PRIMATE RESIGNING

Hokitika Guardian, 27 July 1928, Page 2

PRIMATE RESIGNING

Australian Press Assn.—United Service LONDON, July 25. The procedure connected with the acceptance of the Primate, Dr Randall Davidson’s resignation, has presented a pretty conundrum, for the experts of a Court of Etiquette, as no precedent lias existed. Tlie only recorded instance of an Archbishop of Canterbury resigning is that of the first Archbishop, Saint Augustine himself. Continuous records exist since Archbishop Oranmer showing that all the Primates died in office. Dr Randall Davidson’s tenure of the office is tlio longest since Cranmor. Publicists and, /newspapers of all shades of public opinion pay tributes to Dr Randall Davidson, the retiring Archbishop of Canterbury. It is generally assumed that tlio Archbishop of York will succeed liim. An intriguing question now is: AVlio will follow the Archbishop of York? The Daily Express says: Dr Randall Davidson's Primacy must be numbered with the very great of his ninety-three predecessors in the chair of St. Augustine. It is an evidence of his statesmanlike qualities that a spontaneous desire arises for his creation as a. 1 su'd Temporal on his relinquishing his seat in the Upper Chamber as a Lord Spiritual. In the Church it*-.", lie lias become more and more the centre of unity. Ho has contrived, in a period of diversivc tendencies, to bold the whole body of Churchmen together. The Arch bishop of Canterbury is entitled to a pension of £ISOO sterling from the Common Fund of the Reck' a.stienl Commissioners, to which the Primate, like others, contributed 3) per cent .of liis church income.