Letters to the Editor
THE PUBLIC TRIBUTE TO THE PRIMATE [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
SM,—The holiday season followed very closely upon the initial publicity which the Press so generously gave to the widespread desire to offer to the Archbishop of Canterbury, on his retirement, some tribute expressive of the gratitude, esteem, and affection which he has won by his personal character and by the long and conspicuous services which he has rendered to the Church ant Nation.
It is quite possible, therefore, that the letter in which this desire was publicly made known by the influential and repre- sentative committee formed to give effect to it escaped the notice of some who were on the point of leaving home, and who would, had they known of the undertaking, been anxious to participate in it. In case this should have happened, I should be grateful if you would allow me in your columns to quote the following extracts from the original letter to the Press, signed by the Archbishop of York, the Prime Minister, Lord Selborne, Lord Dunedin, the Marchioness of Salisbury, the Dean of Westminster, Sir Thomas Inskip, and Dr. Scott Lidgett :- "After full consideration, the Committee has decided that the most fitting form of tribute would be—
(1) To offer to the Archbishop a sum of money, which it is hoped would be considerable, to be used by him for such purposes as he may select, with the express stipulation that he shall use it primarily in such ways as may secure the greater ease and comfort of himself and Mrs. Davidson for their remaining years. (2) If funds permit, which no doubt they will, to place in the courtyard of Lambeth Palace some memorial, worthy of its surroundings, of the unique association of the Arch- bishop and Mrs. Davidson with that historic house. On behalf of the Committee we now invite subscriptions to this tribute, which we hope may be offered to the Archbishop on the occasion of his Golden Wedding. Many will desire to make liberal contributions, but the value of the tribute would, we feel sure, be enhanced in the eyes of the Archbishop himself if it came also from multitudes of people who could only afford small subscriptions. The names (and only the names) of all subscribers will be given to the Archbishop.
• The Earl of Selborne and Viscount Dunedin have consented to act as Hon. Treasurers to the Fund, and the Dean of Canterbury as Hon. Secretary. The Committee will have the assistance of Mr. Arthur Sheppard, M.V.O. as Secretary, to whom all subscriptions should be sent at the Church House, Dean's Yard, Westminster, London, S.W. 1. Cheques should be made payable to Tribute to the Archbishop of Canterbury A/c or Bearer,' and crossed& Co.'
We are confident that this invitation will meet with a ready, generous, and widespread response."
—I am, Sir, &c.,
ARTHUR SHEPPARD, Secretary.
[We need hardly say how cordially we endorse this letter. We are glad to hear from private sources that the Fund has already received widespread support. Contributions have been sent by thousands of people representative of practically every interest and activity with which the Archbishop has been associated during his long life. The letters of appreciation which have accompanied the gifts form the strongest possible evidence of the high place which he has reached in the esti- mation of a vast number of people who may have never seen him but who have been impressed by the wisdom of his public utterances and by his leadership in all that makes for the up- lifting of his fellow men. Many of those who have subscribed have written to record their indebtedness both to him and to Mrs. Davidson for personal kindnesses of the most varied character.—En. Spectator.]
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