PRAYER BOOK REVISION

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 May 1928, Page 7

PRAYER BOOK REVISION

REJECTION URGED BISHOP BARNES' OPINION (Australian Press Assn.—United Service.) (By Cable—Press Assn—Copyright.) (Received May 11, 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 10. “If the new Book is passed, all pope of Church unity will be at an end,” said Bishop Barnes, in a speech at a Birmingham meeting at which the Commons was urged to reject the Prayer Book. “The new proposals,” he said, “were substantially the same as the old and deserves the same fate. There was reason to fear that the grave evils eliminated at the Reformation, might be re-established. The Book evaded the crucial issues and sought compromise, where compromise was impossible. It faced both ways. If Reservation became a Church law, it would revive the belief that there was a peculiar virtue in holy water given to a dying man. Such belief was foolish. Anglo-Catholic abuses would be permitted, and a Bishop would be powerless to enforce his decisions. The threat of a disestablishment campaign if the Book were rejected could be ignored.” He suggested moderate non-con-tentious revision, with the simplifying of the old Book and adapting it to modern needs, without the revival of superstitious practises. Concurrently, a measure should be introduced for the restoration of order within the Church.