MR. MAURICE'S RITUALISM.
[TO TEE EDITOR OF TIER " SPECTATOR:1
Sin,—Allow me to say one parting word on the discussion of Mr.. Maurice's attitude towards Ritualism. I never intended to imply that which my familiarity with his writings makes it impossible for me to think, that he bad any bent in that direction. And I have a special reason for being under no misconception, for one of his latest literary acts was to censure a lecture on "The Two Religions," i.e., Catholicism and Protestantism, which I delivered at Oxford about seven years ago. But what I maintain is this,—that a man of his intellectual eminence, rare courage, and crystalline honesty would not have officiated, as he did, in Ritualistic churches, if he had looked on them as Sir Edward Strachey does. And I have been reminded that be appeared at Mr. Lowder's mission in Wapping, as well as at St. Mary's, Soho.
Look for a moment at the other side of the shield. At the time when he was invited to preach in these places, he was under the ban of the whole Evangelical party, and also of the stolid Hanoverian section, represented by the late Principal Self. No clergyman belonging to either would have suffered him to enter the pulpit. But Ritualists, by soliciting his presence, avowed heir belief in the justice of his position within the Church of Eng- although none of them would have accepted his teaching in block. And as they refused to regard him as a heretic and sceptic, so he never could have denounced them as superstitious idelators.—I am, Sir, &we 9 /led Lion Square, London, IV. c'. R. F. LITTLEDALE.
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