RITUAL CONTROVERSY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1171, 5 July 1911, Page 4

RITUAL CONTROVERSY.

. —4_ A CHPvISTCHUKCH MEMORIAL, REPLY BY BISHOP JULIUS. The ritual in use at the Church of St. Michael -and . All- Angels, Cliristchurch, has been a buruing question in Anglican circles for some months past. Ono result has been to cause certain members to withdraw from the Church, but, on the other hand, the great popularity of the Kev. H. D. Burton, and his ability as a preacher, have had the effect of gathering round him a large number of friends. The church is regularly filled by largo congregations, such as aro seldom seen in these non-church-going days. A memorial, signed by SCO members of tho Church of England, has been presented to the Bishop. It states: "Kitnalistic, practice.;, which are obnoxious to us, and to a great many other members of our Church, have been introduced into at least one parish in the diocese, and from what we have learned wo are afraid that such practices aro likely to be introduced. into other parishes. We might mention such things as the wearing of mass vestments and

the use of wafers, the elevation and adoration of the eloineiits, prostrations, etc., which practices are inseparably bound up with doctrinal teaching which, in our opinion, is not' in accordance with tho

Book of Common Prayer. It, , is admitted that tho introduction of tho practices complained of has caused, some distress in the parish of St. Michael and All

Angels, driven some of the oldest ■ parishioners from the church, and given rise to a feeling of uneasiness in tho niinds of many of the faithful laity in

the diocese. , Wo venture to address your lordship in the kindest and most Christian' spirit, appealing to you* to take whatever action you may deem necessary in order that, the practices complained of may bo discontinued." . . :

Bishop Julius has replied to tho follow, ing-effect:— ' ,

; "I recognise with pleasure tho moderate tono of.the memorial, and tho desire expresse'cj,.;to/avo'id, .strife-'and division injurious-', to' the Church. In dnswer to tho memorial, I b?g to say.(l)' that it will be my earliest.endeavour, in accordance with, the duties of my, office, to , secure such'general'obedience -to tho law of tie Church and the formularies of

the Book of Common Prayer as may be possible under altered conditions of time and circumstances; (2) that the rubrics of the Book of Common Prayer allow, and were intended to allow, a wide divergence of ritual, and that I am not aware of any ritualistic practice in tho Church of St. Michael and All Angels, Chnstchurcli, contrary 'to a reasonable and lawful interpretation of the same; (3) that in view of a more fitting opportunity I do not propose, to , dscuss such a-dif-ficult subject at tho present- .time; (J) that in regard to the reference made in the memorial to the parish of St. Michael and All Aneels, I think it siguificant that neither the outgoing nor present churchwardens havo signed tho memorial and that it is not signed by more than three members of the late vestry, and ono of the present; (5) that.while I am in no way prepared to.demand an undue deference'on the part of the clergy to local custom, as distinct from the wider law of the Church, I deprecate the introduction at any time of a ritnal to which tho people are not accustomed, without careful teaching and preparation, and the most, kindly consideration of tho habits of worship and the prejudices and convictions of such parishioners as are unable to understand, enjoy, or accept it Pue.h changes are most of all 'to be avoided in country districts, where-the people havo no alternative of worship." , The Bishop subsequently stated that he intent led to deal with the subject of the nw of the Church in regard to ritual in his address to his Diocesan Svnod m September.

Before a very krffo congregation at St. JUehaol s on Sunday Hie Rev! H. D Bur ton preached an impressive sermon on Christ s perfect charity to all ften, an ticidenlally mentioned Hint whatever happened to him or his work in that parthey had done. Sunday after Sunday, by t>cir presence in such great numbers, but also by no ,ye co-operation- in- the" work of the parish With their help and by fiods grace, ho would,, before a venp elapsMl light such a flame in thatVri"h and city that would never go out mtiio h* 'nW°' PreSCat " that «* u «*