The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1871-09-26 00:00:00

THE REV. REGINALD SMITH'S LETTER.

To the Editor.

BM—Those who look upon Diocesan Synois in
tzLel, and the threatened Salisbury Synod in per.
, with esepicion, will find themselves jostled in
their fears by the letter of the Rev, It. Smith, IL I).
The offensive condemnation of all who dare to differ
from him throws a elegant light upon his Catholicity
and Protestantism. Although I utterly deny that
Christ is the head of any external and visible church as
• whole, as Mr. Smith states, for then the church must
be saved as a whole • yet I have been ever ready to co-
operate for the good, but I will not co-operate for the
injury of the Church of England. and I believe this
Synod will be a serious Injury to her—and its injurious
effects are already beginning to be felt. Mr. ityle, in
whose injudicious language Mr. Smith holds me, and
all who agree with me, up to contempt, as worthy to be
suspected of "selfishness, laziness, and cowardico," was
Induced in an evil moment, to change Air opinion on
thaw matters, and he has now sought to cover his
retreat under language which may be allowable in him,
but is certsinly not so in the Rector of West
Staff ord.
Non, sl quid Pholoen utis
Et to, Chlori dean—

and • charge of hut. nese and cowardice from such a
quarter is not only amusing but suggestive.
The Rev. W. Brook, who has quite as pu -a a right
to be heard as Hr. Ityle, and who has never al aced
hi, opinions, rid last year " It would be • gre.'t f.ed
lust cause of offence to them (the Protestant I.6ts ) to
gee their ministers fraternizing with those whom Ills
their duty to exert as" far brethren," as "traitor' in
the oamp, ' and as "Idolater, of the MM." Mat Mr.
Brook is right is proved by a letter in the last Record,
from one who is dewthed as " • meet liberal and influen-
tial lay member of our church." He says, In 4 el* gto
take part In the Church Defence Institution, "It, viz,
uniting with i-iigh Churchmen, involves a compromise I
am not able to make. I think the Interests of rdii,ion
would greatly suffer if Evangelical Christians were to act
on the High Church theory—that adherence to a visible
body constitutes membership in the Church of Christ."
These are the sentiments of men aho aro to be sus-
pected of "selfishness, laziness, and cowardice." Ai to
Mr. ltyle's absurd bombast about "the man who dis-
likes the thumb leaving it," sentiments evidently
approved of by the Rev. R. Smith, as they are rei-t-d
In italic's, I most inform him that whole regrew. Yon;
to my knowledge, are fearing Ole (Arch, consisting of
Christians who do not dislike but lore the church, but
are being driven out of it by the nnfaitlifulne‘s and
Incompetence of those with whom Mr: Smith thinks it
his duty to co-operate in defence of the Church, and
whom he no doubt hopes "to meet in heaven." For
myself I don't presume to hope to be admitted into the
came heaven with John Keble. Walter llamil'on, aid
other dignitaries of the church. One so "selll,ll, lazy,
and cowardly" cannot expect to enj4 the society of
such luminaries ; but I can bear the prospective leas all
Shit better, as I never much coveted their society upon
earth. But this I know, that the Protestantiein and
Catholicity that embraces High Church, and Lw
Church, and Protestant Dissenters, will be treated by
all intelligent Nonconformists with utter ',catmint ;
seolt Protestantism and Catholicity might do for Mr.
Vanes Smith, but it is nothing more than an emas-
culated Universalism.

