RELIGION AND THE WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 January 1921, Page 9

RELIGION AND THE WAR.

REVISION OF PRAYER BOOK. THE LEAGUE OF. NATIONS. London, Nov. 2G. At the autumn session of the National Assembly of the Church of England, the question of the revision of the Prayer Book was brought up. The Bishop of Gloucester said opinion had grown up that the law of public worship in the Church was too narrow for the present generation. The power of self-adjustment was inherent in the conception of a living Church Additional elasticity was needed. Between 1906 and 1918 endless labor was expended on this question, and much evidence sifted. The sole point on which agreement could not be reached was in connection with the alteration of the Holy Communion service. Sir Edward Clarke moved that a committee be appointed to consider and report Aupon the answers of the Convocations to the Royal Letters of Business on the revision of the Prayer Book; such committee to consist of 20 persons. GREEK STATUES IN PETTICOATS Lord Hugh Cecil hoped that the literary side of the Prayer Booi would receive all due attention. He had heard that the latter part of the Psalm, “By the waters of Babylon,” was to be cut out. He thought that such action would destroy all the force and glory in the P.salm. The proposal reminded, him of the movement to drape Greek statues in flannel petticoats in the cause of purity! The proposal was adopted, as also a further motion that a committee should be appointed to consider and report on the revision of the Psalms and their use in public worship. EXAGGERATED IMPORTANCE OF NATIONALITY. Lord H. Cecil moved that the Assembly welcomed the establishment of the League of Nations and that all Churchmen should support the League in the : .r own dioceses. By this means they would be cutting at the root of war. Few people that civilisation had been almost destroyed in the last war. An economic collapse meant that masses of people actually died of starvation. The Nineteenth Century had been conspicuous for the exaggerated importance attached to nationality. Prussia and Ireland were extreme examples. Man owed his supreme allegiance not to the idea of patriotism, but to God. Nationality and patriotism were subject to the law of God. The Bishop of London said that Christianity was at stake. He doubted if faith in it would survive another such war as we had just experienced. TlrS League of Nations was Christianity in action. He wanted Churchmen to dispel the apathy that existed. After further discussion <•’’» motion was carried with two dissentients. !