A Methodist Opinion.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume XIII, Issue 6, 1 December 1922, Page 425

A Methodist Opinion.

OF ANGLO CATHOLICISM.. As evidence of a broadrmindedriess amongst our non-Conformist friends that is too frequently absent amongst members of our own communion the following, extract from a recent article iri the ' 'Methodist Recorder "is of interest: — . , "In the somewhatj dark and grimy northern city m which I live we have had a conference and a 'procession of witness..' A company of bishops and priests paraded our streets, wearing gorgeous robes, swinging incense, and carrying unashamedly a crucifix at their head. I am not horrified by that, nor frightened. I am profoundly thankful for it. To put it at the lowest, if we are to have a brighter London, why not a brighter Leeds? That procession did brighten things up for an hour m our mearier streets. If at a football match men may patch themselves with team colours, and at elections beribbon themselves with self-declaring blues and reds : if our Universities may parade m their degree gowns and hoods, and judges wear the ermine and even Lord Mayors their gold chains, may not the Christian Church when it moves m a procession of witness, boldly fronting the world with its message of the saving love of God — that good news — may she not come forth robed m the brighest and best? I certainly prefer to see 400 men thus garbed than to see the same company m black troupers, frock coats and tall hats, that funereal invention of. tailordom. They might be mistaken for a company of shopwalkers, politicians or undertakers. And if regiments can have their bands and their banners, and are proud to step it under colours that symbolise their courage, victories and patriotism, then I am. not ashamed to carry the symbol of a stronger, . 'purer love, and a greater victory^— even the Cross of my Lord. No, lam not worried about the procession or the pretty clothes. If Aye Protestants had kept

the pretty "clothes iri the parade of our -religion, -we might have kept prettier tempers, and perhaps if we had kept the crucifix before our eyes we might not so easily have forgotten it m our hearts. "But this movment is more serious than millinery, and has bolder ambitions than processing the streets, . good and useful as that may be. The movement is the liveliest,; m the Church of England, spreading ' fastperhaps the most' 'enthusiastic .'movement'ln' the country to-day. I feel friendly towards this iribvement because here I find the Church of Christ setting about its chief work' to de-' clare Jesus Christ as the. Saviour of the world. They have got hold of- that idea, and unashamedly they preach and declare it at every point, even to the very, gestures of head and hand. I . Snow that . m furthering, this they do many- things with which I cannot agree, just as many revivalists T have heard of have adopted methods I strongly dislike. But I have a prejudice m favor of men who have made their chief end to preach "Jesus Christ as the Crucified Redeemer, I feel friendly towards them."r"Church Times." -..'