Bishops Accept Book

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 316, 29 March 1928, Page 11

Bishops Accept Book

PRIMATE HOPES FOR EARLY PASSAGE IMPORTANT BUSINESS AHEAD By Cable.—Press Association. — Copyright. Reed. 12.5 p.m. LONDON, Wed. The Bishops of the Upper House in the province of Canterbury have accepted the new Prayer Book by 10 votes to six. The Bishops of the province of York accepted, it unanimously. The Primate, Dr. Randall Davidson, addressing the Lower Houses of both provinces at Church House, Westminster, replied to the charge that the Convocation had been slighted and overlooked. He had always protected the Convocation’s rights. The presidency of the Convocation among the archbishops was the most prized of privileges. He hoped the Book would soon pass, because important business awaited the Convocation’s attention. He respected the conscientious convictions of those opposing the Book from the outset. He had no right to expect that many p£ them would vote differently now, out he found difficulty in understanding the attitude of those previously in favour who now opposed it. ARCHBISHOP’S APPEAL Objection was apparently taken to the words restricting the use of the reserved Sacrament. Personally, he would be dishonest if he objected to an endeavour to remove all ambiguity upon the subject. He appealed to Convocation to take the Book as a whole. Sometimes postponement after postponement made people wish to get the matter ended at any price. Such an attitude was unworthy. He asked them not to relegate the Book to the limbo after so many years of endeavour. He believed it would promote unity, order and peace. The Archbishop of York spoke in the same strain, and added that Convocation should consider the effect of the vote, not upon Parliament, but upon the Church itself. Each province separately debated a motion to concur in a House resolution and adjourned. —A. and N.Z.