THE PAN-ANGLICAN CONGRESS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14245, 20 June 1908, Page 9

THE PAN-ANGLICAN CONGRESS.

London during this week is the scene of tho greatest gathering in the history of that ancient and revered communion which goes by the name of the Anglican Church. For the time-honoured title' of "Church of England" is now, strictly speaking, limited to the Establishment in England and Wales and in certain Crown colonies, although the term is occasionally somewhat 100-ely applied to the Anglican Church in Ireland, Scotland, and British possessions generally. For the past live years preparations have been mads for the meeting together of the bishops, clergy, and laity from all parts of the Empire, with the set purpose, to use the happy phrase coined by tho Archbishop of Canterbury, of concentrating the forces of the Church for tho battle against wrong. And for ten days, commencing last Sunday, London has been invaded by an ecclesiastical host, including twelve archbishops, 275 bishops, 1000 lay and clerical delegates from all parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, together with 300 dolegates and 7000 laymen from the several dioceses in the United Kingdom. And again to quote from the Archbishop of Canterbury, this great Conference is "no mere bit of ecclesiastical machinery. From whatever lands the delegates come, they will bo actuated by one single-hearted desire for the bettering of the world in the faith and fear of God." That the outcome of the Pan-Anglican Congress may bo the realisation of this high and noble purpose—apart altogether from denominational differences—must be the ardent desire of every well-wisher of the race. One feature of the Congress i which especially commends it to the unbiassed and unprejudiced is its Imperial character. One of the most serious menaces of the present day is the existence of that large and growing multitude who, to use Shakespeare's ■words, have forgotten " what the inside of a church is made of"; or, to put itmore plainly, the increasing irreligion of both classes and masses is giving tho thoughtful occasion to pause and ponder. The scientific survey and study of the manifold influences which, working together, have tended towards this condition of things should greatly help towards the solution of a grave and pressing problem. And a consideration of the manner in which tho work of the delegates to the Congress has been mapped out goes to show that this Imperial gathering is not' likely to be held. in vain. For, while the great meeting hold iu the Albert Hall en Monday evening last and the concluding service to be held in St. Paul's Cathedral on the Wednesday of next week, together with the intervening mass meetings to be conducted on each evening of the Congress, will undoubtedly attract the larger audiences, yet the actual hard work of the Congress will be done at tho sectional meetings, arrangements having been m'a-de for six or seven of these each day. The weighty subjects to be discussed at theso sectional meetings naturally fall under four heads and compass most of the burning questions which at the present time confront the Church both from within and from without. It is noticeable, however, that at least two topics, calculated to mar the harmony of the proceedings, have been omitted from the programme. We refer, of course, to those two vital questions ' which are being discussed with so much' acrimony in England to-day—education and licensing. The hope of a satisfactory settlement of the educational deadlock seems so remote that probably iny further discussion would., prove futile. But it remains to he seen whether the Congress delegates will contrive to keep clear of the licensing impasse. Mr Asqnith, speaking at tho banquet tendered to the Prelates attending the Congress by the Pilgrims at the Savoy,. certainly challenged the Church to definite action when he remarked that "if sho used her opportunities and lived up to the height of her mandate the Church might still share in the task of expelling the greatest scourge that was to-day threatening the unity and progress of mankind." There can be little doubt that the Prime Minister was referring to the drink traffic, more especially as the Anglicans in the Homeland are seemingly hopelessly divided in respect to Mr Asquith's Licensing Bill, The bishops are almost unanimous in supporting it, whilst tho Church newspapers are bitter in their opposition. Leaving on one side, however, these extremely controversial questions, the subjects set down for discussion cover a wide and interesting field. In the section which concerns iteelf with human thought consideration will be given to the relatione of religion and science, and to the bearing of the critical study of the Bible. What is commonly known as the Higher Criticism is frankly accepted by the majority of the Anglican clergy, and the discussion on this point should do something to clear away popular misconceptions. Carlyle once caustically declared that the true Church of England lay in the editors of its newspapers, for they preached to the people daily. Without accepting *"y8 dictum uwKerTedljk tho delegates

recognise tho important part played by tho press in the dissemination of religious views and intelligence, and this subject is also set down for discussion. Another important topic is that of Christian morality as criticised in the West and in tiio East. Leavhi" the domain of pure thought-, another section will concern itself with the difficulties of everyday life. Such pressing problems as Socialism, capital and labour, social i and commercial morality, to say nothing of the everpresent matter of marriage, will each ami all he fully dealt with. A third section takes in hand the relations yf the Anglican Church to itself and to other denominations, and there are indications that the possibility of the consummation of many fond hopes and prayers in the reunion of Christendom will receivo adequate attention. The matter of mission work in foreign lands will occupy the thoughts of yet another section of the delegates, and) this bare outline will give a faint idea of the comprehensiveness and completeness of the programme before the Congress. It is gratifying to remember that, while the papers prepared dealing with those intricate questions emanate from ecclesiastical experts in all parts of the Empire, there is at least one contribution from New Zealand—viz., the paper by the Bishop of, Duncdin on "The Anglican Communion in Relation to its Parts." The meeting together in solemn conclave of so many men of trained minds and lofty purpose, fortified by experience won in many hard fields of labour, should mean a mighty forward movement for the Anglican Church. There was never a time in Hie history of Christendom when the labours of tho clergy were rendered so arduous, when the discouragements were so many, and the emolument so •small. The Pan-Anglican Congress should surely light a fire of holy enthusiasm and high inspiration which, spreading right round the Empire, will make for the uplifting of humanity from the slough of doubt and despair, and the establishment of the Church more firmly upon the reck of faith, ceinentptl there by the bonds of love and service.