RE-UNION OF CHURCHES

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 19, 22 January 1921, Page 7

RE-UNION OF CHURCHES

ORDINATION AND CONFIRMATION.

(Fsoa oim ow.v coimESiwui^ni.) LONDON, 2nd December. Tho questions of Confirmation and Ordination, in relation to Christian Rnunion, are discussed in a . preface to tho second, edition 1 of Dr. Headlam's Hampton Lectures. Tho, preface is an answer ito criticism's, to wnich his views were subjected by Mr. C.'.'Hi Turner, in the Church Quarterly Review, of'which Dr. Headlam is himself ttfe" editor, and by Bishop Gore in an. "Ope.i Letter.to the Bishon of Nassau." • . • . '.

Dr. Hcadlain devotes himself mainly lo his critics' strong support or tho principles of Confirmation as. a necessary condition of Communion, and of .Apostolic Succession by transmission. "I cannot see by what authority," he says, "wo. can insist either on Episcopal Confirmation or on making Confirmation in all cases a necessary condition of Communion; and I am glad to.see that the Lambeth Conference has had the courage to allow modifi.oations with regard- to those not brought up -in the Church of England on this point."

. In reference lo Apostolic Succession, he says: "Bishop Gore is very earnest in putting forward not only the legitimacy but the necessity of his theory. The mi--fortunate, thing is,- that peoplo for the most part neither believe in nor like it. It is not accepted even by a large proportion of the High Church section of th'p Church oi England. . . . "It is tho'fearthat such theories as Bishop Gore holds may be looked upon as necessary which keeps back many Nonconformists from reunion and the acceptance'of episcopacy. It is quite possible to defend episcopacy' on grpupds which will commend it to the great body of Christian people; it is ea'ually possible to defend*it on grounds which are repugnant to them. At the present time there is a widespread desire for' Church unity, and that is accompanied by a strong feeling that it should be on t^e basis, of episcopacy, But itjs accompanied by a considerable^ fear of theories which seem unspiritual and mechanical; and it is, ■ I believe, jusj; the emphasis ,which Bishop Goro gives' to those theories which is deterring many from reunion on »n episcopal basis."'