CHRISTIANITY AND CHURCH
SIR,—Despite the caustic criticism of your semi-anonymous correspon- dent C. S. C. W., I find myself far more in sympathy with the honest " Soldier " correspondent whose letter appeared in your issue of July 31st. After more than 3o years of loyal service as a priest of the Church of England I, too, may now say with the " Soldier " that " However I approach the Altar I find myself involved in dogmas that I distrust and am obliged to make professions which for me are insincere." This con- dition follows upon the coining to mind of a new thought some six years ago. When in consequence of my change of faith I asked my Bishop to sanction an alternative form of service, substituting the Apostles' Creed for the Nicene Creed when celebrating the Holy Com- munion, I was told by him, quite frankly, that even if he had the will he had not the power to authorise such a deviation. The canons of the Church of England " as by Law established " do not allow such a variation.
It remained for me to decide, therefore, whether I should continue professions of faith and worship which " for me are insincere " or resign my benefice. I chose the latter course, and have since devoted my studies to the examination of the origin and authority of certain Church dogmas, and my present opinion is that some of these are without sufficient warrant of Holy Scripture. To this extent I now find myself in sympathy with the Nonconformist Christians, but more in sympathy with the Chairman of the Congregational Union than with Mr. Theobald, as I desire a closer co-operation of all Christian communities in order to present a united front against the spiritual forces of evil.
If the C. of E. is to justify its claim to be the National Church
of England it must first be inspired with the will, and next obtain the power to modify its creeds and formularies with the consent of Parlia- ment or otherwise. Unless this happens I am confident there will be a steady increase in the number of " detached Christians " among whom
I must include myself until I find again a spiritual home where I can worship " in spirit and in truth."—Yours faithfully, Ix Woodland Avenue, Boscombe, Bournemouth.
HERBERT ENGLAND.
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