I READ with great interest two letters in your issue of November 13. One stated that joy and beauty had gone out of the Catholic religion, and the other stated that people had got very casual about their manners in Church. I agree with 'both letters, but wish to add a few more points. I am an Anglo-Catholic myself.
My opinion is that religion has 'been made too easy for people both in the Roman and the Anglican Churches — by modern-type forms of service, relaxing of rules, and stripping of ceremonial. If the new services brought the people to church in crowds, I would not criticise--but they don't! In the Anglican Church, when the Oxford Movement was at its height, people were drawn by the beauty of worship and the wonderful work of the priests at that time. In the Roman Church many are against the celibacy of the clergy. I am a clergyman's daughter, and experience has taught me that to be a married clergyman is a very specialised n vocatio, which few can achieve. And -for a clergyman with a family. finance is a difficult matter indeed. In the Anglican Church, I very much regret that deaconesses arc going to be allowed to preach, read the Gospel and administer the chalice at Co munion. Also the Anglican and Methodist reunion scheme, having -been rejected, should he a left alone for while. If only the Roman and Anglican Churches could unite into a strong, disciplined Church which all could respect, then indeed the Church would he a power on earth.
V. Clifton-Smith (Miss) hove, Sussex.