THE ENGLISH RITUALISTS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XIII, Issue 1017, 22 April 1869, Page 2

THE ENGLISH RITUALISTS.

The late Mackonochie judgment seems likely to cause a disruption in the Church of England. The Ritualists are not disposed to obey it, and they threaten openly that if the law is to force upou them such judgment they will cut loose from the State. There wa3 lately a great meeting in London—presided over by Archdeacon Denison—at which resolutions in reference to the late judgment of the Judicial Committee were proposed, and discussed during several hours. Tlie most important qf these resolutions denied the authority of the J udical Committee as a court of final appeal in Church matters, but advised that when the judgment was officially promulgated it should be submitted to. The meeting cut out the latter clause, and agreed to the former ; so that virtually the authority of the Judicial Committee is denied. All the speakers insisted that the doctrine of the “real presence” was held by the Church of England, and it was because it aimed a blow at this doctrine that the judgment was condemned. At another meeting, the question of this judgment of the Judicial Committee was discussed. It was apparently the intention of those at whose instance the meeting was called to elicit some decided opinion as to the manner in which the judgment should be received. No such opinion, however, was expressed—the only approach to it being that it would probably be advisable for every clergyman to coutinue his ritualistic practices until he was served with a monition from a spiritual authority. The tone of the meeting was determined enough on the question of what should be done in case a decision were given against the Rev. Mr Bennett, of Frome, in the suit now pending. That suit raises the question whether the doctrine of the Real Presence is held by the Church of England. Mr Bennett teaches that doctrine ; and there was a unanimous declaration that if the Judicial Committee decide against him the High Church clergy must secede from the Establishment.