CORRESPONDENCE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1407, 15 November 1886, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed bv our correspondent . THE REREDGS CONTROVERSY. TO THE EWTOB. Sir, —There will not be perfect unanimity of opinion regarding the introduction of the roredos into St Andrew’* Cathedral, Sydney, which you noticed approvingly the other evening in a leading article. That opinion is divided in the Episcopalian community in Sydney itself is evident from the respectful protest addressed by the Church of England Association to the chapter of St Andrew's Cathedral. The action in Sydney corresponds with that which recently took place in Loudon, in the attempt made to erect such a reredos in St Paul’s, and the opposition of the intelligent members of the English Church to such a retrograde movement. What has doubtless assisted to create alarm among the enlightened portion of the Episcopalian community is the example shown by Christ Church, Sydney. There crucifixes abound; an illuminated crucifix is suspended fr. m the ceiling, and another placed at the rear of the “ altar,” to which the choristers bow on entering the church ; and where the clergymen and worshippers “ cross themselves ” at certain passages in the service. While some regard the reredos as the introduction of harmless ornaments, others consider that all such things mark the decadence of spiritual service, and the entrance of sensuous worship and meaningless mummery. Many will join in the hope that the intelligence of the Bishop, or rather of the Bench of Bishops to whom the question has been referred, will lead to a favourable hearing of the temperate protest laid before them, and the conservation of the peace of the church. —I am, <&o , Veritas. Ashburton, November 13 [With Veritas” we would dra v the line, though not at ornamentation, as such, but at the manifestation of a’superstitious reverence for mere symbols.— Ed.J TO THE EDITOR. Sir,- Permit me a few words o* comment on yonr Wednesday’s article re Church decoration. Let us first enquire, What is the » harch? In the Old Testament we have the deaoripti n of a magnificent fabric, raised to the glory of the God of Israel, and In which for a time He condescended to dwtll in a visible p esence. Bu f , we are t >!d, this grand tetnp'o with its grand service only foreshadowed and pointed to the coming of the Messiah, their king and ou s, and I need ask no reader of the New Testament what befol that temple on the offering up of the Prince of Peace. For the rise of the visible Church I would refer your readers to the Acta of the Ap ratios ; for the materials of Its composition and the g aces of Its adornment to the Epistles of Peter, more especially the second c> apter of the First and the first chapter of the Second Epistle. So wherever Christians worship their God thera can be no temple, but a place of meeting which can never be ti e Church. Hence those who protest against carving, painting and instrumental music, do so from a sound principle, since these things and the structures in which they are not only sot up but also worshipped shall be swept awvy. Pur the mouth of the prophet has said—“ The idols Be will utterly abolish.” Shall we then leave the Church “bare and barnlike, conspicuous only by Its og inese ? " No. Before every member stands forth the example of the Great Head. He went about doing good he not only had compassi-.n on, but fed the multitude, a< d He looked on sorrow and suffering only to relieve them. While destitute n Is rife in town and country, while vice, too often the effipring of poverty, is rampant, mu. h need has the Daughter of Sion to arise and shake herself from the dust. Defend the poor and fatherless, deliver the poor and needy, let the blessings of Him th t Is ready to perish come upon thee, apd as our Gisai Head has le t us an example of fellowship and service, let us copy it. Over the altar on Which was offered the Lamb slain from the foundati ns of the world let, ns set np onr emblem* of Hope, Faith and Charity, then shall the Church be adorned in a manner pleasing to God and man. Yours, etc., Reflection. [Our correspondent’s sentime. ts are admirable, but his argument is faulty. Holy Writ contains no single instance of the coudemnut’on by the Great Exemplar of the ornamentation of the edifices raised for the worship of ' od ; though undoubtedly Christ taught that the individual Christian, as well as the Church collectively, adorned by the graces of religion, is a nobler, and in God’s sight more beautiful, temple than any that can be made with hands. Cleatly the Christian’s first duties are those eloquently indicated by ■* Reflection,” but it by no means follows that having discharged these he has d ne all. c.urely while inward beauty, th.e bpapty of holiness, is well-pleasing to t e e>e Divine, the outward beauty of Church architecture, the public dedication to God of the noblest efforts of human ait, cannot be displeasing to Him who has filled all the universe with a wealth of loveliness, who decks (he very lilies of the field in a glory that outrivals the glory of Solomon, who has sown the heavens with stars, and fills the ocean with marvels of beauty And if “ Reflection” would set up over the altar an “ emblem of raith, Hope, and Charity,” where will he find so fitting a one as the Cross, which is the emblem of that noble religion whose three cardinal graces are those he names ?—; d.]