New-York tribune., 1906-07-14
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH
.4ftempt to Secure Self-GoUernment
Without DisestQbHshment.
London. Inlv q

unanimity with which various practices have
heen pronounced illegal and complete and
homogeneous scheme of reforms has been recon-
yoended is little short OF "a miracle OF grace"
me royal commission appointed two years ago
represented every shade Of churchmanship and
ecclesiastical practice and entered upon an ex-
haustive examination OF the existing conditions
- discipline in the English Church. Representa-
tive men Of exceptional ability and experience,
such as viscount ST. Aldwyn the Archbishop OF
canterbury the Marquis OF Northampton, Lord
Alverstone the Bishop OF Oxford, Sir John Ken
naway, Mr.. Talbot, Sir Samuel Hoare, Sir Ed
ward Clarke, DR.. Gibson, Sir Lewis Dfbdin Prin-
cipal Drury, Mr.. ProtherO and Mr.. George Har-
wood. have examined 164 witnesses and agreed
that the law OF public worship is too narrow for
the religious life OF the times. Breaches OF the
LAW are cited alike against Ritualists. Broad
churchmen and the Evangelical section. These
include disregard Of the rubric respecting the
Athanasian creed. prayers for the dead, eucha-
ristic vestments, the ceremonial use of incense,
she practice Of habitual confession high celebra-
rions with no communicates except the celebrant,
6evotions before the reserved Sacrament, stoups
far bol,z water, prayers or hymns addressed to
the Virgin, genuhections. veneratiOn Of images
and roods. stations Of the cross and ceremonies
IKE the Tenebrae, the blessing Of palms and the
washing Of the altar with wine and water. While
ulated are practised in a small proportion of the
14242 churches in England and Wales and vary
markedly in character and gravity, there is
frank confession that attempts TO deal with
breaches Of law have been unsuccessful and that
the machinery for discipline has broken down
The remedy prescribed for straining of ancient
rubrics is a revision OF the law with sufficient
aexibility to secure the obedience of all loyal
members Of the Established Church.
The Archbishop Of Canterbury. in states
,oaplilze letter 10 the members OF the Houses OF
Convocation. has emphasized the importance OF
she principal recommendations for the establish
,oent Of a new rubric and the reconstruction Of
the ecclesiastical courts. He appreciates the df-
hculties and dangers OF this course. but he con-
siders the courageous and straightforward line
of action the safest and most prudent. 1T mas
become abundantly Clear he asserts that 70
secure in the twentieth century the exact OBJ
servance Of detailed rubTics drawn up in the six
feenth and seventeenth centuries is neither pos
sible nor from any point Of view desirable
Rules clear in principle and yet elastic in detail
We do absolutely require If the Church in its
manifold activities. is to be abreast Of modern
needs and yet loyal TO ancient order" He is
confident that an intolerabIe situation will be
brought TO an ead when hair splitting interpre-
tation Of antiquated rubrics is abandoned and
the convocations discover what the living Church
desires and appeal 10 Parliament for legislation
for enforcing conformity with tolerant and elas-
tic rules If the recommendations Of the COM |
mission be acted upon, the convocations. sitting
together with counsel from the Houses Of Lay |
men, will prepare a new ornaments rubric and /
an amended law for the regulation Of public |
worship; and when these reforms are sanctioned /
By Parliament adequate means OF enforcing !
them viii be provided by the reconstruction Of i
the ecclesiastical courts There could hardly be /
e more heroic remedy for lawlessness within |
the Church; yet 1t may not be impossible to
carry il out although extremists are nosily pro-
claiming that they do not care brass farthing"
for the ritual report, and pessimists are con-
vinced that there cannot be peace within the
Anglican fold
It Is a signal proof Of the impartiality of the
commission that the leaders of contending fac
fions find much in the report to commend The
High Churchmen assert that the judicial COM
mittee Of the Privy Council has been repudiated /
the final court of appeal, and that this has /
been their main object during forty years Of liti-
CATION and agitation. The Low Churchmen Of l
the National Protestant Church Union contend
that their case respecting Illegal practices has
been fully made out by the commission. and Sir
William Harcourt's plea for discipline and obedi-
ence 10 law sanctioned without a dissenting
voice Each faction moreover, discovers much
IN the report of which it cannot approve. and
this is evidence that the commissioners have not
been acting ex parte, but from a conservative
desire to enable the convocations 20 bring about
rational method of self-adjustment to exist
ing conditions The High Churchmen insist upon
having what they call spiritual court, in place
Of tribunals established by act of Parliament,
and the Low Churchmen. while welcoming the re-
movaI Of the episcopal veto ecclesiastical
prosecutions, complain that the proposed re-
forms will disfranchise the laity and arm the
bishops who have been systematically neglect
ing their duties, with exclusive power of passing
Judgment on breaches of law. Craftsmanship OF |
a high order viii De required for the formulation
Of new rubrics and laws for the Established
Church. and the Primate unquestionably has this
quality and also a full measure Of the spirit OF
Christian toleration. Yet the opportunism OF
The bishops and the Erastisnism OF the ultra
Protestants have been meeting for a long time
on the common ground Of the Incompetence OK
The English Church 70 govern itself II the only
remedy for lawlessness is good advice from the
bishops when they are powerless to enforce their
decisions there is a virtual confession that
great religious communion cannot maintain dis
eipline among its members and must be kept in
order by a body Of national legislators repre-
Ienting every religious organization and shade
q belief and unbelief The commission calls upon
De convocations to make ineligible laws for
the government OF the Established Church. ana
then IA sec,re their enforcement by reformed
and businesslike tribunals II is brave and
not altogether hopeless attempt 10 secure seI-
government without disestablishment