THE LAMBETH CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13796, 8 July 1908, Page 6

THE LAMBETH CONFERENCE.

In opening the Lambeth Conference; the; Archbishop of Canterbury told the delegates, who have assembled from all parts of the Anglican world, ■ that there has never been, in the long; history of the Church, a gathering fraught : with « mightier 1 consequences. Nor has there ever been a more representative Conference since these decennial councils were instituted when Archbishop Longley was Primate of : England, in 1867. In that ; year 144 Anglican '. bishops were : invited, and 76 attended; in 1878, there were 173 invitations; and 100 attended; in 1888, there was 145 attendants;. in 1897, there were 197 attendants, while this year, of 310 who were ' invited, the - large number of 252 have gathered , at'; Lambeth ■ Palace. This growth -of; ; the Conference movement shows not only the increasing interest taken in great questions affecting the Anglican or-, ganisation, but the special} interest ■ i which is being exhibited at the pre- : sent moment. Though the holding v of the Pan-Anglican ; Congress \ last month necessarily encouraged the attendance of colonial bishops at the Conference now sitting, it is noticeable that the present gathering is much; stronger than it;;was t even in 1897, when held during the Diamond Jubilee - celebrations. > The increase is probably due to the co-operation of the American bishops, from among whom a large attendance was anticipated, thus ■ making the Conference more fully representative of : the Anglican Communion. Among important questions set . for -discussion' is the much-debated one of the use of the Athahasian Creed in the ; public services of the Church. The relations of " Religion and Science" and of the Church and Democracy; Reunion and Intercommunion; the establishment of a.tribunal, of reference ; the limitations :of diocesan ; authority ; \ marriage problems; v religious education;' and faith healing; are among the many subjects to be considered. From this ■it will be seen that the deliberations of "the Conference are not merely of importance to the members of the Anglican Communion throughout the world, but may profoundly affect those many States and peoples among whom the Anglican organisation exerts a great moral . and religious influence. ..i _~— - .