THE ANGLICAN CHURCH

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 255, 21 October 1908, Page 2

THE ANGLICAN CHURCH

OF NEW ZEALAND. TIKI) HAND AN]) I'OOT TO KNOLANT) A UISUOV'S KKMAItKS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchureh, bast Night. The Christchureh Diocesan Suiod opened this afternoon, there being a j large attendance of clergy and laity pre. sent, llishop Julius, in'ii syuodic'al ad dress, referred to diocesan changes, the Lambeth Conference, anil the supply of clergy. Ue dealt at length on the question 01 the relation between the church in New Zealand and the church at I Home, and went on to say: "Now, ef all the provincial churches of the panAnglican communion outside the British Isles, we are the only one tied and I bound hand and loot. If the table of I allinity is an integral part of the Book of Common Prayer we cannot sanction any departure from it, even if we be so minded. We can make no change of rule in regard to the liturgical use of the Athanasjun Creed. We cannot authorise the use of the revised version : of the Holy Scriptures, and if the Book . of Common Prayer be revised by competent authority, wHlwut the sanction [ of the English Parliament we cannot . adopt it. The bishops in conference as- , semblod regard \ provincial church a J

free to deal willi such matters. ,\Vc J liiive no such freedom. We are all 1 ' agreed that no change must lie made ,: without grave deliberation. AW are ' ready to adopt every reasonable precaution against rash and ill-considered changes, and the fundamental clauses ..f the constitution under which we grope are not precautionary hut prohibitive. AA'e are far distant from the Old Country, and 'the circuinstaiK'cs under which we live are widely dill'ercnt from those which obtain there. There is grave and urgent need for greater variety and llexibility in our services. As.a province it is wilhiu our rights to provide, a freer use of (he psalter and of Ule lettionurv and to remove the most obvious stumbling-blocks in the way 01 our ■people, but as the church of the .province of New Zcalnnd we can do none of these things, nor can wc determine those questions for ourselves which the Lambeth Conference, has deliberately thrust uuou us. Of course, the church of fifty years ago can only hind us today in respect of property. An application to the Parliament of this Dominion made by our general synod with the consent and approval of the diocesan synods will set us free at once. AA'e have talked about it for the last twenty years. AVhy should we waste further 1 time? 1 sincerely hope that at this or next session you will petition the general synod to take such steps as may be necessary to the amendment of the fundamental provisions of the eoisliiutioii of the church of this province. Xo constitution framed by human ingenuity can be regarded as unalterable in a living church."