THE ATHANASIAN CREED.

Tuapeka Times, Volume 22, Issue 277, 22 May 1873, Page 6

THE ATHANASIAN CREED.

We have not yet heard the last of the Athanasian Creed The controversy on. tho subject has toon going on in various forms, but only to bring ov.t more emphatically tho resolution of the High Church party not to part with this highlyseasoned formula Even Canon McNeill has succumbed — arguing that the Creed is after all a pillar of orthodoxy, and that the reasons for retaining it outweigh those for shelving it-. The Creed has been again under the consideration of Convocation, and the united wisdom of this clerical assembly has resulted in the adoption of the following declaration :—: — "For the Removal of Doubta and of Disquietude in the use of the Athauasian Creed, this Syuod doth solemnly declare : " That the confession of our Christian faith, commonly called the Creed of St. Athanasius, sets forth the two fundamental doctrines of the Catholic faith, viz., that of the Holy Trinity and that of the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the form of an exposition. "That the said confession does not, make any addition to the Christian faith as contained in the Apostles' and Isiceno Creeds, but is a safe-guard against errors, which from time to time hewo arisen in, the Ch'irch of Christ. " That whereas Holy Scripture, while, promising lifu to the faithful, asserts in divers passages the condemnation of the. unbelieving, so also does the Church, while declaring the necessity of holding the Cliristian faith for all who would be in a state of salvation, expresses in sundry claases of this confession the terrible consequences of a wilful rejection of that faith, and declare the necessity of Loldhi^ forth the same for all who would be in a state of salvation. Neverthless the Church therein passes not sentence upon particular persons, the Great Judge of all being alone able to discern who those persons that are guilty of such wilf^fAjection. Furthermore, we must reoi^p> (rod's threatening even as His promises in such '.vise as thoy are generally set forth in tho Holy Scriptures." This is either intended to mean nothing, or it is a condemnation of tho Creed. It is inconsistant with the Creed, and inconsistant with itself. Meanwhile there is no doubt that the H't^h Church party is more and more in tho ascendant, and that Ritualism is making rapid strides, especially in country districts, where the Protestant laity are in a state of great perplexity. Take for example a meeting held the other day at Southampton to protest against the practice of confession, which the clergy of the town had agreed to adopt. This meeting — mainly of Churchmen — was attended by 1400 people, who were indignant at the course pursued by the cleryy ; and the speeches delivered were to the effect that if reform could not be attained within the Church, it must come from without ; and that disestablishment and disendowment must be accepted as the^ alternative, rather than that priestly assumptions should be tolerated,, or th,e rankest error taught under the guise of Protestant truth. The followiug testimony as to the spread of Ritualism is from the "Catholic Register," whose testimony is more full and explicit than any that luw yet beensjiven, not excepting that of Archbishop M.inniug or Mgr. Capel :- In England the work of conversion has continued during the past year with steady and not very slow steps. To name, or even indicate, individuals whohave buen received during the past twelve months, would bo foreign to our purpose. This much we may say (and say with truth, the fact being known to many Catholics in London), that tho number of converts in London alone lxas been upwards of two thousand during the past year, and has during the last few weeks, increased very much. Many, as we aro informed, have joined us who are all but Catholics, and who had little neec! of instruction before they made up their minds to take the final, the long-deferred, but the all-needful step. From every Ritualistic congregation in London there is a continual stream of converts drifting fi|^wards us, and the number would be increased had wo priests sufficient to look after those who are hesitating as to this future step iv the right direction. In various parts of the country different Anglican clergymen have been received into the Church, to the number of some ten or a dozen, and at least as. many ladie3 connected with the varioua Anglican sisterhood have followed in tho same direction. Out of every twenty Anglicans who joined the Catholic Church, not less than seventeen have been prepared for the step by the teaching they have he.iril from tho ititualiafcic pulpits, and by thu practices taey h.-ivo got accustomed to in Ritualistic chnrche3. . . . 2\ot only laymen, but Anglican clergymen, have been scon devoutly hearing mass at Catholic churches, ratherthan go to their own places of worship, where what they considered heresy was, taught. — "S,A. Chronicle's " HomeLetter.

Somebody who has been "studying our weights " reports that, upon the. average, boys at birth weigh a little more, and girl* a little less, than six pounds and-a-h.ilf. For the first twelve years the two sexes continue nearly equal in in weight-, but beyond that time males acqv.iro a decided preponderance. Thus, yoiuig men of twenty avtrago 1431 b each, while yomv.s women of that age average 120 lb. Men reach thoir heaviest bulk at about thirty-rive, when their average is about 152 lb ; but women slowly increase in weight until fifty, when their average is about 130 lb. Taking the mcii and women togetheri their weight a£ full growth average about twenty -times as heavy as they were on the first day of their existence Men range from 108 lb to 220 lb (the Tichborno cl.iiniaut weighs 300 lb), and women from 88 lb to 207 lb. The actual weight of human nature, taking the averages of all ages and con-* ditions — nobles, clorgy, tinkers, tailors, maidens, boys, girls, and babies all included — is very nearly 100 \b. These figures are given in avoirdupois weight ; but the advocates of the superiority oj women might make a nice, point 'by introrduping the rule that women be weighed by- troy weight — like other jewels— and: men by avoirdu-poise. The figures would: then stand — young men of 20, 14& }beach ; young woj»Qn e£ 2#* Wk I^. %h& BP. 014