Important Result of the Lambeth Conference From Our Own Correspondent, London, Aug. 12.
The Lambeth Conference has ended and the Bishops are scattering. Some are going back at once to their Sees, including Bishop Bannister of Kuangsi and Hunan, who sails to-morrow, while others are going abroad to health resorts of various types. The reports of the Conference are to be published in a few days' time but in the meantime I gather from Bishop Molony of Chekiang and Bishop Bannister that important discussions have taken place with regard to the Church in China. In principle the creation of a Chinese National Church has been decided, a Church which will no longer be directly under control of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who has quite enough to do at present without being directly responsible for the affairs of the 24 provincial dioceses which now look to him for supreme direction, As most people know, the bishops in China are supported and maintained by Great Britain, the United States and Canada. No doubt in time to come the Chinese national church when it is created will look to these three countries for a long time to come for financial support and the selection of fitting material for the Episcopate, but in other respects the Chinese national church will be independent though it will be in close association with the English Anglican Church as is the Anglican Church in Australi and as will be the national church in Canada, which this year, after a centwry's support by the Church Missionary Society, now for the first time becomes a separate independent entity. Already one Chinese bishop has been appointed, and there is a good deal of material from which other bishops can be drawn. The number of Chinese clergy is already large while the work carried on by Chinese lay workers is also very effective.
ConstirvTIoN oF THa SyNops.
With the creation of a Chinese thing, finance, education and missionary effort, and it is satisfactory to learn that every missionary organization now in the field in China has taken part in this constitution of the machinery of the new national church.
Indeed a conference will probably be held in May next in Shanghai in which all the interests which will be affected will be represented and, to avoid overlapping, it is expected that one or two organizations now in existence will abdicate in favour of the newer development. This conference is likely to be attended by all the bishops in China as well all those interested in religious work.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.