Rebuilding Britain: A Survey of Problems of Reconstruction After the World WarHopkinson, Alfred, Sir
History
Rebuilding Britain: A Survey of Problems of Reconstruction After the World War
Hopkinson, Alfred, Sir
Reconstruction (1914-1939) -- Great Britain
Is there any sufficient reason why the leaders of religious thought
belonging to other denominations should not be invited sometimes to
speak in the pulpits of the National Church? They would not use the
occasion for attacking Episcopacy. Conversely it might be a wholesome
thing if a Bishop or other well-known Episcopalian clergyman
occasionally spoke to the great congregations in such familiar London
meeting-places as the Newington Tabernacle or the City Temple. They
might be trusted not to choose Apostolic Succession as their subject.
Joint religious services have already been held, and the practice might
be extended. The Bishop of London has been seen in Hyde Park on the
platform with representative men from the Wesleyans, Independents (it is
pleasanter to use the old name rather than "Congregationalist," which
may be correct, but is hideous), and Presbyterians, with a band from the
Salvation Army in attendance. Such things do good, and are the best
reply to the orators by the Reformers' Tree, whose most effective weapon
is to sneer--not unnaturally--at the enmity amongst Christians. A
"church" parade for the Volunteers has in a village been held in the
Baptist chapel, and many who had never entered a Nonconformist place of
worship before, felt how real "unity of spirit" did exist.
Another fruitful opportunity for joint work is in the realm of study and
of theological education. This object would be promoted by the
establishment in our Universities of theological faculties where a
part--it may be a large part but not the whole--of the training of those
who intend to enter the ministry or for other reasons to devote
themselves to theological study may be carried on. Such a faculty has
been instituted with marked success in Manchester. No test is imposed
except tests of knowledge, but the faculty has been said to be the most
harmonious in the University. Whatever body he belongs to, whatever
Church he wishes to serve, the student could not fail to gain profit
from studying the language of the New Testament under a scholar like the
late Professor Moulton, and would never find anything that--to use the
words of the founder of the University--"could be reasonably offensive
to the conscience of any student." Already the effect of such a faculty
in advancing theological study and still more in uniting members of
different communions in the pursuit of truth has been most marked.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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