New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-08
THE LAMBETH CONFERENCE.
WITH TREND TOWARD CoNsrIru.
TIONAL GOVERNMENT. RATHER THAN
ABSOLUTIsM-NO ANGLICAN POPE.

Inc Lambeth conference resembles the Kings
dom Of Heaven in at least one respect Il
passes without observation. For nearly five
weeks two hundred bishops OF the Anglican
communion have been meeting daily for &c.
clesiastical debate, or committee work. and the
newspapers have been silent respecting their
deliberations. Their opening devotional serv,c.
at the Abbey was described and also their nil.
grimage to Canterbury where there were sne
ciaI services In the Cathedral, visit to St Mar.
tins Church and a luncheon at St Augustines
college But when they settled down to work
at Lambeth Palace and at the Church House
westminster. they disappeared from public
view Inc debates were not open 10 the public
and the conference. while 1t represented everv
section Of the English speak king world was a.
completely secluded from observation and oo
inent as though It had been a religious retreat
Inc German proverb. THE devil lies in stili
waters may not have been quoted by cavilllnp
cri''cs' Out the bishops have been suspected OF
u''"s NOT little mischief In the dark They
nave been accused Of plotting against the peacs
OF the Anglican communion, and OF LAYING IN.
foundations for another Papacy in the form ola
Patriarchate. Whenever a Lambeth Conferenc.
mas peen summoned there have been similar
premohitions OF evil and outcries against abso-
iutism IN the Anglican Church Nervous and
timorous Churchmen in American and ~. r,o,o
MES have apprehended the surrender ~ uhar
ties or local churches and a dangerous exnan
sion or the authority Of the Primate Thess
ledrs nave been expressed more openly this
year IMAM ordinarily, because the first tonic on
the programme OF the Conference was, The Or.
ganization OF the Anglican Communion" with
sucn subdivisions as "A Tribunal OF Refer.
ence,' "A Central Consultative BODY .pa,,
tions OF Primates and Metropolitans 10 the Sec ~
Canterbury" and THE Position and Function.
OF the Lambeth Conference" The blsbons wer.
on dangerous ground, and many pious nravers
have been offered for their deverance from the
temptations and wiles Of ecclesiastical tyranny.
UNFOUNDED FEARS
THESE fears have not been we'll grounded Dur.
ing the prolonged session OF the fourth Lambeth
Conference, which is brought to a close TODAY.
the trend has not been in the direction Of abso.
lutism but OF constitutional government and re.
ligious federation and liberty. The forty-nine
American bishops who have been in attendance
have been in hearty accord in maintaining and
guarding the independence Of their own Church.
They were not prepared to support any proposal
for subordinating that Church which is a self.
governing body, to the See Of Canterbury The
Colonial bishops have been equally Jealous OF
the rights and liberties Of their own churches
throughout the British Empire. The primates
and bishops Of Scotland and Ireland have siren.
uously opposed any approach to dominant au-
thority on the part Of the Archbishop OF Canter-
bury. The English prelates themselves have
been on their guard against any measures in the
direction Of Capitalization: and the Archbishop
Of Canterbury. following out closely the policy
Of his lamented predecessor. has offered no
enlargement to any proposal for magnifying the
been nothing in the proceedings OF the Confer
ence to warrant the conclusion that there is any
organized movement in the direction OF estab lish.
ing the supremacy Of the See OF Canterbury in
the Anglican communion. The project OF trans
forming the Archbishop Of Canterbury into
Anglican Patriarch Pope has not been seri-
ously entertained By any group OF bishops at
the Conference
CAPITALIZATION NOT FAVORED.
The proposal for establishing a Tribunal Of
Reference formally discussed by the bish-
ops Of Cape Town and Salisbury and other prel.
ates. but received with little favor, and was
finally dropped altogether An analogous plan
for the formation Of central consultative body
explained and analysed by the bishops Of
Jamaica and Tasmania. and after 1t had been
considered by subcommittee a resolution was
IL
Archbishop Of Canterbury was empowered to
take such steps In the direction OF the formation
OF such a consultative body as he might consider
expedient. This Is the only measure Of GEN.
tralizing tendency which has been adopted by
the Conference: and with the safeguards thrown
around it, there is believe that II
will open the way for any infringement upon the
liberties Of national, colonial or provincial
churches The consultative body when formed
will not have any power Of enforcing its will Its
function will be purely advisory. II any synod
or tribunal within the Anglican communion de-
sires information or advice. the consultative
body will supply IT, Those who ask for counsel
will remain at liberty to act upon it or to disre-
gard It, The action Of the consultative body VIII
have no binding force even upon those who So
licit its advice.
Indeed, in considering the relations OF Pr-
mates and Metropolitans In the colonies ana else
where to the See OF Canterbury. the Conference
has set it's face against Capitalization. Measures
have been taken to modify the oath OF allegiance
and obedience to which Colonial bishops have
been required to subscribe 1t has been changed
so as to be a promise 'to pay all due honor and
Difference 10 the Archbishop OF Canterbury ana
to maintain the rights and privileges OF the Eng
lish Church and all churches In common WIN
her. The oath OF obedience has been mace
much lighter with the distinct reservation that
the interests Of unity will be maintained without
infringement Of local liberties The Colonial
churches are rendered more independent OF con-
troll from the See OF Canterbury.
As for the American Church In communion
with the English Church. it has never been In
any subordinate relation to the Archbishop OF
Canterbury The debate on the position and
runctions OF the Lambeth Conference. which
was opened by the bishops OF Manchester ana
Pennsylvania, led to nothing more decisive than
the adoption of resolutions expressing strohs
desire FOR the continuance or the per'od'cai Aa"-
oes'. and providing for reports to sy-