New-York tribune., 1918-04-07
Toward Unity

1I-HE Life and Liberty Movement" is
stirring England, according to an
article by W Temple IN THE Contem-
porary Review" Generally speaking, it
aims toward "a united Church of the
world, at work in all nations and calling
every one of them to service of the
kingdom of Cod More specifically, its
recently issued statement Of policy runs
as follows:
81. The Church is commissioned to bring
to bear upon all phases and problems of
life-political, social, and economic no less
than personal-the Mind OF Christ wherein
alone can be found the true principles o.
human life and civilization.
"2 The Church has rot given effective
witness to the Mind OF Christ in regard to
such matters as International Relations, In
dustrial Order, Wealth and Poverty, and the
like
49, There are abuses in the system of the
Churchs administration which disqualify it
for effectively proclaiming the way Of Jus
tice and Love to others.
a. When the Church attempts to dis
charge its responsibility more fally, or to
remedy its own abuses, it finds itself with
out any means Of self-expresson. and
hampered by restrictions, which. under
present conditions, it is powerless to alter
a. Therefore. claim tnat. for the sake
of Life, the Church must, without delay
win Liberty in the sense of full power to
manage its own affairs through representa-
tive and responsible assemblies; further
we believe that fuller advantage should be
taken OF the .ay service of both men and
women.
&C. The first necessity is to convince peo-
pie of the need for Liberty. The Life and
Liberty Movement is not primarily con-
cerned with the exact form winch this
should take, but the plan which it ad-
vocates is in general outline the scheme set
forth in the Church and State report ex-
cept that it urges the following amend
ments:
ta) Membership Of ali councils and the
right to vote for them should be open
to women on the same terms as to
men.
(b) It should be made clear that the
Church Council has power to legislate
on all matters relating to ecc!esas-
tical endowments, property. patron
age, and tribunals.
(c) Though properly the whole govern
ment of the Church should be in the
hands Of those who, by Confirmation
and Holy Communion, are recipients
Of the Grace ot God IN the fullest
measure. yet because we recognize
that the Sacraments have not been
presented in the pleteness Of their
power and truth. and that by the
mercy of God His Grace 10 often re-
ceived by those who do no. make use
of its appointed channels, We suggest
that the electors for Parish Councils
should be baptized persons who de-
clare themselves members cs the
Church OF Eng.a and 10 70: bc,cng
to any religious bed. which Is not
in communion with he Church Of
England
"The Life and Liberty Movement has been
brought, through prayer and conference. to
adopt this policy. But tn re are many who
desire TO support and work for the great
cause Of Life and Liberty for the Church,
including some .nembers o. the Council,
who do not accept this basis for the Fran
chise- The movement recognizes that the
mind of the Church is still largely unin-
formed and believes that, in proportion as
there Is readiness to make the .enturs,
the Church VIII be guided by. the Holy
Spirit to shs tus potiey-