“English Bishops are Guilty of a Seditious Conspiracy”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 480, 9 October 1928, Page 9

“English Bishops are Guilty of a Seditious Conspiracy”

‘BRING THEM TO JUSTICE ”

Recd - U-15 am. LONDON, Mon. Ihe Rev. c. Milnes, secretary of the League o£ Loyal Churchmen, in a •itement on behalf of the League, tmoo by promoting the . Pra yer Book, were guilty of a seaiticms conspiracy, because they were b» C ** nßr the Kin^’s subjects to act unand claiming to be above the He said: “We call on the Prime Minto Put down sedition, and bring ne offenders to justice.” BISHOP BARNES’S POLICY “npv>«. . .. ~

, Jue bishops of the Church of Engnd must not be law-breakers,” deared Dr. E W. Barnes, in an interon His Prayer Book policy. . . J would prefer not to criticise the Di*nopß,” continued Dr. Barnes, “but mat the situation created by them is ?° grave and that the end is likely to so disastrous. I still hope that the private remonstrances of men of weight prevail. The bishops were appointed by the rown to maintain sound doctrines and lawful order in the national Church. T “ e y must not break the law. “The revised Prayer Book was rejected by the House of Commons, with the general approval of the country, firstly, because it permits a continuous reservation of the sacrament and, sec-

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ondly, because it sanctions an alternae tive service to the Holy Communion. t “If the bishops permit these they will ’ be breaking the law and flouting the P * authority of Parliament. Also, their x moral authority to restrain further lawe lessness in the Church will end. “It would be the same if Judges of c the High Court were to permit theft up to £lO and severely to censure thefts of larger sums. Synods can no more " empower the bishops to set aside the ' old book than they can confer the right to repudiate the Ten Commandments. LAW AND ORDER CHALLENGED

“I would very strongly urge the course of private discussions on my Lambeth colleagues,” continued Dr. Barnes, “and ask them to drop the two contentious proposals, submit the remainder to Parliament again and rely upon the nation. Any other course would lead to disestablishment. “The people do not wish to subsidise Roman Catholic innovations. but it would be preferable to the course suggested. which is indefensible. “The majority of my colleagues have made the serious mistake of underestimating the Protestant feeling in the country. It will be a worse mistake to challenge the regard for law and order, which is one of the soundest instincts of British people.”