New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-21
ARCHBISHOP TAFT.
THE CHRONICLE OF AN INTERESTING
EPOCH


LIFE OF ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL TAFT, Archbishop
pSan Of w III E%nda and William Tenha@
u. d. Hon. Canon Of Canterbury vols. quarIo'
PIP. tx, $40 and vii, GA. Macmillan d 20
On tho whole this Is excellent piece OF WORK,
and will interest not only Alclcan ChurclImcn but
all intelligent Christians who desire 10 keep themselves
Informed in regard TO current religious history III
would perhaps be too much TO say that tic time during
which Archbishop TAFT lived was an epoch-mSAihe
period in the life Of the Anglican Church. ana even
IL were we arc not far enough removed from 1t to esd
mate 1t accurately. Neither was DR.. Tat man oi
proemineut and commanding genius. lie VIII not
rank among the great prmatcS who have added usro
10 the seat Of Augustine, and who by their maserui
qualities have left an impress either ior goou OF III
on the Church and State of England But when all that
Is SAID Ii still remains true that Archbishop TAlt was
a conspicuous and potent figure In one OF the most
interesting epochs in the history Of Angdsm an eSoch
when the remarkable oxford movement that began IN
1882 fighting its way first TO recognition and theh
to liberation, and when it in turn was beginning 10
feel tho effects of the revolution in thought that Is
being brought about by modern criticism and inVesuga
ton. His episcopate was filed with fierce ana pit-
ter controversies in which no was often compelled TO
engage and In regard TO which 1t was still more oiten
his duty TO give judicial decision. Necessarily ne
was frequently criticised and even assaed by church
men with whose views he did not agree Now that tho
smoke of the battle has in measure cleared away
he Is disclosed not indeed profound and original
thinker and leader, but as a man Of prceminent GOOD
and tact representing fairly we'll the gen.
eral trend and the average spirit of modern Anglican
ism. But being what he was, he was OF much more
service to the Church than would have been greater
man. His very limitations were closely akin to viz
tues for they preserved him from doing anything very
radical ono way tho other at time whom a radical
course on the part of the Prinate of all England
would have plunged the Church in "a sea OF troubles
out Of which, humanity speaking, il would never nave
emerged. Most intelligent people realize that An
gllcansm is largely the result OF compromise; this
is its legacy from history But 1t is not so generally
understood that Church which represents compromise
Is most truly served by men who bear that lact clea
Iy in mind and shape their policy accordingly And
IL IS small praise 10 Of Archbishop TAFT tat tic
was such a man. Archibald Campbell TAFT was a
Scoichman by race, and the first man OF tht race
to become an English archbishop. "Two hundred
years ago." says his sister, Lady Wake there dwet in
AbCrdcenshre- transpanted, however, from the south
OF Scotland-a family valued for their WORTH the rats
of Ludquharn of class that used to be known in
Scotland by the Of bonnet lalrds honest men,
living on their own farms, ana wearing the broad
blue bonnet that marked the simplicity Of rural
and patriarchal lives, far removed from the fashions
and customs Of towns" The Tats were churchmen.
and wore often called upon to endure obquy II not
persecution, because Of that fact The Rev. John
Skinner was a famous in his day. UNFOLDING the
claims of episcOpacy with answering frmness In his
little Aberdeenshire parish. He had no church, but
preached his quaint to the faithful assembled
I'm the little yard of his poverty stricken cottage NJ
Linshart. "Tlere," told, the congregation
were obliged 10 sit, sometimes under heavy rain.
sometimes with their benches stools planted
In the snow while he OBLIGATED and addressed
them from the window" Among those who thus
listened to John Skinner Thomas TAFT, whose great
grandson was to be Archbishop of Canterbury. And
.rl~n, Archbishop
denounced by the Rtualists as no Churchman," he
doubtless recalled with grim satisfaction the suferings
which his family had endured for the Church so many
years before his critics were born.
The first really important event in the life of the
future Archbishop was his appointment at the early
age Of hirtyone TO succeed Arnold as head master
OF Rugby. In itself the Office one calling for the
highest intellectual and executive ability and the
iusre shed upon it by Arnold seemed to make the ap-
polntment Of the untred young Scotchman almost
grotesque. The general public openly expressed it's
dissatisfaction; and his friends were far from
being confident. This was natural; for TAFT was not
scholar much less man Of genius. But in spite of
all these facts he somehow succeeded fairly well. The
school fourished and the head master became very
popular.
DR.. Tat's wife, Catharine Spooner, whom he married
IN l543, before her marriage sympathizer with
the oxford School she could scarcely bear" he
said aferward, that ii should be opposed and spoken
that one of the four protesting tutors who helped to
bring TO sudden close the series of oxford Tracts
a candidate for the headmasership Of Rugby, she
earnestly hoped he would not be successful. IL
was strange turn Of fate which made her open her
heart next year TO the very candidate whose
She had deprecated, and become the happy partner of
his life at Rugby Carlisle. Fulham, Lambeth. sharing
In all his deepest aud trucst interests helping forward
for thirty-1ve years every good work which he was
called IN n he tmJpS
ship of soul. while stin temperng by the association
Of her early oxford bias, whatever night otherwise
have been harsh 10 his judgments of the good from
whom, on principle, he differed"
This tribute entirely deserved The domestic
life of the Archbishop idyllic One and it was
an open secret during his life that his natural an
upathy 10 RituaSm was considerably sOtened by the
influence of his gentle wife.
AS Dean of Carlisle, Dr. TAFT exhibited the states
manlihe qualities that marked him for future promo
ton; and as We would say in this country, lie began
10 loom" AT the time he achieved high dstinc-
t0n as member of the oxford University Commission.
This Commission was appointed 10 lnvcstls gate the
condition OF tie university with reference 10 reforming
some of It's defects and abuses, and stouty anta
onized by the university authorities. The report Of
the Commission recognized the necessity of popaarzna
the university and removing nIany Of the old pstTic
tons. This report. which adopted by Parliament
In 1854, practically revOutlOzed the university and
land.
The great sorrow Of Dr. Taits life the loss of five
children by scarlet fever was followed almost mmedi-
ateB 1850 by his elevation TO tho Sec Of London,
when he speedily justified the wisdom of his choice
His account Of the way which he did homage TO the
Queen is interesting:
Tie ceremony imposing, and l felt that TO her
knd heart l owed much. Snc sp. ko very kindly 10
after the homage. Wac conducted by Sir (ivOIg
Grey into the Queens clOsct-a very small poom-whee
j found tire Queen ana Prince Albert. Having been
presented by sir George hnoeled down both knees
bel the Queen just like Ettc boy al his mothers
knees l paced my Joined hants between hers, while
blc stopped ncr head almost 10 bend over mine
and ! repeated slowly and s0lcmnly the very i'm
presSye words of the oath which constitutes the act
OF hOmase LOngey. the new bishop Of Durham, who
had accompanied me- then went through the same ceTe
mOny. lie had not escaped quietly through tho
ceremonial when he was cOnsecratcd Bishop % RpOn.
IL, oath was then taken to William " and
had he risen from his knees than the King suddenly
addressed him in a loud voice Bishop of RipOn.
charge you, as you shall answer before Almighty God,