Letters: Jan. 5, 1962

Renaissance & Incense

Sir:

The "Liturgical Renaissance" [Dec. 22] is without question an active current factor in most Protestant denominations, including some which originated in quest of spontaneous encounter in worship and in revolt against tradition and formality. However, it might be inferred erroneously, we believe, that the "renaissance" is more prevalent than is really the case.

If our observation has been at all representative, the cases cited are not generally descriptive of the mainstream of the Communions mentioned. Many of us who welcome the corrective values of this renaissance are, nevertheless, persuaded that liturgy and the traditional should not overshadow or suppress the duly ordered spontaneous, the prophetic, encounter in worship. Liturgy must never become an end in itself.

OTIS L. COLLIER Methodist District Superintendent Crown Point, Ind.

Sir:

Four-fifths of my senses readily accept the liturgical renewal in the church today.

However, my nose just will not accept incense as a worshipful experience.

(THE REV.) DONALD R. HOGER Holy Cross Lutheran Church Crawfordsville, Ind.

Sir:

As your observations on the liturgical renaissance made public what I had already observed in many of my fellow clergymen, I couldn't help recalling the thought of a classmate. While in seminary, he noted that "some men dress like mother and want to be called father." That's about as springy a diving board as any psychoanalyst would need would he care to dive into the meaning that this renaissance has to the individual's emotional needs.

(THE REV.) CLARENCE F. SCHNEIDER The First Lutheran Church Jeffersonville, N.Y.

Sir:

Bravo to TIME and to my brethren in the Lutheran, Presbyterian and other evangelical churches! Liturgical reformation involves 2Oth century participation in both the church's Eucharist and the world's need for service and social action by contemporary disciples of Jesus.

The most powerful discovery for all of us can and will be that Catholics and Protestants are vitally experiencing each other's life and worship because of this liturgical movement. While Protestants are rediscovering the centrality of Holy Communion, Episcopalians and Roman Catholics are rediscovering preaching and the fuller participation of the congregation in the liturgy celebrated from free-standing altars and communion tables. Both Catholics and Protestants are being led to a deeper concern for the church's primary mission to the secular world as a result of awakening to each other's worship. The liturgical movement is one of the brightest stars in a very dark world.

(THE REV.) CARL SAYERS St. Stephen's Episcopal Church Birmingham, Mich.

First the Mosquito

Sir:

I believe that Nehru has done most to demonstrate practically that politics is "the art of the possible." We now see the three most populous nations all actively committed to aggression when it serves their own interest.

GERALD C. HARMON Glendale, Calif.

Sir: What's this new Nehru policy called—selective neutrality

WILLIAM R. LINDLEY Tacoma, Wash.

Sir: