[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
SIR,—If, as Canon Malcolm MacColl's letter in the Spectator of August 6th appears to imply, " sacerdotalism " simply means personal spiritual influence, by which God conveys His grace indirectly through human agency, the difficulty which so many Christians feel in accepting it is removed. Every true believer, every Christian parent, every faithful minister of Christ, is in that sense a priest. But surely what " sacerdotalism" is generally understood to mean is the exclusive official possession, by an outwardly ordained ministry, of powers quite independent of the personal char- acter or influence of the possessor, which operate, not spiritually—i.e., consciously through the will—but in some supernatural way which cannot be traced or defined. When the Canon writes, as he does, that "personal influence is a far more potent instrument for remitting or retaining sine than priestly absolution ; for the efficacy of the latter depends on the contrition of the person absolved, while persona] influence may cause moral regeneration or ruin," he surrenders the efficacy of the priestly act except where it coincides with such personal influence, and virtually admits that it is not needed to supplement such influence. He goes on to say, "This awful gift" (of remitting or retaining sins), "we are all exercising constantly, and often unconsciously,"—in other words, we are all priests to one another.—I am, Sir, &c., H. F.M.
[We have received a very large number of letters on this subject, but can only find room for these two.—ED. Spectator.]
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