And, 1. As it sets forth the claims of five Societies simultaneously. It is important to do this, not only because no one society can detach itself from the others, and accomplish its own object single-handed, but because it is both proper and expedient to make known at the same time the different wants of the church, and to set before her members the means by which they may supply them. Thus a number of annual subscriptions, how small (as far as the principle is concerned) it matters not, if they be duly apportioned, may be made to minister both to the edification and the enlargement of the church. By an aggregation of single offerings, churches may be built, clergymen provided, schools established, bibles, prayer-books, and useful tracts dispersed; and not only our own principles strengthened, but the condition of various classes of our christian brethren improved, and the gospel itself propagated: and all this through the medium of the church, of which each christian would be led to regard himself a living and responsible member. Thus, too, the unity, extent, and consistency of our design would be made apparent, and greater success might be anticipated, than if we were to make desultory efforts for any one society, or for all the societies at different and irregular periods. 2. A second feature of the plan is, that it recommends itself to the notice of individual members of families, and, with great propriety, through the medium of their respective heads. And surely this is a legitimate way of promoting christian feeling and sympathy in the church. "If one member suffer, all the members should suffer with it; and if one member be honoured, all the members should rejoice with it." Children, too, taught at the firesides of their parents, and servants in the houses of their masters, to think of, and minister by little sacrifices to the necessities of others, would gradually imbibe the benevolent spirit of their church's prayers, and endeavour, in after-life, consistently and heartily to exemplify her principles and her prayers in practice. As the centres of other circles, they would exert a becoming and beneficial influence upon all around them-an influence which would haply expand and penetrate to a degree beyond the range of human computation. 3. A third feature of the plan is, that it solicits support from all, whether rich or poor, in proportion to their ability. The tendency of this feature is to educe charitable actions from christian motives, and to awaken in the christian mind an abiding sense of its responsibility. I need not point out the consequences of attending to, or neglecting, the evolution of this scriptural principle; they are obvious to every sensitive and devout churchman. 4. Another interesting and important feature of the plan is, that it emanates from the district minister. The tendency of this feature is to keep up a due sense of the pastoral relation, and to aid the development and promote the recognition of true church principles. It serves to remind ministers and people of their reciprocal obligations, and not only of the duties they owe one another, but to the whole church and the wide world. And whilst it directly tends to promote church union, it contributes not a little to keep in check and to correct a schismatical spirit. It intimates to any members of the church, who may have heedlessly withdrawn themselves from the superintendence of their lawful pastor, that he nevertheless regards them as members of his flock, and looks for and expects their cooperation in the works of love to which their church directs their attention. It is a system, too, which silently and unobtrusively contributes to the restoring the several parts of that wholesome and "godly discipline," from which we have receded, but the observance of which is indispensable to a full participation in the benefits and blessings of parochial communion. 5. A fifth, and the most important feature, inasmuch as it forms the groundwork of the plan, is, that it is "framed in strict accordance with the principles of our ecclesiastical polity," the societies it embraces being all under the "efficient superintendence of the Bishops of the Church.” It is this circumstance which gives the great church societies so strong and peculiar a claim to the affectionate regards of every member of the church. I might proceed to point out several other features and tendencies, did time permit, and did I not feel persuaded that you, Mr. Editor, and your readers, will readily discover them for yourselves. I would unhesitatingly recommend the plan to universal adoption; for I believe it has that in it which, exciting the charity and centralizing the efforts of churchmen, would do much to promote "unity, peace, and concord” in the church, help her to "bring into the way of truth many that have erred and are deceived," and place within her fold myriads that are now "afar off." I remain, Sir, your faithful servant, December 9, 1839. THE MANUAL, OR RITUAL. LETTER VIII. MR. EDITOR, The Manual, or Ritual, (which was also sometimes called the "Baptisterium" in ancient times,) is equivalent to the book of occasional offices used by our clergy; and, in the Church of Rome, it bears the same relation to the Priesthood that the Pontifical does to the Bishop. That from which I quote is now used in Ireland, and is thus intituled "ORDO BAPTIZANDI, ALIAQUE SACRAMENTA ADMINISTRANDI." Dublin. 