NEW PRAYER BOOK

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 14 June 1928, Page 9

NEW PRAYER BOOK

LATE EDITION

BEFORE HOUSE OF COMMONS. MOMENTOUS DEBATE OPENED. CASE FOR THE MEASURE. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) (Australian Press Association —United Service.) Received 1.35 pan. to-day. LONDON, June 13. Tn the House- oi Mammons there was an elecbrio afinio sphere during the Prayer Rook debate, and many members of til© House were compelled to seek seats in sude galleries. Members were bombarded with letters, postcards and petitions to th© last moment. A large proportion w.as framed on models supplied by societies. Mr I*'. is. Merrkn-an introduced the measure. In an hour’s speecn he said that he diid not regret tlie previous rejection, wnioh hau been lecognised as an explosion oi indignation by Parliament and ilaity against tiie more lawless extravagances of certain ctergy and the failure in certain quarters .to restrain those extravagances. (British Olficial Wireless.)

Mr Merriman, in introdnoing the Prayer Rook measure, emphasised that two vital matters in regard to the revised Player Rook were discipline in the church and the underlying doctrines of the new book. He declared that it was possible to give undue weight to certain extravagances within the Church of England in proportion to the general body of loyal servants faithfully doing tbeir duty. The Prayer Rook was not designed to legalise these illegalities in regard to CUiuron disci'pline. Mr Merriman asked what chance would there be if the measure were rejected, of retaining the loyal clergy who had already been adopting ceremonies which were permitted in the book, and which were so peraiitted with the knowledge that behind them was the overwhelming majority of bishops and clergy. If the measure were rejected hew could the bishops possibly demand that those who were exceeding the proposed limits should come within those limits. He submitted on grounds of the restoration of discipline that there was an overwhelming case for passing the measure. He further contended that the book maintained the Protestant character of the Church of England and that the additions or amendments which had been instituted mlade that position abundantly clear. Defending the reservations of the sacrament, Mr Merrdanan reminded the House that those padre® to whom the army owed so much during the war, those padres who never practised the reservation before, reserved the sacrament which had been consecrated in the battery or battalion headquarters and carried on under gas helmets into the front line trenches *or gumpdts and there administered it to the men wh<> were in greater peril than those wtho. were in hospital. Were these men _ lightly going to give up a practice which had such saored associations,_ and pf which they hiave realised the spiritual benefit ? LONDON, June 13. •Mr Merriman continued: Side by side with the doctrine of the Church of England, whereby the rite of communion was a commemoration of the sacrifice on the Cross, was another which those of the Church of England might hold as members of the Holy Catholic Church, which was not the Roman Catholic Church at all. _ There was a perfectly legitimate desire to use all that was permissible in the traditional liturgy of the church. AN OPPOSITION VIEW. Air Samuel Roberts in opposing the measure said that the book set up two standards of doctrine. Elveryone in the church would have to be labelled as one who believed in the new service or old. The new book type of man would shine in the light of episcopal blessings, but the others would not. The new Prayer Book was going to be the great deterrent to young evangelicals joining church. Commander Kenworihy said that lr one thought only of outward forms and Was prepared to damn a man because he preferred that a clergyman should wear a chasuble, changes in the Prayer Book were great, but if one kept one’s eyes upon the goal of all religion the changes were small. There was no reason for rejecting the book. Mr J. H. Hayes said that the decision of the House of Commons in December found a warm endorsement in all sections of the community. He could find nothing, but whole-hearted opposition to the measure. There was a feeling of amazement when it was discovered how much the representatives of the Church of E/ngland- were prepared to surrender at Malines.