THE PROPOSED ALTERNATIVE COMMUNION SERVICE.
[To the Editor of the SeEcrAron.] Siu,—A Memorial, of which a proof copy is enclosed, has been signed by 303,421 adult communicants, of whom 2,627
are clergy. Its value can best be measured by comparing it with a Memorial against alternative Communion services presented to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York in 1919. That Memorial was signed by 105,976 adult com- municants, of whom 3,128 were clergy. I may summarize the matter as follows :—
1. The difference in clerical signatures is very remarkable. Only 1,320 names are common to both petitions. -Allowing for 320 deaths, we find 1,000 clergy who signed the former petition abstaining on this occasion. In 1919 the petition was promoted by nine Diocesan Bishops, of whom five have died, two have retired, and only two, the Bishops of Llandaff and Sodor and Man, remain in their sees. Many clergy, who then signed out of loyalty to their Bishops, have probably abstained this time for the same reason. Others, no doubt, haVe changed their minds and now support the policy which they then deprecated. 2. As the laity usually follow the lead of the clergy, we should have expected a corresponding shortage in lay signatures, but these have been trebled. There is here plain evidence of a divergence between clerical and lay opinions. As the clergy have inclined to alternative services, the laity have hardened against them. The reason is not far to seek.. The clergy will have liberty of choice, but the laity will not.
3. The evidence by pecuniary contributions is very striking. The costs of the 1919 Memorial were defrayed by less than
fifty ^wealthy contributors, in response to personal appeals. The- costs of this Memorial have been met by 1,500 con- tributors, acting upon a hint in the instructions,, but without any direct appeal. The last Postal Order fis. came from five domestic servants in a large establishment.
4..01 the lay signatories it has not been possible to give more than a few selected names, but these include more than 170 peers and peeresses, more than 100 officers of the Navy, two field marshals, and more than 600 officers of the Army, over 200. J.P.'s and more than 17,000 churchwardens and sidesmen. It is impossible to set aside such a petition as this on the grounds that it is an appeal to ignorantotostant sentiment.
'5. `rite. Nomads/ ,has brought, to: light, a widespread feeling of indignation_that the clergy, use the resources of the Church to teach doctrine, and practise ritual, which the Formularies of our Church were intended to exclude, and that they are now agreeing to produce Formularies intended to inculcate -doctrines that are contradictory to one another, thereby putting, themselves in a position of security and reducing the witness of the Church as the national exponent of Divine Truth to the barest scepticism. The greatest use of the Memorial has been to acquaint the laity with what is happening in the Church Assembly and to set them thinking and enquiring.
—I am, Sir, &c., /8 Iteckenham Grove, Shortlands, Kent.
E. A. KNOB, .Ilishop.
[The Memorial petitions the House. of Bishops to sanction no alternative Communion service.—En. Spectator_].'
Previous page
