CHAPTER II.

Comparisons between the Romanist and Ritualist Doctrines, Forms and Ceremonies, continued, showing the Similitude between the Romanist and the Form desired and adopted by the Ritualist with regard to the Sacraments.

In the Vade Mecum "Absolution" is called "Penance," and "Visitation of the Sick" is termed "Unction of the Sick." First let us see the great similarity between the

* In 1662 the Church taught as in our Prayer Book. See Catechism that two Sacraments only are generally necessary to Salvation, but in 1891 the same infallible Church appears to have added five more, à la Roman Catholic, as equally necessary to salvation.

forms of the Roman Church and that, the restoration of which is so much desired by the English Church Union.* As to being accursed for not believing exactly as the Church teaches, whether Roman or Ritualist, the following quotations and their inferences will clearly demonstrate that these two bodies sing practically the same song ; in a word, both claim to be The Church, and both preach damnation if not servilely obeyed. Verily, between two stools we shall fall to the ground.

BAPTISM.

Q. 57. What ceremonies are used in the Administration of Baptism in the Church of Rome?

A. Before Baptism there is :1. Chrism or oil mixed with water in the consecration of it.

2. Exorcism, composed of certain words, prayers, and actions, for driving away the devil out of the child, and the salt, etc. And the priest is to blow in the face of the child after the form of a cross, saying, "Go out of him, Satan,"

etc.

3. The forehead, eyes, breast, etc., are to be crossed, to shew that by the mystery of Baptism, the senses are opened to receive

The following extracts are taken from the Services of the Church according to the Use of Sarum, by CHARLES WALKER, author of the Prayer Book for the Young. Baptismal Service in Prayer Book.

"And gave commandment to His disciples that they should go teach all nations and baptise them in the Name of the Father (here let him divide the water in the form of a cross,† saying), and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Regard, we beseech Thee, the supplications of Thy congregation; sanctify this water to the mystical washing away of sin; and grant that this Child now to be

*"The English Church Union was formed for the purpose of uniting Clergy and Laity in defence of the doctrine and discipline of the Church of England, and of the rights and liberties of her faithful children. The maintenance of such an organised body to undertake, under God, this work of defence, has been rendered necessary by the circumstances of the times; by the desire for sweeping changes in the Prayer Book, and in the old-established order of the Church, as evidenced by the passing of the P.W.R. Act, by the attacks on Eucharistic Doctrine, the Athanasian Creed, and the use of Confession, and by the attempts to alter the standard of Ritual laid down in the Ornaments Rubric."-Annual Directory, E.C. U., 1886, in which year there were 16 Bishops, 2,600 Clergy, and 18,600 laity, of whom 8,113 are women, making a total of 21,216. This was in 1886. "The work of the English Church Union is to defend and maintain unimpaired the doctrine and discipline of the Church of England against Erastianism, Rationalism, and Puritanism, etc."-Ibid.

†This form is carried out here by the vicar, a member of the E. C.U.

Then follows an ordinance that might well call for the interference of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. No doubt after enduring the ceremony they are saints; more probably, considering the tender age of most infants, they are rendered idiots!

"N, I baptise thee in the name of the Father; (here he shall dip the child once with its face turned toward the north, and its head towards the east); and of the Son (here he shall dip it a second time with its face toward the south), and of the Holy Ghost, Amen (and here he shall dip it a third time with its face toward the water)."—Ibid., p. 397. We

During the prayer receive," etc., "the priest shall make a cross upon the child's forehead with the chrism." Ibid., p. 398.

Where in all the Bible did Christ instruct His Church to thus torture and frighten, it may be unto death, those peculiar favourites of His, "little children." When Christ Himself, as a young man, entered the water, did He endure all this mummery? Does not Scripture all point to baptism when of a mature age? Where then is the infallible Church's obedience to Divine example in thus instituting an ordinance of her "own invention "?* Let us use common sense, and if we are to have infant baptism, at any rate spare our poor wee mites the fright and agony of such nonsensical rites. What mother does not know the screams

* See Alice through the Looking-Glass, by Lewis Carroll.

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that a baby utters at sight and feel of the bath before a warm fire, but what must its sensations be in strange arms, presumably cold water, [for the rubric gives no directions as to warm,] and in a cold church. Women, mothers, cast off priestcraft. What think ye of those who cast themselves under the car of Juggernaut? Fools! fanatics! say you; and are you not as bad in sacrificing your dear little newlyborn babes to the Juggernaut of a priest who demands such a thing of you? Be truthful, O true mothers! Does not your inmost heart urge you to fly at the man, priest though he be, who thus causes your infant to wail or scream? And yet in the name of holy religion, you stifle this God-sent feeling down, and with a heart throbbing with agony submit to have your child thus terrified. Oh, in pity and love to your infant, arise and shake off this priestly net which the Ritualist is casting over you!

2. "He puts a white garment on the baptized, saying, 'Take this white garment, which thou mayest bring before the judgment seat of Christ, that thou mayest have life eternal.' ”. Roman Catechism, with Reply thereto, by Don Rev. J. BELL.

3. "A lighted candle is put into the hand, to shew a faith inflamed with charity, and nourished with good works."Ibid.

"The priest shall then place upon the child its white robe or chrisom; during which the choir shall sing this antiphon:'Receive a vestment white and spotless, and carry it undefiled before the judgment seat Jesus Christ, so shalt thou have everlasting life.'"*-Sarum Use, P. 398.

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"This done, let the priest put the lighted taper into the child's hand, or into that of the godfather, the choir meanwhile singing this antiphon:- Receive a light bright and holy. Keep thy baptismal grace, and obey God's commandments: that when the Lord cometh to the marriage, thou mayest go forth with His saints to meet Him in the Heavenly courts, and have everlasting life."-Ibid., pp. 398-9.

*Is not one tempted to wonder if the priest, being of course a celibate, has the skill to readjust the poor little mite's flannel and linen rollers, blankets and robes, or whether the nurse to whom it may be delegated is permitted to bring her nursery basket, pins, powder, puffs, etc., etc., for the better adorning the shivering infant?