DEBATE TOO SHORT

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 233, 21 December 1927, Page 1

DEBATE TOO SHORT

‘OBVIOUS MISUNDERSTANDING’ HOUSE OF BISHOPS MEETS Reed. 9.5 a.m. LONDON, Tuesday. The ecclesiastical correspondent of the “Daily News” says a suggestion at the Lambeth Conference was that Convocation be invited to give full synodical approval to the book. This, however, was felt to have too much the appearance of a challenge of the State’s authority. Another suggestion was the withdrawal or amendment by omitting, temporarily, the offices of the Communion. This course would necessarily need much time, involving the passage by the various Church legislative bodies. The view generally

held was that one night’s debate in the House of Commons was too short,

leaving no opportunity for correcting an obvious misunderstanding. The Archbishop of Canterbury set the tone of the meeting by deprecating the criticism of those who felt it to be their duty to vote for rejection He took the view that they had relied on spiritual guidance. “I daresay you are expecting me to say how the bishops are getting on at Lambeth,” said the Bishop of London, Dr. Winnington Ingram, at the Duplex Movement dinner. “Wild horses would not drag a statement from me. I can only say we are not a bit downhearted, but are determined to ensure that the Church keeps its self-respect.” The latter necessitated self-support, which was the reason why he believed in the Duplex Movement, by which Captain Watscn, the founder, had raised £2,500,000, producing an income of £500,000 a year. The movement was capable of addi-g £50,000 000 to the Church’s resources. An earlier message said the House of Bishops met on Monday at Lambeth Palaces, the residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. R. T. Davidson. Dr. Davidson invited all the bishops to state their views before the general discussion, and then one bishop after another rose up and spoke with warmth and fervour. These personal expressions occupied nearly the whole session.

Afterwards the Archbishop remained for an hour closeted with the Bishop of Norwich, who led the attack in the House of Lords.—A. and N.Z.-Sun.