CHURCH UNION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19377, 12 July 1926, Page 7

CHURCH UNION.

Sir.—ln Wednesday's Herald Mr. Ivan S. Stebbins makes the following assertion"Bishop Lightfoot, in his famous commentary to the PhilippianS, says the Chnreh passed through a Congregational, then a Presbyterian, then an Episcopal stage, etc." I wonder if Mr. Stebbins will please tell us where Bishop Lightfoot in his commentary states this ? I cannot find such a reference, and have vainly louked through the twelfth edition of his commentary on the Fhilippians to verify Mr. Stebbins' assertion. What I do find bearing on the subject is an express declaration of Bishop Lightfoot in the preface, as follows:—"We cannot surrender for an immediate advantage the threefold ministry which we have in- . herited from Apostolic times and which is the historic backbone of the Church.*' A backbone is always better than a wishbone. Dunelm. July 9, 1926. Sir,—Mr. E. S. Wayne deserves the thanks of Anglo-Catholics for the way in which he has stated their case. Mr. I. S. Stebbins has rather obscured matters by his rhetorical flourishes. With all due respect to the sectarian leaders, whom he mentions, he has adduced no argument against Apostolic Succession. He mistakes Bishop Lightfoot's position, and does not say he practically retracted his statements about the alleged identity of bishops and presbyters in the New Testament Church. Compare his sermon at the Church Congress at Wolverhampton, October 30, 1887, and his speech in the same month at Dnrham Diocesan Conference; also his address at Auckland Castle, August 1, 1888. Every student knows that episcopacy (not in every case diocesan) was found from the first in all great churches of antiquity. It is a favourite "gag" of certain writers to say, for example, "Episcopacy was unknown in Rome till late in the second century." The Anglican Church has to submit to much humiliation through the pranks of those in high places, who indulge in heretical talk and schismatical practice. The secular statesmen require the wealthy and numerous sectarian bodies to be conciliated, and ambitious clergy (often brilliant college dons) are promoted with this end in view. As regards the admission to orders no sincere Christian man of passable ability is ever refused ordination by the bishops, but no amount of flattery and coquetry with outside bodies will hasten the true Christian unity that all Catholics in tho Anglican fold pray for every day. Backb locks Priest.