CHRISTIAN TRADITIONS SERIES - Part 3

CHRISTIAN Traditions Series - 03 PALM SUNDAY – Concluded: E. J. Waggoner “Under the above heading The Christian Commonwealth gives the following account of some of the doings in English churches on Easter Sunday. Whether the churches indulging in such heathenish ceremonies have gone backward or not, we cannot tell; but one thing is certain, and that is that if they have not gone backward, then they were never separated from Rome except in name. And while all this is going on, the majority of Protestants are laughing at Cardinal Vaughan’s expectation of some day seeing England brought back to the Roman Catholic Church. We do not see anything to laugh at.” The Present Truth, Vol.10, {PTUK April 12, 1894, p. 233.1} “The trumpet blasts of Archdeacon Farrar and the few other brave Protestant Church dignitaries seem to have evoked little interest. At any rate, the movement back to Rome goes steadily on all over the country. Are the English people being bewitched by the mummery, the millinery, the gewgaws, the mumbo-jumbo show, the vestments, the music, and the incense? It begins to appear that such is almost the case, for the High Anglican organs are making a very proud show of the Easter doings in a vast number of churches. And to what do these tend? Let anyone judge who exercises judgment at all. IBID,{PTUK April 12, 1894, p. 233.2} “At Chester Cathedral the Bishop ‘celebrated,’ and was vested in cope of cloth of gold and mitre. Only last week a correspondent of a London evening paper protested indignantly in view of a notice of a presentation of a ‘magnificent cope of stamped red velvet, richly embroidered with gold, and bearing figures of saints and of the Annunciation.’ A ‘morse’ given with it, is set with large carbuncles and amethysts, the probable cost being ?500. IBID,{PTUK April 12, 1894, p. 233.3} “At Hammersmith high celebration and procession at 11 o’clock, the priest was vested in a magnificent cope, attended by two acolytes in red cassocks and lace surplices. The high altar was covered with flowers, and looked very beautiful, with the large cross (lately presented to the church) and the numerous candles. Solemn evensong and procession was at 7, the church being again so full that people were obliged to sit in the chancel. It is evident enough that plenty of people can be found to enjoy such a sensuous display. The blunder is in supposing that there is any token in it all of a revival of religion. IBID,{PTUK April 12, 1894, p. 233.4} “At Harlesden a white silk chasuble was used for the first time. At St. Peter’s, London Docks, on Palm Sunday, High Mass was celebrated. The Bishop of Lebombo ‘assisted pontifically.’ IBID,{PTUK April 12, 1894, p. 233.5} “At Notting Hill the high altar, with its tall ‘office’ lights, choice flowers, and small tapers, gave, it is boastfully said, ‘a thoroughly Catholic appearance to the church.’ So much the worse for the Protestantism of the Church in that London parish! IBID, {PTUK April 12, 1894, p. 233.6} “Much is being said of the Oxford Mission in poor parishes. But the true character of that sort of mission begins to be seen in the report from Poplar that at St. Friedswide’s, the Christ Church (Oxford Mission), after the great events of Holy Week were duly solemnised, the great feast of Easter was ushered in at the 8.30 P.M. Evensong, when the blessing of the Paschal Candle took place-a high candle standing on the north side of the altar. The decorations were profuse, embracing the altar, chancel-screen, font, and the large picture of Our Lady. The celebrations of the Holy Communion were at 6, 7, 8, 9.45 and High Celebration at 11 A.M. IBID, {PTUK April 12, 1894, p. 233.7} “These are a few samples out of very many such records. They are ominous of progress the wrong way.” IBID, {PTUK April 12, 1894, p. 233.8} A VERY MOVING REPORT: “Immediately following Elder White’s address, Miss Osborne, who has been engaged in Mission School work in Mexico, and recently began the observance of the Sabbath, was invited to address the Conference, and spoke in substance as follows:-General Conference Daily Bulletin, {GCDB March 23, 1891, p. 211.1} After the conquest by Cortez, the standard of Catholicism was firmly planted in Mexico. In establishing the power of the priesthood, recourse was had to so-called miracles and apparitions. IBID, {GCDB March 23, 1891, p. 211.2} The twelfth of December is the anniversary of an apparition of the Virgin, to commemorate which a magnificent temple has been built at the foot of the mountain upon which the Virgin was supposed to have appeared to an Indian. Some three years ago, it was proposed to crown the Virgin on this anniversary, and immense sums of money were collected, and great preparations made. But the government interfered, as no public procession is allowed in the city of Mexico. We were glad the government did interfere, as it was found that it was planned that every Protestant in the city of Mexico should die on that day. IBID, {GCDB March 23, 1891, p. 211.3} The Sunday before Easter is Palm Sunday, and the triumphal entry is celebrated. On the following Tuesday afternoon in a church within a block of our own Mission building, there is a lottery of souls. The price of tickets is $5, and the person drawing the fortunate number liberates a soul from purgatory. IBID, {GCDB March 23, 1891, p. 211.4} On Friday, at three o’clock, the crucifixion is celebrated with solemn rites. Figures representing the two thieves are raised on crosses, and an image representing Christ is nailed to the cross, amidst the lamentations of the people. IBID, {GCDB March 23, 1891, p. 211.5} Sunday in Mexico is a day of feasting and revelry. Every Sunday there are five bull-fights in the city of Mexico, and in these, thirty bulls are killed. I have found school work in Mexico very successful. Parents are influenced by their children, and are often brought into the churches. When I first organized a school in Mexico, I had eight pupils. At the end of three months there were thirty-seven, and at the end of the third year over seventy-five. I am glad to be able to say that not one of these left the school without professing Christ. IBID, {GCDB March 23, 1891, p. 211.6} Parents bring their children to school wishing them to learn English, and to be taught by the American teachers, for whom they have great respect. But they do not wish them taught our religion, as they say the parish priest has charge of their religious instruction. We tell them they shall have the advantages of our English class, and any others they may wish to join. We have Bible classes, but they are not obliged to join them. IBID, {GCDB March 23, 1891, p. 211.7} The first morning new children come to school, perhaps during the devotional exercises they will place their fingers in their ears. Bibles are passed around, but they leave them on their desks. By and by they become much interested in the music, and will take the hymn-book and listen carefully to the singing. Perhaps next they wish to be taught to play the organ. After a few weeks they will usually take the Bible and turn to the lesson of the day, and perhaps follow along with the class as they read. By and by they will go out to recitation with the class, and repeat a text with the others. IBID, {GCDB March 23, 1891, p. 211.8} After a time they get so interested that they ask for a Bible and hymn-book, and we give them our papers, and they read them and tell their parents. Then they ask their parents to allow them to go on Sunday morning to our church to hear the choir sing. Their parents tell them the priests say that the moment they enter a Protestant church they will fall dead. Very often, however, they run away to the service, and return home to report that they were not injured. By and by the parents may be induced by the children to enter the church, and once inside, the rest is easy. IBID, {GCDB March 23, 1891, p. 211.9} Some of our people have suffered persecution. Not long ago several workers were laboring in one of the cities in which no Protestant work had been done before. They were attacked by a mob, and in spite of the efforts of the authorities, all but one were killed. But after a few weeks there was a complete change in the people of the city, and they sent petitions to have Protestant missionaries sent to them. Now they have all become Protestants, or at least favor Protestantism. IBID, {GCDB March 23, 1891, p. 211.10}