A NEW CHURCH

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 June 1922, Page 7

A NEW CHURCH

LIBERAL CATHOLICS. “Bishop” Leadbeater’s Liberal Catholic Church in Sydney is a new Church remarkable for the ornate character of its ceremonial. Bishop Leadbeater, by the way, lectured m New'Zealand some years ago on Iheosophy. Ho was then a very eloquent speaker and a strong upholder o Theosophy. . } Th© Liberal Catholic Church, m Regent Street, Redfern, stands in dusty commonplace surroundings, witinn ear shot of the shrieking of whistles and the shunting of engines on the railway. It is in one of the poorest pains of Sydney, yet Oriental luxury and elaborate ceremonial are the keynote of the services held within its doors. The Church is a half-octagonal, with a large gallery, and several beautiful lamps dependent from the ceiling, ine altar cloth is rich oyster-white, with oblongs let in of deep sea-blue on ie falling vallauce. Tail perfumed candles are upon the altar, fronting jars of pale arum lilies. As the opening hymn commences, small scarleDrobcd, lace-cassocked altar boys file solemnly in, followed in a dignified procession by the gorgeously trapped priests, canons, and bishops. . - The robes are magnificent, borne or them are cloth of gold embroidered with flowers, and encrusted with jewels. Banners, candles, and crosses are carried as the procession wends its way to its appointed place. “Bishop” Leadbeater, clad in a sti t gold robe, wearing a high scarlet and gold mitre, and carrying a gold crozier, passes among his flock waving a white-gloved hand, upon which is his bishop’s ring, in Apostolic blessing. The odour of incense is over all. The continual vestment changing and mitre-doffing of the assisting “bishop and his clergy grows more rapid as tlio service progresses. While Dr. Annie Besant recently preached m the Church on the effect of Christian evolution and the initiation of Christ. “Bishop” Leadbeater and his gorgeously caparisoned followers sat in all their magnificence listening to her words. ■ ... . The service was distinctly High Church, resembling the English ritual with the vestments and ceremonies of Roman Catholicism. One who was present was remarkably struck with the great lack of simplicity, which completely faded from one's mind before the Oriental splendour and the words of the high thought and mystic suggestion which fell from the lips of the priests. The head rather than the heart was appealed to. The effect was more theatrical than spiritual. Ine Sacrament was administered at the conclusion of the service by 1® “Bishop” and the officers of the Church. One missed _the magnificent offerin'* of music so characteristic o Roman Catholicism. ( Jhe few hymns that were sung were strangely dispirited.