LAST SERMON.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19460, 6 November 1928, Page 11

LAST SERMON.

RETIRING PRIMATE.

DR. DAVIDSON LOOKS BACK.

FAITH IN CHURCH'S DESTINY,

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—BI EIECTBIO TELEQEAPH COPTBIGHT.' (Received November sth, 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, November 4. In his farewell sermon at Canterbury Cathedral, which was broadcasted throughout Britain, the retiring Archbishop of Canterbury* (Dr. E. T. Davidson) likened himself to Moses standing on Mount Pisgah and looking back through the anxious years, but certain that the people he loved and led were destined to see greater things than he had shared. Moses marked his people's power and promise under God's guiding hand, and accordingly looked forward hopefully.

"To-night," continued the Archbishop, "I also look backward, outward, and onward. Ido not think I underrate tho variance within the Church, but some variance is the outcome of eager life. Yet the controversies have touched the most sacred questions. We are all worthy of blame—at least I am. God forbid that t should belittle the gravity of such a question as the ministration of the Eucharist. Tho solution of variances necessitates considerable patience and abundant prayer. Such questions have been raised and solved in England before, and will, under God's hand, be resolved again. It would be an ungraceful and thankless mistake to regard the surface differences as an outstanding fact in the Church to-day. "Looking back over half a century I am firmly convinced that the Church is far stronger and more zealous, and has a deeper vision of God's purpose, than when my working days began. Ever the Prayer Book discussions have evolved a more thoughtful spirit of unity, of purpose, and of prayer."

ON ACCOUNT OP AGE.

DR. DAVIDSON'S REASONS.

(BRITISH OFFICIAL WIBELESS.) RUGBY, November 3. General satisfaction at the conferment by the King of a barony upon the Archbishop of Canterbury is reflected in to-day's Press comment. The honour is obviously intended to ensure that, after the Archbishop's retirement this month, the country and the House of Lords will still retain his services as a distinguished statesman of long experience. The fact that this has been achieved by the conferment of a barony, which is the lowest rank carrying with it a seat in the second Chamber, is generally attributed to the expressed desire of the Archbishop himself. He has no heir to inherit the title. Although he already has a title, being a Knight of the Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, Dr. Davidson has never used the prefix Sir, or Mrs Davidson, that of Lady, The Archbishop, in a recent speech, disposed emphatically of the suggestion made in some quarters that he was resigning on account of the recent events in Parliament. The true reason, he stated, was as follows: "I do not believe, as a man who has almost reached 81 years of age, that I am adequately and rightly fit and have the vigour required to carry on day and night the duties that belong to my office. I do not profess to be a completely worn-out man. or either mentally or physically incapable of tackling any particular task, but I am no longer as fit as I was some years ago to carry out duties which ate of -such an onerous, persistent and exacting sort. It is for that reason alone that I resigned my office into younger hands. I think I have done the right thing, for leadership of the Church's arid the nation's affairs should not be in the hands of men who are too old." A national tribute to Dr. Davidson is to be paid on his retirement, when a fund subscribed from every part of Britain and the Empire is to be handed over to him.

He will deliver his farewell sermon in Canterbury Cathedral to-morrow night, which will be relayed by all the stations of the British Broadcasting Corporation. His successor will be Dr. Cosmo Gordon Lang, whose Archbishopric of York is to be filled by Dr. Temple, the present Bishop of Manchester.

THE PRIMATE'S > CAREER.

ADVISER TO THREE MONARCHS.

Dr. Randall Thomas Davidson celebrated hia 80th birthday on April 7th this year. His father, Henry Davidson, of Mulrhouso, Edinburgh, a landowner of Scotland, was a Presbyterian. It was in March, 1874, that the future Primate was ordained at St. Mark's, Kennington, and his first curacy was at Dart' ford, Kent. On February 21st, 1875, he was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Tait, and from 1877 to 1882 he was chaplain and private secretary to his Grace. On November 12th, 1878, in Lambeth Palace Chapel, Mr Davidson was married to Archbishop Tait's daughter, Edith, then barely 20 years of age. In 1882 he became chaplain and private secretary to Archbishop Benson, and in the same year he was appointed sub-almoner to Queen Victoria. In 1883 he was appointed Dean of Windsor and Domestic Chaplain to Queen Victoria. Consecrated to the See of Rochester in 1891, he four years later became Bishop of Winchester. Following the death of Archbishop Temple in 1902, Dr. Davidson was, on the nomination of the Prime Minister (Mr Balfour), offered the Archbishopric of Canterbury, and on February 12th, 1903, he was enDr. Davidson has had a wonderful history. The spiritual guide and counsellor of three British monarchs, in him were reposed confidences worth more than a ransom. From the time when by the bedside of Archbishop Tait he met Queen Victoria, until uow, he has been tie trusted adviser of the Throne. In 1904 he visited Canada and the United States and attended the triennial convention of the American Protestant Episcopal Church. In 1908 he presided at the Pan-Anglican Congress in London aud at the Lambeth Conference. He officiated at the coronation 6f George V. During his long period as head of the English Church tho Archbishop acquired a reputation as a skilful, far-sighted, nnd courtly ecclesiastical diplomatist. His diplomatic gifts found ample scope in dealing with doctrinal differences in the' Church, and during the education crisis In the House of Lords, to which he belongs by virtue of Ms office, and