A New Ritualist Guide-book-

Press, Volume XIV, Issue 1886, 1 May 1869, Page 3

A New Ritualist Guide-book-

A good many people Kave Heard of tne story of an ardent young Puseyite of the early days' of Puseyism, who went down upon his knees before his bishop and entreated the episcopal blessing. "Godbless my soul!" exclaimed the "astonished prelate: " who am I, a miserable sinner, that I should give a blessing to any one ?" It is gratifying to learn, as we do from a very advanced "religious" newspaper, that for the future no English bishop need be disv turbed by the want of a formula ap--1 propsiate to the most startling occasions. Mr Walker has published a book, called "The Services of the Church," in which he kindly comes to t&e aid of the bench, by suggesting to tfiem a variety of "Episcopal Benedictions" for their use when called 1 upon. We are not in a position tb .; : state whether those " benedictions >' have beea 4e«gned byj&fi; Walker

with any special reference to the varieties of religious opinion cherished by the several members of the Anglican episcopate. Still it may be hoped that, for the present, the supply will be found equal to the demand. In other necessaries for episcopal and sacerdotal use, it appears that Mr Walker's volume abounds. There are innumerable "introits, graduals, and tracts ;" and, which is doubtless an important thing, the " cautels" are given at the end of the communion oflPce. Also, bishops are instructed how to bless plate and vestments, and to consecrate " oil and chrism ;" also — but we are ignorant whether these are strictly episcopal functions —how to bless " candles, ashes, and palms." Further, we are presented with a rubric, invented, it seems, by a Greek archbishop of Canterbury, one Theodore of Tarsus, which it is supposed must convince the most timid of Puseyites. Again, such persons as do not practice fasting are confronted with such overwhelming authorities as the Penitential of Archbishop Egbert, the Capitula of Archbishop Theodore, and the canons of a national council under King Edgar, before which even the most unwilling must yield, even though ! the whole of the living convocation of bishops, deans, and proctors unhappily take the opposite side. But, in all seriousness, what a hollow sham is all this begging, borrowing, and stealing of rules and ceremonies from an extinct past! Are we really asked to believe that the English bench is on the look out for forms of words to help them in reviving all these long-forgotten "blessings " and " consecrations ?" If the whole thing is not of the nature of a prodigious jest, what is it ? —" Pall Mall Gazette."