ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3136, 16 July 1881, Page 2

ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

[To THE EDITOE OP THE DAILY T_T_tGßi__.3 Sir, —The opponents of a decently 3onducted form of worship are trying to make it appear that their chief " stone of stumbling and rock of offence " is the proposal to clothe the choir in surplices. To me it appears that the real cause of discontent is the reasonable suggestion that the congregation should rise at the entry of the officiating priest and choir. I see nothing wrong in this, but rather the reverse. If the objectors have ever been in the Supreme Court they must have seen the whole court respectfully rise when the judge and his secretary enter to take their seats. This is a practice intended to show the great respect all persons ought to have for the majesty of the Law as represented in the persona of the judge and his assistants; and ia like manner the congregation ought to rise in deference to the high and divine mysteries which centre in the office of the priesthood, and invest the ministrations of him who stands up in his place to intercede for the congregation with solemn awe and reverence. It is very sad that, while a howling horde of sceptics outside the pale of the Church are assaulting its impregnable defences, and sneeringly asking for proofs of the holy and divine mirsion of its ordained and spiritually taught ministers, a few Low Churchmen should create intestine warfare by illogical objections to the forms of a true ritual of worship.—l am, &c, Eccxesiasticus. July 16, 1881.