PRAYER BOOK REVISION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19997, 14 January 1927, Page 9

PRAYER BOOK REVISION

BISHOPS’ PRIVATE CONFERENCE. DRAMATIC PROCESSION OP PROTEST. CHANGES KEENLY OPPOSED. (Preau Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, January 12. A procession of clergy and laity organised jointly by the Protestant Alliance and the League of Loyal Churchmen marched to Lambeth Palace simultaneously with the opening of a momentous ten days’ private conference of bishops of the Church of England under the presidency of the Archbishop of Canterbury on unrevealed proposals for the revision of the Prayer Book. The procession was headed by a banner inscribed “Warning to bishops. Church is in danger. God says remove not the ancient landmark which thy fathers set up. • Respect the prayer bdbk, which was given us by our martyred reformers.” On arrival the party knocked at and entered the gates, and were received by the archbishop’s chaplain, to whom they handed the petition condemning Romish practices, and also the fact that the conference is in private, adding that secrecy is abhorrent to the English nature. The petition referred to the proposals as a “base betrayal on the part of those who should be the guardians of divine truth. We are asked to accept our lordship’s proposals. “This we will never do.” The gravest contention is over the altered communion rites. The bishops are endeavouring to find a compromise between the Anglo-Catholic and the evangelical'opinion. When the bishops agree as to the precise changes they will be presented to convocation, after which they will be presented in final draft to the church assembly in July. Ultimately the Bouse of Commons must approve.— A. and N.Z. Cable.