THE ANGLICAN ARCHBISHOPS' REPLY TO THE PAPAL BULL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIV, Issue 2, 7 May 1897, Page 17

THE ANGLICAN ARCHBISHOPS' REPLY TO THE PAPAL BULL.

IE Anglican Archbishops have published a formal reply to the Pope's Bull condemning Anglican Orders. The reply has been published in both Latin and English and the Archbishops announce that the Latin version is the original one of which the English is only a translation. The reply is couched in kindly and courteous terms and is so far in pleasing contrast; to most of the criticisms which Anglican writers have passed upon the Bull. But not one single new fact or argument has been adduced in support of the Anglican case, and there is absolutely no consideration in the. reply which had not been more fully and more ably stated before the Commission when the matter was under examination at Rome. A great number of extraneous and altogether irrelevant matters have been introduced which only add to the vagueness and indefiniteness which, in a very marked way, characterise the document. Leaving these aside there are two points which constitute the crux of this question and on which the decision of the whole matter really rests, and it is to the Archbishops' utterances on these points that Catholic critics everywhere may be expected to direct their attention. Everybody knows that the condemnation of Anglican Orders by Leo XIII. was based on two plain facts : First, that the Anglican Church at the Reformation rejected the doctrine of a Sacrificing Priesthood and of the objective Eucharistic Sacrifice taught by the Catholic Church ; second, that the Anglican Church, in consequence, removed from the Ordinal and from the Liturgy every expression indicative of a Sacrificing Priesthood or of a real Eucharistic Sacrifice. These were the two grounds on which Anglican Orders were condemned, and they indicate the line which the Anglican defence might fairly and reasonably have been expected to take. If the doctrine of the Church of England on this matter of the Eucharistic Sacrifice were really in harmony with the teaching of the Universal Church, it was the simplest thing in the world for the archbishops to say so. As the London Tablet points out, all that was necessary was some such simple statement as the following :—": — " The Church of England holds, and has always held,f that the Eucharist is not only a sacrament, but a real, objective and actual sacrifice in which Christ is truly present and constantly offers Himself as a Victim upon the altar. The Church of England holds, moreover, and has always held, that her bishops and priests possess a true sacrificing priesthood, and that to them in ordination is given the mystic power to cause Christ to be really present on the altar and to offer Him as the Victim of salvation. These were the beliefs which animated the bishops of England who framed her Ordinal and Liturgy, and it was in accordance with these beliefs that the liturgical changes made at the Reformation were adopted." This is what it was absolutely necessary for the archbishops to say in order to establish their claim to valid Orders in the Catholic sense, but this is precisely what they have not said. Instead of a plain, straightforward statement, they give nothing but equivocation and evasion. Here are the actual words of the reply on the subject of the Eucharist :—: —

"We truly teach the doctrine of Eucharistio Sacrifice, and do not believe it to be " a nude commemoration of the Sacrifice of the Cross."

This sounds well enough, but the explanation soon shows that it is the name only of a sacrifice which is kept, — the reality is altogether banished. Here is the explanation :—: —

But we think it is sufficient in the liturgy which we use in celebrating the Holy Eucharist, while lifting up our hearts to the Lord, and when now consecrating the gifts already offered that they may become to us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ — to signify the sacrifice which is offered at that point of the service in such terms as these : We continue a perpetual memory of the precious death of Christ, Who is our Advocate with the Father and the propitiator for our sins according to His precept until His coming again. For first we offer the sacrifice of prayer and thanksgiving ; then next we plead and represent before the Father the Sacrifice of the Cross, and by it we confidently entreat remission of sins and all other benefits of the Lord's Passion for the whole Church ; and, lastly, we offer the sacrifice of ourselves to the Creator of all things, which we have already signified by the oblations of His creatures. This whole action, in which the people has necessarily to take its part with the priest, we are accustomed to call the " Eucharistio Sacrifice." In other words the Anglican idea of the Euchariht, as voiced by the archbishops, is made up of the following clumenLs :—: —

