The Star. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1927. THE REJECTED PRAYER BOOK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18340, 17 December 1927, Page 4

The Star. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1927. THE REJECTED PRAYER BOOK.

SURPRISING though it may be, the rejection of the new Prayer Book by the House of Commons need not be regarded as a disaster. It may exercise a profoundly unifying influence and, if the Church Courts with a united voice demand revision, the House of Commons will be unable to withhold consent. The Church of England is very closely interwoven with the life of the people of England, and has been for centuries. It has its roots very deeply in the hearts of millions. The King is the head of the Church, and numbers of tile Bishops are members of the House of Lords, so having a direct voice in the legislature of the country. On great national occasions, the Church is expected to, and does, play an extremely important and impressive part. Disestablishment of the Church is not ardently desired even by the Nonconformists, though there is a fairly considerable body in the Church of England itself which would support disestablishment and a complete separation of the Church and State. It is possible that the rejection of the Prayer Book may give an impetus to the protagonists of disestablishment, but it will be a long time beforo the inter-locking relations between the Church and the State can be severed, if they are severed at all. The rejection of the Prayer Book must be a great blow to the Archbishop of Canterbury, who naturally felt, after his triumphant victory in the House of Lords, that success in the House of Commons was assured. It is difficult to predict with any confidence what is likely to happen in the future. It may be taken for granted, however, that, where the Church Courts themselves have so strongly declared in favour of revision, the question will not be allowed to lapse and that some via media will be found which will satisfy the demaud of the Church and be acceptable to the House of Commons.