CHURCH PRACTICES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XII, Issue 1722, 1 June 1886, Page 2

CHURCH PRACTICES.

(TO THE EDITOR DAILY STANDARD.) . . Sir, — Your columns are hardly tho ' place for discussing religious matters, bat I cannot allow Mr 1 .Onseley's letter to pass without comment. I give him credit for the courage of his opinions, and believe he is sincere m thinking that he honours God by the post firing he practices m Church. Mr Ouseley charges with ignorance all churchiuon [ who tuke offence at these doings ot his. I think the ignorauce rt-sts rather with i him and with those who uphold and countenance such antics. I, as a c'nnrchriian r and I think I represent as large a 1 section of the Anglican Church as he does,) camiot accept Mr Ouseley's interpretation of the doctrines of the Church of England. There is no altar (m its. true meaniu?), m tbe church ; no sacrifice is over offered there (a sacrifice was offered once and for all nearly nineteen hundred years ago;) neither is [Christ "personally" present m any particular part of the church building. We read that 4 ' where two or three aro gathered together m My name there am lin the midst of them." Mr Ouse.lev | will say that this must be taken literally; but, if so, the 'midat' of the congreI gntion cannot irießn fit one end of the i church, so that Mr Oueley, when he I nows to the "altar, " actually turns his back on the 'Presence,' a very dreadful thing to do from his point of view. These mummeries such ns Mr Ouseley | indulges m,- and other doings and doc-- ; trines of a like nature, and little short of idolatrous, may have the effect sometimes of " leading captive silly women* iv to a closer attendance to the ourward | forms, and a blind dependence on them, i but on the other hand they are the very f best moans .. possible for filling tho | Lyceum. — I am, *tc, Churchman. Palmerston North, Ma.y 31.