THE PRIEST IN ABSOLUTION.

Evening Post, Volume XV, Issue 211, 8 September 1877, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE PRIEST IN ABSOLUTION.

In the House of Lords on June 14th the Earl of Redesville called the attention of the House to a book entitled " The Priest in Absolution," privately printed, and at the disposal of an association of clergymen called the Society of the Holy Cross, for private and limited circulation among the clergy. The book in question, he said, had been placed in his hands a short time since, aud there was ia it that which deserved the serious consideration of all who were interested in the Church of England. The book was, he believed, compiled and printed by a gentleman now dead. The copyright of it was purchased from his widow by the members of the Society of the Holy Cross, which, he was imformed, was a body constituted by well-known and excellent men, but who certainly entertained very peculiar views on certain subjects. The master of the society was, he believed, Mr. Makonochie, and Mr. Tooth was a member of it. It would seem as if even the society itself attached to the book a degree of suspicion, for in the preface there was the statement that it was. to be confined to the clergy. He also had a copy of a letter sent to a clergyman who had applied for a book, and the answer was this, "I am unable to comply with your request without a reference to some well-known priest of your faith." Contrary to the doctrine of the Church of England, the bo:>k set out that there was no resource for the spiritually sick save in confession and absolution; and that to make the confession effectual it is also necessary that the penitent should be examined at the discretion of the clergy. It further set out in what way the examination was to be carried on, adding that the priest must be careful not to be reserved in this questions, lest he risked thereby the loss of a good deal of good. Children who might be examined even while as young as six or seven years of ago, were to have certain questions put to them, and so also with adults, married or single. The noble Earl quoted several passages from the book in illustration of the suggested questions, which were unfit for publication, and observed that it enjoined the priest to discourage parents from using the words " My dear son," when speaking to a son, or " My dear child," when speaking to a child, such phases being calculated to excite sensual love and affection. He thought it was advisable that all families who were more or less under the influence of the clergy, and who desired to have these examinations, should be made aware of the danger which such examinations involved. The book further recommended that the penitentßhouldseek the "intercession of the Virgin Mary, " and another book, the Priest at Prayer," which had been sent to him since he had given notice of lm motion, contained a form for the visitation of the sick wholly contrary to and in violation of that prescribed by the rubric. The priest was to take with him the " reserved Sacrament," and, presenting it to the sick person, should say, "Behold the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world," and then, kneeling down, Bhould say, "Lord, I am not worthy that'TKou shouldst enter under my roof; say but the word and my soul shall be healed." It was impossible not to see that these devices were tending in a certain direction, and that they well deserved the serious attention of the authorities of the Church. The Archbishop of Canterbury observed that it was only lately that the firstnamed work had been brought under his notice. He did not hesitate to say that no modest person could read it without a blush, and that it was a disgrace to the community that such a work should be circulated with the authority of any body of clergymen. He deeply regretted the circulation of such books, which were calculated to destroy the influence, in families of the clergy of the Church whose interest they desired to foster. After some remarks condemnatory of the work from the Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol and Lord Oranmore and Browne, the Earl of Harrowby declared that iv his opinion the heads of families took upon themselves a very serious responsibility in allowing clergymen entertaining such opinions as were contained in these books to enter their doors. The subject then dropped.