THE CHURCH AS TEACHER

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 64, 10 December 1918, Page 6

THE CHURCH AS TEACHER

PROPOSAL FOR RADICAL REFORM;}. Tho report of the Archbishops' Committee on "The Toaching Office of the Church" is an admirably frank and thorough document which should be widely read and studied by Free Church-men,-as well as by Anglicans (says tho "Christian, World"). It admits candidly the failure of the clergy, to meet the requirements of the day; their defectsintellectual, practical and social—are set forth at length. Among the causes of their failure, wo are told that they tend to rely 100 much on the authority of office aud to neglect personal experience. "Too often the authority of tradition has been emphasised without a full conception of tho living work of the Spirit." Mental sloth, lack of intellectual capacity, insufficient training and wrong training are other causes. Their great need is n true and practical .belief in tho presence and power of the Holy Spirit. They need a new earnestness, closer study, free inquiry that they may be able to reinterpret the Christian message "in terms of current thought and expedience." So radical reforms are suggested for the better training of the clorgy, including tho development of theological faculties at all universities (in co-operation with other communions) and post-graduate courses; theological courses of two years for graduates and three years for non-graduates; training in the principles and practice of education, study of moral, social and economic question's, and of comparative religion and tho philosophy of religion. "Common sense, kindliness, manliness, and good intentions will no more solve the problems of strategy oi / of economics; religion imperatively needs all the brains that we can bring to it," the clergy are told.

The laity are reminded that they too have failed to listen and to learn when they have hnd faithful teachers. Ami tho Church has been at fault in not giving the laity a larger place in its life and work, and in not taking greater pains to co-operato with tho Press and use it for promoting religious knowledge. Co-operatiou of Anglicans 'with Nonconformists and Bomun Catholics is urged, for tho explanation, maintenance, and propagation of Christiau principles. They should meet together in religious conferences, and Anglicans should take 'thenpart in genuinely interdenomiualion movements.

Much of the report deals with religious education (in primary, secondary, and Sunday schools), and some excellent general principles are laid down. Tho presentation of tho personality and teaching of Jesus Christ is the central thing. The teaching of the Bible should have intelligent (regard to religious development (the different value of the Books) and to higher criticism. There were sharply divided views in the committee as to the value of the Catechism—on one hand, tho formal question and answer wero declared out of date. The Ten Commandments were generally regarded as unsatisfactory as the basis of Christian teaching. They should only be used as points of dopartuire for Gospel teaching. The Sermon on the Mount is "our great store and pattern of religious instruction, and should take a principal place in any scheme of teaching." Stress is laid on the importance of training both professional and Sunday school teachers, and the report earnestly urges for non-denominiUional schools an agreed policy which all denominations may accept. "To this end we should like to see tho institution of interdenominational councils, central nnd local, on which the denominations, nnd the teachers, and the educational authorities, and perhaps the universities, should to represented." The. appendices to the report cover more space tlian tho report itself. They consist of articles by individual members of the committee on tho various points. Dr. Gore. Dr. Headlnm, Dr. E. W. Barnes, Br. A. .7. Tail: are among those who contri'buite one or more articles.