BISHOP OF BIRMINGHAM

Evening Star, Issue 19698, 27 October 1927, Page 9

BISHOP OF BIRMINGHAM

LETTER TO ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY THE CONSECRATED ELEMENTS. Press Association —By Telegraph —Copyright. LONDON, October 26. (Received October 27, at 12.40 p.m.) Bishop Barnes, in an open letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury, points out that tho latter’s letter tacitly acknowledges the truth of evolution, which Bishop Barnes emphasised in his “gorilla” sermons, as tho archbishop smilingly labelled them, was not so much a doctrine as readjustments of Christian dogma, consequent on its acceptance. Ho adds: l£ l note that vou repudiate transubstantiation. I also fail to find repudiation of my sacramental teaching. 1 am sorry that you say I offended some church members. Some pain is inevitable. Truth pierces like a sword. I cannot agree that any experimental test, of sacramental dogmas must ho inadequate, nor that the dogma of trausnbstantiation only differs from that of the objective real presence in the consecrated elements. In that the former rests on a discarded philosophy, and the latter has not a philosophical basis. Both belong to the religions psychology in which experimental tests can be made. It is fairs' even if undesirable, to suggest that such tests should bo reverently carried out in a suitable place, since the tests will show that nobody by spiritual capacity can distinguish between consecrated and unconsecratcd bread. We can assume that the consecration of material objects causes nn spiritual change in ihom- Spiritual grace is given not to the elements if the sacrament, but to the worshipper who eats and drinks, as ho comes with faith and prayer and love to Christ. There is no objective presence of Christ attached to the bread and wine of communion. From the belief that the consecrated wafer is really Christ our Saviour, most of tlie irregularities witch have crept into the church in recent years naturally follow.”