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CHURCH AND WAR

REALITY, SIMPLICITY, UNITY

AN IMPERIAL SYNOD. The Bishop of Down (Dr. D'Arcy), a recognised authority on philosophy and theology, who occupies a high' place among the intellectual leaders of the Church of Ireland, discusses the question, "What is to ho tho position of the Church after the War?" in an interesting letter published in tho "Spectator" of February 17. Ho writes: "Student in Arms" is but one among a multitudo calling for .reality, simplicity, and unity. It is on tho attainment of. these qualities that lier future depends. If the old conventions, the old complications, the old divisions and antagonisms pass on unchecked into the new ago, nothing can save tho Church fro ma most pitiful failure. During the lifetime of a whole genoration.there has been a growing realisation of the ovils of our present divisions. Conference after Conference has been hold, Society after Society lias been created, Prayer Unions for systematic intercession have como into existence, and all with a view to promoting Christian reunion. And yet we seem to get no further. At our Conferences we enter into, the most friendly discussions, we seem to be pushing on in a hopeful direction, and then suddenly wo find ourselves up against a stone .wall. It is very easy to. denounce this obstruction, as tho arrogance of the Church, or priestly assumption. In a degree such denunciations are based on truth. There is ecclesiastical arrogance, and priestly assumption is common enough. But thero is something far more potent behind. I may call it tho principle' of territorial exclusivenoss. The old proprietor ( resents the intrusion of the newcomer who secures a share of his privileges. In tho cas& of a Church this resentment is strengthened and apparently justified by/the consciousness of a Divine Mission: Just as the doctrino of the Divine Right of Kings seemed to make rebellion impious, so the Divino Mission of the Church seems to mako Nonconformity a sin: Logio takes sides with prejudice and makes prescription sacrosanct. . What we have to learn is that God's methods of working are always above such logic. If history affords any clue to His ways, wo have reason to think that He very often makes tho Nonconformist His messenger. In the history of Israel the prophet is a grander figure and a more potent spiritual force than the priest. The call of. God came to the prophet as a voice from above speaking to his heart and conscience, and imposing a mission by direct inspiration. It took Amos from' tho herds, it brought Elijah from the des-ert-it found Isaiah as he worshipped in the Temple. The prophet broke in upon-the settled order of tho Church, and sometimes paid for his intrusion with'his life. "Oh, Jerusalem," cried our Lord, "thou thatkillest tho prophets and stonest them ,that are sent unto thee." . .' ' Has England/lacked her prophots? Surely not. And if that be true, Milton,' Bunyan, George Fox, and Wesley must be counted among the greatest. Now in the Jewish Church it was tho intermingling of the prophetic strain with the'priestly that gave to Hebrew i-eliaion_its SBiritual greatness. Surely it is clear, that British Christianity has never been, able to realise, its higher possibilities.' because it has failed; .to'- combine: these' two elements. Many of V'ouf "greatest, prophets could find no place in our National Church, and, worse still, the inighty influences which they set going have never been , to Penetrate her systom' sufficiently. . The' Church has failed through incapacity to assimilate all the elements of good presented to her. It might almost he'said that there were times- in her history when the Church of England cultivated cxclusiveness as if it were a Christian virtue. Impenetrability was i regarded as a spiritual excellence. / ; If Bergson has taught us anything, it is that intgrpenotration is the mark of life. Impenetrability is the mark '< of the materia], the mechanical. Not - until British Christianity is able to ] blend into one life, by a complete in- < terpenetration, all the spiritual ele- : ments which are alive and potent in the social system, shall,we see tho Anglican Communion fit for the great task which God has entrusted to her. What I plead for is the recognition of t»e Principle of interpenetration. ■ The fruitlessness of the efforts which have been made hitherto to attain Home Reunion is very largely due to the fact that those who took tho matter in hand always worked with a view to framing some plan of accommodation, some organised system which would combine all tho conflicting elements. So it wag that on one side we ra t " p gainst the "historic' episcopate, and on the other against a sup- ' posedly defective ecclesiastical descent, iiacn side was asked to deny some principle or institution with which its whole history had been identified.'But' surely there is-another way. It is the way of brotherly intercourse on equal terms, of the admission to Christian fellowship of all who hold the elements of the Christian Creed, of a larger freedom in the use of tho pulpit, and, above all, of united counsel '" .Synod or • Convocation of the Christian churches of the Empire. It is to the last especially that I would ' look for a true advance towards that i real union which can only bo attained i byanterpenetration.. Those who took part in the Edinburgh Missionary Conference can form some idea of what the spiritual force of such an assembly would be. Never was thero a gathering so marked by reality, simplicity of aim, and inner spiritual unity. It was a. revelation of what would be the re- i suit .it a true interpenetration of spiritual forces could be brought about. Why should not a'.-movement be set ' on foot to call together such an assembly as I have indicated within a reasonable time after the declaration of pe^e ,?, And wl 'y slloul d ifi not be established as a permanent Imperial institution meeting at regular periods say, once in every three or four years? ' It a true Parliament representative of I the Christian forces of the Empire were ' called together by Eoyal authority and ' empowered to advise the State 0)1 such 4 questions, affecting , moral issues, as might h 0 referred to it; and, independently or such activity, encouraged t) consider the co-ordination of spiritual efforts, the effect could not but be very " great. ft would certainly make for reality It would as certainly tend to a simplification of theological tests. It would most assuredly load, to a greater degree of mutual understanding and to a consequent economising of force: there would be less overlapping and less competition in the religious World J.iiero would emerge a clearer view of the true end of Christian activity and a surer aim. And, abovo all, there would bo attained a real effectivo unity in some departments at all events of our national religious life

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19170428.2.28

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3065, 28 April 1917, Page 7

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,143

CHURCH AND WAR Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3065, 28 April 1917, Page 7

CHURCH AND WAR Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3065, 28 April 1917, Page 7

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