BISHOP SEDGWICK’S LETTER.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VI, Issue 166, 27 June 1916, Page 3

BISHOP SEDGWICK’S LETTER.

LlO THE EDITOR.!

Sir,—l have no liking for ecclesiastical controversy but Bishop Sedgwick’s sorry production professing to give reasons for his refusal to permit his clergy to participate in combined services on Anzac Day nulls for some comment. Underlying his letter is the arrogant assumption that the clergy of the Anglican body exercise some superior ministry to that exercised by ministers of the Free Churches. This imaginary superiority seems to arise from a child-like faith in the figment of "apostolic succession, a silly supposition that no man ever did or ever can prove. Stripped of empty verbiage the Bishop’s letter simply acknowledges that he has made a strategic movement to the rear so that his clergy may not be excluded, by his former indefensible attitude from all national or civic celebr? tions. Despite his experience <>' eating humble pie the Bishop still dares to dictate that at these national or civic gatherings ministers of other churches must, like his own clergy, appear only as private citizens and not in a representative capacity. The Bishop may rest assured that no self-respecting minister in any Free Church will accept his dictation. It is only because the ministers of his own and other churches are representative men that the public expect their participation in great public demonstrations, and it is as representative men that we shall continue to take our rightful place in. public life. If this does not suit the Bishop and his clergy they will, as was recently pointed out in their own Synod, be self-excluded upon occasions of great public and national interest.

One can but deplore the Bishop’s denial of the benefits of Anglican ministrations to' the community on the occasion of combined gatherings. His action stamps him as a true schismatic.—l am, etc., M. A. RUGBY PRATT.