The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-08-21
WORK AT LAMBETH.
official Summing Up Of
Things Accomplished at
the Great Conference.
ANGLICAN ENcYCLIcAL
The Divorce Question Left Severely
Alone Among the City
Churches.

l1lSifJpS 4 tltc- tOtSStsit ANPt"NSPN
Church gathered at Lambeth are given in
a letter, signed by their President, the
Archbishop of Canterbury, and other off,
Gals OF the conference. The document
fills nearly three closely printed columns
Of the London FINES" Whatever is OF
general interest outside of England is
printed below
Intemperence still continues to be one
OF the chief h~indrances to religion in the
great mass Of our people. There are
Eiary excellent societies engaged in the
conflict with it, but they need steady and
r~esolute perseverance, to effect IN serious
Improvement. It is important to lay
stress on the essential condition of per-
rnanent success in this -work-namely,
that it should be taken up in a religious
spirit as part of Christian devotion to the
Lord.
We desire to repeat with the most ear
nest emphasis what was said on the sub
jeet of purity by the last conference. We
know the deadly nature of the sin of i'm
purity, the fearful hold it has on those
who have ono yielded, and the fearful
strength of the temptation The need
for calling attention to this is greatly in
creased at present by the difficulties that
hamper all attempts to deal with the
frightful diseases which everywhere at
tend it. We recognize the duty of check
ing the spread of such diseases, but we
recognize also the terrible possibility that
the means used for this purpose may
lower the moral standard, and so, in the
end. foster the evil in the very endeavor
TO uproot it. We are convinced that the
root of all such evil is in the sin itself,
and that nothing will in the end prove
effectual against it which does not from
the very first teach the Christian law that
the sin is a degradation to those who fall
into it, whether men or women, and that
purity is within reach of every Christian
who, trusting in the grace of God, fights
the battle of his baptismal vow.
The maintenance of the dignity and
s~anctity of marriage lies at the root OF
social purity, and therefore of the safety
4 sacredness of the family and the
home. The foundation of its holy Sc
carity and, honor is the precept of Our
Lcrd. what, therefore. God hath
joined together let not man put asunder."
We utter our most earnest words of
warning against the lightness VITA which
the lifelong 0 of marriage is often
taken; against the locseness with which
those who enter into This holy estate Of
ten regard its obligations; and against
the frequency. and facility of recourse to
the courts of law for the dissolution of
this most solemn bond. The full consid-
GRAFTON. however. Of this matter it has
been impossible to undertake on this oc-
casion.
The industrial problems of the present
G9V present fharrcalx-ar t,t,da,. +l1 sl,,,bIo
aspect of justice between nan and man
and sympathy with human needs. 1t is
widely thought in some classes that the
present working of our industries is un-
just to the employed and unduly favor
able to the employer. 1t is obviously
not possible for US to enter upon the con-
slderation of such a question in detail;
but We think it our duty to press the
great principle of the brotherhood of man,
and to urge the Importance of bringing
that principle to bear on all the rela-
items between those who are connected
by the tie of a common employment.
Obedience to this law of brotherhood
would ultimately, in all probability, pre-
vent many of the mischiefs which at
tend our present system.
Every meeting of the Lambeth Confer
ence deepens the feeling of the unity
Which originally made the conference pos
sioie ana now gives increasing alu to
lis deiibefations There are differences
OF opinion among US, but the sense of be-
longing to one body. subject to one Mas
ter, striving toward one great aim, grows
stronger as the meetings are repeated.
In order to maintain and still further de-
velop this unity of feeling we desire first
10 secure steady and rapid intercourse
betWeen all the branches of the Angli-
can communion, for it is certain that
thorough mutual knowledge is the only
sure basis OF all real unity of life. AS
one step toward this we propose to form
a central consultative body for supply
ing information and advice. This BODY
must win its WY to general recognition
BY the services which it may be able to
render to the working OF the Church. II
can have no other than a moral author
lily. Nnich will oe developed out of its
action. We q left the formation cf
it to the Archbishop of Canterbury, who
already finds himself called on to do very
much of what is proposed to be done nv
this council. Beyond this point we nave
not thought it wise to go. But we de-
sire TO encourage the natural and spon-
taneous formation Of provinces, SO that
no Bishop may be left to act absolutely
alone, and we think it desirable that. in
accordance with the ancient custom Of.
the Western Church, the M~etropolitans of
these provinces should be known as Arch
bishops, recommending. however, That
such titles should rot be assumed with
out previous communication to the other
Bishops of the communion with a view
to general recognition. We think ii would
be we'll for the further consolidation of all
provincial action that every Bishop at
his conservation should take the oath
of canonicai obedience to his own Met
ropolitan. and that every Bishop conse-
Grated in England under the Queens man.
date for service abroad should make a
solemn declaration that he will paw all
due h enur and Difference TO the Arch
bishop of Canterbury, and will respect
and II a~intain the spiritual rights and
privile 'es OF the Church of England and
On the subject of religious COMMUNE
lies we do not consider it to be yet pos
sible to give advice which can be treat
ed as final. Wesbelieve hat such com
munities are capable of rendering great
services to the Church, n have, in
more regulation is needed If they are to-
be worked in thorough harmony With the
general work OF the church as a whole.
The critical study of the Bible by com
petent scholars is essential to the MAIN
~tenance in the. Church of a healthy faith.
That faith is already in serious danger
which refuses to face questions that may
be raised either on the authority or the
genuineness of n part of the Scriptures
that have come down to us. Such refusal
many whom We have to teach. and will
eaRen the strength of our own convfc-
ton of the truth that God has revealed
to us. A faith which Is always or often
not inquire lest inquiry should lead us
to results inconsistent with what we be-
lieve. Is already infected with a disease
which may soon destroy It. But all in
quiry is attended with a danger on the
other side unless 1t be protected by the
'fience. tits quite true that there have
been Instances where inquiry has led to