RITUALISTIC PRACTICES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 111, 1 July 1911, Page 5

RITUALISTIC PRACTICES.

BISHOP JULIUS MEMORIALISED (Per Press Association.) Wellington, Juno 30. Eight hundred and sixty morn hers of tiie Church of England in this province have memorialised Bishop Julius against ritualistic practices alleged to bo indulged in at St. Michael's, including the wearing of mass vestments, the use of wafers, the elevation and adoration of tnc elements and prostrations. They stated that 34 years ago a clergyman of this diocese was tried by the bishops for smaller practices and relieved of !iU cure. Bishop Julius has replied. ‘Tt will be my earnest endeavour to secure such general obedience to the law of the church and the formularies of the Book of Common Prayer as may oe possible under the altered time and circumstances. Rubrics of the Book of Common Prayer allow wide divergence in ritual, and I am not aware of any ritualistic practices in St. Michael’s Church contrary to a reasonable and lawful interpretation of the same.” j The Bishop adds that while he is in no way prepared to demand undue deference on the part of the clergy to local custom, he deprecates the introduction of a ritual to which the people arc not accustomed. Bishop Julius declines to discuss the subject of ritual at present, but will do so when the Diocesan Synod meets in September.