New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-20

caused keen sorrow. heart burning and violent
party spirit cannot he denied But to allow II
| 10 be known that where the law was evaded,
violated and even set aside with high hand
/ the veto would be used to shield dsobedience.
| because II accompanied by earnestness and
activity was to make personal qualities superior
to Law. 1t is no exaggeration 10 say the intro
ducton Of such principle into common life
would derange the order Of society. Virtue or
one kind cannot excuse vice OF another. Actv-
| ity is no excuse for theft Generosity cannot
absove deceit director Of public company
who cooks accounts is not protected from the
grip OF law because he reads family prayers
Some people might even argue that this was an
aggravation Of his guilt. 80 with regard to the
episcopal veto Thousands Of clergy who dis
regarded the law were persuaded Of their safety
because their reputed activity secured them the
protection of the veto. Nor is II any reply 10
this to say that few men sought redress. and
that as few were denied justice. The door 70
the court was locked the inside. Every one
! knew. II was II So Il is not reasonable for
those who locked the door 70 complain that no
one knocked at It. The truth is the words Of the
late Lord Chief Justice Of England are indispu-
table writing OF the episcopal veto ne said:
1.-THE actual interference Of the bishops to pre-
vent the law Of the land being enforced against
those who have deliberately broken 1t IL az
indefensible In theory as. must confess II seems
TO me TO be fast becoming ntolerable in prac-
tice" II hardly admits OF doubt that the moral
position Of the bishops now is rendered most
thorny by their past use Of the veto. They heiu
their egis over those who. relying on their sym
pathy encouraged by their approval ana pre-
ferred by their authority. they are now expected
TO discourage and even to repress services
methods ceremonials which have been enjoyed
for years the clergy are now suddenly required
TO abandon. transferring them 70 nails beyond
episcopal control. All this increases the dim
Guilty Of the problem.
POWERFUL ORGANIzATION TO DEAL WITH.
II is intensified by the fact that the bishops
are not dealing with individual preshyters
alone They are dealing with powerful organ
ization OF great and increasing numerical
strength OF large pecuniary resources ana OF
inlexible determination 10 dictate 10 The Dish-
OPS and II Lord Halifax its president IL 10 ne
believed to secure place. recognition and author
ity for doctrines for services. for ceremonies
which at home in the Church ~ Rome have
neither historical nor legal right in the Church
Of England.
The contemplation Of these three factors In con-
nection with the duty to which the Anglican
bishops are now addressing their anxious atten-
ton entities them 10 the highest form human
sympathy can take. the readiest exhibition OF
which might well be the unconditional aban-
donment OF ali unauthorized services ana cere-
MONIES under II you will. a dgnhed protest.
Such line would be dignifed. dutltui ana
strong Whether adopted or not. the bishops
must have sypathetic support, the more wheh
we remember that their work will consume time
of he
life Of such a society the Church Of England
Two or three years is not even that BEFORE
these years have run out the country will be IN
the strife OF a general election. II the bishops
fail in the mean while to restore order and 10
nrotect as well as to preserve the principles or
the Reformation. their failure will reIegate the
whole question to the polling booths OF dis
trasaed disanpointed and. II must be added.
long suffering laity.
II past and Immediately present policy indl-
Gates with any show of probability what
their future line is likely 70 be, then IL VIII oe
policy Of comprehension; and this term Is Oh 'iie
tongue OF the politician. the Bishop ana Tue
philosopher For centuries elasticity mas CHAR
acterized the Interpretation OF church ooctrlhes
their expression in church ritual and their adop-
ton by church people. The names assisheo u
the three historic schools are High 10" ana
Rroad Each had it's share in the sacred work
IN national service. in building up indlVldud'
character Each respected and regarded the
others But in our day there are those VINO APP
near 10 he outside the wide comprehensiVehess
of this most comprehensive Church and YET
there is belief rejecting the utterances OF
several Of the bishops. that such men may ana
even must be comprehended within our ecclesl-
astical elastic Hence the inquiry comes ana
from every side Is there or If there not l''iii'
10 the comprehensiveness Of the Church OF Eng
land What is It's character? What are the
consequences Of concedng or denying 1t?
LORD HALIFAX's WORK
Ire character can he gagged from the Ian
guage used by the noble leader OF the agitation
He is outspoken and he is consistent win
Lord Halifax pains. time, substance, anxiety
are as the elements OF sacrfcial life devoted
IN the good Of men and TO the glory OF the MOST
High He is II I may dare to say so. far too
good man for Rome. But II he does not THINK
so himself my opinion is an mpertinent rrepe-
vance Let US read what he SAYS. as indicating
what his party demands and what the Church
must concede II he and they are TO enjoy her !
comprehensveness:
The clergy have in some cases been publicly
admonished to cease from % hearing the con-
fessions Of those who in the habit or making
them: (2l to abstain from reserving the Blessed
Sacrament for the use OF the sick and dying go
70 refrain from using the accustomed FORM OF
praver for the faithful departed. SUCH prayers
as those accustomed 10 be used by so large and
widely spread a guild the Guild OF All Souls:
a 70 give up services long In use such As 'he
nrocession Of palms on Palm Sunday, ana 70
abandon the use Of 90 lights 90 vestments. %
incense and 81 other accessories Of divine ser
vice II is impossible to be silent In the race or
such facts and II is necessary 70 state quite
distinctly-I speak not only on behalf or this SO
cietv If. C. u. but on behalf of great BODY
Of laitv throughout the country who DO not be-
..s,n 49,