Christians on Christianity

Because Roman Catholics believe that theirs is the one & only True Church, they are discouraged from attending heretical or schismatic religious services--i.e., any but their own. Many Roman bishops restrain their priests, and refrain themselves, from joining interfaith gatherings, where their presence might seem to condone the heresy that one religion is as good as another. In the U. S. last year, Archbishop John Gregory Murray of St. Paul made an exception to this rule, when he preached a sermon at a men's rally promoted by an Episcopalian. In New Haven, Conn, last Sunday night, a Catholic priest did likewise by appearing at Yale University on equal footing with a Protestant minister.

The Protestant was angular, deep-voiced, intense Dr. Richard Roberts. Presbyterian theologian and onetime moderator of the United Church of Canada. The Catholic was a famed convert, bespectacled, dynamic, firm-jawed Rev. William Edwin Orchard of London. To bring the two together for a series of four joint lectures, the sponsors of Yale's University Christian Conference had had to obtain the permission of Bishop Maurice Francis McAuliffe of Hartford (in whose diocese New Haven lies), and Arthur Cardinal Kinsley of London, Father Orchard's superior.

One of England's great preachers, William Orchard was trained as a Presbyterian but attained fame as a liberal in a Congregational pulpit--King's Weigh House Church in London's West End. He, who once used to keep away from church at Easter because he had his doubts about the Resurrection, became increasingly Catholic. He instituted Mass, the Reserved Sacrament, the Benediction, bells, candles and incense in his Nonconformist church. When a well-fed parishioner demanded to know why, in Mass, he had been asked to worship "a bit of bread," Dr. Orchard snapped: "Well, sir, we happen to agree with our Lord that it is His Body. But, judging by your looks, if I had elevated a five-shilling piece, you would have worshiped it fast enough." Dr. Orchard became associated with a Society of Free Catholics, obtained holy orders from an irregular but valid source, the Syro-Nestorian Church. He finally entered the Church of Rome in 1932. When he was ordained anew, in 1935, he had but one regret: he found it difficult to "detest" his former faith, as required in the oath of abjuration.

Father Orchard and Presbyterian Roberts (who was born in Wales) became friends in England 35 years ago. Last Sunday each knew well the other's mind when they mounted the platform of Yale's Sprague Hall. Their subjects for the first lecture--the Existence of God for Father Orchard, the Nature of God for Dr. Roberts--were typical of the series. The Yale Christian Conference is neither a debate nor a revival, but a sober discussion for a mature audience. Its recent course has been cheering to churchmen searchingfor signs of a U. S. religious revival. In the '20s, attendance dwindled: the conferences were abandoned when only 150 people turned out to hear Sherwood Eddy in 1926. When they were begun again last year, 800 went to hear Dr. George Arthur Buttrick. Last week's opener, despite the fact that it took place on a winter Sunday, drew 500.

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