Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-13
OBSERVE ANNIVERSARY
Of SIGNING MAGMA ,CHARTA
Living Church Describes Ancient Docu-
Fneht or british Freedom nv Key
to American DcmOcrucy -.


Next Tuesday, June Is, will be the
.ooth anniversary of the signing of
Magma Charta. In indorsing the move
meht 10 observe this anniversary in the
american Episcopal Church, the Liv-
ing church gives cogent reasons for its
position concluding its extremely in
teresting historical dissertation with
the following p3raEraph: ~
We'll. therefore. may we of the
American Church celebrate this mo-.
the key to American democracy We
are the heirs OF the ideals OF the barons
whose names are recited in this in
strument. To the church. through,
chiefly, the primate Of the day, democ-
racy owes this debt Let us of the
American Church. at least, realize it," Il
From Documents Illustrative OF the
History of the English Church." by Gee
ana Hardy, the Living Church quotes
the following as being the clauses III
Magma Charta that relate to ther
church:
John. by the grace of God King of
England. Lord OF Ireland, Duke of
Normandy and Aquitane. Earl OF An
Jou. to his archbishops, bishops, alb
bots. earls. barons. justiciars. Forest
ers, sheriHs, reeves ministers. and all
hailiHs and liege men, greeting.
Know ye that we, by Gods inspira-
ton and for the safety of our soul and
those OF our ancestors and heirs for.
the honor OF God and the exaltation of
molly church and the amending Of our
realm by the advice of our venerable
fathers. stephen. archbishop of Canter-
bury. primate of all England. and
cardinal of the Holy Roman
Church. Henry. archbishop Of Dub
lin. William OF London. Peter OF
Winchester. Joscelin of Bath and
ter of Worcester, William of Gov
entry, and Benedict of Rochester, OF
Master Pandulf, subdeacon and famil-
lar OF the lord the Pope. of Emeric our
brother, master of the knights of the
Temple in England: and of the noble
men. William Marshal Earl OF Penn
broke, William Earl of Salisbury, Will
liam Earl of Warenne. William Earl Of
Arundel. Alan of Galloway, constable of
Scotland. Warren son OF Gerald. HUI
bert de Bursh, steward of Potion, Peter
Fttz Herbert, Hugh Neville. Matthew
Fitz Herbert. Thomas Basset Alan Bas-
set. Philip de Alhiny, Robert de Rop-
pelay. John Marshal. John Fitz Hugh,
and other our faithful men:
Il. Have in the first place granted to
God. and confirmed by this our present
charter. for us and our heirs forever
that the Church of England be free,
and have her rights intact. and her liz
critics uninjured; and so we will II to
be observed. which appears from the
fact that freedom of elections which Is
conSluereu 10 De OF Cnlet moment ana
the more necessary for the Church OF
England. we have by our mere and
spontaneous will, before the beginning
OF the discord between us and our
barons. granted and confirmed by our
charter. and have had it confirmed by
the lord the Pope Innocent III, which
we will both observe and will that It
be observed in good faith by our heirs
forever. We have also granted TO all
free men of our realm for us and our
heirs forever. all the liberties men,
toned below. to have and to hold for
them and their heirs OF us and our
heirs asts
"63. Wherefore we will and firmly :
command that the English Church be
free. and that the men in our realm
have and hold all the aforesaid liber- z
ties. rights. and grants we'll and In q
peace. freely and quietly. fully and .
wholly. to themselves and their heirs
OF us and our heirs in all things and
places forever. as is aforesaid. More
over, an oath has been taken. as well
on our side as on that of the barors, :
that all these things aforesaid shall beig
observed with good faith and without
evil disposition. The aforesaid and
many others being witness. ~
Given by our hand in the meadow.
which is called Runnymede between !,
Windsor and Staines. on the fifteenth
day Of June in the seventeenth year OF
our reign" u;