New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-08

.,,s, services and local adaptation mas oeen
s,snosed Of in the only practical way-that OF
,,,,rv the local Bishop at liberty 10 impaFt
a.~,hu,,v 10 the order at his own discretion.
Al chose questions will be summed up in the
.eo,u,ions of the encyccal letter which mas
h..r sanctioned to-day at the closing session or
the Conference. What may not DE equally ap-
narent in that official summary is the instructive
-.coil against GENERALIZATION and absolutism
.,oh e the characteristic feature OF this unique
..ssoh,v OF prelates. The Anglican communion,
uI. the British Empire. is governed in a con-
.,,tutional way each section with its own &C.
,,.siastical order and lawmakers. yet one and
oil knit together In a coherent and close fell
,owship. The bishops. If they had any desire
,o- creating a highly centralized order OF gov
.rrment. would be as herassed and perpexed as
Nr Chamberlain has been when he has tried to
,e,, the Colonial Premiers how the British En-
,,re can be unified by some scheme OF imperial
renresentation or federation. Like astute states
men. they do not attempt to carry out a policy
which would be contrary to the genius of Eng
,.h institutions and habits of thought They
ID not want anarchy in church government, nor
do they aspire to introduce absolutsm. They
have the same preference for local liberty and
.sf-rovernment which the English-speaking
,ace displays in political affairs throughout the
world They believe that there can be compre-
bensive unity Of purpose and common fellow
,hip. with the largest measure OF fexibility in
local conditions and discipline
FIGURES OF THE CONFERENCE.
The Archbishop OF Canterbury. DR.. Temple.
has been the commanding figure Of the Confer
ence He is a grim-visaged Primate. stern and
businesslike in manner with great executive
fpbe ~ {rta nd
a sardonic humor almost ironical He is not a
genial Primate, but he is man OF force. whose
will is strongly felt in the English Church. He
Is withal an unostentatious and modest prelate.
who shrnks from any unnecessary display Of
his authority. He Is probably the last member
NJ the Conference who would care to have the
Archbishop Of Canterbury a greater figure In
the religious world than he is at present When
his predecessor died the arrangements for the
Conference had been made, and the order Of
some Of the opening services determined Arch
bishop Temple has carried out his predecessors
ideas without essential change. and done little
70 impress his own character or ideas upon the
Conference He has no ambition to be known
as Anglican Patriarch or Pope.
The American bishops have exerted great In
fuence as they deserved to do. by virtue OF
their numbers and high character. Bishop
Doane Of Albany. has made perhaps the deep
est impression as an original thinker with
philosophical mind. He has been considered the
real leader Of the American House of Bishops
by virtue Of commanding intellect, earnestness
81 purpose and courtly manners. Bishop Pot
Ter has also been admired as fine type or a
broad-ninded American bishop, with readiness
IN debate which most of the English bishops
lack. The American bishops have been treated
with marked Difference during every stage OF
The Conference. and their influence has peen
decisive In determining its action in every con-
troversial matter. No Lambeth Conference can
ever advance the Archbishop Of Canterbury 10
the dignity Of Patriarch or Pope without the
consent of the American bishops POSSIBLY
that is one Of the reasons why they are Always
welcomed 10 a conference with unWonteo cor
diality. The English and Colonial bishops recos-
nize in them a body Of American prelates VINO
will never bring their Church into false and IRA
tjonal relations OF subordnation TO the see OF
Canterbury nor sanction any scheme OF cen
tralized polity which is not in accord with Eng
lish instincts.