ARCHBISHOPRIC OF YORK.

Evening Star, Issue 12866, 16 July 1906, Page 1

ARCHBISHOPRIC OF YORK.

Dignitaries of the Church arc much exercised just now with tho prospect of an early readjustment in high places (writes Mr H. W. Lucy to the ‘ Sydney Morning Herald ’). "it is understood that the Archbishop of York will forthwith resign, and that the Bishop of Hereford will succeed, him. Dr Maclagan, born in Edinburgh in 1826, has gone through a career as remarkable as it is lengthy. When he left college he joined the army, serving for five years in India, Retiring with a lieutenant’s commission; he was just fifty years ago ordained a deacon. He passed through two London vicarages on his way to the Bishopric of Lichfield, whence, fifteen-, years ago, ho went to York. The Bishop of Hereford has made for himself abnost a unique place on the Bench to the Lord Chancellor's right by his advocacy in the House of Lords of Liberal principles. Ho strongly opposed the Education Act of 1902, and may bo counted upon to champion from the episcopal bench Mr Birrell’a Bill when it reaches tho Lords. For the vacancy of Hereford two names are mentioned. The Dean, the Hon. James Leigh, is unde of the present Lord Leigh, and brother of Sir Edward Ghandes Leigh. Speaker’s Counsel. Per-* sonally popular both in London and in his county, he is in politics even a more advanced Libera! than the Bishop. For preferment he will find a dangerous rival in Archdeacon Wilberforce,, chaplain of tho House of Commons. The Archdeacon has hereditary claims to a bishopric; since his father was the famous Bishop of Oxford, long time a personal intonate friend of Mr Gladstone. Had Mr Gladstone chanced to bo in tho office of Premier at this time, there is no doubt as to who would bo tho new Bishop of Hereford.