ARCHDEACON FARRAR ON "CEREMONIALISM."

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7800, 20 November 1886, Page 2 (Supplement)

ARCHDEACON FARRAR ON "CEREMONIALISM."

Archdeacon Farrar recently preached to an immense congregation, at St. Margaret's, Westminster, from the text, " My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, would'st thou not have done it? How mucb rather, then, when he sayeth to thee, Wash, and be clean?" Towards the close of his sermon he observed that the essence of Christianity was its simplicity. We had a simple service of prayer and praise, simple sacraments with simple symbols, and simple belief in the Apostle's Creed, which for all practical purposes of salvation the way-* taring man, though a fool, could understand. Our first duty was to know what was true of God, and the next to express it in our lives. Subscription to certain formulas and frequent attendance at this or that service was superfluous where men led good lives; and unless they did so all else was vain. From the time of St. Paul it was deplorable to trace in the history of the Church how the simple faith had been overridden with dogma, though the truth has never been lost, and for a moment the world would occasionally have a glimpse of the other true foundation, all the huge superstructure spoken of as Catholic doctrines and ordinances being scattered into ashes. When we look back on the monkery, Mariolatry, the confessional, and sacerdotalism in general, the racks, stakes, and dungeons claimed to be used in the interest of religion, one could not bat exclaim, "Oh, religion, what cruelties have been committed in thy name !" However much Christianity might have been misinterpreted, neglected as futile, or despised as frivolous, no Atheist, Socialist, or infidel who had received religion in Gods way, however much he may have desired to be relieved from the clamour of contending sects, or despised the absorption of a useful life in the strenuous . idleness of a petty ceremonialism, could hate what Christ had taught and practised. He repudiatad the idea that the sealing of a man's repentance could depend on the absolution of the priest, or his penances and regulations. The Church was nothing in comparison with Christ ; and it was easier for those who believed in ceremonialism to be the devotees of priests, to perpetually cross themselves, and to go to six or seven services a day than to give their hearts to God, and live soberly, righteously, and godly. The Holy Communion was not a material miracle to be gloated upon, nor was an iron network of mechanical observances imposed by an arrogant hierarchy the way to obtain God's favour. His foundation standeth sure. "The Lord knoweth them that are His," and " Let everyone that naineth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." He concluded by further contrasting Christ's simplicity with man's inventions, and implored hearers not to put the Church in place of Christ, not to confess their sins to a person calling himself a priest, nor to believe that Christianity cousisted in fasts, oblations, and a long round of daily services and endless repetitions.