CHURCH DISCIPLINE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12555, 22 April 1904, Page 5

CHURCH DISCIPLINE.

A ROYAL COMMISSION.

By Telegraph Press Association.—Copyright.

(Keceived April 21, 10.30 p.m.)

London-, April 21. Sir Michael Hicks-Beach has been appointed chairman of the Royal Commission to inquire into the question of discipline in the Church of England. The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of Oxford, Sir F. Jeune and Sir Edward Clarke are among the members.

Referring to the question, of Church discipline in the House of Commons, recently, Mr. Balfour said: have done mv best with such means as are at my disposal to find out what progress has been made in dealing with what the question describes as the disorders in the Church of England, and, 1 on the whole, I believe the progress has been considerable, although I am afraid it. would be alleged that it* has not been so great as most of us- would desire. There are great doubts as to the facts of these cases. There are many persons who believe that these disorders are widely spread in England, and that they permeate the whole system of the National Church. There are others who, on the other hand, hold that they are extremely restricted in their area and confined to one or two particular districts. I think that both of these opposing parties have some right to ask for an investigation, and I do not think, therefore, that the Government would lie justified in refusing it. In expressing satisfaction with Mr. Balfour's statement, the Standard says:"The issue of the new Royal Commission must not be understood as a recognition of the right of any party, High or Low, ultra-Pro-testant or strongly Ritualistic, to insist that its special preferences or antipathies shall be taken as the test of what is allowable or obligatory/' The Times thinks that, "with a few inevitable exceptions," Mr. Balfour's action will be accepted by all parties. " Intelligent men on both sides are anxious to get at the truth. . . The Commission need not be a large one. . . The men who can do most service in this case are those churchmen of the centre, who can come to the investigation with an open mind, and who have not committed their freedom of judgment to the tender mercies either of the English Church Union or of the Church Association. '. . Everyone who wishes well to the Anglican Church — after all that is the feeling of the ordinary Englishman will desire that the Royal Commission may either bring in a favourable verdict or suggest a practicable remedy."