New-York tribune., 1911-01-03
DEAN OF WESTMINSTER
Kings Appointment of Bishop of
Winchester to the Abbey.

vs+abIshed Church in England. and where-
ss the rank Of the other bishops even tina.
~ London. is asSimNated TO that Of a
baron I'm the II )use Of Lords, the Lord
u,sbop of Winchester from olden times has
ranked with ears.
That the Right Rev Herbert Edward
Rvle. Bishop Of Winchester. should after
being translated from the bishopric OF
Exeter 10 that OF Winchester resign the
latter with It's stipend OF $4,000 and a
magnificent and historic completely fur
nished palace, known as Farnham Castle
IN Surrey. for the deanery OF Westminster
requires some explanation: all the more. as
bv relinQuishug the bishopric OF winches-
ter Dr Ryle loses his seat in the House OF
lords os q spiritual lord OF Parliament
There are number OF reasons which
have prompted Or. Ryle to make this
change In the first pace. he is not a rich
man. and large as has been his STIPEND.
~ has found it difficult 10 maintain so
stately a residence as Farnham Castle in
,he country and a house in London. rem
dored necessary by his presence in the
metropolis during the Parliamentary ses-
sons In addition to the constant calls
made upon his purse by charities and un-
dertakings OF one sort or another in his
diocese. Then, too, for a conscientious
man the work OF a bishopric such as
that % Winchester is very exacting. and
leaves no time for study or for anything
else
Moreover. the Bishop, although a mag
rifcent athlete when at college. has been
sor tho last two or three years I'm poor
health And lastly, HIS views on questions
o. dogma and about religious matters gem
orally sre Just little too broad and pro-
gressiys for a bishop responsible for the
orthodoxy Of the men whom after due ex-
animation, he ordains 10 the priesthood,
but which are quite suitable for the Dean
o. Westminster.
BY long tradition the occupant Of the
post of Dean Of Westminster must be a
nan of great scholastic euinence. and
capable of expressing the knowledge and of
Influencing the thought Of his age. The
Dean and Chapter Of Westminster may be
said 10 be the intellectual spokesmen OF
The Established Church.
Westminster Is the ideal pulpit from
which To send forth a message to the peo-
9la-t0 the people not only Of the Estab-
Nsled Church but OF every denomination
and of every class Of the community. The
Dean Of Westminster is exempt from any
Episcopal Jurisdiction. He can say what he
sovereign.
When Bishop Colenso, so celebrated as
mathematician. as a South African mission
az and as a Biblical critic, was deprived Of
his see and virtually barred from the Estab-
rshcd Church on account OF his lapses from
s-rirt orthodoxy IN his writings and In his
C-eaChinEs, Dean Stanley placed his pulpit
IN Westminster Abbey az his disposal.
This. too. despite the fact that the Bishop
declined 70 impose monogamy on Kafiirs
Possessed Of q plurality of wives as q con-
dition of baptism. declaring that neither
the Bible nor the practice OF the ancient
church sanctioned such high handed pro-
ceedinEs. Dean Stanley did not 90 quite
80 far az 70 place his pulpit at the disposal
OF Cardinals Wiseman, Manning and New
man. but he was on terms Of great init
macy with them.
Dean Robinson whose failing health has
caused him 20 abandon the deanery OF
Westminster for that of Wells, is likewise
renowned for the breadth Of his views. and
aroused so much criticism in strictly ortho-
dox circles by expressing disbelief in the
Biblical story Of the conversation between
Bslaam and his ass that number Of
Church publications appealed To the late
King Edward 10 inquire whether he was
willing TO indorse these views on the part
of bis Lord High Almouer and spiritual
adviser.
The new Dean OF Westminster is SINH
larry skeptical with regard TO certain por-
+ions OF the old Testament. and has pub
Iclv intimated that he has but little faith
in the story about the swallowing OF Jonah
by the whale.
Dr. Pvle IS a comparatively young man.
being in the neighborhood Of Afty-six; Is
an intimate friend and classmate Of his
Predecessor al Westminster. Dean Ar
mitage Robinson. and is perhaps the only
member OF the episcopacy who has never
been called upon 20 do parish work as
,r-s-a. vicar or rector. a second son or
the late Bishop Of Liverpool ana a grand
sar ~ the longtime Member OF Parliament
fo~ NaccIesdeld ne went az an early age
10 Etor and. abandoning the idea or en-
terur the army, went from there 70 cam
I-j6g-. where ne distinguished himself, not
only ss a scholar bur also as an athlete
making a record for himself as a crickeier'
az a runner and as a football player. tie
was ordained while at Cambridge ana oc-
rrpied various prOfessorships before ap-
poiutueut 20 the presidency OF queen 5
College. Cambridge. from which ne was
promoted 20 the bishopric OF Exeter being
the last bishop appointed by Queen VIC
toria- The first 20 pay homage TO Edward
VII. and the first bishop OF the Church or
England 20 be consecrated IN the twentieth
century He e. married 10 daughter OF
Major General Adams, o member OF an Ola
Davonshf~e family. has a Younger brother
Who Is well known painter, an elder
brother who is the leading physician NJ
Brighton. and II he has one hobby more
than any other it IS the collection OF por-
traits and editions Of Erasmus.
The deanery Of Northumberland Is 10
ss- ~ the ancient Basilica Of St. Peter
carries with it a handsome residence
sarsr, of $4,000 a year exceedingly vaiu-
stIe fees and perquisltes and the chah-
-ero-srfr Of the order Of tho Bath, the
insignia ~ which the dean wears arounu
h's neck Moreover, Ss the abbey ls
rursr peculiar" or royal chapel lts ueah
a-f rraDte- are as I have stated ABOVE
s~s--7r from All episcopal Jurisdiction IN
5sre~fe-f OF all ecclesiastical authority
rv-sr- that % the sovereign as supreme
head Of the Church. and. save on the oc-
oeeio- az "a coronation. not even the Arch
tt.t-.. ~ Canterbury. the primate OF all
.,-...,.,.s ,.,,. oe5csate or preach In the abb
1e.. v.ttbo,1f the permission or the dean.
Tho late dean first won the regard ot
Edward VII on the occasion or ms corona
.Hor Il, seems that when the time came
To- the croUrIng OF the late King II was
found that the only person who had mas
tered tho intricate ritual and ancient ua-
S,.io,,s ~ tre coronation service-tradl-
.... ..,f,,. ,,.e, a thousand years-Was