REJECTED PRAYER BOOK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20287, 21 December 1927, Page 9

REJECTED PRAYER BOOK

THE COMMON SERVICE. A COMPROMISE INCONCEIVABLE. (Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, December 19. “ I consider that the time has come for a definite split between the Anglo-Catho-lics and the Evangelicals,” says Sir William Joynson-Hicks, in a statement in the Daily News. 11 Both views cannot exist in the same church. They want a reunion with Rome, and w c want a reunion with the Nonconformists. The Anglo-Catholics yearly lean nearer to Rome and indulge in mor e and more illegal practices. Parliament has now said that they'have gone far enough. The Evangelicals have been making room for the Anglo-Catholics by quitting their churches. The new Prayer Book has made England wake up. If the disloyal clergy adopt illegal practices and tea'ch illegal doctrines they cannot honestly take their stipends from the Church they are defying. They must decide for or against Rome. If the former they must leave the Established Church. A compromise regarding the Communion service is inconceivable. The Anglo-Catholics want disestablishment in order to have a free hand to corrupt the Church doctrine. They can get easier and quicker freedom from choosing another church. Meanwhile they must be required to respect their Ordination vows.”—Sydney Sun Cable. THE HOUSE OF BISHOPS. CONSIDERATION OF CRISIS. A STATEMENT EXPECTED. LONDON, December 19. The House of Bishops met at Lambeth Palace to consider the crisis. The confer, ence will be continued to-morrow, when it is expected that a statement for the guidance of clergy and laity will br issued. Mr J. M. Kenworthy, M.P., proposes that the revised Prayer Book should again b e passed by the Convocation and the Assembly and again presented to Parliament next session, when he is convinced that it would be passed by a large majority. The question is largely debated in the lobbies to-day. The general view seems to be that the Commoner voters were within their rights since the Church is an established body, and they were defending the right of parliamentarians whatever their creed. Even Mr Saklatvala has a vote on the Prayer Book question. Sir William Joynson-Hicks, in an interview, pointed out that Anglicans lived in every constituency. Moreover, Protestantism affected the entire nation, not merely the English portion. “ I imagine that Scotland would consider it a great evil if the English Church were really reunited with the Church of Rome,” he added.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

VOTES OF NONCONFORMISTS. NOT ALL ON ONE SIDE. LONDON, December 19. (Received Dec. 20, at 5 5 p.m.) Sir William Joynson-Hicks, contesting the argument that non-English votes outweighed those of English Commoners in the Prayer Book division, says that Protestantism concerns Scotsmen and Welshmen equally with Englishmen. Britain wants to remain Protestant and does not want to fight the battles of the sixteenth century. Replying to the complaint. that Nonconformists and others helped to defeat the book, he points out that similar people voted in the affirmative. Mr Rosslyn Mitchell (Labour, Paisley), in reply to th e Rev. R. J. Campbell, stated that he is a member of the United Free Church of Scotland, though he belongs to the Theosophist Society. —Sydney Sun Cable.

LAMBETH PALACE MEETING. BISHOPS SPEAK WITH FERVOUR.. LONDON, December 20. (Received Dec. 20, at 10 p.m.) The Archbishop of Canterbury, at the Lambeth Palace meeting, invited all the bishops to state their veiws before the general discussion. After this one after another stood up and spoke with warmth and fervour. Personal expressions occupied nearly the whole of th e session. The archbishop remained for an hour closeted with the Bishop of Norwich, who led the attack in the House'of Lords.—A. and N.Z. Cable.