POSITION EXPLAINED

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 143, 14 December 1927, Page 11

POSITION EXPLAINED

The debate is on the motion that the Boyal Assent be given to measures approving tho revised Book of Common Prayer for the Church of England. The movement ior revision began long before the war, and during the' past fewyears the proposed revised version, the use of which, if approved, by Parliament, will be optional, has been the subject or much controversy. The new book represents a compromise between the conflicting views, and, although opposition is forthcoming from both Evangelical and High Church clergy, the book haa been accepted, with a large majority, by the Church Assembly, which is representative of both clergy and laymen. Parliament must approve before the measure authorising the use of the now book, receives the Royal Assent. \lt may reject, but it cannot amend, the book; The House of Lords has set aside three days for the discussion, and the division will be taken on Wednesday. TKe presence of bishops in the Upper House gives special importance to the debate in that Chamber. With few exceptions the bishops favour revision, but lay and clerical opponents of the measure include many persons prominent ia -public life, and some members of the Government in both Houses of Parliament. It is goner-, ally believed that if the House of Lords approves the measure it will secure the necessary majority in the House of Commons wlien on Thursday it is debated there. If the Lords reject the measure it will be automatically dropped.