New-York tribune., 1896-10-25
A QUESTION OF SUCCESSORS.
ONE FOR ARCHBISHOP BENSON, BUT
NONE FOR DU MAURIER.


London, October IA.
In this rlorious realm sacred to the memory
Of departed precedents. whatever is is right
and innovation has the promise OF the potency
Of revolution. Yet changes in usage are some
times ordered even in the cathedrals ana ao
beys those strongholds Of what Is the most
conservative force In England-the National re-
ligion, One OF these innovations was witnesseu
yesterday in Westminster Abbey. For the nrs'
time since the Reformation the memory OF Eo-
ward the Confessor hOnOred with spcc'a'
services In the Abbey In the morning 'he'e
was choral celebration, and In the aiterhoon
there was an address by the Bishop OF fe'e'
bor ,ugh on the life and character OF Ed"aru
the Confessor There was large consrega.'o"
for a weekday even-song service ana. oe'o'e
the Abbey was emptied OF worshippers. pro.
cession of Roman Catholic pilgrims entered
Solomon's Porch, bearing wreaths to be placed
on the COnfessor's tomb Protes'ah''sh a""
Latin Christianity were thus brought moiheh-
tarily into touch In the historic Abbey by 'hese
double acts Of devotions. For many years no-
man Catholics have been in the habit OF say'ns
prayers on that october day over the Con-
fessor's tomb. while the Abbey authorities have
ree,ected his memory This year a change has
been ordered, and the day appropriately OBJ
served
Another innovation will be witnessed tnis
week in the Cathedral Of Canterbury. BEFORE
the Reformation the Archbishops OF Canterbury
almost without exception, were buried there.
Since the Reformation they have been ourieo
elsewhere. although many OF them nave ceho'
taphs in the Cathedral. Dr. Benson WHOSE
sudden death, at Hawarden Church has created
a vacancy In the Primacy OF the Ehsns"
Church. will be inferred in Canterbury Ca'he-
draI This departure from existing practice IS
made in consequence of his own wishes ire
ouently expressed. He considered II desiraoie'
for national and ecclesiastical reasons that '"e
o,d-time custom Of burying the Archpishops vi
Canterbury in their own cathedrai shou'u oe
restored and his Judgment and urgent oes,e
will no respected at the funeral service TINS
week As Bishop Of Truro he was persohaii!
interested In the completion Of the newest ca
tbedral in England and he might reasonably
have preferred a grave In the beauti1ui Oor"
wall church. which. like the cathedral-puiioers
OF the Middle Ages he had earned by zeai anu
service. The Archbishop Of Canterbury was
pre-eminently a statesman In ecclesiasticai Vi
fee and his choice Of burial place was eNf
IDENTIFY Influenced by State reasons rather thah
by personal preference. The burial OF 'ne ~
mate among the Archbshops or the M'ou'e
Ages in historic Canterbury Is at once pro-
test against Papal argument respecting thc
validity of Anglican orders and also vinuica-
t,on Of the ancient rights OF the Natlonai
Church.
THE CHOICE OF AN ARCHBISHOP.
There will be no Innovation however, IN the
method Of selecting a successor to the Arch-
bishop OF Canterbury Lord Salisbury VINO mas
appointed twenty-five of the thirty-three pref
ates of the English Church now invested "th
episcopal dignity. will be responsible TOT 'he
choice of a successor to the CHAIR OF 81 Angus
tine He will consult the Queen and be ,nnu-
enced bv her judgment but the appointment Will
he recognized as distinctively personal act Inc
death OF Archbishop Benson at Hawarden'
where he was visiting the aged statesman. who
WAS his political patron thirteen years ago IN
o,ovating him TO the highest station In the Eng
,;sh Church serves to emphasize the fact or the
denendence of the Primate upon the individual
favor and preference OF the first Minister OF the
Crown. The next Archbishop will be known as
Lord Salisbury's candidate; and when he Is bur
led at Canterbury. according TO the new usage
based on the oldest precedents. that Statesman"
will be credited with sagacity and statesmahihe
qualities in ordering the succession precisely as
Mr. Gladstone Is commended this week Tor nav
ing made in his time the best possible cho'ce
Of a Primate destined to command the conn
dence and affection Of all schools OF thought ana
practice in the English Church
Who this successor will be it is Impossible Tor
anyone except Lord Salisbury to forecast. He
Is credited with being a High Churchman sym
pathizing with the advanced section of the
English Church: and II he were to act the part
OF a religious zealot he might promote DR.. King
the Bisbop of Lincoln. to the vacant chair; but
tb,. would be a most unlikely choice. and 1t
would inevitably excite much criticism Ine
Queens favorite is supposed to be Dr. David
ann the Bishop Of Winchester: but. although
he is one OF the youngest bishops. his wealth Is
,nf,rm and he was only recently transferred
from Rochester to his present see. bishop
Creighton, Of Peterborough. Bishop Boyd Car
penter, Of Ripon. and Bishop Jayne, or Chester'
are prominently mentioned In connection with
the vacant Primacy: and they have the phys-
ical requisites for this most laborious post all
being under ffty-fve in age and having a ro-
bust health More than One-half OF the present
occupants Of the Episcopal bel rch are debarred
from promotion by reason OF age. the Frime
Minister in the exercise Of his right or private
choice. is not restricted to that bench. He can
20 outside and select dean or other dignltar!'
and raise him above the heads of the thirty
three bishops: and he will not violate precedent
~ he does so. This course will be unusual. now
ever. although Mr.. Gladstone offered the Pri-
macv thirteen years ago to Dean Church.
CRITICISM OF THE METHOD.
rha aa,sction OF the Archbishop by the first
Minister Of the Crown exposes the Enghsh
Church to criticism now. as 1t has done Tor
~.ntur,es "a a. political State institution.
Logically its position would be stronger II the
consecration OF an Archbishop or Bishop were
not the ratification Of the deliberate, yet per-
sonal choice of the responsible head OF the Gov
srnment of the day. and this is an unanswerabe
argument of the advocates Of Disestablishment.
Practically, however this method OF appoint
n,ent Is not without compensations. 1t secures