WAXING WARMER

Northern Advocate, 22 October 1927, Page 9

WAXING WARMER

1 CHURCH DOCTRINAL DISPUTE DIVERGENT OPINIONS. SHOULD BISHOP 13ARNES RESIGN'’ (United Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Received P a.in.) LONDON, October 20. The C'luireh is threatened with a crisis of some magnitude, following bn the protest against Bishop Barnes and his open letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury. The latter is preparing a reply. There is a distinct division .in. the ranlcs of the clergy, though the Roy, Bullock-Webster is finding support. ... A suggestion that Bishop Barnes should be tried for heresy was made' bv the Re.v. Douglas-Proctor, at the Convocation of the Canterbury Diocese. The Bishop of Southwark said that either Bishop Barnes was guilty of heresy, or the air should be definitely cleared by a statement of the case by a competent tribunal. Canon Rogers, Rector of Birmingham Parish Church, in a vigorous defence of Bishop Bar'nes,-i,said'that the latter was like the captain of a ship clearing the decks for action.'He was throwing overboard what he believed to be cumbersome and worthless. “He does not want io scuttle the ship,” said Canon Rogers, “but to fig lit, and that is why he is throwing the furniture overboard.” The Prebendary of Kt. Paul’s, the Rev. W. Russell, says: “I do not know about a heresy trial, as ecclesiastical law' is in such a confused state. X wish Bishop Barnes would resign. He should never have been there, holding such views. ” ; church opinion is more or less crystallised in a."' statement by Bishop Wclldon: “The Church must accept established doctrines of science, including the Darwinian theory of evolution. Tt is also true that certain doctrines of the Eucharist are opposed to the spirituality of true religion, but the Bishop of Birmingham is at fault in manner rather than matter. I sympathise .with the Bishop in his openmindedness, pbut I wish lie Could realise more the mystery winch underlies spiritual truth.”

The Rev. OBullock-Webster says that he does not intend to reply to Bishop Barnes’ open letter. “I do noU wish to drive Bishop Barnes to Tennessee. He has got himself there, already.” The Rev. Russell, one of Dean Inge’s own clergy, sympathises with the, Rev, Bullock-Webster, and says: “Many of ns felt that it was an insult to, invite Bishop Barnes to preach in St.. Paul’s..;, I think he•should resign. A man holding such views should never be a bishop.”—A.N.Z.