REVISED PRAYER BOOK.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 19 December 1927, Page 6

REVISED PRAYER BOOK.

REJECTION BY COMMONS. BISHOP BARNES PLEASED. LONDON, Saturday. The >Hass of Liberal opinion against the revision gives interest to Sir John Simon's declaration at Bradford todav, when he said: . Lj t i_ s the State connection which caused the difliculty. If the day ever came when the Church of its own free will assumed the position of claiming, in matters of liturgy and doctrine, freedom from Parliamentary control, none would l}e more ready to support and defend her claim than the Liberal members of the House of Commons.” Commenting on the position, Bishop Barnes, of Birmingham, says that the House of Commons has shown that it will not surrender the heritage of the Reformation. “I urge thc_ majority of bishops to show magnanimity and so ensure the non-contentious proposals speed ilv becoming law,” he added. “Simultaneously, there must be reform in Church law and Church courts, so that when a man breaks solemn oaths and promises made at his institution in a living he can be deprived thereof. The Bishop of Lincoln says: “The rote is simply deplorable. It is so serious that I prefer silence pending mature consideration.” The Bishop of Plymouth declared: “It is the heaviest blow struck at the Church in my lifetime.” The Bishop of Ely said: ft i 3 a blow to unity, discipline, progress and reality in Church worship.” The Bishop of Hereford says: “The rejection of the motion raises most serious Questions, but I hope the rule of charity will not be forgotten.” The Bishop of Sodor and Han declares: The Kingdom of God does not depend on human statesmanship. We shall be heavily handicapped, but we must .bravelv carry on.” Bishop Frodsham, vicar of Halifax, says: “The rejection makes little difference to public worship: it means rather the postponement .of a practical attempt to unite and strengthen episcopal administration. The Bishop of Liverpool says: . “The decision means a spiritual disaster. The Church must be gravely weakened for many years by the refusal of. Parliament to endorse its leaders’ policy.” The Bishop of Bradford says lie is •greatly disappointed, but that quiet consideration is needed to discover the course best to promote the welfare of the Church and the nation.