The Washington herald., 1909-04-11
BY Ex-ATTACHE.

nowadays disposed TO view with great
CT amount OF charity than IN former
times Onenses in this connection. A ten
dency to deal gently with those who
when confronted by trouble or disgrace
have sought refuge in death Is indeed
one OF the features Of the first decade
OF this twentieth century. Ever grow
ing enlightenment has brought with Il an
increase IN the understanding OF misery.
and in sympathy for suffering.
Il is only natural that this disposition
20 kiAdlier judgments should find it's
chief expression in those churches which
were taught by their founder that the
greatest and most indispensable Of all
virtues was charity. Under the clrcum-
stances the announcement need excite no
surprise that the Convocation at Lam
beth. after carefully considering and dis
cussing the matter. has decided to rec
ommend TO the King, as the supreme
head OF the church. a modification OF its
laws. in such manner as to provide
Christian burial FOR the self-slsin.
Before proceeding any further. It may
be just as well 20 explain what is meant
by convOcation That the established
Church CT England is represented In the
national legislature by two archbishops
and twenty-four bishops, who sit in the
House OF Lords where they vote not
as peers, but as Lords OF Parliament. is
known 10 every one possessed of any ac-
quaintance with the history Of Great
Britain.
Voicing the views Of one Of the estates
OF the realm. they have from the earli-
est times taken such an active part IN
all secular legislation that the greatest
lawyers Of the kingdom have expressed
grave doubts as TO whether any statute
passed by the upper chamber would be
valid II voted by that body in the alb
sence Ot the two primates and their
bishops.
But relatively few people on this side
Of the Atlantic are aware that in addi-
ton TO its representation at Westmin-
ster. the church has a parliament Of its
own. for the discussion Of ecclesiastical
matters. Of liturgy, Of canon law. and OF
dogma. as distinct from the temporal af
fairs that engage the attention OF the ma
tional legislature.
Strictly speaking. there are two OF
these clerical parliaments or convoca-
tions one Of which assemblies in London.
while the other is supposed 10 meet ar
York. under the presidency Of the arch
bishop Of that city. But since he and
the six diocesan bishops OF his province
are obliged to be in London while Parlla-
ment is sitting. in order TO attend to
their duties In the House Of Lords, and
are therefore rarely able TO put in an ap-
pearance al the northern convocation, Il
follows that save where purely local mat
ters are concerned. the real business Of
the church is transacted by the convo-
cation in London. the only one that need
engage our attention.
This London cOnvOcation meets in re-
sponse to a summons by the sovereign
issJed through the Archbishop OF Can
terbury, and holds its sessions at the lat
ters ancient Palace Of Lambeth. concur
rently with those Of Parliament az West
minister, on the opposite bank OF the
River Thames.
1t is divided into an upper and a lower
house the former consisting Of the pri-
mate Of all England and the twenty-four
diocesan bishops Of his province; while
the other is composed Of twenty-four
deans. siXty-One archdeaCOns. twenty
three prOctOrs. or elected representatives
Of the cathedral chapters. and forty-six
proctors for the benehced or parish
clergy.
As in the case Of Parliament at West
minister. the enactments Of the convoca-
tion cannot become effective save by the
sanction Of the sovereign. who is the
supreme head Of the church. Its resolu-
tions take the form Of recommendations
10 the King who. # he approves Of them.
viii embody them in an order OF the
privy council. which represents his will
in the matter.
Justly regarded as expressing the views
OF the episcopacy and clergy of the
Church OF England. the convocation at
Lambeth has now presented, through the
primate TO the King for his appreciation
what is described as 'an alternate burial
service OF great beauty and simplicity"
for use at the interment Of the intention
ally self-siain. Where the suicide has
been caused by insanity. the Church Of
England. like its parent church Of Rome.
has IN more modern times always per
mitted the ordinary burial service to be
used. But in cases where the self-de-
struction has been established as delib-
crate and Intentional, the existing Iitur-
gies have been 50 obviously inappropri-
ate and out Of place that they have been
omitted. and Christian burial denied by
the clergy.
The new alternative commitment serv-
ice. drawn up by the archbishops and
bishops and clergy Of the convocation Of
Taunhrfh end ind -
form by the convocation OF York. is for
Use at the interment Of Intentional sui
cides. so that their relatives may have
the consolation Of feeling that they have
been accorded Christian burial. and after
receiving the sanction Of the King. #
viii. by an order OF council. be added
10 the official liturgy OF the Church Of
England
OF course, there are some who may
argue that the concession Of Christian
burial 10 suicides is calculated TO in
crease their number, by the removal OF
a deterrent to the crime But IL may be
questioned whether the refusal of reli-
gious rites TO the self-slain has accom-
plishcd anything beyond embitter!ng the
surviving relatives and friends Of the
suicides against a church that carried
its unforgivingness beyond death. Ger
tainly il cannot he said 10 have served
as a deterrent. For the number OF sui
ciies is greater than ever before.
Self-destruction seems indeed 20 march
hand In hand with civilization and the
more that people advance in the realms
OF progress and enlightenment the greater
Is then tendency which they show to take
their own lives.
II was but the other day that the cable
dispatches were describing how a young
man, possessed Of great wealth. great tai
ents. OF warm friends. in fact of every
thing that could contribute 10 render ex-