Evening star., 1936-12-15
CRITICISM.
!. OF EDWARD HIT
Indications Are That Arch
bishops Castigation May
7 Reach Parliament.
NJ ths Associated Press.

~ the ASSOCldteu FIcco.
LONDON. December 15.-Criticism
from the pulpit and the press was
heaped upon the Archbishop Of Can
terbury today for his verbal chastise-
ment Of former King Edward VIII.
Indications were the matter would
reach the floor Of the House Of Com
mons Thursday. -<z-.ass.
The latest repercussions of the abdi-
cation of Edward sprang up TO em-
barraS an officialdom striving to
smooth the path for George vi. his
successor.
The archbishop, spiritual leader Of
the empire, in a broadcast Sunday
sternly lectured the former ruler for
his desire to marry Mrs. Wallis War
field Simpson in violation of the
Christian principles of marriage"
Scornfully the head Of the Church
of England placed part Of the blame
for the Kings conduct at the feet o.
Edwards social friends, whose stand
ards and ways of life are alien to all
the best interests of his people"
- Stronf Dissent Voiced
Strong dissent with the venerable
archbishop's statements came today
from church circles and was reflected
In editorial comment and letters from
the. public to newspapers.
Josiah Clement Wedgwood, Labor
member of Parliament, said he hoped
to open the question to debate in the
House of Commons Thursday.
The Bishop of Durham. DR.. H. H.
Henson, addressing a clerical gather
ing, said:
II always have been trained to be-
lieve that the Church of England was
an Episcopal church governed by the
bishops reigning in their several dio-
ceses.
Now find that it is coming to be
some kind of a novel body governed
by the British Broadcasting Corp. and
two archbishops. (The reference was
TO the two ranking archbishops, Can
terbury and York;
II do not like it."
Letters to newspapers criticized the
Canterbury radio sermon. One writer
said, "His words, uttered at this mo-
ment suggest the hitting of man
when he is down."
Beaverbrook Comments.
Lord Beaverbrook's Daily Express
commented editorially:
After the Archbishop of Canterbury
comes Archdeacon Lambie of Aus
tralia, bravely firing the artillery Of
the church against a position already
evacuated"
(Archdeacon Lambie In a speech at
Melbourne had said Edward appeared
to lack appreciation of the reality Of
God and responsibility to Him.
They kept their thunder silent
while the lines still were manned"
continued the Express. Now the
archbishop launches an attack against
Edwards friends. The archdeacon
blames the exotic encourage of the
former King.
."The clergy should specify the per-
sons they accuse-or else show some
of the restraint they preach about"
The News Chronicle editorially men
toned that its "postbag contains
many letters protesting that the pri-
mates (Canterburys) broadcast criti-
cism of King Edward on Sunday night
was untimely and even unchristian."
The editorial concludes:
Edward VIII has gone. To pur-
sue the campaign can bring no bene-
f1t to the cause of the monarchy or
Christian charity. The thing is fin
ished.'
Parliament May Act.
Comment in the House of Com
mons led to the belief not only the
archbishop's remarks, but Edwards
radio farewell to the nation Friday,
would be raised in Parliament. Two
questions likely will be posed:
!. Whether the church heads
broadcast was made with the cabinets
approval.
O. Whether any cabinet ministers
read the speech before it was deliv-
cred
The opportunity will arise during
discussion of the British Broadcast
ing Corps charter, which comes up
for review Thursday.
Some members of Parliament also
expected the question to arise whether
Edwards farewell had received prior
ministerial approval. There was a
widespread impression none of the
cabinet knew its contents beforehand,
although others insisted Prime Min
lister Stanley Baldwin undoubtedly
had examined 1t closely,