REJECTED PRAYER BOOK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20072, 9 October 1928, Page 11

REJECTED PRAYER BOOK.

ATTITUDE OF BISHOPS. COLLEAGUE REMONSTRATES. MUST NOT BREAK THE LAW. Australian and N.Z. Press Association. (Received October S, 7.25 p.m.) V LONDON. Oct. 7. " Tho bishops of the Church of England must not bo law-breakers," declared Dr. E. W. Barnes in an interview on the Prayor Book policy. " I would prefer not to criticiso the bishops," continued Dr. Barnes, " but that tho situation created by them is so gravo and that the end is likely to bG so disastrous. I still hopo that tho private remonstrances of men of weight will prevail. " Tho bishops were appointed by the Crown to maintain sound doctrines and lawful order in tho national Church. They must not break the law. " Tho revised Prayer Book was rejected by the House of Commons, with tho general approval of the country, firstly, because it permits a continuous reservation of tho sacrament and, secondly, because it sanctions an alternative servico to tho Holy Communion. " If tho bishops pormit these they will bo breaking the law and flouting tho authority of Parliament. Also, their moral authority to restrain further lawlessness in tho Church, will end. " It would bo tho sanio if Judges of the High Court were to permit theft up to £lO and severely to censure thefts of larger sums. Synods can no more empower the bishops to set aside tho old book than they can confer the right to repudiate the Ten Commandments. " I would very strongly urge tho course of private discussions on my Lambeth colleagues," continued Dr. Barnes, " and ask them to drop tho two contentious proposals, submit tho remainder to Parliament again and rely upon the nation. Any other courso would lead to disestablishment. "The'people do not wish to subsidiso Eoman Catholic innovations, but it would bo preferable to tho courso suggested, which is indefensible. " Tho majority of my colleagues have made tho serious mistake of under-estimat-ing tho Protestant feeling in the country. It will be a worse mistake to challenge tho regard for law and order, which is ono of the soundest instincts of British people."