CHURCH CONTROVERSY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20239, 26 April 1929, Page 16

CHURCH CONTROVERSY.

Sir, —It is painful for the adherent's of the Anglican Church to read - of -1 he ■troubles between the clergy and the laity regarding the doctrines, teaching, and the government of the Church. There are too many people claiming to be members of the Church who ought not to be so recognised, for as far as their beliefs go they cannot be faithful to the tenets of the Church of England. When a person objects to the interpretations of the learned clergy of our great Church then he becomes a dissenter, and if he is true to himself he will at once seek for consolation by joining one of the other Christ.ion sects whose teachings coincide with his own ideas of Christianity. Many, of the troubles in our Church are brought about by those who do not understand Anglicanism. Blame must be put upon the wolves that are in the midst of the flock. The remedy lies in the purging of the roll of membership, and maintaining only those who are willing to obey implicitly the laws which govern- the Church. The true guides of the Church are those men who devote their lives to the study of Christianity and to the teaching of the proper' worship of God. Modernism is bringing about many newthoughts and naturally reforms are continually necessary to keep our Church in order, according to the new knowledge of God. -The reformation must be left to our leading Divines and our Church should consist of only those members who will recognise the authority of our bishops and who believe in God, Christianity and the teachings of the Anglican Church. The essence of faith in God and the Church is discipline, and when a section of the laity sets .itself against, the leaders in our clergy, or a few weakling members of the clerical body disobey the controlling authority, then it is manifest that they are not true to the Anglican Church and should be classed with other dissenters. It is for us who are true to our faith to accept tne interpretation of Christian movements as given by our ecclesiastical fathers. Simple faith in the working of God in the souls of these good men will make Anglicanism stronger. Let_ us regard all Christian sects as working for good according to their leaders. Christ said: "In My Father's House there are many mansions"; so in Christianity wa may have many sects, each individually strong in its faith,' but all united by following the one Great Redeemer. Let lis have harmony in our churches, toleration in our modes of worship, and peaca among all mankind. Anglican.