ENGLISH BISHOPS AND THE PROPOSED MONASTIC ORDER.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2701, 2 November 1889, Page 6 (Supplement)

ENGLISH BISHOPS AND THE PROPOSED MONASTIC ORDER.

Keecutly some particulars wero given in Tin- Ulubii of the proposed " Church Monastic Order," the members of which arc to taku the threefold vow of poverty, chastity, ami obedience. Tho bishops have since been asked to give their opinion as to the proposal. The Archbishop of Canterbury has said :—"The subject is one of great importance, and whore there aro earnest devoted men willing to give up much of worldly case and pleasure for Christ, there are great possibilities of good which need to be turned to account and organised. But it is impossible to give any decided oponion about projects and plana which are at present so indefinite. Everything would depend for the future of such brotherhoods on the manner in which these schemes were developed," The Bishop of Liucon points out:—"As far as the scheme ha* been analysed it seems to be likely to be very usoful. It will be discused probably at the next session of Convocation." The Bishop of Southwell considers that there is nothing in the effort which is not lawful, and that on the lints marked out, it would only do good. The Uishop of London approves of of the suggested order, and the Bishop of I.anch'-sttv think- something in the direction would lie du&irable, thuuqh he is hardily prepared to endorse any pat ticular scheme without carefully considering its details. The Bishop of Chester says the acheme is quite reasonable worthy to be tried. The experiment of community life in poor parishes had obviously much to say for itself on economical, sympathetic, uud enthusiastic ground:!. But its success would depend upon its being undertaken modesty, quietly, in the spirit of loyalty, and without the .sounding of trumpet*. If it became a mueh-talkcd-of and much-written-.ihout movement, and its pioneers allowed themselves to imagine that they v.'crc floiiig to work wonders and be the '■>■•■ oi the I'hurcii of Knglaml, the virtue would gu out of it.