The Vicarage,
August, 1948.

My dear Friends,

It was my privilege to be present, with two members of our congregation, at the opening service of the Lambeth Conference at Canterbury Cathedral on July 1st. I do not think that anybody present will ever forget that wonderful service and the splendid witness it bore. At a time when nations are viewing each other with suspicion, distrust, envy and hatred, at a time when conferences and "round table talks" are breaking down in an endeavour to bring peace and order into this world of turmoil and chaos, it was marvellous and reassuring to see the unifying power of the love of Christ, our King, bringing nations together in a unity which shall not be broken - the unity of the "one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church" (as our Creed calls it) and represented by Bishops from all countries, so that taking their places, amongst hundreds of others we saw in that great and magnificent procession, Chinese Bishops, Japanese Bishops, German Bishops, American Bishops and Indian Bishops, witnessing to the fact that there is a peace and a unity and a security for the nations of the world truer and more enduring than can be attained in any conference, legislation or treaty. It is that peace and unity which can be found, and is found in Christ alone. While we still have this Cathedral service in mind, I should like to pass on to you two impressions: they are expressed in the words of two of our favourite hymns:-

1. As the Procession of Bishops was passing slowly from the great west door of the Cathedral, through the Nave towards the choir:

One the object of our journey,
One the faith which never tires,
One the earnest looking forward,
One the hope our God inspires;
One the strain that lips of thousands
Lift as from the heart of one
One the conflict, one the peril,
One the March in God begun."

2. As the Procession gradually disappeared through the entrance to the Choir, still going eastward toward the great High Altar of Canterbury Cathedral - the Mother Church of the whole of the Anglican Communion.

"O May Thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold,
Fight as the Saints who nobly fought of old,
And win, with them, the victor's crown of gold.
Alleluia! Alleluia!"

"From earth's wide bounds, from ocean's farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host
Singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Alleluia! Alleluia!"