" THE CHURCH AND PUBLICITY "
Sm,—Having observed during a long professional life and in many lands the inner working and the outer effects of engineered publicity, I should like to endorse Canon Roger Lloyd's criticism in last week's Spectator of the proposals for publicising the Church. Rarely in its history, if ever, has the Church, Anglican or other, had such an opportunity as exists to- day of ministering to the spiritual hunger of a saddened world. Canon Lloyd describes plainly the age-long and well-tried means of doing so. If these means are preserved, if they are practised with piety and un- shakable faith, the Church will not need any publicity other than what the principal organs of the Press always are ready to provide voluntarily. Anything beyond that not only would be vulgar and unworthy ; it would be ineffectual, if not actually harmful. " Let your light so shine before men " and " By your works shall ye be known " should be the watch- words of the Church at this time.
Thought, money and prayerful endeavour may well be devoted (a) to the economic reorganising of the Church, (b) to putting heart into a struggling and dejected clergy, and (c) to attracting young men of intelli- gence and outstanding personality who will be inspired by the glory of the Church's mission and be strong in the dignity of their calling. If that is done, the Church will achieve its purposes without having to stoop to devices lately dear to Government departments, and long used by pur- veyors of pills!—I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant,
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