Continuation of a memory of the death of Christ ; sacrifice of praise and tlmnlcsgiviiig ; pleading or representation of the Sacrifice of the Cross ; and sacrifice of the worshippers themselves. Such teaching is almost pure Calvinism, and it is clear that the Catholic doctrine of the Mabs and the Anglican idea of the Eucharist are wide as the Poles acunder The publication of the reply will be of service to the Catholic Church in two ways. In the first place it entirely corroborates both the arguments and the decision of Leo XIII. in the recently issued Bull, If this be indeed the Anglican idea of the Eucharist everyone will see that from the Catholic point of view his Holiness could not have done otherwise than condemn Anglican Orders. And in the second place it will be a serious blow to the High Church party in the Establishment. The reply is essentially a Protestant manifesto, aDd is altogether alien to the tone and spirit of advanced Anglicanism From the point of view of the High Church party the document must be not only unsatisfactory but actually and plainly heretical. We can only hope that it will serve to show them the hopeless weakness and inconsistency of their position and will ultimately lead them to take refuge in the House which is built upon a rock, against which the winds and ram of heresy and error beat ever in vain.

Owing to pressure on our space a quantity of correspondence is unavoidably held over.

A Meeting of the Catholics of the Dunedin parish will be held in the Christian Brothers' school on Friday, May 7th, at 8 p m to consider the advisability of making a suitable presentation to the Most Rev. Dr. Verdon on the occasion of the first anniversary of his consecration. The meeting is being convened at the earnest request of a large number of the Catholic laity, and as the object is one which must heartily icommend itself to everyone, a large and successful meeting may be confidently anticipated.

A pastoral letter by the Right Rev. Dr. Grimes, which was read in all the Catholic churches in the diocese of Christchurch on Sunday last, opens with the following reference to her Majesty's record reign :— " On June 20 next her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen will have attained the sixtieth year of her reign. That reign itself has been one of the most illustrious in the annals of our eventful history. She whom the Almighty has chosen to rule during so long a period is deservedly looked up to by all as a model Queen and mother, whilst amongst the noblest of her sex she stands without a rival. Since the advent of Queen Victoria to the throne of Great Britain our Holy Church has made many and noble conquests throughout the empire whereon the sun never sets. Gratitude for these and other no less striking conquests obtained throughout the world should be uppermost in our breasts. We claim to be loyal and grateful subjects. Does it not, then, behove us to be amongst the first to offer up fervent prayers to the throne of the Most High in thanksgiving for all the blessings received during the last half century and decade of years .' Should we not humbly beseech the King of Kings to continue to shower down upon our (iracious Queen His choicest gifts with every true happiness in time and in eternity ? I know well, rev. dear Fathers and dearly beloved children in Jesus Christ, that you need no direction from your Bishop to urge you to fulfil your duty in this respect. But it is my pleasing duty to direct that a solemn Tc Drum be sung in all the churches and chapels of this diocese on the occasion of the coming jubilee that is to say on the 20th of June. Together with the Tc Deumi, the versioles and prayers Pro gratia rum art /one will be recited or sung in thanksgiving for the many blessings we have received during the record reign of her Majesty Queen Victoria, whom may God long spare to rule over her devoted subjects."

The opening meeting of the Dunedin Catholic Literary Society was held on Friday evening in the Christian Brothers' school, Mr. CE. Haughton, vice-president, in the chair. The chairman announced that Rev. Father Murphy had now seen his way clear to accept the office of president, and a formal motion appointing him as president of the Society was carried with acclamation. After returning thanks for the cordial way in which they had received his nomination as President. Father Murphy delivered mi interesting address on the value and importance of the Society. In the first place the Society conferred incalculable benefits on its members in the way of improved mental culture and increased efficiency in public speaking. But over and above that the Society was one of the most valuable helps which the Church possessed, and probably did more than any one other organisation to prevent young men from drifting away from the Church. He promised to do his very utmost to make its meetingb a success. The Rev. Father Ryan al*o delivered a short address in which he referred to the splendid

training which such a Society gave in learning to check and control the temper. He also undertook to do his best to make the Society a success. Suitable addressee were also given by Messrs. F. W. Petre, R. Dobbin and J. J. Marlow, all of whom dwelt on the necessity for members themselves to take an active interest in the Society in order to ensure its success. A number of new candidates were nominated for membership. The programme for next meeting includes readings, etc., and papers by Messrs. P.Carolin and J. J. Marlow.

