CHURCH CRISIS THREATENED.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19138, 22 October 1927, Page 15

CHURCH CRISIS THREATENED.

DR. BARNES'S SERMON. DIVIDED OPINIONS. (BI CABLI—FBIBS ASSOCIATION— COPIMOHT) (AUSTBALIAH AXD K.Z. CABLS ASSOCIATION.) (Received October 21st, 7.20 p.m.) LONDON, October 20. The Church is threatened with a crisis of some magnitude following the protest against Dr. Barnes, Bishop of Birmingham, and his open letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury. The latter is at present preparing a reply. There is a distinct division in the ranks of the clergy, though the Rev. Bullock-Webster is Ending support for the suggestion that Bishop Barnes should be tried for heresy made by the Reverend Douglas, Proctor of the Convocation of the Canterbury Diocese. The Bishop of Southwark said that either Dr. Barnes was guilty of heresy or the air should be definitely cleared by a statement of the case by a competent tribunal. Canon Rogers, Rector of tho Birmingham Parish Church, in a vigorous defence of Dr. Barnes, said that Dr. Barnes, like a captain of a ship clearing its decks for action, was throwing overboard what he believed to be cumbersome and worthless. "He does not want to scuttle the ship but to fight, and that is \yhy he is throwing the furniture overboard."

The Pre ! Jary of St. Paul's, the Reverend ..Lussell, says: "I do not know much about a heresy trial. Ecclesiastical Law is in such a confused state that I wish Dr. Barnes would resign. He should never have been there holding such views." Moderate Church opinion is more or less crystallised in a statement by Bishop Welldon that "The ' Church must accept the established Doctrines. Science, including the Darwinian theory of evolution is also true. Certain Doctrines of the Eucharist are opposed to the spirituality of true religion, but the Bishop of Birmingham is at fault in manner rather than matter. I sympathise with the Bishop in his openmindedness but I wish he could realise more the mystery which underlies spiritual truth." - The Rev. Bullock-Webster says that he does not intend to reply to Dr. Barnes's open letter. He does not wish to "drive Dr. Barnes to Tennessee." "He has got himself there already." The Reverend Russell, one of Dean Inge's own clergy, sympathises with the Rev. Bullock Webster and says: "Many of us felt that it was an insult to invite Dr. Barnes to preach in St. Pauls." The Rev. Russell expressed the opinion that Dr. Barnes might resign, as a man holding such views should never be a Bishop."

[Dr. Barnes recently delivered a striking sermon in Westminster Abbey in which he stated that increasing knowledge and careful enquiry had confirmed Darwin's assertion that man was descended from the apes—an assertion- which had stood over half a century of critical examination. "Nowadays,"'he continued, "pseudo-religious propaganda and more shameless superstition, are prevalent, and sceptical orthodoxy joins hands with ignorant fanaticism. Amidst such decay we should be thankful that science has preserved the standards which organised religion has' frequently failed to safeguard." The Rt. Rev. Ernest Wm. Barnes, who is 53 years of age, has been Bishop of Birmingham since 1924. After a brilliant career at Cambridge he was ordained in 1902, and was Canon of Westminster from 1918 to 1924. Canon G. R. Bullock-Webster is an honorary Canon of Ely, and has been rector of St. Michael ; Paternoster Royal, City of London, since 1910. He was educated at Cambridge and was ordained in 1882. Subsequently* there was a remarkable scene at St. Paul s during the. morning service. Directly the Bishop of Birmingham (Dr. Barnes) entered the pulpit, the Rev. G. R. Bullock-Webster, Rector of St. Michael Paternoster Royal, robed in cassock and surplice, accompanied by a number of young men, .walked from the mam transept, faced the congregation, and read from a document a denunciation of Dr. Barnes, stating that the Bishop, "by his false and heretical teaching and frequent utterances, has denied and poured contempt, on the doctrines and sacraments of the Holy Catholic Church. Furthermore, we call on the Bishops and Archbishop of Canterbury to try the Bishop of Birmingham in-respect'of his alleged heretical and .profane utterances, and, if he is cuiltv. forthwith, to depose and cas* him. from the Church until he repents and recants his grievous utterances. Turning, they walked out. The Bishop of Birmingham stood silent in the pulpit, with bowed head, a pained, expression on his face. After the interruption he delivered his sermon m a clear, ringing voice uninterruptedly.]