Page:Distinguished Churchmen.djvu/180

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148
DISTINGUISHED CHURCHMEN

that the Church is one body—a living organism, a living authority, a living teacher. We have to teach the 'Oneness' of the Church, as the Kingdom of Christ under the delegated government of His Vice-gerents, the Episcopate of the whole Catholic Church, with all the consequences which flow from the acceptance of that fundamental truth. The 'Establishment' may have to go in the process. Probably it will. But, as Lord Halifax once said, 'There are some things worse than Disestablishment.' The Bishops, I may add, when they are consecrated, are consecrated, not Bishops of the Church of England, but, as anyone may see who will take the trouble to look in the Ordinal, Bishops of 'the Church of God.' The very title page of the Prayer-Book also speaks of 'the sacraments and other rites and ceremonies of The Church, according to the use of the Church of England.'"

"Do you consider that your views represent the views of the E.C.U.?"

"Of course, I cannot speak for the Union as such. No one can. But I should be greatly surprised if the Union ever repudiated the main features of the views I have expressed. At any rate, Lord Halifax's speeches of late have laid very great stress indeed upon the ecumenical authority of the whole Church. In particular, he has insisted that the Church of England is bound in matters of Faith by whatever can