One of those little ceremonies that are always interesting took place at St. Joseph's Cathedral on the morning of Wednesday, April 28, when Mr. J. J. Dunne, son of Mr. E. Dunne, of George street, was united in the holy bonds of matrimony to Miss M. Spiers, daughter of Mr. Peter Spiers, of Gabriel's Gully. The Rev. Father Murphy ' assisted by the Rev. Father Ryan, officiated at the ceremony and celebrated the Nuptial Mass. The bride, who wore the orthodox wreath and veil, looked charming in a dress of white lustre, trimmed with deep cream lace. Miss A. Spiers, who was bridesmaid, was dressed in heliotrope nuns' veiling, trimmed with silk chiffon and wore a white felt hat, trimmed with heliotrope. Mr. E. W. Dunne acted as best man. and the bride was given away by her brother-in-law. Mr. Lane, and hearty wishes for the future happiness of the bride and W. E. Lane. The wedding breakfast was partaken of at the house of Mr. bridegroom were expressed on every side. After wedding breakfast the happy couple commenced their honeymoon by a drive to Waitati.

The mission of the Vinoentian Fathers at South Dunedin, which has been a great success, will conclude this week. The Fathers will then take a short and much-needed reat. They will resume their labours on Sunday, May 1(5, when a renewal of the mission at the cathedral will be commenced.

Miss Josephine Lempkkkt, of Westport, (says the Wo,tpi»-t Tiviei) who so successfully passed the Civil Service and Matriculation examinations has been appointed to the charge of the post office and telephone station at Denniston. vice Mrs. Gibson, resigned. Miss Lempfert joins the Westport staff temporarily for a course of " ooaohing." Miss Lempfert, we may mention, was a pupil of the Sisters of Mercy. We also learn from Westport papers that Mr. Lempfert has gone to Europe to place the Beacon^field mines on the market.

In answer to a correspondent, we have to point out that the account of the bestowal on Mother Aloysius Doyle of the Royal Red Cross Order in recognition of her heroic sacrifices in the cause of Christian charity, has already appeared ii> our columns. It is to be found in the Tablet of April 2.'}.

The entrance of the Rev. Brother Bodkin at the meeting of the Dunedin Catholic Literary Society on Friday evening was the signal for quite an outburst of enthusiastic applause. Subsequently, one member after another, old pupils of the Rev. Brother, rose to express their delight at his return. Brother Bodkin, in a few happy words, expressed his own pleasure at being re-trans-ferred to Dunedin and his gratification at the very cordial reception they had given him. He was particularly pleased to see so many of his old scholars taking an active part in the Society.

YESTERDAY, says the llaiujlorn Stamhinl of April 2S, a Month's Mind, in memory of the late Very Rev. Father O'Connor, was held at the Catholic church. Victoria street, Rangiora. lit quit m Mass was «aid at !).30. p.m., the celebrant being the Rev. Father Murnane, and with him at the altar were the Rev. Fathers Ginaty. Chastagnon. Malone and Aubrey. The ceremony was a mast impressive one. and in the chapel there was a large audience, anion^ whom were representatives of various sects, who attended out of respect to the deceased. The altar, side altars, and side of chancel were draped in heavy black, with a catafalque right in front of the altar as it was on the day : a month previous when the body of the deceased lay at the same spot. The church, in fact, wivs arranged exactly as it was on the day of the deceased priest's funeral. The Sisters of St. Joseph's School with Miss Kelliher and others, carried out the supervision of draping the church for the occasion. The children attending the day school of the Sister* of St. Joseph, dressed in white with black sashes were present at Mass. At the same hour, J'/ 1/ it inn Mass was celebrated at St. Mary's church, Boulcott street, Wellington, m memoriam for the deceased.

We have much pleasure in directing the attention of tho^o of our readers in want of tailor-made garments to the advertisement of Messrs. Herbert, Haynes and Co.. which appears in this issue. This firm is one of the oldest and most reliable in the trade.