PRAYER-BOOK REVISION.
[To THE EDITOR or TIM "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—You set a strong array of authorities against the judgment of the late Professor Sidgwick (Spectator, January 12th). Yet many, while deeply sympathising with men like Maurice, who felt themselves justified, nay, bound, to retain their communion with a Church based on broad principles and consecrated to noble ends, yet feel that the present crisis has assumed a different character, and that to leave things as they are constitutes a real and immediate danger. It is impossible perhaps even to guess at the number of men who are deterred from taking Holy Orders by the latest results of the higher criticism, but ultimately it seems clear that the main body of ordinands will in effect have made up their minds to accept the authority of the Church as sufficient and to put all rebellious questionings aside. (Even in the Roman Communion this is becoming increasingly difficult.) What influence will such a body of men have on the more thoughtful and instructed laity ? If the laymen of the Church of England care at all for the maintenance of the English Church, as handed down to us by the Reformers, they will help the clergy to be rid of the chains which, being old, may not gall so much as new ones. But what need is there of any chains at all ? The yoke of Christ should be sufficient, and He is the sole teacher. His yoke is not the yoke of the bondman, but that which helps the ploughman to make a
straight furrow.—I am, Sir, &c., E. D. STONE. Helensbourne, Abingdon.
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