STIRRING TIMES IN BRITAIN

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2018, 27 March 1914, Page 8

STIRRING TIMES IN BRITAIN

THE CHURCH AND THE NATION. Bio Rev. W. E, Lush, vicar of Epiphany Parish, Auckland* arrived in Wellington by tho AtJwuic yesterday, and continued his voyage to Auckland last night. Mr. L-ush has been on a visit to England, and was deeply Interested in what hq saw and heard during his stay in the Old Country.. lie states that the political excitement among all classes of-the people is very great, and this has now been' increased by. the trouble over the Army in connection with the Homo Rule movement, When- ho loft England there was a strong feeling that a dissolution could not long be delayed as the difficulties of the Uovernibcnt were becoming overwhelming. It was iiiiposHblo to say what the end ef the controversy would be.

Sir, Lush's impressions regarding tho : position of tho Anglican Church ale on tho whole optimistic. Ho says the general tone of Church life seems to have improved since ho Was last in England some twenty-five years ago. Tho attendance at tins church services appear-ed-to bo quite as good, -and ho was rather surprised that the latest etaiis- ' tics regarding Church membership.j confirmations, etc., do not bear out bis impressions, In any case he found that the interest in Church matters was very keen, and' it should be boxho in mind that church-going does not now have, behind it tho pressure of cus-tam and convention whieh it had in former days-. People who go to church, lurftaaays do so because they feel that the okurc'h ser- ■ yicos meet foal spiritual needs. There is probably mora earnestness and' sincerity- jii it, Tho Kikuyu controversy waß going on while Mr.,tush was in England, but he docs sot believe that there is any likelihood of a disruption 1 over the iDSttoii though it has raised somo- difficult problems. He-does not think the attitude of the Bishop of Zanzibar is fully understood by the public, and says the. reasons far kis protest are not thoroughly appreciated.

Speaking generally, Mr. Lush thinks that tho outlook for the. Church is full of hope* and that'good progress is being, made in many directions. Churchmen are Hot so tightly fettered, by conventionality as,in former days, aud are ■prepared to strike out into new lines and make experiments with the object of strengthening the spiritual life of the nation.