We desire to draw the special attention of our readers
to the article on " A Go-as-you-please Church," by the Bishop of Durham. It is a most clear and valuable expression of the " Broad Church " view. That view is that, though the policy and practice of comprehension and inclusion, and of " the liberty of prophesying," to use Jeremy Taylor's famous phrase, can hardly be carried too far in the matter of doctrine and opinion, it cannot be wisely or justly applied to the services of the Church. And for this very good reason. A congregation cannot express their differences at the same time, and in the same Church. In order that English Christians should enjoy the benefits of common worship, the Book of Common Prayer was drawn up on a basis of fair compro- mise. It was designed to be an expression of Christian good intent in which all could join. To say that this compromise must be maintained in the interests of unity and peace, as the Bishop of Durham does, is not, however, to derogate from the noble principle of compre- hending all who desire to be comprehended within the Anglican Church. His is merely a plea for seemliness and good order in the Church services, and for preventing individual clergymen from using that freedom of doctrine, which we all desire they should enjoy, in such a way as to deprive large portions of their congregations of the privileges of common worship under the Book of Common Prayer.
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