Advertisement

THE MAIL

To the Editor of The CRIMSON:

Your editorial of March 11. "Liberal Liturgy", described very accurately the new "just order of society" proclaimed by the Malvern Conference of the Church of England. But in your concluding paragraph you made a slight theological error in saying that: "For a century now there has been an attempt to bring these same practical reforms into being through the medium of force rather than religion. Perhaps it will turn out eventually that the Church is a better catalyst of progress than the Communist revolution." May it not be indeed that the Church of England is identifying itself with the Communist revolution --against a Nazi fascism, in case of defeat:-- a Domestic fascism, in case of victory? The stone which the Crimson rejected might become the head stone of the corner. The Christian Church of England might be remembering its founder, who was not a liberal, but revolutionary.

It is interesting that only the Catholic view of man can adequately take account of the possibility of domestic fascism. Read the Acland amendment to the Malvern Declaration to see how realistically the Church of England can generalize. It does not merely focus its eyes across the water.

I speak of a theological erorr in your distinction of "practical reforms through the medium of force rather than religion." But that is whimsical. Practically, I am inclined to think you are right. I'm inclined to think the Church of England will persuade the Government of England, not forcefully but religiously. Sort of like the religious advocacy of peace and democracy--the Middle Road--you read in some papers these days. Robert Nichols '41.

Advertisement
Advertisement