SIR,—While The Spectator may have lost one subscriber owing to
the paragraph regarding the Duke of Windsor's marriage in your issue of June 4th, I am confident that the majority will agree with the spirit embodied in that paragraph: However disappointed we may be at the turn of events, those of us who were privileged to know him know that the Duke of Windsor was and is a generous-hearted man, possessed of a true Christian sympathy for all who needed it. Some of our leading clerics claim that they are about to start a great' return to religion. But the question we may well ask our- selves is what religion do they intend the nation to return to, if indeed it has ever departed from the spirit of religion? Is it the religion of Christ, the religion of sympathy and understanding with all men, particularly the suffering and the sinner, or is it to be the religion of harsh judgement, ex- communication and condemnation of those striving to do their duty in life in circumstances not approved of by certain bishops and clerics ? If the latter, I am confident that the good sense of the mass of people in this country will prohibit their following such a lead. We have no use for mere con- vention- and outward display of virtue. Again, we do expect from our leading Churchmen some knowledge of the circum- stances of the world and the tasks to be performed. For instance, Dr. Barnes recently, if reported correctly in the Press, condemned our forces on the Indian frontier for bombiag defenceless villages.
Our forces on that frontier are defending defenceless villages from rapine and murder and every village and house on- the far side of the frontier from which the raiders come is a fortress ; a fact which is well known to all who have served on that frontier. This fact should also be known to a man in the position of Dr. Barnes. To condemn men, whether they compose the Government of India or the forces honestly carrying out their duty at the risk of their lives, is un-Christian.
Again, to attempt, as some clerics advocate, to excom- municate those whom they consider guilty of having- sinned against the marriage laws of the Church, but who otherwise are trying to live their lives aright, is un-Christian. The sacrament as administered by such clerics can be of little spiritual value.
Let the Church itself return to -the spirit of goodwill towards all men, to the spirit which caused Christ on the cross -to address almost His last words to a thief and show that the latter was in communion with Him, then the nation will have a lead that it can follow. ,
I .am well aivare. that- among- our Bishops and clergy there are some splendid men, men who are so busy serving the peOple that they have neither time nor inclination to indulge in harsh judgements of anyone ; but unfortunately the influence: of such men does not appear to* be predominant in the ChiirCh;
today.—I am, Sir, &c., _ H. LETHBRIDGE ALEXANDER.
Aldernzoor, Beaulieu, Hants.
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