THE BISHOPS AND THE REVISED PRAYER BOOK [To the Editor
of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—The Rector of Charmouth is mistaken. No Catholic, be he Roman, Anglican or Orthodox, adores the consecrated elements qua bread and wine. Instead, he adores Christ specially present—after the manner of the Incarnation—in those elements which are the outward and visible signs of His Presence. The Rector cannot expect to be fully answered in a letter when volumes have been written on the subject, but he must allow himself to be contradicted on the particular point of what it is that forms the centre of Catholic adoration in the Eucharist. The present accusation of false belief is constantly being brought up against Catholics and, although it is as constantly refuted, it continues to be urged. Is it too much to hope that in the Rector's case, at least, nothing more will be heard of it ? After all, it is not we who desire new articles of belief to be added to the Faith I
The Rector advocates "spiritual religion" and deprecates "materialism "—but so do we. The only difference between us is that we regard matter as the normal expression of spirit. I believe that it would be possible to accuse this " spiritual " priest of gross Maniehaeanism I There is little in the Rector's letter with which I can agree. There is, however, one thing. - The Church of England has, indeed, come to the parting of the ways, Modernists at West- minster and Birmingham, Liberal Evangelicals at Liverpool and Anglo-Catholies in the slums all proclaim, even if they do not know it, that comprehension for the sake of truth has become compromise for the sake of peace—and peace is not obtained. Religion is not helped, it is hindered by the present state of affairs.—I am, Sir, &c., A THEOLOGICAL STUDENT.
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