New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-10
ANGLICAN SUCCESSION OF BISHOPS.
From Whom Did Augustine Receive Juris-
diction Over Britainl
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: Ny atteation has Just been called to letter
by z W. Palmer which appeared in a recent issue
OF The Tribune regarding the Anglican succession
OF bishops. AS the apparent show of learning
might mislead the unwary. It is perhaps well to
ply to Mr. Palmer. although the facts he states do
not all affect the main point at issue. namely.
whether there was not break in the six
teenth century which completely sewers the modern
Church OF England from the ancient church of that
land. II IS. OF course. perfectly immaterial from
whom Augustine received his conservation. The
fact is as stated in the letter. that he
Grated by Nrgus OF Aries. The inference. how
ever not expressly stated by the writer but plainly
meant TO be deduced from this fact. namely, that
thereby the Church in England was ASSOCIATED
from Rome. is entirely without foundation. That
Augustine should go to Aries. in France rather
than back to Rome TO be consecrated Is nothing
surprising when consider the comparative dis
Of the places from Britain and the natural
desire avoid the expenditure of time necessary 10
so to the latter place The question would still
main: DID Augustine DO this proprio mortu. and
from whom did he consider that he had received
mission and jurisdiction the Church IN Britain?
Bede Will answer that question for After tell
ing US Of Augustines conservation by VIrgilus he
adds 'juxta quod jussa Sanct PATHS GregoriT
CIlst. !. L c. 20. and Gregory's own words
data a licentia'' (Epist. l. Wild The mandate
for Augustlnes Calic conservation, therefore. and
the same supreme authority which had first sent
L4iIL 70 u nS
TO Augustine defining his authority in Britain.
Your brotherhood Will moreover have subject 10
you not only the bishops which you or the Bishop
OF York may ordain. but all the bishops of Britain.
by authority OF our God and Lord Jesus Christ
(Bede Hist, l. ]. G. -
The question, then. 20 through what channel
the archbishops OF Canterbury received their sue
sion is a minor one compared with the fact thus
amply attested that the jurisdiction In virtue OF
which they exercised primatial authority in Eng
land flowed from what Catholics hold TO be the
only Of spiritual jurisdiction on earth-the
SEQ OF Rome
Surely when Bishop Cotton OF Buffalo was re-
Gently consecrated in New-York City the supremacy
OF Rome was quite fully recognized as II he had
been consecrsted by the Pope within the walls OF
the Vatican.
As 10 the lists OF bishops given by this gentleman,
they may may not be accurate. have no means
OF telling but IL they are the matter could be
OF none other than a merely antiquarian interest
Certainly IL could do nothing TO establish any con-
nection between the present state establishment in
England and the Church OF Augustine
The present PTinlate of the Catholic Church In
England. Archbishop Bovine OF Westminster, &C
companied by a numerous train OF clergy and laity,
will soon journey to Rome 10 take part in the
soiemnities marking the thirteenth century OF that
gave him Jurisdiction over its church. Kneeling
at the feet OF Gregorys successor, from whom he
received the pallium. the sign OF his primatal
Jurisdiction did Augustine from the same source.
he viii demonstrate to the world far more forcibly
than could any amount Of antiquarian research,
who IS the successor OF the first Archbishop OF
AN Ex-EPIscoPALIAN MINISTER,
Fonkers n. Y. April e 1904