REVISED PRAYER BOOK.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 19 December 1927, Page 5

REVISED PRAYER BOOK.

COMMONS DECISION. MAY BE IGNORED. Press Association-Electric Telegraph-Copyright LONDON, Saturday. Ecclesiastical authorities point out that it is quite possible that the Church Convocation may ignore the decision of the House of Commons and declare tho Prayer Book measure accepted. Under the law of the Church that would mean disestablishment, but it would have the tactical advantage of compelling Parliament to take action in its own defence. It is unlikely that this course will be adopted. Disestablishment is not easy us, if the King -wore no longer compelled to belong to the Church there would be no reason why he should not be a Methodist or a Roman Catholic. The Protestant Alliance has issued a statement that there need be no talk of disestablishment, because the Church is an integral part of the Nation’s Protestantism, nor need there be chaos. It only remains for the bishops to take action. There need be no appearance of martyrdom. It is simply a ease of putting the right men in the right place. Certain closely-interested parties say that they would not be surprised if some of the bishops resigned. So certain were the authorities that a majority for the book was assured that they fixed convocations for both Canterbury and York for Monday on tho assumption that the Royal Assent would be given early next week. The bishops must now decide whether or not they will hold these meetings. In the second place there is the question of the university printing presses, which, as privileged publishers, have prepared type for a tremendous issue. About one hundred thousand paper-covered books have already been published. The most serious aspect of all, however, is the question of discipline. Practices which were illegal according to the old book have proceeded undisturbed because the authorities counted on their being legalised in the new book. Already the more extreme Protestants are demanding the enforcement of discipline against the Anglo-Catholics on the grounds of their illegal practices. In this connection, the Primate’s message undoubtedly was issued as a steadying influence. Not the least interesting aspect of the division in the House of Commons was the state of parties. The voting was:—

A BISHOP’S VIEWPOINT. (Received Monday, 9.50 a.m.) LONDON, Sunday. “'Let us concentrate our thoughts on political happenings and not alter the spiritual facts,” says the Bishop of Ripon, .appealing to the supporters of the new l’rayer Book to stand fast. “If we love and believe in the Church, let those ready for sacrifices whereby the new Prayer Book may be validated, still move towards that centre, proving that their attitude is due to God’s unchanging spirit in the Church, and not, as our opponents suggest, due to indifference to the truth. Let us bravely learn our lesson. The fruit of our toil has been lost owing, firstly, to the rank and file of laity’s ignorance and prejudice, which teaching might have done more to dissipate; secondly, to suspicion of anything suggesting surrender of the heritage of the Reformation; thirdly, to extremist intolerance, which is a negation of the spirit of Christ. If the spiritual forces which, .at the end of twenty years’ labour and prayer, have drawn churchmen closer, can survive the trial, the Church will soon Cjualitfy to give the spiritual lead the Commons declined to accept.” He ranges prayers for the bishops, especially the arch bishops, for whom the blow has been the most crushing of all.

For. Against. Labour .. .. .. , 53 Conservatives .. . ,. ... 107 161 Liberals , 0, 23 Independents .. 0