The Washington times., 1903-03-15
Persistence in Forbidden
Practices and Defiance OF
Primate'S Orders Threaten
Serious Clash in England.
Archbishop Of Canterbury
Declares for Drastic Meas
ureS, and HarcOurt Hints
at DiSeStabI iShment.

LONDON. March 14-Thc church dis
cipline bill. which was passed on its
second reading I'm the house OF commons
yesterday by a majority of 81. is sig
nihcant on account OF what IL implies.
rather than what it actually seeks 10 90.
In 1899 TN" constantly and always in
crcasingly energetic campaign against
the ultra-rituaIistic and Romaniziur
practices of the Established Church re-
suited in q resolution IN The house Of
commons. to The effect hat II the efforts
of the grchhishops and bishops 10 secure
due obedience from the clergy we're not
speedily enecruaI. further legislation
would De required 20 maintain the exist
ing laws I'm The church realm. The
famous conference at Lambeth Palace.
in this connection. may DO recalled. 1t
Vas held before the late Most Rev.
Frotrricf Temple. az that time primate
OF an England. and Archbishop Of Can
tcrbUry. and the Archbishop OF York.
and resulted in declaration OF what
was lawful and what was unlawful on
many points.
Anti-Ritualists Again Afie!d.
The bishops were directed 20 exact
obedience from tho clergy and they ex-
hortcd them Loyalty to obey the decIara-
ton To a great extent the clergy coin
cided with the desires of those who
protested against the ultra-ritualisttc
practices. and for a time outward peace
reigned. Now. after four years test
or the power o. the bishops. the desire
or the anti-ritualists 10 suppress illegal
practices. as well as their patience. has
been exhausted. and they have again
taken the field They declare the bishops
have failed 20 do their duty. and IL is
now necessary for parliament TO provide
other means than an episcopal bench
whereby offenders may be brought 10
book
The bill which passed it's second read
ing yesterday proposes TO deprive the
bishops OF their present power OF veto
ing the bringing Of any action against a
clergyman who is charged with a viola
tion OF a church law. according to the
formularies OF the thirty-nine articles
OF the prayerbook.
The new primate of all England said.
on Wednesday:
Primate Advocates Sternness.
There are some few men defiant OF
the episcopal authority and really recl-
less Of the true Church OF England spirit.
say TO you. deliberately. today. that in
my Wow Of such cases. tolerance has
reached. has even passed. it's limits. The
sands are running out. Stern and dras-
tic acts are in my judgment quite e.
sentiaL l desire that we should act
and act sternIy"
Even Mr.. BaIfour. the prime minister
who opposed the bill. declared himself
as in perfect accord with the sentiment
and more deeply and passionateIy con-
cerned with the services given in the
church even than the clergy" He add
ed that he did not think the bishops
thoroughly realized how deep and how
bitter is the feeling among a large se--
tion OF the most respectable Iaity in the
country which the practices arouse
He declared frankly that he felt in
tensely the peril which disIoyal church
men were bringing 10 the church to
which they belong Toward the end OF
his speech. Mr.. Balfour struck the note
OF greatest significance when he said.
Il do not know what the future OF the
church is going 10 be. 1 look upon IL
with the greatest anxiety
Balfour's and Harcourt's Views.
These words should be taken in con.
junction with those used by Sir William
Vernon Harcourt. who. after declaring
that the doors OF the law in eccIesiasti-
cal matters should be opened TO subjects
OF the realm said.
That is what they are entitled 10
under an established church. II you do
not Ike interference IN this matter. dis
establish the church Here NAV be
seen what is dreaded by the party which
MT. Balfour denominatcd the historic
moderate high church
Despite the efforts Of the bishops I'm
the past four years. there has been no
dimirution in the ultra ritualistic prac-
tiees. IN The Years 1859 incense was
used ia @sI chur, hes. ana I'm 1901 -O2 in
5s@ churches. This. and case after cast
or far moro illegal practices. was quoted
IN Yesterdays debate showing plainly
that the extreme high church party is in
no mood 20 Compromise.