REV. R. J. CAMPBELL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2812, 1 July 1916, Page 9

REV. R. J. CAMPBELL

HIS "SPIRITUAL PILGRIMAGE" ; ANIMATED CONTROVERSY .. '" EXPECTED " ; By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright London, June 2S. The Eev." El J. Campbell, formerly minister of the City Temple, who recently left the .Congregational Church and entered the ministry "of. the Church of Eriglajid.'in his forthcoming book, "A Spiritual Pilgrimage.". Maintains that all ordinations except Eo twin. Catholic and Anglican are invalid. The newspapers foreshadow a resounding controversy, , STATEMENT BY r JONES. "At the recent meeting "of tiieCongrega-tional-Union,' Dr.- J." D. Jones said it became necessary for Congregationalists tx) assert their principles'-when the minister of their leadin;?. pulpit, joined the Anglican Church and submitted to re. ordination. There .was .no triica of! bit-terness.-in >. their.: feeling. towards Mr. Campbell. TH'oy prayed that' he migift be 'as-largely .blessed in his ministry in the Established Church as be had been in his- twenty years "in. tho Congregational ministry. He thought.the/motives whioh led Mr. Campbell- to join the Anglican Church were personal, and not- ecclesiastical. His- only regret was .that Mr. Campbell; did not fraiikly eay that his act was -not to be'construed, as implying any doubt about the validity of their or- | dei's—lthat ; -v«rald< have removed any possibility of misunderstanding, and, well, perhaps, .it ■ was- due!'from"' hun VtoT-them. As it was, Lis action had .been , construed in many quarters as a reflection upon -the status of, their ministrjv.lt had disturbed, the .Congregational faith of some, of their- yonnjj- people, and it had disturbed some-of their young ministers. -

ME/"CAMPBELL'S REPLY. - . Mr. Campbell replied to Dr. Jones-jn tho-follqwing. \ v'■ "Dear Mr,-:Jones,—Your.reference to myself at the May meetings of the Congregational Union requires 6ome response, partly. bowiuseVSfits courtesy,-.and" part-, ■ly -bccause-of the '.'public/ occasion on which, it was:.made. It.almost amount? to'ii definite request from the Jlnion, to : virtue- of -. tho :nigh ipositiou. you ", ihold therein,- .for: a : statement of:my reason* for leaving the Congregational ministry and submitting to re-ordir.ation in the Church of England. To all personal in- \ terrogations of e. similar kind I have -hitherto turned a deaf ear. on the ground that any statement I could make would bo likely to. provoke., difference.. of opinion, and that the", last thing to-be'de-sired at the present- time-is anything in tho nature of religions controversy. For ..this reason,- and this reason only, I-hava "thought"it"best"t<> remaiifentirely silent. Your question, or implied question, as to my belief or otherwise .in the validity of the Nonconformist.ministry sounds a 'simple one, but it is not by any means, simple,, and cannot bo answered in a few words.. I feel that it-would be presumptuous on my part to make a pronouncement on.. such' a subject. without the strongest inducement* to do; so, and my ; reluctance can be easily understood 'by. those familiar with' the issues involved in the Kikuyu discussion. Nevertheless, as you' have asked for, a statement, and asked for it in a spirit so friendly and conciliatory, I feel bound to do something <o,comply with yoiir wish' and that • of those, you represent. If- you- will giva ■: me, ti'me I'will endeavour to;write and publish- a' plain aocount'of- my spiritual development and present-position for the. benefit of who hare to. acquaint thentfelves-thereinth.—Yours : very truly, " ' ; - ; E: J.'CAMPBELL.