NEW PRIMATE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 177, 28 July 1928, Page 9

NEW PRIMATE.

DR. COSMO LANG. Archbishop Of York Succ©ed§ Dr. Davidson. DISTINGUISHED CAREER. (Australian and N.Z. Press Association.) (rteeei.ved 11 a.m.) LONDON, July 27. Dr. Cosmo Gordon Lang, Ai*chblshop of York, has been appointed Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of All England, in succession to the Most Rev. Kendall Thomas Davidson, D.D.

Dr. Davidson has been Archbishop of Canterbury since 1903 and his resignation is expected to take effect as from November.

C'osiao Gordon Lang, Archbishop of York, was born at Aberdeen ill October, ISM. He was a son of Dr. Marshall Lang, Moderator of the Church of Scotland, and principal of Aberdeen University. Educated at Glasgow University, he won a scholarship to Balliol College, Oxford. After graduating in 188(5, he became a Fellow of All Souls. From 1883 to 1889 lie was a student of the Inner Temple, but gave up the law for the Church, and was ordained curate of Leeds parish church in 1890. From 1893 to 1890 he was Fellow and Dean of Divinity at Magdalen College, Oxford, and vicar of the university church of St. Mary. In 1890 he became' vicar of l'ortsea, where his success among the working classes led to his being made BishopfSuil'ragan of Stepney in 1901. In 1908 he became Archbishop of York. The confirmation of his appointment was opposed by the Protestant Truth Society on the ground that while Bishop of Stepney he had connived at and encouraged flagrant breaches of the law as to Church ritual, and joined? in illegal ceremonies, but no action was taken by the authorities on the protest. As Archbishop he took a conspicuous part in the discussion of the social and economic as well as the religious questions which arose in his diocese, while in the House of Lords his eloquence and clear common sense gave him an influence Which was not confined to church matters. These qualities proved of value when he went on a mission to the United States in connection with the war. He was not one of those who saw a conflict between religion and science. It was not, he thought, for to Church to pronounce formally against any conclusions which sincere scientific method might reach: its members should be ready to accept whatever truths seemed to be really established, and to welcome in them new revelations of the divine working. In March, he addressed the Free Church Council in Manchester on reunion. Archbishop Lang, who ' was formerly hon. chaplain to and a personal friend of Queen Victoria, published several books, including one on the miracles of Jesus, and another on the "Opportunity of the Church of England." He was a member of the lioyal Commission appointed in 1909 to inquire into divorce law, and signed the minority report.

FREEDOM OF LONDON. FOR DR. DAVIDSON. (British Official Wireless.) (Keceivcd 12 noon.) HUG BY, July 27. •The Corporation of the City of London have resolved to confer the freedom of the city on the Archbishop of Canterbury in view of liis approaching retirement.