THE RITUALISTS AND THE DECISION OF THE ARCHBISHOPS
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
SIR.—Will you permit a humble layman to briefly summarise the reasons for which he hopes that the recent " opinion " of the Archbishops will be disregarded? (1) Because the power entrusted to the Archbishops is too great, and marks a development of Papalism in the Church of England which may prove disastrous in the long-run. (2) Because the Arch- bishops had made up their minds beforehand, and, however much they may have wished it, it was absolutely impossible for them to be impartial. (3) Because the decision was based purely upon an Act of Parliament, and consequently is essen- tially Erastian. (4) Because the decision contradicts the Lincoln judgment, which allowed altar-lights, whilst the argument which prohibits lights in procession would also prohibit altar-lights. (5) Because the reasons upon which the judgment is based would render illegal archiepiscopal crosses, consecration services, and numerous other things. (6) Because the claim of the Archbishops to decide what is a permissible illegality is another dangerous development of the spirit of Papalism in the Church of England. (7) Because the judgment is the thin end of the wedge which, if applied to other matters of dispute, would reduce the Church of England to its position in 1833. (8) Because the judgment would result in completely fettering the spiritual life of the Church, by making all her public worship dependent upon an Act of Parliament of 1559, For these reasons I most earnestly hope that those priests who are in the habit of using incense or processional lights will not abandon such use.-1 am, Sir,
E. J. E. H.
[Our correspondent has apparently not read the Services for the Ordination of Deacons and of Priests, and for the Con- secration of Bishops. If he had he would surely realise that the archiepiscopal authority within each " Metropolitical Church," which he seems to regard as an innovation, is, rightly or wrongly, one of the fundamentals of the Church
of England. His appeal to the English clergy to disobey is an appeal to men to break promises of obedience made by them in the most solemn manner. As long as they remain members of the Church of England we do not see how English clergymen can honestly, honourably, or conscien- tiously disregard the duty of discharging those promises.— ED. 'Spectator]
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