The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1904-09-05

ton to the theology Of the Continental
Reformers. The division between Arch
bishop and King was again illustrated
by the better known case of Beckett.
Again the ecclesiastical power tri-
umphed, largely through the martyr
dom and cannonization Of Thomas; and
Henry II, had to make his symbolic
journey to Canossa. Stephen Langton
in his turn quarrelled with King John.
But he was by no means staunch up
holder Of the claims of Rome. He en-
deavored equally to defend the civil
and the ecclesiastical arm from tyran-
ny. He was a moving spirit in the OPP
position to John, which ended in the
signing Of Magma carta, and he de-
feated papal efforts to secure Church
patronage and welcomed to England
the great preaching orders Of the
Franciscans and Dominicans. In fact.
Langton was the true predecessor Of
Cranmer and Parker
OF the character OF Cranmer 1t Is
difficult to speak. The man who prob
ably took the chief part in the transla-
ton and compilation Of the Book of
Common Prayer has a place IN English
literature, II nowhere else; but his too
supple subseryience, first to Henry, and
then to the reckless counsellors who
surrounded Edward, makes him any
thing but a hero. 1t was no fault Of
his that the English Church was not
wholly submerged by the rising tide
OF anarchy In policy and in doctrine.
Cranmer helped on the divorce which
enabled Henry VIII to crafty his un-
lawful passion for Anne Bullen. He en-
deavored in q half-hearted way to save
the religious houses from spoliation,
but he had not the courage to oppose
the rapacity Of the greedy King: he
shuffled and equivocated at every crisis,
although at the end he mustered UP a.
sporadic courage and suffered death.
Cranmer's fame has overshadowed that
of Parker, who was made Archbishop
by Elizabeth after the death both of
Mary and of Pole had made reconcila-
ton with Rome hopeless; but he de-
serves no mean place among those who
have influenced for good the develop
ment Of the English Church. A higher
place still belongs to Laud, who has
been much misunderstood by secular
historians, but through whose efforts,
in large measure, the Church at peril
Gus crisis retained its historical charac-
ter. Since his day the possibility Of any
departure from the principles main
tanned through thirteen centuries has
become more and more remote. There
has perhaps been loss as well as gain in
this; for the persistence in ritual and
doctrine has led to the separation from
the Establishment Of the bodies which
hold more or less strongly Puritan
| principles.
Yet there may be some ground for
the hope that the unity Of English
speaking people in religion may be ac-
complished through the agency Of
Canterbury. This, at least, is the
historic centre Of such unity. And
however long that hope may be de-
ferred, the share which every English
speaking man has In Canterbury makes
the visit Of the present Arch bishop a
matter Of living interest. DIR. Davidson
| is a man calculated to create good
| impression upon all classes of American
citizens. He has no authority over the
Episcopal Church in the United States,
| it should be said, except SO far as he
| is the head of the Church of which this
is the daughter. The relations of the
closet, and from religious point Of
view they are one, as both are parts Of
| the Anglican communion. And if ec-
clesiastical union is neither possible nor
desirable, q. close understanding be-
tween the two will do something to
strengthen the friendly relations which
happily now exist between Americans
and Englishmen.- providence Journal.