baldacchino; (9) lighted candles when not required for giving light; (10) a stone altar; (11) a cross on or over or in apparent connection with the communion table; (12) a crucifix; (13) stations of the cross. Unlawful ceremonies: (14) Bowing down before or addressing worship to the consecrated elements; (15) the attendance of acolytes; (16) tolling of bell at consecration; (17) making the sign of the cross over the people; (18) hiding the manual acts; (19) elevation of the elements; (20) the use of incense; (21) the ceremonial mixing of water with the wine during divine service; (22) the use of wafers in lieu of bread usual to be eaten.” The reader may look up the meaning of some of these unfamiliar terms if he wishes to learn the foibles of this idolatrous devotion to priestly millinery—we have not space now to define them. These illegal practises have grown marvelously, we are told, in the last fifteen years. “Thus the use of vestments has increased from 336 cases in 1882 to 1,632 in 1897; the use of incense, from 9 cases to 307; that of altar lights, from 581 cases to 3,568; and the ‘hiding of manual acts,’ from 1,662 cases to 5,964.” Archbishop Taylor in a recent sermon at Liverpool tells us that 12,000 of the Anglican clergy are in sympathy with the ritualistic movement, and intimates that their success “means the reversal of the Reformation.” All of which points significantly to the trend towards Romanism. Many of what would be called in England the non-conformist churches in both that country and this, are multiplying rites and ceremonies, especially as regards “church days,” and thus show decided advance toward “Broad Church ritualism;” “Broad Churchism” is becoming “High Churchism,” and “High Churchism” is growing more and more ritualistic and Roman Catholic. The end is foretold in the Word of God. Rev. 17:8. But how manifest in all this is the folly of State control in religious matters!