1820.-I shall consider myself, however, at liberty slightly to vary the order in which the offices are there published, that a larger space may be assigned to the most important. BAPTISM. Pp. 6, &c. Baptism, as it is administered in the Church of Rome, is encumbered with a variety of useless ceremonies: thus, for example, the Priest blows into the face of the infant; crosses him upon the forehead and breast; places consecrated salt in his mouth; anoints his ears and nostrils with saliva; and exorcises the evil spirit from the child, accompanied by an exsufflation. Then follows the consecration of the water; the trine aspersion; unction upon the head with the chrism, (or consecrated oil): he then invests the child with the chrismale, or white garment, and places in his hand, or in the hand of one of his sponsors, a lighted wax taper. The Sponsions are made in English, and are virtually the same as those required in our church; and the profession of faith is made in the words of the Apostles' Creed, without any mention of the twelve new articles added by Pope Pius IV. Nearly all the Baptismal service was anciently performed in the South Porch of the Church, called the "Parvise." THE EUCHARIST. It is well known, that in the Church of Rome the Eucharist is administered to the laity only under the species of bread; viz. a flat, round, unleavened wafer, according to the lines 66 Candida, triticea, tenuis, non magna, rotunda, Inscribatur aquâ, non cocta sed igne sit assa!" Hosts ready consecrated are reserved in the cibarium, or tabernacle, over the altar, and administered separately from the Mass, in which the Priest alone usually receives the elements. It is with a view to this separate communion, that an office is provided in the Manual. When he administers the Eucharist to any one, the Priest takes one of the Hosts out of the Pyx, and making with it the sign of the cross, places it in the mouth of the communicant, saying, Corpus Domini nostri Jesu Christi conservat animam tuam in vitam æternam." He is then allowed water, (or in some cases wine and water,) to enable him to swallow the Host; but this is considered no part of the sacrament. PENANCE. Pp. 59, &c. The sacrament of Penunce is thus administered:-The penitent kneels down beside the confessional, (which is something like a sentry-box with a seat, having a grated aperture in the side, and standing on the north of the nave). He begins by asking the Priest for his blessing, which is given in the words-" Dominus sit in corde tuo et in labiis tuis," &c., accompanied by the sign of the cross. The penitent then recites the "Confiteor," after which he specially confesses his sins. The Priest then absolves him, and enjoins a penance proportionate to his offences. It is but justice to the Roman Catholic Bishops to say, that this portion of the Manual is accompanied by some very judicious advice; lest, during the course of this spiritual scrutiny, crimes should be suggested to the penitent which it had never entered into his heart to conceive. It is beyond all dispute that the confessional has often been an instrument of seduction ;* and it is evident, that a young unmarried Three This is evident from the ecclesiastical laws which relate to this subject. of the Popes (Paul IV. Pius IV. and Gregory XV.) decreed, that a penitent was bound, on pain of mortal sin, to denounce her confessor, if he should solicit her chastity, which was afterwards confirmed by Pope Benedict XIV. and Pope Alexander VII. Priest is placed in a very dangerous position, when he is made the confidant of all the sins and frailties of a beautiful woman, including her most secret thoughts: all this, I say, is bad enough; but what are we to say to those protestants who detail, in the English language, and in a mixed assembly, the digusting impurities which they have culled from the pages of the ancient casuists? Surely the truth does not stand in need of such auxiliaries; and the effect of such obscene disclosures upon the minds of young persons, cannot be otherwise than pernicious. MATRIMONY. Pp. 49, &c. The ceremony of Marriage, as it appears in the Ritual, differs less from that in the book of Common Prayer than any other. After mutually giving and plighting their troth and the joining of hands, the parties are sprinkled with