RITUALISM IN ST. MARY'S.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9087, 22 June 1888, Page 3

RITUALISM IN ST. MARY'S.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—Notwithstanding all that has been written and said about innovations, crosses, etc., of late, the offensiveness appears to be on the increase, clearly convincing me that words of warning are treated with" silent contempt. St. Mary's pro - cathedral, Parnell, exhibited on Sunday last the latest newfangledness. On the last sound of the bell a door opens, twenty to thirty little boys emerge from the vestry, clothed in acolytish costumes, walking two deep, eyes front, advance to their seats in the choir, followed by the cleryman and adult choristers, the congregation all, except a few, standing erect during this rank and file display. Will you believe it, sir? yeb so it was, the same congregation, strange to say, all sit down during the singing of an anthem from the Bible. The same rank and file takes place after the service, when all strangers were specially requested to keep their seats so as. I presume, not to mar the effect. There we had before our orthodox eyes a huge green and white cross over the communion table a Iα Dudley, and the usual salutation to this vulgar imitation of our Bletsed Lord's cross. Let me do the incumbenb the justice to say that on Sunday evening he essayed to explain the absurd (in our latitude and longitude) Eastern bowing, viz., that "in like manner ah Our Lord left so should Hβ return ;" the text speaks clearly of the manner of His departure, not the direction He is to come in. If the vestry and churchwardens of St. Mary's desire peace in the congregation, they will at once call a special meeting of the uommunicants of the parish, and decide whether these innovations are agreeable to them or otherwise, then those who may feel aggrieved cannot} blame the clergyman if half the communicants secede and form a pure Evangelical Church. The Ritualistic movement has single-handed drawn hundreds to the Church of Rome. Show me one Evangelical, or (if "Churchman " will) Low Churchman who has gone to Rome ? Small beginnings have large endings. Stop the small absurdities and the end is accounted for; only ib ought and should be done in time or our assemblies must be forced to act. I am, &c, Jkhovah-shalom.