ALTAR LIGHTS AT PARIS IN AN ENGLISH CHURCH. To THE
EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."
9 Rue du Cirque, Paris, Thursday, Jan. 3, 1803.
Sin,—Let me ask you to make one correction in your little report of my sermon on Christmas-day. I certainly did not say that lighting our altar lights might seem "dangerously like Catholic practices," because I never by any chance use the word Catholic for Roman Catholic, according to the unfortunate practice of too many of the writers on the press. To do so, is to do one's utmost to promote secessions from the Church of England ; for if the Roman Church be indeed the Catholic, for which we pray daily, and in which we say we believe, there is an end of all controversy. I may also observe that it is not a canon, but a law of church and land which enjoins two lights upon the altar during the Sacrament in every church and chapel. This law was first passed in the 2nd year of Edward the 6th, was renewed by Queen Elizabeth, and was confirmed by the Privy Council in 1857. It is now legally binding on all the clergy.
As for my sermon being "mere verbiage," your informant has the right to form and express his opinion. I am sorry he was so little edified. As he tells about the mere "outside of the platter," I may be permitted to state that the congregation of the small chapel to which I minister has quite recently sent 601. to the Lan- cashire operatives, and some 101. to Paris charities, besides support- ing a most valuable neecllewomen's fund, and several other practical undertakings, always raising between 8001. and 900/. a year for the services of the church. And I beg to be allowed to add that the effect of my " reactionary " teaching, as you rightly call it, has been to win back five deserters from our own fold to Rome within the last two years. It will be a joyful day, believe me, Sir, for Ultramontane and Jesuit when my church is closed, and the only real stay against the Homeward current of perversion removed from Paris. So-called Evangelists, however well dis- posed and earnest, have no power to stay this current. Cannot you and other practical Britons understand that all men's tastes are not identical, and that the teaching which brings men back from Rome, whether we like it or not, is not particularly likely to conduct them thither ?—Your obedient servant, ARCHER GURNEY, Chaplain of English Church, 17 Rue de la Madeleine.
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