Notes

New Zealand Tablet, 21 December 1911, Page 2591

Notes

Greetings Best wishes to our readers for the choicest blessings of Christmastide, and for fullest measure of happiness and prosperity in the coming year. Anglicans and the Sacramental Wine Question Further evidence is to hand to show that if at any time there should be any trouble in regard to the importation of fermented wine for sacramental purposes Anglicans will join hands with Catholics in unyielding opposition to such an invasion of Christian rights. We have already quoted the Acting-Primate's declaration on the subject and, in addition, the following notice was read at St. Peter's Anglican Church, Willis street, Wellington, the other Sunday: 'The Rev. R. B. Hammond, who is a priest of the Church of England, is reported to have said that before long the Churches will not use alcohol for sacramental purposes (as indeed my own Church does not now)." In view of the disquiet which has been caused by these words, I am glad to be able to state that the Bishop of Christchurch, Acting-Primate of the Church of New Zealand, has forwarded to the Press Association an explicit denial of the truth of these words, so far as they can be said to refer to the Church of England. I might here say that the Church follows our Lord's" command, and uses, and orders the use of, ordinary fermented wine at the Holy Communion. Without the use of such wine the Holy Communion could not be celebrated, as our Lord gave it to us, and according to the rites of the Anglican Church, to use unfermented wine in opposition to our Lord's command would be presumption and a mockery.' •