The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-09-04

hi sONDON, Aug. Il. = BY the time
Hi these lines appear in print the
H. Archbishop of Canterbury and
his wife will have arrived in the
United States.
OF course as Archbishop of Canter-
bury he has never been interviewed in
England. Such an unprecedented de-
scent from the dignity Of his lofty Of
flee would be considered hardly less
sacrilegious than his appearance in pub
lie with his canonical calves concealed
by trousers instead of being displayed
in CATERS. But when 1 called at Lam
beth palace to make some inquiries
concerning his visit to America 1 was
given to understand he was gravely
considering the question whether he
should so far conform to the custom
of the country as to submit to the or
deal there. If he should decide to
follow the example set by that dis
tinguished innovator, Joseph Chamber
lain, American newspapers should
know that in conversation it is the
correct thing to address him as "Your
Grace" His full official designation is
1.-The Most Reverend Father in God,
Randall Davidson, by Divine Provi-
dence Archbishop of Canterbury. Pri-
mate of all England and Metropolitan"
An ordinary bishop Of the English
church is a Fright Reverend Father
in God" and oy Divine permission"
merely.
With the exception of the king, who,
as Prince Of Wales made tour Of
America long years ago, the Arch
bishop of Canterbury occupies the most
exalted rank of any Englishman who
has ever visited the United States. In
professions he takes precedence of all
the nobility excepting those of the
blood royal. To him belongs the honor
of placing the crown on the Soyereign'S
head at coronations, the lesser pri-
mate, the Archbishop of York, claim
ing a like privilege in the case of the
queen consort. The Archbishop of
Canterbury is the head of the English
church. He dominates the bishops and
the bishops rule the clergy. His
spiritual domain extends over seas to
the colonies of the British empire. OF
course, like all bishops. he has seat
in the house of lords with all the legis-
lative privileges of a peer, but in adj
dition he is one of the kings lords Of
the priVy council. He is one of the
three principal trustees of the British
museum and president Of all the lead
ing church societies, besides being Of
ficially connected with several inStitu-
lions of learning. In England wives
usually share in their husbands titles,
but the wives of church dignitaries do.
not. That is why the better half Of
the Archbishop of Canterbury is plain
Mrs Randall Davidson.
Aside from the fact that he was born
in Scotland, from whence come so
many men who get to the top in Eng
lish public life. there was nothing in
Randall Davidson's youth that pre-
saged for him an exceptionally brilliant
career. AS a lad he was more devoted
to his rod and gun than to his studies.
When he was sixteen the accidental
firing of a gun lodged a charge of shot
in the base of his spine, and he has
never known what good health is
since. He is periodically threatened
with peritonitis, and for months, some
times for a whole year, has had to sub
siSt on milk foods. So those who have
made elaborate preparations to feast
and entertain him in America are like
ly to find their culinary triumphs vast
ed on him. AS regards diet his habits
are much more in accord with John D..
Rockefeller's than with those of J.
Pierpont Morgan, who, it has been
stated here, will be the archbishop's
principal host in the United States.
A man less conscientiously deter
mined to make the best of himself
would have found in the burden of
physical weakness and suffering laid
upon him sufficient excuse for taking
life easy, for which many snug billets
in the Church of England afford ample
opportunity. At Oxford i'll health in
terfered so seriously with the present
archbishop's studies that he obtained
only mere pass degree, whereas his
predecessor in the primary, DR.. Tenn
pie, carried off double first-class hon.
ors. However,. a piece Of rare good
fortune, as it appeared in the light of