holy water; the bridegroom places the ring with silver and gold upon the book, and after they have been duly consecrated, he delivers them to the bride, saying, (in English,) “With this ring I thee wed, this gold and silver I thee give, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow, (tunc inserat sponsus annulum pollici sinistræ manus sponsæ dicens,) in the name of the Father, (deinde secundo digito, dicens,) and of the Son, (deinde tertio digito, dicens,) and of the Holy Ghost, (postremo quarto sive annulari ibique dimittat annulum, dicens,) Amen." Marriages were anciently solemnized at the church door. EXTREME UNCTION. Pp. 79, &c. In administering extreme unction, the Priest anoints successively the eyes, ears, nostrils, mouth, hands, feet, and reins of the sick person; unless it be a woman, in which case the reins are omitted. When he anoints any part, he uses the following words : "Per istam sacram unctionem et suam piissimam misericordiam, indulgeat tibi quodcunque peccasti per (visum,") altering the last word according to the part which he anoints. Besides the five sacraments which have been just described, the Ritual contains A form for the Churching of Women. The Visitation of the Sick. The "Vigilia Mortuorum," (i. e. prayers for the repose of the dead.) The Burial of the Dead. There are also various forms of Benediction :-ex. gr. the Benediction of a Nuptial Bed; of Holy Water; of a Paschal Lamb, &c. The form of receiving heretics into the Pale of the Church, on which occasion they recite, in addition to the Creed, the twelve new articles added by Pope Pius IV. concluding with the words-" Hæc est vera et Catholica fides, extra quam nulla salus!" This Ritual also contains the English Collects, which are read every Sunday during Mass, and some short sermons in the Irish language. I have the honour to be, your obedient servant, RICHARD HART. 44 NATIONAL SOCIETY For promoting the Education of the Poor in the Principles of the Establisheď Church, throughout England and Wales. Founded 1811. Incorporated by Royal Charter 1817. President, Archbishop of Canterbury. THE moment has now arrived for a great educational struggle. We do not know any other one question which at once involves so many fundamental principles as are embodied in this all-absorbing topic of National Education. We are truly glad to see that throughout the country an interest is being excited in behalf of all the Church Societies. The rapid strides made by the Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts are quite cheering; and we do hope, that this younger child of the venerable Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, will not have made known its need without receiving a large share of public sympathy. The National Society is, indeed, in a perilous crisis now; and it is all important that she should not be allowed to be overcome by the array that is set against her. If churchmen would but shake off the nightmare which oppresses them as the penalty of their surfeit of ease and plenty, their awakened efforts would enable the Society to present a front which should make worldly religionists and expediency statesmen tremble. Surely the wants of the Society need only to be known to be relieved. Her constancy to sound principle is quite cheering in these days of laxity and latitudinarianism; and although this preference of principle to policy, of truth to expediency, has caused a heavy drain upon its exchequer, still we do not despair; for there is in Englishmen that love of honesty which ever answers to the rightly pronounced summons to duty. That England expects every man to do his duty, was the maxim of one of England's heroes; and the Church of God in England loudly calls for a fulfilment of the expectation. "PRO ECCLESIA DEI!-PRO ECCLESIA DEI!!" cried Archbishop Whitgift; and such should be the watchword of all the sons of the Church, in this the hour of her trial and reproach. Never was there a period when this faithful handmaid of the Church was more urgently pressed upon by claimants on its resources : never was there a time when these resources were so meagre. We beg the attention of our readers to a notice of the Correspondence of the Society with the Lords of the Treasury and Education Committee, in our present number; and we do most earnestly hope, that each individual churchman will consider it his especial duty to become interested in behalf of this most valuable society. It is useless for men to lament over this want and the other, unless they act to remove the difficulty. We shall, from time to time, lay before our readers the valuable statistical documents, which have been published, and every thing, in fact, which may interest our readers, and increase the zeal of this Christian community, in behalf of the EDUCATION of the PEOPLE in the principles of the ESTABLISHED CHURCH. |