THE ANGLO-CATHOLICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 211, 5 September 1924, Page 4

THE ANGLO-CATHOLICS.

Canon J. Carr-Smith, in his recent address here on the Anglo-Catholic movement in the Church of England, touched on the question of reunion, especially in regard to reunion with Koine. In this matter the Roman divines have made their position quite clear, and the conference at Malincs broke down on the vital point of acceptance by the Anglican church of the supremacy of the Pope and the acknowledgment of the doctrine of papal infallibility. Some Anglican divines are willing to concede the question of the supremacy of the Pope. Tims Bishop Gore in "The Holy Spirit and tlie Church," says: "We should delight to acknowledge the primacy of the Bishop of Rome among the churches of Christendom." A few seem willing to accept in some modified form the doctrine of Papal infallibility. Others would appear to accept practically the whole of the Roman teaching except these two points. Though the Roman divines have made small concessions in certain minor points, it is evident that reunion on the terms offered at Mulines would not be reunion but absorption. The position of the Anglican Church was clearly defined at the Reformation, and is set out in the articles of religion. These articles, read in their plain sense, are explicitly condemnatory of certain doctrines and practices of the Roman Church. The teaching of the Prayer Book is widelyseparated from Roman doctrine in many important particulars. Bishop Gore and others advocate cither a revision of Uie Prayer Book or' an alternative book more in accordance with what they call Catholic tradition. They unhesitatingly recommend the abolition of the Thirty-nine Articles. But until this is done the doctrine of the Anglican Church remains where it is. Thus the question arises how far tlie teaching and practice of some of the more advanced Anglo-Catholics can be reconciled with loyalty to the church to which they at present belong. Adherents of the Anglican Church have a right to expect the teaching and ministrations :>f that church, just as adherents of the Roman Church have a right to expect the teach-

ing and ministrations of their church. But when Anglican clergy are, as Canon Carr-Smith says, "determined to copy the Church of Home in everything, as, for instance, having the whole service in Latin" they are in the same position as a Roman priest would he who used tbe Anglican Prayer Book instead of liis own form of service. _vo one denies the earnestness and sincerity of many of those who have declared themselves AngloCatholics, and Canon Carr-Smith rightly says that the movement has been responsible for a real religious revival in many parts of England. But if the movement has helped to foster hopes of au ultimate reunion with Rume, it has also tended to delay the cause of reunion with tlie evangelical churches, and many who adhere to the Reformation doctrines of the Anglican Church are finding it increasingly difiicult to remain in that church when even leaders like Bishop Gore say tiiey would be delighted "to recognise the primacy of the Pope.