I have more than once expressed my envy of those
enterprising persons who collect impassive degrees as easily as picking primroses. A case heard at Manchester Assizes on Monday throws gratifying light on the process. It was an action for libel, in which a gentleman was stated to have been expelled from the Catholic Apostolic Church, whereas it appears that he removed himself of his own volition. The plea was guilty, the fine £150, and the judge made some pointed remarks, which might well have been more pointed, on the degree:glinting racket. The facts are Interesting. The Most Rev. Harold Percival Nicholson was a West End waiter till 1939. There is nothing derogatory about that ; as he observed, was not Jesus a carpenter and Peter a fisherman? But while they also serve who only stand and wait, they no doubt serve better if they get made Archbishops—as Mr. H. P. Nicholson did. His career was stimulating. Becoming a priest of the Catholic Apostolic Church of the Good Shepherd in Lower Sloane Street, he took to healing, but finding insufficient scope in Lower Sloane Street—a sophisticated neighbourhood he transferred to the New Pentecostal Church of Christ. But things went ill there—as he alleged, because of the libel—so he returned to the Catholic Apostolic Church, this time as Arch- bishop, appointed by the Lord Patriarch of Glastonbury, who grew up as Hugh George de Willmott Newman. and acquired from the Apostolic Academy of St. Peter at Antioch the degrees of D.D., D.C.L., LL.D., and Ph.D. But the Lord Patriarch can not only receive but confer degrees, and he bestowed those of Ph.D., M.A.. and D.D. on the new Archbishop. But surely, some- one will observe, the notorious Western Orthodox Academy comes in somewhere. It does. The Lord Patriarch of Glaston- bury is supreme head of it. Incidentally, 1 should imagine that the historic and respected Catholic Apostolic Church, founded by Edward Irving, will have some disclaiming to do.
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