THE PAN-ANGLICAN SYNOD.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 1235, 4 September 1878, Page 3

THE PAN-ANGLICAN SYNOD.

TO THK EDITOR OF THS TIATARU HEBAHI. Sib,— Many of your readers, I think, will agree with, me m criticising the stylo and statements of your correspondent, ia his " London Letter " yesterd&y, m reference to the Pan-Anglican Synod. Undoubtedly it is a sinurt and pungent production, modelled it would seem, after the style of " Atlas," m the World, and based on the principle of being readable at any rate, irrespective of accuracy of statement, or of a regard for a liberal and comprehensive view of current eveuta. Your correspondent fal's foul of the hundred Bishops of the Church of England, who have gathered together from all parts of the world 'o discuss important rratters of Church discipline, and the difficult subject of infidelity. Ho himself admits that these matters are important, and urges that infidelity m England is to be found everywhere. Yet this is the style m which he deals with the intentions of the Synod, for at the time of his writing nothing was known of what the Bishops would arrive at m discussion. Their intention of discussing points of Church discipline is spoken of as " paltry, puerile, aud almost impotent," buoaiißo the subject of infidelity is of more importance than such matters. Their intention of discussing infidelity evokes the following effusion — " The prescription they finally agree upon will perhaps be original, perhaps intelligible, but probably nothing of the sort. Probably it will be an emasculated botch potch, a mixture of one hundred different nostrums " ; nnd again, " poor old gentlemen, up m the attics somewhere, discussing the arrangement of their wardrobes or larder, and beneath them the house itself m flames." This is, perhaps, a readable style of letter, well enough m its way as a bit of fun, but it is quite unworthy of any writer whi evidently claims, as your correspondent does, to be a wise interpreter of great publio events. Let me now add a few words as to hiß statements ss well as style. He states that infidelity is ■' walking about England everywhere as a roaring lion ;" thnt " not 10 per cent, of scientific men escape it ;" that "as an illustration of the effect of infidelity on. the rising generation at Oxford, such is the influence of Dr Jowett at Balliol College, that nine out of ten undergraduates go away hopeless free thinkers." That " the Clergy harangue congregations Sunday after Sunday, but the men they ought to reach are not m church, or need more potent physio than they get;" that "the attitude of the clergy is comio and deplorable." These statements are strong, but are they true ? Granting that infidelity is a potent influence m England, yet was it not as potent m the first days of Christianity ? Has there ever been a time or an age m which belief had its own way ? If die present age be remarkable for its unbelief, is not that all the more reason for such an effort aB that which the PanAnglican Synod hag attempted to devise some better methods of meeting the difficulty, than hitherto used ? But your correspondent would do well to look at both sides of the question he prof ess 09 to deal with. Infidelity is active, true, and so i 3 the Church of Christ, not only the Anglican Communion, but all branches of the Church. Let him go, m London, or elsewhere m England, to the churches, and note what he seoa. Afc Westminster Abbey, m St. Paul's, m tha cathedrals, m the churches larsje and small, and m those which belong to other bodies than the Church of England, he will find congregations Buch as fifty years ago would have been considered a marvel. Infidelity has not got it all all its own way, certainly not with the rising generation. I adduce two illustrations of this, taken at haphazard from late home papers : — " Henley on Thauies, July sth, 1878. — It may be interesting to know how the racing uquatie world spent the Sunday previou* to the great amateur contests. Henley was full of athletes. At the midday and evening services there were grand congregations. The enormous church was full from end to end ; a vast number of those present consisted of members of the Bowing Clubs i their behavior was most reverent ; the canticles nnd hymns were sung so heartily as almoßt to drown the choir. The sermon, an admirable one, from the text, 'To him that overcometh ' waß addressed chiefly to the athletes m the congregation." Another illustration : — At ths last ordinations m England of priests nnd deacons on Trinity Sunday, 469 men were ordained, nnd of these 283 wore graduates either of Oxford or Cambridge. Another illustration, but of a different kind, of the conflict between Infidelity and Faith now-a-daye, and its real character: — Some three or four years ago a book called " Supernatural Religion " wna published with much eclat, and widely read. It was a book profess'ng immense research and learning. Ita two first volumes met with an enormous circulation, its arguments were deemed by tome to have annihilated Christianity as commonly taught. But since then a more powerful book, m reply, by Professor Lightfoot, of Cambridge, has appenred, who has effectually disposed of his antagonist, and now, recently the third volume of "Supernatural Religion" has appeared, on'y to meet significant silence. It is a failure. Straws shew the set of the stream. Suoh illustrations as these I have adduced, m proof of tho state of the religious mind of England may Beem trifling, but they are enough for my present purpose, to sbow that stagnation is not the chief characteristic of Christianity at Home, etill less that, as your correspondent thinks, " the foundations of the Church are ahuddering and tottering." Hoping that you will pardon the length of this letter. I am &c, Hbnet W. Habpbb, Archdeacon. Timaru, Sept. 4th, 1878.