CHURCH CONGRESS.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17224, 6 October 1927, Page 7

CHURCH CONGRESS.

OUTSPOKEN ADDRESSES. REVOLT AGAINST RELIGION. MANY SINISTER SIGNS. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) LONDON, October 4. " The relations between the sexes,' as expressed in modern literature, society and conversation show a great revolt against the Christian religions. This movement has gained to a formidable extent in recent years," said the Bishop of Durham, Dr. H. Henslcy Henson, in a sermon at the Church Congress which is now silting at Ipswich. " Civilisation has failed to find a substitute for Christ's religion as guardian and individual controller of sexual passion. " The secularisation of the Sabbath, the declining attendance at the churches, the disregard of the disappearance of the reticence and discipline which were formerly regarded as necessary to protect female virtue, are sinister signs. They may be a reaction against unwarrantable clerical professions and irrational moral conversions. Rut it must be remembered that ihc failure of the churches means that civilisation is ■ parting company with Christianity and restoring the cruelty, the prevalence of suicide, superstition and unbridled sensuality which existed before civilisation.

" Russia at present is practising Western theories with brutality and a lack of discrimination. The saddest and most menacing feature of Anglo-Rus-sian relations was the absence of disgust, resentment and alarm on the part of British Labour men, in regard to the Bolsheviks' treatment of religion, marriage and childhood. " Even if Russia is left out of the reckoning the British revolt against morality causes apprehension. The real opposition to the new prayer-book is due to widely distributed resentment against the breach of contract in the spirilual office and this resentment has resulted in a refusal to endorse an apparent concession to law-breaking clergy." Appeal for Christian Unity.

The Bishop of St. Edmondsbury and Ipswich, Dr. W. G. Wittingham, in his presidential address on " The Work of the Church in a Modern Village," condemned the tendency to regard the Kingdom of Cod as something not connected with daily life. He said it waa not incompatible with feeding pigs and hoeing turnips. It was fatal to judge the success of the Church's message by the extent of church-going. Moreover, they must get rid of the spirit of competition. "Wo need not suppose that when we secure a Nonconformist as a Churchman we have done something which in itself is meritorious in God's Kingdom," said Dr. Wittingham, " or that it does Him injury if a Churchman becomes a Nonconformist. We must get rid of the notion that it is wrong to go to chapel. There are differences in administration, but the same Lord." The speaker concluded with an earnest appeal for Christian unity.

The Canon of Liverpool, Dr. C. E. Raven, advocated the admission of women to full priesthood, with the prospect of an episcopate if and when they became qualified. A questioner asked: "Why did not our Lord ordain a woman apostle?" The Canon: "Who am I that I should dare to answer that?"

Another questioner asked whether it would be possible for a woman to represent Cod, seeing that lie was masculine.

The Canon replied: i; Do you really mean to maintain that God is masculine? That is so extraordinarily heretical that I can hardly believe a priest would give utterance to it. Christ said: 'ln Mo there is neither male nor female.' Your view may be good Mahommedanism, but it is bad Christianity."