REJECTED PRAYER BOOK

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 18 June 1928, Page 8

REJECTED PRAYER BOOK

WHAT WILL NEXT MOVE BE? THREE MAIN LINES OPEN. SYMPATHY EORt PRIMATE. .United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) (Australian Press Association.) LONDON, June 16. Everywhere the talk among the ecclesiastics and laymen is turned to the next step when the bishops meet to consider the situation on June 27. Three main lines are open. Firstly, to shelve •all idea of a new book and carry on as at present; secondly, to give facilities for a new non-contentious book based on the suggestions of. the Bishop of Norwich, wtho is at present drafting one; thirdly, to defy Parliament and authorise the rejected book, which will probably lead to disestablishment. Though the latter suggestion has been advanced, a number of the bishops are nowise likely to adopt it. It is generally 'believed that the bishops will decide on the second course which has also been advocated by the Home Secretary, Sir William JoynsonHicks. If thie bishops make the noncontroiversdal changes, of which Mr Baldwin spoke so earnestly, it would be welcomed by all and could be passed by the Church Assembly and Parliaas far as can be seen, without opposition.The Rev. Bulliook Webster, the central figure in the scene in St. Paul’s Cathedra] last year when Bishop Barnes was publicly denounced by him, has been urging the bishops to flout Parliament. To-day he posted an announcement in his owtl hand-writing on. the door of his church (St. Michael’s Royal) : “The vote of the House of Commas now offers tihe Archbishop of Canterbury an occasion for a orowning act of his illustrious episcopate, namely to take action in unison with the bishops of the two provinces to promulgate the revised Prayer Book and thus assert the spiri tual authority .of the church and determine its own doctrine and worship unfettered by State control.” The Archbishop of Canterbury, for whom there is universal sympathy, was early at work at Lambeth Palaoe. His manner to those bringing condolences was cheerful and showed no signs of the great blow sustained. During a day of quiet devotion he attended service in the chapel, when some 30 bishops were present and prayers were offered for guidance in the crisis. Letters, telegrams -and messages poured in all day long. It was rumoured his prophesied resignation might be accelerated by the rejection o/f the Prayer Book, but it is semi-olficia'lly stated this is unlikely unless his health is affected by ruined hopes. The Primate had half an hour’s audience with His Majesty the King at the Palace to-day. DIVISION VOTE CORRECTED DEEP PUBLIC INTEREST. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, June 15. The House of Commons rejected the revised Prayer Book measure by 266 to 220 (not 226 to 220 as previously cabled). The majority of 46 is 13 votes greater than that of last December, when the measure, in its original form, after its acceptance by the House of Lords, was rejected by the Commons. The deep public interest roused by the debate was shown by the large crowd which, awaited the result in Parliament Square. While the debate proceeded a number of people knelt in Westminster Abbey, which remained Specially o-pen offering prayers for the approval or rejection o:f the new book. A large meeting of the Protestant Alliance, which opposed the measure, awaited the result kneeling in silent prayer. The rejection of the measure is the culmination of the work of revision, which has occupied the attention of the church authorities for 22 years. Further development's remain in doubt. Sir William Joymson-Hicks, one of its leading opponents, is credited with the suggestion that the revised Prayer Book, with the contentious rubrics deleted, should be pi-esented as an agreed measure. This has hitherto found no favour with the book’s supporters, but now it is obvious that in its present form its acceptance by the House of Commons is out of the question.