DAVIDSON OF LAMBETH, RANDALL THOMAS DAVIDSON, 1ST BARON (1848-1930), English divine, arch bishop of Canterbury, 1903-28, was with King Edward VII. at his death in 191 o, and he crowned King George V. in 1911. He was one of the four counsellors of State who acted as His Majesty's Commission when the King went to India in 1911, and again in 1925 when the King went to the Mediterranean after illness. During the whole of this period he took a leading part as spokesman of the national Church in the House of Lords. Lord Morley bore public witness to the effectiveness of his intervention in the critical debate on the Parliament Act in 1914. He made im portant contributions in debates on temperance, divorce and vari ous social and moral questions. His influence was also constantly and successfully exerted in matters affecting the welfare of native races; e.g., in Kenya, and he made notable appeals on behalf of Christian minorities in the East. In his educational policy he has steadily supported definite religious instruction in all schools, by teachers willing to give it.
Trusted by Englishmen of all classes for his wisdom and good ness, the archbishop commanded the confidence of Free Church men to a greater degree than any of his predecessors. He had a peculiarly anxious task during the World War. On more than one occasion he lifted up his voice against reprisals which had "as a deliberate object the killing and wounding of non-combatants." Twice he visited the troops in France. In 1916 he placed himself at the head of a national mission, which aimed at the deepening of religious life at home. At an early date he gave public support to the proposals for a League of Nations, and it was recognized as specially fitting that he should preach the sermon at the opening of the third Assembly in Geneva, 1922. In 1922 Dr. Davidson took the lead in issuing a vigorous protest, signed by the leaders of the Anglican, Roman, Free Church and Jewish Communions, against religious persecution in Russia. In 1923 he made a successful public appeal for the retention of the Oecumenical patriarchate at Constantinople.
The archbishop also took a deep interest in the work of the Church overseas. He presided over the sixth Lambeth Conference in 192o, attended by 252 out of the 368 bishops of the Anglican Communion, and throughout the deliberations adopted a strong forward-looking attitude. After the issue of the appeal to all Christian people by that conference he took a prominent part in securing widespread consideration of the proposals for the reunion of Christendom which it contained. He actively forwarded con ferences with the Free Church representatives in England, a series of important meetings being held at Lambeth Palace. He further expounded the appeal to the General Assemblies of the Church of Scotland, and the United Free Church of Scotland in 1921. In addition, the archbishop markedly developed friendly relations between the Anglican and Orthodox Churches, and it was to him that the Patriarch (Meletios IV.) of Constantinople communi cated his Synod's acceptance of the validity of Anglican ordina tions in 1922. He also took "cognizance" of the conversations be tween Anglican and Roman Catholic theologians held at Malines (19 21-2 5) , under the presidency of Cardinal Mercier; Pope Pius XI. taking a similar "cognizance." He was mainly instrumental in securing the passage into law of the Church Assembly (Powers) Act, 1919, and from 192o-28 pre sided over the Church Assembly with wisdom and courage. During this period a large number of measures were passed. But the,prin cipal measure, dealing with Prayer Book revision, was rejected by the House of Commons on Dec. 15, 1927. This situation, how ever, afforded an opportunity for an extraordinary outburst of admiration for the archbishop personally in all sections of the community. In Feb. 1928 he completed the 25th year of his pri macy-a primacy longer than any since Archbishop Warham. He displayed a remarkable combination of sincere piety, corn mon sense, loyalty to truth and sympathy with modern move ments. He resigned Nov. 1928, was succeeded by Dr. Lang, and was created a baron. He died May 25, 1930. (G. K. A. B.)