NO CONFIDENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 254, 26 October 1928, Page 7

NO CONFIDENCE.

SYNODS AND BISHOPS.

Significant Voting On Prayer Book Issues.

RESERVATION DEATH BLOW. (Australian and N.Z. Press Association.) (Received 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, October 25. At the first synod since the Reformation held in the London diocese, the Bishop of London, Dr. A. F. Winnington Ingram?' submitted six questions on which the clergy ballotted.

These were:—

(1) Were they willing that the bishop should be guided by the rejected 192S Prayer Book until full order had been re-established?— The answer was: No.

(2) Were they willing to prohibit a deviation from the book of 1662, except when parishioners and their incumbent agreed?— Answer: No.

(3) Were they willing to allow the use of the alternative order of the Holy Communion provisionally and subject to the bishop's special conditions?— Answer: No.

(4) W ere they willing to allow the reservation of the. sacrament for known sickness during any one day?— Answer: Yes.

_ (5) Were they willing.to allow the bishop to regulate the permanent reservation in present emergency, in accordance with the rubies in the 1928 book? — Answer: No.

_ (6) Were they willing to support the bishop in endeavouring to stop practices inconsistent with the 1662 and 1928 books?— Answer: Yes.

The voting on the fifth question was: Ayes, 292; Noes, 655. On the sixth it was 636 and 494 respectively. On the other questions the voting was fairly close.

The same questions have been put to synods in other dioceses. Litchfield Synod accepted all the questions.

The Bishop of Liverpool, :n addressing the synod, said he was not altogether in agreement with the bishops' proposals, which he hoped would be modified. He especially regretted the proposed sanction for the use of an alternative communion office.

Nobody desired a new office more than himself, but he still hoped that the bishops would quietly lay it aside for the present, however much Bome of them desired it. It would be a fruitful sacrifice.

The synod voted against the first four questions and accepted the fifth and also the bishops' two further questions; firstly, to support him in any act of censure pronounced by him and relating to the use of the reservation elements; and secondly, agreeing that no sanction be given the use of the 1928 book.

It is regarded as most significant that an overwhelming majority of the London clergy refuse to follow their Bishop's lead in the matter of the Prayer Boole. The result of the ballotting in synod was a surprise., even for the most resolute opponents.

The ecclesiastical correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" says the result was due to a combination of Protestants and Anglo-Catholics for diametrically opposed reasons.

On the subject of reservation the "Morning Post" says the refusal of the London clergy to support the Bishop's policy is regarded as the death-blow to

it, since London is the most important diocese of the Church of England. It proves that this diocese is not willing to challenge the State.