New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-08
III
THE CASE AS IT STANDS NOW.

THE CASE AS 1T STANDS NOW.
That is where now stand II will not be
settled to-day or tomorrow. The debate begins
with suggested bill OF the Bishops. based on
the report Of the Royal Commission on Ecclesi-
astlcal Courts which is to be sifted in the com
ing convocation. 1t will not reach Parliament
until that Is done.
In the meanwhile the two Archbishops. with
great courage, have resolved 10 act direc-
ton in the Book OF Common Prayer. which al
lows any dispute as 10 the meaning Of rubric
which a Bishop fails to settle TO be brought be-
fore them as supreme ordnaries Of the two
provinces Test cases are being sent before
them which will determine the ritual matters
which are Immediately In dispute. Practically
only two important points await decision-in-
cense and the Reserved Sacrament for the sick.
About all the extravaganza and doubtfuness
obedience has been obtained. The whole body OF
Churchmen are alive 10 the strong claims which
this brave attempt Of the Archbishops to rely
purely on their spiritual authority lays upon
them. The Established Church under the guild
arce Of Lord Halifax will work IT'S very hard
est 10 secure that these cases accept the solu-
ton given them at this tribunal. and challenge
no further appeal. They only ask that the de-
cision shall embody the actual mind and judy
TO him by external secular courts to which he
conceives himself bound
What they ask from him is not 20 much a
judicial decision Of what the law OF the Church
OF England is, for this would land him in dis
a@rous tangles with the existing courts but
rather q ruling delivered as governing present
action in view OF his estimate Of what the well
fare Of the Church requires. leaving the question
OF the exact determination of the law open un-
I'll such time as authorized and valid courts
shall decide it.
Some such fatherly ruling would go far 10
bring complete peace. II would touch con-
sciences. It would restore self-respect 70 the
Church 1t would show It's inherent capacity
to judge spiritual matters by spiritual men.
THE BISHOPS KEEP THEIR HEADS
All through the crisis the Bishops. with rare
exception, have kept their heads The full fury
Of the storm has broken upon them. They have
been bounded on TO violent measures by threats
and abuse and pressure of every kind And
they have steadily refused 10 get into a panic.
They have stuck CALAMITY TO their belief that the
difficulties perfectly manageable and that
the disloyal were very few. They have abstained
from joining in the popular hue and cry. The
Archbishop has gone about consistently as
serting that there was no real crisis: that he
was not the least alarmed; that the main mass
OF the clergy were absolutely true TO their ale
glance, and that excuses were often due 10 a
zeal for souls which ought 10 respect He
has shown himself wonderfully fair-minded and
strong. and his great appeal to the Convocatlon
was one Of the noblest acts in a life Of simple
nobility.
All through the disturbance the work OF the
Church has gone with steady and impressive
persistence utterly unbroken by the excursions
and alarms OF The Times" and the House OF
Commons I have never known such general
absence Of quarrel and jar You may 90 about
your work, preaching here. there and every
vhere and not discover that the crisis exists
Congregations are at peace with their priests
There are few or no collisions There Is very III
tie rancor or spite. Church congresses come to-
ee,ber and part without ruffie on the surface.
There are clerical meetings carried through
v,,tbout a rub or a mishap. Diocesan confer
ences are calm as usual Easter vestries. In
sn,te OF the organized provocation OF the Church
Association. have been marked by Angular