PRAYER BOOK REVISION DISESTABLISHMENT INEVITABLE

Evening Star, Issue 19773, 25 January 1928, Page 5

PRAYER BOOK REVISION

DISESTABLISHMENT INEVITABLE

BISHOP OF MANCHESTER'S VIEWS EXPLANATORY MODIFICATIONS NECESSARY. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, January 24. The Bishop of Manchester, in a statement in regard to the Prayer Book, says that he is unable to agree with either complete defiance of the State in the interest of church autonomy, or an immediate acceptance of the vote in the House of Commons. Explanatory modifications will clear away many objections, but it would bo a fatal mistake to accompany the proposals by measures for coercive discipline. The first necessity is to provide a law for public worship which really corresponds with the spiritual life of the church to-day, so that there may be firm ground when cheeking what is illegal. If the bishops had more extensive alterations it would have meant acquiescence in the right of the State to determine the church’s form of worship. CHURCHMEN’S UNION. PROPOSED AMENDMENTS. LONDON, January 24. (Received January 25, at 1.30 a.m.) The Council of the Churchmen’s Union has sent a letter to the archbishops and bishops urging the following amendments in the deposited book before it is again presented to ParliamentA rubrical provision that the elements, if reserved, shall be only reserved in a closed safe in the vestry outside the parts of the church used for worship; the insertion of a rubric indicating the lawfulness of reserving the elements for communion of the sick and the unlawfulness of the reservation for adoration; and the insertion, in an appropriate place in the Prayer Book, of a statement that non-fasting communion does not sonflict with the practice and teaching of the Church of England.

ARCHBISHOP JULIUS’S VIEW MAY END IN “RICHER LIFE.” [Special to the ' Star.’] CHRISTCHURCH, January 24. “I cannot see any escape from the disestablishment of the Church of England from the State ; yet, however, disastrous it is to the country, it may actually end in a richer life lor the church.” That is the opinion of Archbishop Julius, formerly Rrimate of New Zealand. “The danger of the present position (he said to-day) is, on the one hand, that Protestant feeling is strongly against any practice of reserving the sacrament, on the other hand, the Anglo-Catholics will certainly not be content with a reservation such as is set down in the revised Prayer Book. Accordingly, both of these sections are opposed to the revised book. The changes which have been made since the matter was referred back to the church, so far as I can understand, do not withdraw permission to reserve the sacred elements, but they do safeguard the use of the reserved sacrament for administration to the sick only. In the Roman Catholic Church the reserved elements are used in several other ways. “On this particular question the first revised book was not clear. The necessary safeguards are now included, and beyond this it is not likely that the church will go. It is extremely doubtful whether Parliament in its present mind will accept the amended revision. It is certain the church cannot be content with the old book. With all its beauty it has many imperfections, and does not meet the requirements, liturgical or otherwise, of the present day. If Parliament refuses permission to revise the Prayer Book when the church wishes to do so I cannot seo any escape from disestablishment.”