Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-17
Liberal Encyclical
Of Anglican Bishops
BY A. G. GARDINER,

England's Greatest Liberal Editor,
LONDON, August 16.-The issue on
Friday of the challenge of 300 Anglican
bishops to the modern world has
aroused widespread controversy in the
lay press. For five weeks these 800
bishops. all of Anglican communion,
from all parts of the globe, have been
sitting in secret conclave at Lambeth
Palace under the presidency Of the
Archbishop of Canterbury to consider
the attitude of the church toward the
world.
No previous conference has APP
preached the practical problems Of life
so candidly and the event marks
wholly new departure of the relations
of the church and human society and
an attempt to accommodate religion to
the new problems in secular affairs.
In this respect the most discussed
feature of the encyclical Is that re-
ferring to the vexed question of birth
control, In regard to which opinion IN
the church had been undergoing sub
stantial modification under the influence
of combative propaganda by Dean Inge.
The conclusion of the bishops is care
fully guarded, but the outstanding fact
remains that, as the London Times OBJ
serves. for the first time the practice OF
birth control in certain circumstances is
recognized by the hierarchy of the Angli-
can communion"
This decision has a not unimportant
bearing on the problem of the unity of
the church, in view Of the uncompro-
missing negative of the Roman Catholic
hierarchy toward the practice. But,
apart from this vital disagreement, the
sncyclical recognizes regretfully that the
failure of the Malines conversations
with Cardinal MERCER excludes the hope
of the participation OF Rome in the
movement toward the reunion OF the
Christian churches,
This movement is nevertheless one of
the most significant features of the
bishops report. The emphasis laid on
new discussions with the Eastern
orthodox churches and the fact that an
important delegation led by the Pa
triarch of Alexandria attended the con-
ference give promise of practical re-
suits. Even more Importance Is att
tached in the press to the bishops
blessings of the union of the AnglicanS
with the n-conformists in the mission
field of South India, which indicates
new development in the policy Of the
Anglican church.
The bishops recognize quite frankly
that the new communion will not be
really Anglican at all and yet altogether
welcome the venture as an experiment
Illuminating results In the development
of a church of the universe. This idea
of thes reunion of Christendon with
the largest of freedom within the union
for differences of practice and doctrine.
runs through the encyclical and the
influence of such a reunion upon
secular affairs is Illustrated by the
in every nation should refuse to
countenanee any war in regard 10
which the government of its own
country has declined to submit the
dispute to arbitration.
On two subjects liberal opinion is
critical of the bishops They have
made little or no advance on the sub
ject of divorce and their refusal TO
discriminate between the innocent and
guilty parties in relation to the rites Of
the church on reInarriage is pretty
widely condemned. On this point Dean
Inge's advocacy of two forms of mar
riage, one secular and subject to divorce
and the other spiritual and not sub
Ject 70 divorce, receives no sanction or
comment.
The other ground for dissatisfaction
is the tinaid approach 10 the recogni-
ton Of women In the service Of the
church. Opinion on this subject had
strengthened under the postwar
emancipation of women and the case of
Maude Royden has given the&question
great public prominence The bishops
concession that women be eligible as
deaconesses is regarded as an illogical
and tadefensible position,
(CopyTiRht. 1891