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Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6733, 9 October 1928, Page 7

ENGLAND STILL PROTESTANT.

Australian Press Association. Received Monday, 7.0 p.m. , LONDON, Oot. 8,

“Bishops must not be law-break-ers,” declared Bishop Barnes, when interviewed on the Prayer Book. “I would prefer not to criticise but the situation created is so grave and likely to be so disastrous, that I still hope the private remonstrances of men of weight will prevail. Tlie Bishops are appointed by the Crown to maintain sound doctrines and lawful order in the National Church and must not bo law-breakers. The Book was rejected by the House of Commons with the general approval of the countly; first ly, because it permits continuous reservation and secondly, sanctions ah alternative service at Holy Communion.

“If the Bishops., permit these, they will be breaking the law and floutingj the authority of Parliament, and their moral authority to restrain further lawlessness in the Church will end. It would be the same as,, judges of the High Court permitting theft up to £lO and severely censuring the theft ox larger sums.” The Bishop declared the Synod could no more empower the Bishops to set aside the old Prayer Book than to confer the right to repudiate the Commandments. He -would most strongly urge that in the course of- private discussions, his Lambeth colleagues should drop the two contentious proposals and re-submit the -remainder to Parliament. The reply'Of the -nation to any other course would" "be' ' disestablishment. People did not wish to subsidise Catholic innovations but it would be preferable to the course suggested, which was indefensible. The majority of hia colleagues had made a serious mistake in underestimating the Protestant foiling of the country and it would be a worse mistake to challenge their regard for law and order, which was one of the soundest instincts of the British race.