NEW PRAYER BOOK

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 91, 8 July 1927, Page 13

NEW PRAYER BOOK

BISHOPS’ DISCUSSION THE LAST SPEAKERS MOTION EASILY CARRIED By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright Reed. 1.29 p.m. LONDON, Wed. The Bishop of Norwich, opposing the adoption of the New Prayer Book at the Assembly of the Anglican Church, said he regretted that the discussion, which seemed to become one of a vote of confidence in the hishops, was bringing a matter of heaven down on earth. It had cost him much to differ from the bishops, but the whole book was unwise.

“At this time it rests upon episcopal inconsistencies. There is no sign that the bishops will not change their minds again. Sir Thomas Inskip closed the debate for the Opposition. He said it would be inadvisable, as some suggested, to brush aside the whole question in a spirit of breezy optimism, as giving a fresh start to the Church. He referred to the changes of opinion which had taken place among the bishops, and declared that the Bishop of Durham had gone as near as a bishop could do, in condemning as “the Protestant underworld’ those opposing the proposals. The Bishop of Durham immediately sprang to his feet and said: —“I carefully refrained in that observation from giving names.” Sir Thomas Inskip: As a lawyer I prefer particularities when dealing with the Church.

After a painful pause, lie added: “It would be unworthy for a loyal son of the Church to adopt the attitude of saying, ‘As the bishops have taken the wrong road, let them tread it to the end.’ He had been grateful for the fellowship of some Anglo-Catholies, but in the Church on earth there was a limit to the practices permitted within its bounds.”

The Archbishop of York, closing for the approvalists, said there was no change of doctrine or change of emphasis. The new book in no wise violated the fundamental basis of the Book of Common Prayer. Changes were natural and inevitable, and a sign of progress of mind and thought. He humbly suggested to the Laity that some very special pledge should be given the judgment of the bishops, whose consecration commissioned them as guardians of the Church’s doctrine and faith. He concluded amid a storm of applause, whereupon the Archbishop of Canterbury put the motion, saying that never before had they been divided on such a momentous issue.

The voting resulted: House Bishops. —For, 34: against 4. House of Clergy. —For, 253; against, 37. House of Laity. —For, 230; against, 92.

The Archbishop of Canterbury said that this was no occasion for a proclamation of victory or defeat. “We have,” he said, “joined a great enterprise, trying to arrive at a satisfactory solution of a solemn question. The Book next goes to the House of Commons. It will be considered by a joint ecclesiastical committee of Ijot'n Houses, and then go before both as a Bill.”—A. and £T.Z.