CHURCH AND LORDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 173, 24 July 1922, Page 4

CHURCH AND LORDS.

! Tn favouring the representation of other denominations in the House of Lords the Bench of Bishops has shown a true appreciation of the growing desire for greater co-operation between the different branches of ihe Christian Church. Originally the Bishops and Archbishops were great Ministers of State rather than heads of diocesan activities, and 60ine historians are inclined to the view that clerical assemblies or convocations led the way in the development of the representative principle. When the model Parliament was called in 1295 the lords temporal and spiritual, representatives of shires and boroughs, and the lower clergy were all summoned, and the King adopted the came form of summons for the clerical estate as he used in issuing a summons for convocations. The conservative character of the House of Lords may be eeen from the fact that to this day the writ summoning a bishop to Parliament is issued in the old form, and the bishop ; is bidden to come and also to forewarn ! his dean and archdeacons and the i representatives of the clergy also to I attend, a warning which is certainly not heeded, ami most probably not given. In ; 1641 a Bill was introduced into the ' House of Commons for depriving bishops ! of their seats in the Upper House, and i it secured the support of many church- ! men. The Bill, however, was rejected by : the Lords, and the two Houses then set themselves to pass contrary resolutions on matters of ecclesiastical procedure. The bishops absented themselves from the Upper House, and protested against the validity of any vote*; taken during their absence. The Commons forthwith impeached them for high treason and imprisoned them. After the Restoration the bishops had their revenge, and introduced into the Prayer Book a memorial service for King Charles the Martyr, and a form of Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the Restoration of His Most Blessed -Majesty King Charles the Second, ft was an unhappy turn of the wheel that made the brother of the same blessed majesty send seven of them to prison once more. Xow the bishops wish to reduce the number of their seats in the Lords, and give place to representatives of other religious bodies, so as to include. as the Puritans put it. "the most grave, pious, learned, and judicious divines." The reasons for clerical representation have changed. The bishops are no longer great officers of State with purely secular functions to perform, and liable

to raise and maintain armies for the service of the King. They represent the spiritual side of national life, and this side would be immensely strengthened by the inclusion of other great spiritual leaders. Many would regret the passing of all Church representation, linked as it is with so much of historical interest in the past, but all would like to see this representation widened and made more truly representative of the religious life of the nation. Xor do any desire this more than the bishops themselves.