Holy War
For the disresp:ctful there is a certain un- seemly pleasure in the spectacle of the Arch- bishop of Canterbury engaged in strongly worded dispute with his predecessor, Lord Fisher. The mind fills with a picture of Osbert Lancaster- style prelates denouncing each other's views in fighting fashion. Without presuming to judge be- tween the two Archbishops on the difficult matter of the Anglican talks with the Methodists, I con- fess to a feeling of sympathy for Dr. Ramsey. It cannot be comfortable to maintain so delicate a negotiation when one's famous predecessor is offering unwelcome opinions over one's shoulder. They order this matter, at least, a little better in the world of politics. Ex-Prime Ministers do not customarily'. intervene publicly in the business their successors are conducting. I dare say they are often tempted to do so.
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