WARNING VOICE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 239, 9 October 1928, Page 7

WARNING VOICE.

A BISHOP TO BISHOPS.

"Must Not Be Law-Breakers," Says Dr. Barnes. DROP CONTENTIOUS ISSUES. (Australian and N.Z. Press Association.) LONDON, October 8. "The bishops of the Church of England must not be law-breakers," declared Dr. E. W. Barnes in an interview on the Prayer Book policy. "I would prefer not to criticise the bishops," continued Dr. Barnes, "but that the situation created by them is so grave and that the end is likely to be so disastrous. I still hope that the private remonstrances of men of weight will prevail. "The bishops were appointed by the Crown to maintain sound doctrines and lawful order in the national Church. They must not break the law. "The revised Prayer Book was rejected by the House of Commons, with the general approval of the coun- . try, firstly, because it permits a continuous reservation of the sacrament and, secondly, because it sanctions an alternative service to the Holy Communion. "If the bishops permit these they will be breaking the law and flouting the authority of P a r 1 i ament. Also, their moral authority to restrain i further lawlessness in the Church will end. "It would be the same if judges of the High Court were to permit theft up to £10 and severely to censure thefts of larger sums. Synods can no more empower the bishops to set aside the old book than they can confer Ihe right to repudiate the Ten Commandments. "I would very strongly urge the course of private discussions on my Lambeth colleagues," continued Dr. Barnes, "and ask them to drop the two contentious proposals, submit the remainder to Parliament again and relv upon the nation. Any other course would lead to disestablishment. "The people do not wish to subsidise Roman Catholic innovations, but it would bo preferable to the course suggested, which is indefensible. "The majority of my colleagues have made the serious mistake of under-esti-mating the Protestant feeling in the country. It will be a worse mistake to challenge the regard for law and order, which is one of the soundest instincts of British people."

GUILTY OF SEDITION.

CHARGE AGAINST BISHOPS. (Australian Tress Assn. —United Service.) (Received 12 noon.) LONDON, October 8. The Rev. C. Milnes, secretary of the League of Loyal Churchmen, in a statement on behalf of the League, said that the bishops by. promoting the 1928 Prayer Book were guilty of a seditious conspiracy because they were exciting the King's subjects to act unlawfully ancl claiming to be above the law. He said: "We call on the Premier to put down sedition and bring the offenders to justice."