19 FEBRUARY 1881, Page 14

RITUALISM AND THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION.

[TO TUB EDITOR OF THDI SPECTATOR:']

SIR,—I have been much astonished at the brief you have lately held for Ritualism, when our civil and religious liberties have been the result of our Protestant Reformation. If each con- gregation is to be not only a law to itself, but to enlarge by its mere caprice the boundaries of the Church of England, where is all this to end. P No society can exist without some rules. I do not belong to either the English Church Union or the Church Association, but I can see a very great difference between carry- ing out the ordinary ritual of the last 200 years, and introokeing obsolete ritual, which is thought by the majority of the nation to indicate a desire to return to the priesterait from which our forefathers freed us. If the union of Church and State can only exist on these terms, I, for one, consider the price too dear. It would be well that the Ornaments Rubric be abolished, and a definite rubric substituted, to which all should conform.—I am, Sir, Zsc.,

Church Rectory, near Accrington, TuostAs F. COLLINS, [We hold no brief at alb much less from Ritualism. We argue for comprehension, and if any prosecutions arose against Evangelicals or Broad Churchmen we should be just as hearty in their behalf—or it might be even more so.—En. Spectator.]