NEW PRIMATE

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 12, 15 January 1929, Page 9

NEW PRIMATE

DR. LANG ENTHRONED

IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY

APPEAL EOR TOLERANCE

(From "Tho Post's" Representative.) LONDON, 7th December. Christendom itself was represented, with one notable exception, in Cauterbury Cathedral, when Dr. Cosmo Lang was enthroned as Archbishop of Canterbury. ]?or the first time tho English Freo Churches sent their heads, who sat with the Moderators of the Scottish Churches, and a 'group, picturesquely robed, from the Russian, Greek, and Armenian Churches, tho Old Catholic Church of Holland, and American, Wniai, Swedish, and French Protestant Churches. An Eastern Bishop was a conspicuous • figure in vestments of whito and gold, much bejewelled, carrying a pastoral staff.

The Cathedral has vast spaces, and when all were assembled (writes the correspondent of tho "Daily Telegraph") the eye noticed how brightly the entire floor was flecked with colour. Bishops in scarlet and lawn, numbering no fewer than forty-six, from both provinces and distant parts of the Empire, passed in a long procession to their places around tho High Altaiwhile the hymn "0 Faith of England' 5 was sung.

The presbytery on both sides was a dens© mass of white, where the surpliced clergy from Kent and tho .country generally were grouped. In the choir, which mostly was given up to the laity, the civic party of the Lord Mayor and the- Sheriffs of London, with their officers in full State, made a patch of gold and scarlet in one corner, tho gilt mace being placed on the rails before Sir Kynaston Studd, and about them were representatives of the fighting forces in blue and scarlet and kliaki. The Lord Chancellor, in full-bottomed wig and with gold upon his black robe, sat noxt to the Dean's stall, with several members of the Government. The Prime Minister was detained at the Privy Council. Literature was represented by ' Mr. John Galsworthy and Mr. Budyard Kipling, among others; music, Dr. Vaughan Williams; the stage, Mr. Mathoson Lang, a cousin of the new Primate. So much was this enthronement brought into keeping with the times that broadcasting was represented in the person of Sir John Eeith. Coronation Barons of the Cinque Ports made a brave array with scarlet cloaks emblazoned with arms. . There were Mayors of many cities in .scarlet, and Canterbury's Councilmen wearing mazarin.

New Zealand was represented by the High Commissioner, Sir James Parr. At 11.30 a.m., when every place was filled, trumpet notes heard without announced the arrival of the Archbishop at the West Door.; It was a small procession of Cathedral clergy that escorted him to tho saerarium. Dr. Cosmo Lang did not wear tho mitre, either in the open air passage from the Old Pal-, ace or within tho Cathedral. Nothing was seen of that symbol of episeopaey. The custom that has prevailed at Canterbury since tho Reformation'was unbroken, despite- some people's expectation. THE SERVICE. The service was lengthy, occuying a full hour and three-quarters. All joined in the Lord's Prayer; there was a prayer for "Thy servant Cosmo, our Archbishop"; the. Primate took his stand beforelhe Throne in tho choir; the King's Mandate being produced, the Dean ordered that it should be read. A notary public—a legal officerin wig and gown—performed this duty, and when that document was at length completed, Dr. Lang, addressing the Dean, asked that he might be duly inducted, installed, and enthroned. . Before that request was granted the Dean required that tho Archbishop should take the corporal oath to protect the rights, privileges, and customs of the metropolitan Church of Canterbury. Taking the Archbishop by the hand, the Archdeacon of Canterbury (Canon Hardcastle) thereupon conducted him to thß| throne whereon, in ancient formula, he was "made" to sit down, not releasing his hand till" this was accomplished. Prayers followed, the Archbishop sitting alone,..a solitary figure amidst all that great throng. Soft and low, the itnthem was sung by .the choir, perched high in their station above the rood screen. The Archdeacon next conducted the Primate to the vacant Dean's stall, where he was ■ mads both to stand and to sit down: "As- a sign of real possession we place- you, most reverend father, in this seat." A second enthronement was'to come. The marble chair of St. Augustine had been brought down from its accustomed position behind tho High Altar to the nave stops, that the whole congregation in tho nave might participate in and be witnesses of the most impres- ■ sive part of the solemnity. There^ was a pause, fraught with significance. ST. AUGUSTINE'S CHAIR.,. 'A faldstool had place in the central aisle of the choir, "between the altar and the people," and the Archbishop knelt there in silent prayer. Tho music and singing, beautifully rendered, of a sudden hushed. No sound amongst the thousands present broke the august stillness. It lasted for one or two minutes. .

THE SERVICE.

As the Primate rose to his. feet tlio large company of bishops filed past him to the nave steps, whereon they formed iii a great semi-circle around St. Augustine's chair. It was the Dean who on this occasion officiated, placing the Archbishop in the venerable seat. Pew words were uttered.' The Primate, now fully enthroned, was in the presence of all the people. In unison, the assembled bishops acclaimed him, with the words: "Praise be to Thee, O Christ." In deep tones, clearly heard everywhere, tbe Archbishop said: "Wo acknowlede Thee to be the Lord." •

The principal ritual was over. Joyfully, with a volume of sound that filled the Cathedral, all combined^ in singing the- To Deum, for wljieh Dr. Vaughan Wiliams had specially written music. Again tho trumpet was heard —the joyful not© once more. The Bidding Prayer was offered. The Primate was in the pulpit, there "to speak to the people."

APPEAL FOR TOLERANCE,

Dr. Eandall Davidson at his enthronement five- and twenty years ago had omitted the sermon. Dr. Lang preached for twenty minutes, with eloquent passages in which ho appealed for tolerance by all parties within the Church of England, and in his first utterance from Canterbury did not hesitate to touch upon the relations of Church and State.

Thrieo the new Archbishop gavo the Blessing; from the- High Altar, from the steps of the nave, and finally in the open air. The throng within the Cathedral saw him pass through the west door into the sunshine where, from a- slightly raised platform, in. the presence of a multitude of tho public, with tho Primatial Cross in his loft hand find tho right hand raised, he blessed 1 lie city, the country, and the people. It was the fitting end of a solemnity that will linger in the memory of all who were privileged to participate. Afterwards, m piivacy ( 6£ the Chap-

ter House, tho Primate received tho obedience of the Dean, the Canons, and officers of the Cathedral Church.