The Washington herald., 1913-05-25
OXFORD HAS STAY-AT-HOME Club

est ut In Convacatione de ma
joribus negotiis &C totum Universitatis
corpus tangentibus deliberetur ct deter
minetur.'
So when, a scheme has passed Congre-
cation 1t has yet to run the gantlet Of
Convocation. a body consisting of all
masters Of arts, wherever resident, who
keep their names on the books" by the
payment Of the annual fees. Usually this
further stage Is a mere formality. No
one who has gone down" takes the
trouble to come up again for the pur-
pose of voting on details Of academic
administration. so Convocation In seldom
anything else than Congregation under
another name.
ProposaI Is Rejected.
But once in every few years there Is
some keenly contested question that
stirs excitement not only within the col
leges themselves, but even In remote
country parishes. where an Oxford NJ. A.
occupies the vicarage. Hence the cieri-
cal invasion of the university town this
week. The greater deliberation" which
the statutes sought TO insure by the ref
erence of these matters to Convocation
was scarcely secured, for the speeches
were few and were heard impatiently
amid cries OF Divide"
The proposal about the examinerships
was rejected by $50 votes to 434 After
this. the fate Of the second proposal was
certain. and a great many members
paired in order to go home by the next
train. After a few more speeches. tho
DID. statute was rejected by 763 to "a
The general question OF the abolition Of
ecclesiastical privilege at Oxford was
discussed in letter that appeared on
December II last, and the recent contro-
verJy has brought forth no new consid-
Grafton of Importance on either side. The
reform proposals. 1t must be remember
ed. did not originate with the Noncon-
formists themselves.
Church Took Initiative.
The initiative was taken by the Of
fetal representatives Of the Church Of
England in the university; that is to say.
by the whole body Of divinity profess
ors, including such well-known men as
Canon Sandry and Canon Scott Holland.
They were able to claim among their
supporters both the archbishops. as well
as several bishops who have had an
especially close association with theolog-
ical teaching in Oxford.
The triumph of obscurantism on Tues
day, therefore, makes the outlook a seri-
GUS one for the Church of England her
self as regards her influence within the
university. The divinity professors, who,
by their position. are. especially RESPONSE
BILE for the efficiency of Anglican teaching
at Oxford. have been advocating certain
changes, not simply on the general
ground of justice and equality, but as
essential to the securing OF an adequate
standard of theological training. But
their judgment has been nouted and their
attempt at reform has been brought 20
the ground by the opposition Of a crowd
OF nobodies, animated by sectarian preju-
dice, whom the medieval constitution of
the university has unfortunately intrusted
with q power Of veto.
Abolition Only Delay.
When the "backwoodsmen" Of the
House OF Lords threw out the budget OF
1909, they were in reality making inevita-
BILE the Parliament act of 1911. And. in all
that the university ''backwoodsmen" have
just won. As the budget was carried In
the long run, SO the limitation of Oxford
grees to Anglican priests will sooner or
later be brought TO an end.
Last Tuesdays meeting has delayed one
change. but hastened another. It has
delayed. and only delayed. the abolition
Of clerical privilege at oxford. But IL has
given a new urgency 20 the demand for
royal commission which will deliver the
responsible authorities Of the university
from the incubus OF Convocation. Oxford
has been trying to reform herself from
within, but has failed. She will now look
% Mr.. Asquith to come to her help.