A Generous Tribute

Northland Age, Volume 5, Issue 23, 6 March 1936, Page 10

A Generous Tribute

A recent visitor to New Zealand, the Rev. C. W. Gordon (“Ralph Connor”), pastor of one of the largest Presbyterian churches of Winnipeg, once delivered a series of sermons on the “Creeds of Christendom.” His first subject was the “Treasures and Inheritance of the Anglican Church.” In the course of an 1 eloquent address, as reported by the Winnipeg “Free Press,” Mr. Gordon stated that of all the churches, the Church of England was easily the oldest, having come originally from Jerusalem via Gaul. He said the Church of England had existed from the beginning of the Christian era, and is older than the State and Empire, and for nearly 1,800 years had shown a steady growth. He reiterated the historic fact that the bishops of the church held their office by the laying on of hands in an unbroken succession from the Apostles, who received their commission from Jesus Christ. The preacher remarked that it was a popular idea that this Church is an outgrowth of the Church of Rome. “This is not so,” said Mr. Gordon. “The Church had been a period under the influence of Rome, but had always been composed of men who fought against Papal authority.” He said all Nonconformity sprang from the Church of England, while the finest hymns and most inspiring music in the world came from the members of this communion. The greatest scholarship was seen here ; to this Church, said the preacher, we owe the English Bible as well as the Prayer Book, which was a work almost worthy of being placed on a par with the Bible. He spoke of the simple faith of the members, and of the beautiful places of worship, the beautiful prayers, the beautiful vestments and service and hymnal, remarking in passing that the Anglicans laid a marvellous emphasis on prayer, and that the Nonconformists may well sigh for the atmosphere of a Prayer Book when they hear extemporaneous prayers jumbled and poorly phrased. In recapitulating, he emphasised the beauty and dignity of the service of the Anglican Church, stating that in the Nonconformist churches much depends on the minister in the pulpit; but in the Anglican Church the people take a large part, and all in all it gives a truly beautiful presentation of Christ to the world.