RITUALISM.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 849, 7 June 1910, Page 3

RITUALISM.

Sydney, June 6. There was an extraordinary scene at St. James’ Church tonight, when the Primate attended to declare against the use of certain vestments. Huge crowds sought admission, the police regulating them, but only ticket holders were let in.

The Primate explained his reasons for forbidding the use of vestments. Such use was contrary to the constitution of the Church, and it was not too much to ask them to keep within the widely-extended variety of ceremonial that was possible under the constitution.

[The dispute at St. James’ Church as to the use of vestments is the subject of many letters pro and con in the Sydney press. Here is a sample of the antivestments arguments :—There can be no possible doubt that, whatever may be said to the contrary, .these vestments are intended to teach Roman Catholic doctrine, viz., that the priest professes to offer the propitiatory sacrifice of the Mass upon the altar, just as is done in Roman Catholic churches. The chasuble, alb, stole, are all vestments of the Church of Rome, and are worn by the priest at the altar. This is intended to be taught by ritualists, one of whom said it is time for us to use the word transubstantiatiou with regard to the elements. This is contrary to the teaching of the Reformation, which abolished vestments and altars so that our Church might forever be free from such erroneous teaching. The prayer book says the Holy Communion is the “ remembrance ” of a sacrifice —not the sacrifice itself. The use of the Mass vestments brings with it innumerable other services, such as auricular confession, prayers to the Virgin Mary, prayers for the dead, etc., all of which observances have been carefully banished from our prayer book. It is to be hoped that these pre-reformation practices will never be tolerated in our Church.]