PROGRESS OF RITUALISM IN ENGLAND.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 53, 13 February 1869, Page 3

PROGRESS OF RITUALISM IN ENGLAND.

The " G-uardian " describes the ceremonial of laying the foundation stone of the new chapel connected with Mr. Woodard's Middle Class Schools at Lancing last week,: — " On Monday evening the venerable Bishop of Chichestcr took up his abode in the rooms set apart for him as Visitor of the College. A very magnificent banner — the most magnificent in England, we are assured — had been worked for Lancing School. The figures of the Blessed Virgin and St. Nicholas are very exquisite, and the whole tone of the work most rich and grand. . This was the gift and work of a lady whose good deeds are well known in Brighton. There was also a very beautiful cross in oak and ebony, set with crystals, and enriched in the arms with gold and silver work. This was' carried before the Provost. At about a quarter before twelve, all being assembled, the procession began. No one who did not witnes3 it can weil imagine how very striking it was to bystanders. All who did not take part in it had already been banished from the quadrangle, and had taken up their position in the lower ground. And as the seven hundred boys descended the steps, whilst a gradually increasing array of surplices followed them, singing the Alleluiatic Sequence, till nearly three hundred white-robed choristers had wound their way to the north-eastern corner of the future chapel, accompanied by the various banners, and followed by th.eßisb.ops of Dunedin, Honolulu, and Oxford, with their pastoral staves, with the Metropolitan of South Africa having his crosier borne before him, till the whole line was closed by the Bishop of the Diocese, sheltered by a canopy borne over him by Oxford and Cambridge old Lancing boys, and followed by a large number of his clergy, many hearts amongst the three thousand spectators beat very hard, and many eyes filled with tears of gratitude and joy at the glorious sight, telling aa it did of good battles fought, of prejudices overcome, of hearts knit together, of well-learned lessons of devotion, self-denial, and love. Such a sight has not, we fully believe, bean seen in England since the Reformation.'' One very remarkable point we must not omit to mention. The Dean and Chapter of Chichestor took part in the procession, not as individuals, but in their corporate capacity. No comment is needed on the importance of this fact. The whole effect of the procession was grand in the extreme. The stone bore an inscription — " Ad G-loriam Sempiternam SS. et Individuss Trinitatis, et in Honorem Beatse Marise Virginia tes Tkeotokou et Sancti Nicolia Episcopi et confessoris," &c. "To the perpetual glory of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, in honour of the blessed Virgin and Maty the Mother 6f (rod, and the Holy Nicolas Bishop- and Confessor,"