BISHOP IN DEFENCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 181, 21 October 1927, Page 1

BISHOP IN DEFENCE

ERRONEOUS DOCTRINES ASSAILED MEDIAEVAL THEORIES tj/ Cable. —Press Association. — Copyright. LONDON, Wednesday. The Bishop of Birmingham, Dr. C. W. Barnes, has addressed an open letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury. In this he says he has found that modern knowledge has withered traditional formulae and replaced them with wistful agnosticism. Long ago he had begun to expound why man's evolution from an ape-like stock did not upset the Christian position. The growth of erroneous sacramental doctrines had alienated educated people from the Church and mediaeval theories rejected at the time of the Reformation were still taught In Anglican churches. A new era was opened when a bishop could be publicly attacked for upholding the traditional sacramental doctrine. Dr. Ba rnes reaffirms his belief that there is no truth in transubstantiation. He says nobody can discriminate between consecrated and unconsecrated bread. "No man shall drive me to Tennessee or to Rome,” he declares. "Officers of the National Church must not fear to welcome new knowledge or to maintain all that is sound in ancient doctrine.” UNHAPPY CLEAVAGE The "Morning Post” says the unhappy cleavage which has arisen from the doctrine of transubstantiation has tanged the Anglo-Catholics on one side and the Evangelicals on the other. It was bound to lead to a definite explosion within the Church. However, Dr. Barnes assumes a tremendous responsibility, says the paper, when he forces the issue and challenges a struggle. It seems impossible that the Archbishop of Canterbury can ignore the matter. Those who feel that the continued vitality and cohesion of the Church °f England is an essential basis for the safety, honour,, and welfare of those in its dominion can only pray to God to lighten their darkness and appease the passions which seem to J® on the point of being let loose in His name.—A. and N.Z. “DISGRACEFUL BRAWL” heat between churchmen LONDON, Wednesday. The Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral, R. Bullock-Webster, who created the scene in the Cathedral on Sunday, saying: "As you had the impertinence o write to me in connection with Sun«y s incident, I must reply that until fully apologise for your scanshn 3 an< * disgraceful brawling I a " refuse to have any communicah with you whatever.” • ®* r ‘ Bullock-Webster replied: "Ben * tae idea of au apology on my r" : . can be entertained I am conh>ne<* to ask you f uU y and publicly . ,f xpresß regret for outraging the i-J,“ 8s °f devout Church people by rm?. i B . to the Cathedral one who m«n. taatly defames the Holy Sacrament*.”—A./knd N.Z.-Sun.