RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1557, 28 September 1912, Page 9

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

ANGLICAN CHURCH IN AUSTRALIA. ■ THE LEGAL .\EXUS. At the Anglican Synod of the Diocess of Bathurst, Bishop Long, in his presidential address, said Hint personally lio disliked the logal negus, not because it was a nexus, but becauso it was merely legal. Ho wanted to be bound to the SO3 of Canterbury and to the Anglican Communion throughout tlio world, but ho wanted to be bound by the spiritual nexus of enthusiastic love and self-committing loyalty. Ho wanted a Christian and Catholic nexus, becauso it was the only one po.-siblo in Australia. '> The following motion was submitted by Uov. E. C. Kempo:—"That in this opinion uf this Synod steps should bo taken to secure the autonomy of our Church in Australia, on similar Jinosto those of uur sister-Churches in Scotland, Ireland, South Africa, anil America." Mr. lump® emphasised tlio fact that if the legal nexus was severed there was 110 reason to believe that the spiritual nexus \vit,h tlio Church in England would not bo closer than ever. Sir. A. B. C. Burko seconded tile-motion. Mr. 11. A. Crouch said 110 looked upon tlio move in the same light as "cutting the painter." Surely if they did that in Church matters , it would ho showing a very bad example to tlio State, becauso if tuxu' the State "cut the painter," he would bo very, very sorry. As far as he could understand, they wero freo to govern tlioinei'lves, and he saw 110 reason to sever themselves from tlio grand old JlotlierCliurch. Rev. C. J. Allen (Bathurst South) said that from information learned first hand from his father and uncle, both of whom were in Holy Orders in England, he was in apposition to state that Church matters in the Old Country wero intolerable. Bishop Long said that local autonomy would .bo in the best interests of the Church in Australia. Tlio motion was carried by 37 votes to 22.