31 JULY 1920, Page 3

This ought- not to mean, nor we are sure did

Dr. Hensley Henson intend it to mean, that bodies of Christians with a great historic tradition like the Church of England should be disbanded, disallowed, or in any way discouraged. On the contrary, they should be defended steadfastlyand keenly against foes from without and foes from -within. The Church of England, if maintained on its true historic, and we are Eraatian enough to add on its true legal, and constitutional basis, has before it a future of untold nada:less and power, not only in this country, but throughout the. English-speaking world. It may prove far greater and nobler in the future than in the mist. But if it is to avail itself of these tremendous possibilities it must be governed by the spirit in which it was refounded at the Reformation —the spirit of the widest comprehension and the fullest " liberty of prophesying." The moment it adopts any policy of exclusiveness and shuts the door upon any man who desires to be included, no matter how others may judge the particulars of his religious faith, that moment the Church of England must begin to lose its power and the greatness of- its witness in the Christian world.