I relate in detail my own experience on that occasion because 1 think any "the chance of call it, if "ith tantfeipation of heavy responsibility, must feo] similarly. over con 1 much doubt whether RT. Davidson, when, as a young curate in 1877, he was invited to become 'Chaplain to "Archbishop Tait, saw fa "long and glittering. vista' that tapered away to the seat of Thomas Becket," much less "set his face toward the goal." I don't think that is likely to have been the vision earnest young clergyman ax he took up his work at Lambeth; it is much more probable that he felt overcome with the burden of his task. Had his main motive through the 26 years he became Primate in 1903 been lesinstical ambition, he could not wsinee then have beet the gracious, patient, sympathetic counsellor to all manner of men that has made him so widely beloved.
T have in these last twe often stayed with Avchbish Mrs, Davideon at Lambeth Palace There are always guests in the house, the Archbishop is constantly
importane ly talks involved wide to one in things in the remote overseas Diocese, which reveal largeness of mind and heart. always leave Lambeth, dismissed by this great Father of the Church with prayer and blessing,. feeling spiritually'stimolated, encouraged to back again and try to fulfil my tusk more faithfully, and wishing wake my home at least a little that of Archbishop and Mrs.
Fividson in its gracious helpfulness. My wife has always eacried away a similar impression, One isn't in the least aware of greatness oF grandeur, bat always of courtesy, quietness' and loving sympathy.
The Archbishop's "Statecraft"
His "wisdom of statecraft" and aadyeitness in marshall to the Church's great advantage" have made him "a great and capable Teader." Yes, he has again and again saved the Church of England from dangerous situations, but how? Two examples be in the will memories of many.
When the nbeth Conference of 1920 was preparation the Bishop Zanzibar, who had been pushing for 'a decision as to the definite message of the Church after the Kikuyu Controversy, declared that he would municate some Bishops, and. refuse to take' any tt} Archbishop Davidson overcome scruples, and the moment of the Conference was reached when Frank danzibae arose and declared his adhesion to the Appeal for Unity which went out from that gathering. 'A threatened scandal which might have vent the Church was avoided, and no-one doubted that the Primate must have used his highest gifts of spiritual persuasion to win to the side of the larger unity so good and conscientious a protagonist of one view. "Adroitness" some may it, but was it not rather that ialom which is from above, which is first pure, then peaceable, gentle ete," the gift of God?
A few months ago Canon Bullock Webster, a very devout and popular high-churchman, made a public protest. in St. Paul's Cathedral as Bishop Barnes of Birmingham was about to begin his mormon, Dean Tage was quite eapof calling on the police to eject him or summons him for brawling. A few years ago this was generally done. Bishop Barnes waited with bent head till the protest was finished, and then proceeded with his sermon. (A few days later the Bishop of Birmingham protested in the press against the imeident. Here, thought many, was a erisia which would tax the Church Authorities beyond their powers. The Church must surely break on the stumbling block of moder But a letter from the to the "Times were admonished, cleared up ' the whole matter which has not been heard of since. The Archbishop's sound judgment met with general approval. It was wisdom not adroitness.
The Archbishop and the Church The Archbishop's leading prin-as regards the Home Church woom to have been to make the Church comprehensive of all those who can rightly claim a spiritual home in her, and while preserving constitutional methods to demwerative the Church. The "Life and Liberty Movement," fostered by the present Bishop of Manchester and others, produced the Church Assembly and gave to the Church that rer dewree of autonomy conferred on her by Parliament. The Archbishop took the results of that movement—how much he may have enrayed the movement the pre-writer does not know—and has long overdue in the Church of Much was done in the ly years of the Assembly's work to restore the confidence of the yin the Church, and until the inevitable Prayer Be reached it looked as Chueh was setting down to a period of nation-wide favour. Great laymen have arisen and taken, with the Bishops, positions of leadership in the management of Church affairs, difficult problems have been tackled and some of them solved, and the whole body of the laity has Found its voice in the statutory Parochial Church Councils. These bodies ate saving the Church from clevicalism. The Archbishop has been the Teader in all this, and his speeches in the Assembly, as well as his great gifts as its Chairman, wisely and patiently exercised, have done much to form wise opinions and t avoid hasty legislation. He
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.