ANGLICAN CHURCH REFORM

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 199, 17 May 1919, Page 7

ANGLICAN CHURCH REFORM

PROBLEM OF RELATIONS WITH ' THE STATE. Reform in the Anglican Church is progressing slowly. Jn I'JOfi the revision of the l'royer Book began lo engage, the attention of Convocation. A dozen years nave passed, and at tho present time one party is fighting another with great de--li rniination on proposals in connection with the Communion office. Convocation still remains iinre/ormed. Cathedral chapters obtain larger representation than the whole of the clergy in tho diocese. Curates and women are shut out of the most important Church councils, ('no of the richest churches in the world pays many of its ministers a starvation' wage. Questions raised by Kikuyu are Numbering until the next Lambeth Conference. Roform of the relations between Church and Stale is desired, but | proposals are hesitating and partial, r Yet nil the time the new wine is bursting the old bottles. Competent observers state that the Church must effect satisfactory reconstructions- or the men within its borders will demand Disestab-, lishment, Por many of the youngev men I Disestablishment has lost its terrors. They waut_freedom, but the State checks them at many points. The Representative Church Council w-hich is to meet shortly will consider its Committee's repoj't 011 the, proposals of rile Archbishop s Committer concerning Cliurch and Slate. It covers several matters,' but its main object is to facilitate legislation, affecting the Anglican Church, in Parliament. Opinion on this report is divided. Many .consider that it is not courageous. Only male representatives can sit in the National Assembly. By 20 votes to 18 tho committee refused to admit women to membership. For several years women have sat in the Wesleyan- Conference. Congregationalists and Baptists include them on their governing bodies. Yet if the present Church proposals are unamended, women lifee Mrs. Creighton and Miss Picton Turberville will be kept off the Church National Assembly, Mr. Athelstan Kiley and his friends are far from satisfied that the report "is .consistent with those Catholic principles which are the heritage of the Church of England." It is apparent, therefore, that tho scheme will arouse a warm debate and receive amendments before its acceptance by the. Representative Church Council, Convocation, and the Houses of Laymen. ■

This reconstruction scheme will affect Parliament. How far tho House , of Commons will be content, to delegate some of its powers concerning an Established Church to an Ecclesiastical Committee of the Privy Council remains to be seen. Bishop R.yle, who signs tile, report, refers to the apprehension in some quarters on this-point, because of the fear "that measures of importance plight bti passed withnut any opportunitv for adequate discussion."' He admits that the apprehension is- entitled to attention. As a matter of fact the Church (•esircs to preserve its connection with the State, but fceelcs, however, to minimise the control. '.Still, the final word, which belongs to Parliament, has not vet been sunken on this noint.

For (lie rest, churchmen are nnrsuing a steady attempt fo puftheir finances on ft proper basis. One section of (lie Anglican Church is'opposed to interchange of ; pulpi(s, but the stream of opinion wifliin the Church is setting in the direction 1 of a better understanding with Xouconformity. On the whole, reconstruction is somewhat halting, and tbo advance is.not denned- with, clearness-ami precision. Every stage has its problems and barriers. After all; the element of hope is the recognition of the great opportunity at'(he present lime, .The Representative Church Council subsequently met to discuss the report of its own Grawl Committee, with respect to the relations between Church and State —probably the . most important sessions m its. history. This committee, with Bishop Rylo as chairman, presented its report a few months since. What, is intended by, the 6cheme is that the Church should go to Parliament for an Enabling Bill that will, jrrant an 'entire revision of the present Parliamentary procedure and allow tlio Anglican Church to reform itself upon somewhat similar lines to (he powers permitted the Church of' Scotland.

- Thero is to be constituted' a National Assembly of the Ansrlicnn Church, ineetinsr ann'uallj-—or a? the Archbishops may decide for a special session—consisting of three houses, bishops, . clergy, and laymen'. Every measure passed 'by this Assembly is (o lie submitted .bv (he Legislative Committee to the Ecclesiastical Committee, consisting of members if tho I'rivy Council. Tn due course the Ecelesin.cfiml Commitle? will report whether the lloyal Assent* should be given to it, and according to this l-cnrirt if. will or will not,be presented to His Mnjeslv. After presentation', to the' King.the report, together with the text of such measure. iV to be ,}n id before both Houses of Parliament. If within 40 davs of such presentation neither House directs to the contrary the measure shall have the force and effect of on Act of Parliament: If the Ecclesiastical Committee do not advise His Majesty in favour of the measure no further proceedings will be te!;en thereon.

'Included in the scheme ars ihe provisions constituting the National Asseinblv. securing the representation of the lait.v, and nrnvidimr for parochial organisations and elections. as well as Diocesan Conferences and the House of Laymen.

By a narrow majority the Grand Committee refused to admit women t*> the National- Assemblv./but the Council reversed this decision by a siibstnnfial inte, and tn the' apmrent satisfaction of a litrae number of e'nrgy and lailv. though some sneakers llinu'rlif Ihe adminion would lead to a remain priesthood. The Church Assemblv will, however, now come inlo line with the le.van Confereii"!' • and other nat : on"l bodies connected wilh Nonconformity in w» K oming the memlwrshio of women.

Deeper principles worn it steke in Ihe 'V'oate oil the Church Franchise, prolo<wd' over two session l , md ulitmatelv settled. Some of the best speeches during the sittings were heard on tliis matter—thai of Lord Hutli Cecil, though n»ai"st the v'»'-s of t' ,n n>"iorit<-. stirred deeply the whole of the. Council. In the end the advocates of comprehen-. sion carried the day by 159 votes to 109.