THE STATUS OF THE CLERGY
Sta,—As a loyal member of the Church of England, I protest most strongly against the suggestion made on page 570 of The Spectator that " Low Church " bodies " make a practice of buying up or otherwise acquiring advowsons, in order to staff the Church's ministry with their own particular brand of churchmanship." The truth is that " Low Church" Trusts exist solely to maintain a Ministry that is loyal to the Church of England and our incomparable national Prayer Book ; they most certainly do not exist to propagate a " brand of churchman- ship " of their own. They desire the legal Prayer Book, the whole legal Prayer Book and nothing but the legal Prayer Book.
Church of England ministers give their solemn word that they will observe faithfully in their ministry the thirty-nine articles of religion. Thousands give their word with the deliberate intention of breaking it. Turn to the thirty-nine articles in the Prayer Book and read these words: " The Romish Doctrine concerning Purgatory, Pardons, Worshipping and Adoration, as well of Images as of Reliques, and also invocation of Saints, is a fond thing vainly invented and grounded upon no warranty of Scripture, but rather repugnant to the Word of God." Turn to Article XXVIII: " The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was not by Christ's ordinance reserved, carried about, lifted up, or wor- shipped." And, again, observe Article XXXI, which concludes with: • " Wherefore the sacrifices of Masses, in the which it was commonly said that the Priest did offer Christ for the quick and the dead, to have remission of pain or guilt, were blasphemous fables and dangerous deceits." Having read these words, go into an " Anglo-Catholic " Church and see how the clergy break their solemn word, and it will become evident that " Low Church " Trusts are necessary in order to provide loyal members of the Church of England with a Prayer Book service.
Finally, I should like to point out that Parliament twice refused and twice rejected a new Prayer Book which is being used by bishops as well as clergy in thousInds of parishes. This is disloyal to Parliament and to England, as well as being a scandal in the eyes of foreign countries where an Englishman's word used to be thought his bond. Loyalty and honour are the watchwords of " Low Church " Trusts.—
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