The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-29
The Visit Of the Archbishop OF Cam
terbury.

terDury.
Two interesting events Of religious
significance took place in New York on
Tuesday. At st. Patrick's Cathedral
in the morning the third General Eu-
charistic Congress of the Roman Catho-
lies was opened with pontifioal mass,
with Archbishop FARLEY as the chief
celebrant. In the evening the Profess
tant Episcopal Church Club gave din
ner in honor Of the Archbishop of Can
terbury of the Church Of England, at
which he made short speech, distin-
guished by simplicity, sincerity friend
illness and sympathy.
DR.. DAVIDSON Ia the twenty seventh
Archbishop Of the Church of England
since the time Of CRANMER, but he is the
first English primate to visit this ooun-
try. The exact reasons for this visit
are oonjectural only, but as it Is timed
30 soon before tfk meeting Of the tri-
ennial general convention of the Prot
estant Episcopal Church Of this coun-
try at Boston nexrweek, one of them
undoubtedly, and perhaps the chief, is
to strengthen the bond of union between
it and the mother Church Of England.
At that convention, moreover, there are
to be other representatives of the Angli-
can episcopate, including the Bishop Of
Ripon and also the Canadian Archbishop
Of Montreal and the Bishop Of Ottawa.
Another reason for the visiRS the
Archbishop Of Canterbury is supposed
to be his desire personally to observe the
workings Of the Episcopal Church in this
country as voluntary organization apart
from the State. The time seems to be
approaching when the dsestablishment
Of the Church of England will become
practical question Of English politics.
1t is not merely that the communicates
Of the established Church are now in the
minority, as compared with Disorders,
but very considerable school within it
Is FESTIVE under the somewhat anomalous
state Of things which makes the estab-
lished Church subject to the authority Of
a Parliament composed OF members of all
sorts of religious beliefs and no religious
belief at all. Convocations assemble to
manage It's ecclesiastical affairs, but their
power is shadowy rather than substan-
tial. They must have the Kings license
before they can enter into any delibera-
ton and their resolutions are not binding
on the clergy without the sanction OF the
Crown. Accordingly in the extreme High
Church or Ritualist or Catholic" party
the restraints of establishment are re-
sented az an unhallowed interference
with the freedom and proper function
OF Church.
1t is assumed, therefore, that the Arch
bishop Of Canterbury is here to make
study OF an Episcopal Church apart
from the State which has grown to great
prosperity under the voluntary principle.
DR.. DAVIDSON himself, however, is not
Of the school which advocates dsestab-
lishment or even looks forward TO it
without regret He is neither Broad"
churchman nor a Ritualist, but Is rather
q representative of the Low or Evan
gelc,l' party; yet he Is man OF breadth
and his disposition Is conciiatory.
The Protestant Episcopal Church in
this country long suffered from tho Bit
terness against England engendered by
the Revolution, but the feeling has passed
away, more especially during the last
generation, and the growth OF tho Church,
particularly in the cities, has been very
great during that time. Its member
ship, which now approaches 100000, has
about doubled in twenty years.
This membership, however. is still a
very small minority Of tho religious be-
levers Of the United States. The Roman
whose Eucharistic Congress
opened on Tuesday, are fifteen times as