Errors as to Confession.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 257, 30 October 1877, Page 6

Errors as to Confession.

The mind of England is now greatly exercised about a manual put forth for the purpose of aiding the practice of confession, and guiding those who are undertaking it. I cannot share in such surprise. The very passage I considered it ray duty to point out as objectionable, when invited to speak at the Bath Congress in 1873 on the provision made by the Church for the younger members, and which drew forth much noisy opposition from the adherents of confession in that tumultuous gathering, is the very one which was singled out by the Primate in Convocation as most erroneous and dangerous, a sentiment such as should disqualify a man from being a clergyman of a of the Church. I cannot, therefore, sympathise in the expression of surprise which have proceeded from some occupying high positions in the Church in England as to the existence of such false teaching. If confession be advocated and practiced, it musfc be treated like every other function, scientifically, and such a treatise is the proper and suitable accompaniment and guide to an operation so beset with difficulty to both operator and patient, namely, auricular confession. The Church in view of attendance at the Holy Communion and in cases of serious illness allows, nay encourages persons to open their grief and perplexity, from whatever cause, to a discreet and learned Minister of God's Word, that by the ministry of that Word he may obtain the benefit of absolution, but it regards these cases as the exceptions — only to be resorted to in the case of sin, after forsaking this sin, and making restitution of what has been wroug so far- as is possible, and yet still failing to quiet the conscience. But the Church in an authoritative homily also emphatically directs for the future that no one shall bo bound to the numbering of his sins as in times past. I believe the introduction of auricular confession to a priest would altogether l'evolutionize and ruin the character of our Church, it would in the end diminish under cloak of temporarily increasing the sense of moral responsibility and rectitude, which has been developed, it would, quite unintentionally I believe, suggest more evil than it would remove, neither would it land us any nearer to clearness of conscience, for as those who act as confessors show no miraculous credentials of their power, so ultimately in both cases, tho quieting of the conscience is the result of faith and trust.