Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/179

 1899.] The Archbishops' Decision. [171

Provincial Court in order that right and justice may be done." In other words the Upper House invited the Provincial Court to undo its work, whilst the Lower House urged the Provincial Court, if it had the courage, to reaffirm its decision and take the consequences, of which Disestablishment might be one.

Of more immediate interest, however, was the decision of the two archbishops on the lawfulness of the liturgical use of incense and of processional lights, matters which had greatly exercised the consciences of several of the High Church clergy. These doubts the archbishops, after hearing at great length the arguments on both sides, and after much deliberation, endeavoured to set at rest They decided (July 28) that incense might not be used liturgicaily or as a part of public worship, though its fumigatory use was allowable. Processional lights were without conditions pronounced illegal. The archbishops based their decisions on the obligation of every clergyman to use " the form in the Book of Common Prayer and none other." In conclusion the archbishops stated that they had given their decision as the Prayer-book required them to do ; and they entreated the clergy for the sake of the peace of the Church to accept their decision.

The Peace Conference, which had met at the Hague early in the summer, brought its sittings to a close (July 29) having effected less than its promoters desired, but more than its critics expected. The proceedings, detailed elsewhere, were conducted in a spirit which showed an earnest desire on the part of the delegates to give practical effect to the dreams of the promoters. No unseemly squabbles marked the proceedings, and there was little suggestion of intriguing to obtain support for any specific proposals. Those which aimed at the reduction of armaments failed because of the difficulties inherent to conditions essentially different in different countries, but the proposals which tended to lessen the needless cruelties of war were accepted, including one to proscribe the use of Dum Dum bullets, especially levelled against Great Britain. On the other hand the principle of arbitration was universally accepted by all countries, and on the proposition of the British delegate, Sir J. Pauncefote, a machinery was created by which when nations were willing, arbitration might be obtained.