New Britain herald., 1923-12-18
EPISCDPAIt.AN ISSlEs

EPISCDPAIitN ISSlEs
 There should he no general impress
 sion among those interested that the
 discussion now going on in the Epis-
 copai church circles in one between
 religious radicals on the one hand and
 truly sincere churchmcn on the other.
 it is not q discussion upon one side
 of which are ranged only men Of the
 church whose names We are accus- , toned to sec in print as tho advocates Of doctrines with which the conserva-
 live may not agree. while upon the
 other stand the quiet. unostentatious
 ministers Of the gospel who think only
 of the spiritual welfare of their par ishiorers aud all others as well.
 The discussion is one between sin ccre mon, the majority of whom have not lifted their voices with a desire to gain notoricty. although there may he among them men who are not averse to publicity. suc1 men as Dr. Leighton Parks, grown old in his sery- ice, are not of the publicity seeking type, although beside such men as he. stand others Of whom this may be said with some degree of justice perhaps. The matter goes deeper than belief or non- belief in the Virgin birth and the physical resurrection Of the body of Jesus Christ, deeply important as are those beliefs to many. II goes to the trend Of policy of the Episcopal church and the course events will take may well bring greater enlightenment, more sincere devotion, freedom from things that offend or a deeper appre- citation of its teachings.
 And that word "offend" suggests the awful responsibility the liberals are taking when they question, for a moment, the deep conviction of old time churchgoers that the things they learned long ago are susceptible Of doubt Something very dear to them is in danger, they feel. They have found help and strength in their be- lief; they will cling to it until that be- lief soothes them in their last hours upon earth.
 But on the other hand the funda- 1 mentalists are doing dangerous l thing in demanding belief in all the ' doctrines that have long characterized i the teachings of the Episcopal church. | The age has changed; new thoughts . have come; a new independence Of reason. Many may be turned from all religion because or the insistence Of those fundsrhentalists that they take all or none Of the teachings Of the orthodox church.
 The New Britain rector of the Epis- copal church, while declaring his be- lief in the things that have been a part of the church for SO long. gives wise advice and displays broad minded roason1bleness which should help the layman, liberal or conserva- tive, 10 hold 10 tho things he believes If study and thought and prayer him to take this position, and allow the discussion to leave him still strong in his belief in the power Of a Divine Being; still dependent upon Him for aid. The ignorance Of men seeking truth can not alter that con- yiction; discussions Of the probabili- lies by human beings can bring no cloud to dim his vision Of God. He akes the broad view. does this layman l who remains open 10 conviction as to details, crccds that they are not es- iential to his faith which comes not rom men.
 IT, after the diseussion is closed, .ny new truths have been discovered, avs the New Britain Episcopalian ector, in effect. they will probably be dded to the teachings Of the church. { none are found, the whole thing ill be forgotten. Read and study as he discussion progresses is his sd- 7 ice.
 1f faith is not big enough and tronE enough 10 stand the test of from within and from riihont. Il Is not faith.