THE BISHOP'S LETTER.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 27, Issue 1, 1 January 1937, Page 1

THE BISHOP'S LETTER.

My Dear People/ — I write as the year is drawing to a close, with the Empire passing under a dark cloud. December 11th was a sad day. ,No King has ever been acclaimed with such universal loyalty and affection as was Edward VIII on his accession, and high regard for him extended far beyound the boundaries of his Empire. And now, before he has been crowned, he has decided to abdicate. The announcement has caused widespread dismay and regret. But, while these feelings are unanimous, the comments : : made reveal a wide divergence m sentiment. ; r The painful facts are clear arid indisputable, but difference m

opinion of them springs largely from loose methods of thought and a failure to grasp the principles involved. .;. There were spme : who thought that the King, 'm, view pf his position, should v have followed the lead suggested by the statement made by M^S; Simpson, and have sacrificed his personal feelings for the good of the Empire; This might or might not have repaired to some extent, the damage which had been done to the regard m which he was held, but he alone could make the decision. A few, on the other hand, urged -that he should have been allowed to make the woman of his choice his queen, regardless of the feelings of his subjects; while others favoured the idea of steps being taken to allow him to contract 1 a morganatic marriage. Some of those who argued that the marriage should have been facilitated have not hesitated jto /regiard ithej opposition to such a course as the outcome of ecclesiastical tyranny. To take this view is to overlook a most important factor. For good or evil the Church of; England is nthe national Church. This fact is recognised by Parliament and by the King himself. One of his titles is Defender of the Faith, he holds high office m the Church, and m many ecclesiastical matters his authority is above even that of the Archbishop of Canterbury' the attitude of the Church is clear: her Marriage Service contemplates a life-long union, sealed by the most solemn vows, and she does not recognise divorce. Parliament, which has to legislate for allchurchmen arid others— has m the past created! facilities for divorce, but it may not unreasonably demand that one who occupies such a high position m the Church should conform to the Church's rule. But, leaving Church views out of consideration for the moment, there are still very many who, m spite of much foolish "talk about romance, realise that it is an offence against honour and upright dealing for a man to permit himself to make love to the wife of alibther> arid for the woman m question to accept such

attentions. The. offence is not lessened if royalty is involved; and deep affection for one of the persons most concerned only makes our grief the deeper. It is this first false step m the tragedy which should arouse our regrets. Such a step, once taken, a position is soon reached from which withdrawal is increasingly difficult — and the abdication became almost inevitable. Love is not easily quenched, and our late King takes with him into his retirement our affection, albeit tinged with sorrow. Criticism has been passed upon Mr. Baldwin for the part he has played. He had as Premier to handle a difficult and delicate question, unprecedented m English history, and it is now clear from his statement m Parliament that he did so with firmness and tact. He did not attempt at any time to put pressure upon the King. All he did was to refuse to acquiesce m a course which he considered to be incompatible with righteousness and the dignity of the Crown; and m this stand he has overwhelming support from the Empire. Taking everything into considertion, the King adopted the course which m the circumstances appeared to be m the best interests of the Empire. The ' King's decision, and the facts which have led up to it, have saddened the Empire which grieves to lose him; but there is one who can claim our deepest sympathy — our beloved and revered Queen Mary, to whom this happening must be a cruel blow. We can only conjecture what took place m the family conclaves which have been held— but we may be sure that she used her utmost endeavours to save her son from the disaster which he has brought upon himself. There are those who see here a crushing blow to the Empire: but we can trust m God. The throne remains, and it is for us to maintain our allegiance to King George, and to pray that he may be guided and strengthened to carry out the heavy duties to which he has been called m ■these troublous, times.

There is one question, we ought to ask ourselves. How far are we to blame ourselves for what has happened? There are prayers for the King m every service m the Church, but those prayers may be, and often are, offered m a most perfunctory fashion. And I wonder how many of us give him a place m our own private devotions. The cloud is passing, and we may hope that m the New Year, and the new reign, happiness and peace are m store for us. These are my wishes for you all— God Save the King. Your friend and father m God, HERBERT WAIAPU.