The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-26
Final Action Taken Yesterday by the
Consistory Court of the Do
cese of London, England.
BISHOPS NOT WELL INFORMED
NONE KNEW MASSACHUSETTS, WAS
PART OF NEW ENGLAND
Until an American Correspondent Dis.
PEELED Their IgnOra nce-Britain
and the Transvaal.

LONDON. March 25.-In consequence of
the efforts of the state government of
Massachusetts. the American Antiquarian
and Massachusetts Historical societies. the
Pilgrim Society of Plymouth and the New
England Society of New York. backed up
by the desires of the archbishop of Carter
bury and the bishop of London, tn con-
sistory court of the diocese of London as
sembled to-day in the old chapel of st.
Paul's Cathedral i'm order to determine the
question of the restoration of the log of
the May1ower to the United States.
The chancellor of the diocese, DR.. Thomas
H.. Tristran, Q. c., presided in wig and
gown. United States ambassador Bayard
was represented by Arnold Stratham, a
barrister, who opened the proceedings by
reading a petition from Mr.. Bayard in be-
half of the President and citizens of the
United States which set forth the history
of the book and the presumptions as TO
how it came into the possession of the see
of London. 1t was stated d precedent TO
this friendly act was to be found in the
| action of the Philadelphia library in 1861
in restoring five manuscript volumes which
were only part of the archives of England,
for which Lord Romilly, the then master
of the roll. formally expressed the thanks
of England. Mr.. Bayard's petition was
cordially Endorsed by the bishop of London.
Mr.. Stratham then called III. +. Lee, legal
secretary of the bishop of London, who UNI
dertook in behalf of Mr.. Bayard to use
every means in his power TO safeguard the
log and deposit the same in Pilgrim Hall.
Plymouth. Mass, or some other safe place
selected by the President of the United
States, and also to deposit a Photographic
copy in the registry OF the diocese of Lon
don. Continuing, Mr.. Stratham said that
this was an unusual petition, not brought
by a single person, but supported by a
large body of public feeling and the Presi-
dent and numerous learned societies of the
United States. In short, he added. the
petition was brought by the whole of a
great nation living in the greatest amity
with Great Britain, and without even Mr..
Bayard's undertaking he felt sure that
America would so treat it. This was of
worldwide import, as it would safely be
transmitted 10 successive generations on
national and public grounds.
The chancellor, then spent ninety. minutes
in examining Mr.. Lee, reading long eX-
tracts from the book. which he Examined
with a magnifying glass, debating upon the
obscure dates, etc. The chancellor asked
If New England was part OF Massachusetts
and counsel and Mr.. Lee were unable TO
cellor said: rs there nobody present able
to answer the question?
The question was Inen dIlSWeTtu DN a
representative of the Associated Press, who
said tina Massachusetts was part OF New
England. The chancellor asked if Plym-
outh was i'm Massachusetts and the Assoc
ciated Press representative assured him
Later the chancellor read a long argu-
ment. during which he set forth that the
log was part of large numbers OF manu-
scripts in Fulham palace relating TO the
English possessions in the American col
onies. which before the Declaration of In
dependence formed part of the diocese of
London In the history of the diocese, the
chancellor continued, there was but one
precedent to "A petition such as this on the
ground that IT was a matter OF pupnG m
terest.. In 1853. he explained. Lord John
Russell petitioned the diocese of London to
restore to France the will and codicils of
Napoleon l. The present application
differed from that of Lord Russell because
the log of the Mayfiower,. being a register
of births, marriages and deaths, concerned
the property of the descendants of the pill
grims. Their interests must be sa~teguarded,
and the court would therefore follow the
custom prevailing when a new diocese is
offset from an Old one, in winch case the
was transferred to the new diocese. He
added: Il order on the undertaking given
by Mr.. Bayard TO place the log In a hit
place where persons concerned can nave ac-
cess thereto and a proper certified copy be-
ing deposited at Fulham. that the original
be given up to Mr.. Bayard for transmission
to the President of the United States, and
that the copy of this judgment, under SEAL,
be sent with the book whenever Mr.. Bayard
or some one of the United States embassy
can attend. In the meanwhile it will re.
main in the diocesan strong room.
After these proceedings the representa-
tive of the Associated Press had an inter-
view with the archbishop of Canterbury.
DR.. Temple. who said: 1T was always my
desire when bishop of London to restore
the log. which has been handed down by
successive bishops, and which has always
been guarded i'm the most strict manner. In
fact, Americans were so fond OF II that my
predecessors kept il in a secret drawer to-
which thu bishop only had the key. | an
glad the book is returning TO America. 1t
will be another evidence of our sincerity.
admiration and love for America and our
desire to draw the two nations closer to-
gether."
The bishop of London will deliver the
book to Mr.. Bayard personally.