Sm,—This correspondence arose out of an appeal put forth by
the chairman of the Congregational Union for closer unity among Christians —"a notable appeal," to quote Dr. Paton in his article on "1662 and All That" which appeared in The Spectator of July 3rd. As Dr. Paton then pointed out, "the body of Christ is divided," and all who love the Christ should seek the cause of division in order to remove it and so allow the wound to heal. In my letter which appeared in your issue of July ioth I referred this cause back to the Council of Nicaea, held in A.D. 325, when all who disagreed with the majority vote were compelled by threat of banishment and anathema to conform with the majority or quit the Church.
When I ask the C. of E. "to modify her creeds and formularies" in the light of a new revelation, so as to allow me and some others to worship "in spirit and in truth," it is not my intention to impugn the honesty or intelligence of those whom I cannot persuade to think as I do, or to force them in any way to my point of view. All I plead is for a relaxation of dogma where there is not sufficient warrant of reason or revelation to justify the continuance of such an exclusive test of orthodoxy, lest I am compelled, against my own will and wish, to quit the spiritual home in which I have been nourished and have laboured happily for so many years.
Without seeking to be offensive may I suggest that " dogma " is akin to prejudice and obstinacy, being productive of firmness due to weakness? Where the coercive power of logic has failed to convince, there is still available the persuasive power of love to those who have the heart of a shepherd of souls. It would appear on some occasions that appointed shepherds reveal more of the love of power, than this power of love. Not even in the Church of England are we yet wholly free from the spirit of despotism, and until this spirit is removed there can be little hope of reconciliation with those who have tasted of the sweet waters of love and
liberty.—Yours faithfully, HERBERT ENGLAND. ii Woodland Avenue, Boscombe, Bournemouth.
Previous page
