DEATH OF EX-PRIMATE.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 18029, 26 May 1930, Page 5

DEATH OF EX-PRIMATE.

ARCHBISHOP LORD DAVIDSON. United Press Assn. —Elec. Tol. Copyright. LONDON, May 25The death has occurred of Archbishop Lord Davidson, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, after a short illness, at the age of 82. The old and frail Lady Davidson watched unceasingly at the bedside of her husband, who before his death raised his hand as though to salute her. A faint smile played about bis lips, but for the most part he lay quietly with his eyes half open. He died peacefully in his sleep. A little crowd of people waited ail day outside the house, the doors of which remained closed.

Right Rev. Lord Davidson of Lambeth, G.C.V.0., D.D., former Archbishop of Canterbury three years after having* been Ordained became, in 1577, chaplain and secretary to Archbishop Tait, whose daughter Edith he married. As Dean of Windsor h 6 became Chaplain to Queen Victoria. He succeeded to the See of Rochester, whence he was translated to Winchester. His appointment as Archbishop, upon the death of Dr. Temple, met' with the approval of all parties in the Church. He paid a visit to the United, States in 1904 and presided over Lambeth Conferences, 1908 and 1920 and officiated at Coronation of King George. He was invested with Royal Victorian Chain, June, 1911. His • 80th birthday was the occasion of many public congratulations. He resigned Archbishopric, July, 1928, to take effect in November.

- As Bishop and Primate, Lord Davidson was a great Churchman, a statesman, a courtier, and a parliamentarian. At critical times in his period in high office—and there were mapy, especially in recent years—he showed tact, courtesy, sagacity and charity. He was always faithful to his conception of the central Churchmanship which he held to express the real mind of the Church of England in contrast to all extremes. It was his own axiom that “ it is the part of a bishop to give warning of the unsuspected strength of dangerous currents or the'proximity of hidden rocks.” No figure has been more familar in the House of Lords than Lord Davidson’s, especially when moral or religious issues were forward. He had to bear a very heavy weight in jhe long and often weary work connected with the Revised Prayer Book, and to see it rejected after all by Parliament. Only recently he championed in Parliament the cause of the ■ persecuted Christians in Soviet Russia.

LATER

PRIME MINISTER’S TRIBUTE. WISE AND CAUTIOUS LEADER. United' Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright. (Received May 26, 9.5 a.m.) LONDON, May 25. The Prime Minister, in a tribute to the late Lord Davidson, said: “Wisely and cautiously, yet with liberal breadth and depth of thought and sympathy, he guided the church and won influence in the State. Many of us will miss a friend whom we reverenced and from whom we received stimulating inspiration.”

GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S REGRET.

A GREAT CHRISTIAN LEADER. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Monday. Lord Bledisloe sent the following message to Lady Davidson; —“Accept sincerest sympathy on the death of my old friend and spiritual chief. Alany thousands of all creeds in New Zealand will mourn the loss of a great Christian leader.”