THE NEW PRIMATE

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 259, 2 August 1928, Page 9

THE NEW PRIMATE

DR. COSMO GORDON LANG A MAN OF RARE GIFTS AND WIDE EXPERIENCE RAPID RISE IN THE CHURCH Dr. Cosmo Gordon Lang, who lias been chosen to succeed Dr. Davidson as Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of All England, was born iu 1861, and is the son of the Very Rev. John Marshall Lang, at one time Chancellor and Principal of Aberdeen University, and Moderator of the Church of Scotland. Dr. Lang was educated at Glasgow University and Balliol College, Oxford, where he highly distinguished himself.

He was curate of Leeds from 1890 to 1893, when he was elected Fellow and Dean of Divinity of Magdalen College, Oxford, and appointed vicar of St. Mary’s, Oxford (the university church), in 1891. In 1890 lie became vicar of Borises, where lie remained until 1901, in* which year he was appointed canon of St. Paul's and succeeded the present Bishop of London as Bishop of Stepney. In 1908 he became Archbishop of York. Dr. Lang is a Scotsman and was brought up as a Presbyterian. He went to Oxford with a history scholarship in 1883, and, according to a writer in the Auckland “Herald,” it was while at the university that lie came into contact with and under the influence of the High Church movement, which was then represented in Oxford by men like Gore, afterwards Bishop of Birmingham ; King, the present Bishop of Lincoln; Scott Holland, afterwards Canon of St. Paul’s; and Talbot, afterwards Bishop of Winchester. At first he seemed to be marked out for a political career. An Eloquent Speaker. It was at the Union —the great debating society of the University—that he first came to the front in Oxford, and lie was early recognised as a brilliant speaker and a debater of quite extraordinary powers. At 19 years of age there was hardly any subject upon which he could not have spoken fluently at a moment’s notice. Once when he was behind-hand with his work, he read a philosophical essay to one of bis tutors off a sheet of blank paper. He would never have been detected had not the tutor asked him to repeat a particular sentence—this he was unable to do —and he was asked to show his essay.

A pen picture of Dr. Lang in his University days was given in the “Treasure Magazine” some years ago by the Rev. A. D. Tupper-Carey: “As an undergraduate, Dr. Lang had the same deep, rich flow of eloquent language as he now possesses. If anything, his speaking is quieter and more restrained and less vehement than when he was at Oxford. The first time I saw him was when, as a freshman in 1884, I watched him through the glass doors of the debating hall at the Union, standing at the table, keeping a vast audience of undergraduates—generally so difficult to please—spell-bound with his magnetic influence. I can see him now, with his head thrown back, his left hand holding his scholar’s gown, his right hand stretched slightly forward to give emphasis to his points, and I can still remember my amazement at that extraordinary flow of eloquent language.” Choice of a Career. At Oxford, Cosmo Gordon Lang was from the first deeply interested in social question's, and was one of the pioneers of the University Settlements in the East End of London, lecturing constantly in Bethnal Green and Whitechapel. He was a member of the University Athletic Club, and an original member of the Dramatic Society, reciting at one of their Shakespearean performances a prologue written by Lord Curzon. . He was a Conservative in politics, but sympathetic toward the Labour movement, and when he was a curate at Leeds, Tom Maun, the Labour leader, was a guest at the Clergy House. Although he apparently did little reading, his Oxford career was a distinguished one. He was a scholar of Balliol and a second-class Lit. Hum.' He graduated with a first class in history in ISBG, and in 18SS he was elected a Fellow of All Souls’ College. After leaving college ho went to London to read for the Bar, and received several invitations to stand for Parliament —a career which all his friends believed he would eventually take up. But suddenly he decided that bis vocation was the Church. The day before he was to be called to the Bar, he wired to take his name off the books, and to the surprise of all bis friends, lie entered his name for the Theological College at Cuddeston, and was confirmed by the Bishop of Lincoln. Within ten years of taking holy orders he rose to the rank of bishop—a record achieved by sheer ability and merit. His first curacy was at Leeds, where for nearly three years (1890-1893) lie worked in the heart, of the shims, and not only worked in the slums, but lived there. For years past the clergy of that parish had lived in isolated lodgings well outside the slum area, but Cosmo Lang changed all that.

Work Among the Poor.

Renting an old public house which hud just lost its license through disorderly management, lie fitted it up ns a clergy house and induced four of the unmarried clergy of the diocese to share it with him. The old taproom became the living room, with the bar as a sideboard; the bottling; room, an oratory. The influence of Lang and his fellow workers increased wonderfully throughout the sordid neighbourhood. He entered wholeheartedly into (he lives of the poor. He held services.in the common lodging houses —allowing men to smoke and the women to cook their food and drink their ten while they listened to the preacher.' He started a club for the men and a lodging house for boys. He preached every Sunday to overflowing audiences. His young mens class on Sundays numbered 120. He resigned eventually in order to return to Oxford for further study, and within six months was elected a Fellow and Dean of Divinity of Magdalen College. As in I lie slums so in Ihe limise of learning at Oxford —his influence over men was extraordinary. Those who usually would have nothing to do with ordinary clergymen were more tlmu willing to seek his advice, ami especially was his influence noticeable over undergraduates of the athletic and fashionable world. For the short time that fie was at Oxford ho helped many men of this sort to take Holy Orders.

The East End of London.

From .1896 to 1991 Cosmo Lang was vicar of Portsea, a parish of 49.000 people—with eight clergy and six churches. There he preached every Sunday to a congregation of 2000 and took a class of 500 men every Sunday afternoon. In addition, he took a prominent part in tlie municipal life of Portsmouth, and preached and lectured frequently in London. He became one of Queen Victoria's chaplains, and published a book on miracles. After five years' work nt Portsea ho was made a canon of St. Paul’s, ami on May ,1. 1901. was consecrated Bishop of Stepney by the Archbishop of Canterbury, and took up in lite East End of Loudon the work just vacated by the present Bishop of London.

Although Dr. Wilmington Ingram was

a ilifliciill. man Io follow, the new Bishop of Stepney quickly established himself in the hearts of the people of his parish, and as quickly won the respect and admiration of his clergy. In 1908. 20 years ago, he left Stepney to begin his work ns Archbishop of York. As Primate of AH England Dr. Lang is not likely to make any sudden or radical changes of policy. Broadly speaking, be may lie expected to carry on the policy of his predecessor.