CHURCH MIFidONART SOCIETT.—The collection at
the public In etli at tit. John's, It allpols, on Tuesday
evening, amounted to L'7 7s. 9d.
YACHTS ARRIVED. Gloriana. sahooner, from
Torquay ; Waverly, cotter. from Lowestoft; Georgiana.,
selteumr. from C‘ivroa ; Errily, cutter, from Ports-
mouth ; Accooris, cutter, from Southcon.
DANGEROUS ACT.—On Friday afternoon a couple of
boys were coming up Root-lane with a baker's tart,
wit, n, in order to get help up the hill, the) hitched on
to a larger cart which was being driven up' Seeing the
I..VS' trick, the driver whipped his horrei soddenly, to
get ashy fr nn the youngsters, and this turned over the
hskyr's core on one of the I tds, Fortunately ho ',soaped
with some severe bruises and outs.
FAREWILL ro hltsstoSAay. On Wednesday
evening a very pleasant gathering took place at the
Mission room, fligh•street, to take a farewell of the
borne ininaionary, Mr. Swayne, who has laboured in
this town during the last nine years, and whose labours
have been very highly valued by the people. A tea
meeting took place, and afterwards addressee were
given by Mr. Ridley, • gentleman she tdccs • great
Interest in mission work, also by Mr. Jas. Robertson,
Mr. R. Swayne, and Mr. Par, by whom the work at
this room will in future be married on. A testimonial
consisting of a breakfast terries was prerented to Mr.
and Mrs. Swayne with an appropriate &Meese
SERIOUS ACCIDINT Tel BENGT. BRINL—OR Mon lay
ni4ht l's. Brine was engaged on duty in the Park. and
returned home about eleven. He called out as usual
to know if the family were all in, and fittlitag that they
were, he locked up, and was about to have his supper
and go to bed. In moving across the room, he wag
seized with sudden cramp and fell on s chair. His
dim/liter heard him groan, and ran demist/ire, when
site found her father insen,ible. The others name down
but wero unable to move !amouri some men's assistance
was obliged to be tiad to idlou him on a bed downstairs.
Dr. Lith.gow was lent for, and found that he was quite
unfit for duty, and gave a certificate to that effect. It
is supposed that the sergeant'. breed bone and • rib
are injured.
Itahb.—A largo and fashionable gathering took place
at the Royal nowt Assembly-room on Friday evening.
tlme 000aalon being an invitation ball given by the
&Beers of the Royal Fusiliers. About IGI ladies and
gentlemen were present, and dancing took place to the
strains of the splendid band of the regiment. Amongst
the company were—Colonel Cooper (7th). Mrs Cooper,
Major Danbeny (7th), Major Herbert (7th). Captain
Colon' (7th). Mr O'Bryan (7th). Mr Bickford (7th), Mr
lleathcott, Mr Douglas, Mr Clarke (7th), Mr Mostyn,
Mr Crichton, Capt Keyser (7th), Mr Redick (7th), Mr
Gillilan (7tb),Lady Montessor. Mrs Butier,Capt Lennox,
Mr Tregarthan, Captain Butler (7th), Mrs Tregarthen,
Lord Mentes& Hon. Mr Montmorency, Mr and Mrs
To Ott Edilor. Mortice, Ifireellorrice (2), Captain Sparks (7th), Miss
Sir.—Much has been said of its being Ow duty of the Sparks. Dr. Smith, Captain Vandeleur, Captain Kerr,
Captain Harrison, Mrs Gorton. Misses Gorton (2), Miss
kW to support the newly organised Dioe,,an Synod.
Payne. Mrs Clastrum, Miss a Gastrum, (2). Mr Monte.
Kay I give a few reasons for opposing it ?
In the first place—and this might be enough for the tore, R A., Captain Vonles (7th). Mrs Vottles, Mrs
PlarPese—lt• constitution falls to make it a fair tern; fronsrtlty, Captain Burman, Mr. G. Mantel, Mr Kuspp, Captain Colvin (7th). Mrs Walker, Mrs
so etation of the memben of the Church of 1:11:1AN •
the Diorama Toe mode of electing lay represoitatives,- Mazuwl•Pleythil. Mr Chord, Mr Calvin. Mr Dtly (7th),
end the limitation of their powers, On an integral Part Miss Thornton, Wu Brymer, Mrs Ve ttinal, Miss Vest-
a the Synod, are such as to make it delusive as a man, Miss Weld, Lord and Lady Eldon, Mr Gentili,
representation of the Church. Mr G. Gantin, Lieut. A. Brown, ILA., Lieut. E.
I will not enter Into detailed ormetsm, hot mrely Roalrooke, R.M.A., Dr. Most, It.N„ Mrs Kenneled,
.
Milllooll the arrangement of voting hp orders when Mfsses Kenneled (2), Mrs Warrington, Misses Warr.
required, ea fatal to anything hire effective action e ington (3), Mr S. ennaird„ Mr G. Dicker, Miss Dicker,
the pert of the laity. On looking at the acheme ream:. 11"Iloney.Misses Honey
tV), Mr
Mus.ell
(11.M.5.
ably, set miring neon the statement, of its advocate.. Achilles), Captain Paddon (7 ), Mr K. Hancock, Mrs
the character I
of it. provision., it appears to me to be but a skillfully I 111" Parke,
het judging of Its probable operation by Aztell. Miss Astell, Mr A. Mensal, Miss ManseL
Mr and Mrs Deaden. Colonel Aston,
sontrivel plan for getting lay support to what I may C..litain Brown, Mrs Brown, ilia East, Mr Brywer,
call, I trust without offence, Ohs ihatinativair clerical Mr tied:yoott. Mr F. A. Brynter, Mr Ssund..ra, Mrs
• Nee is it an isolated movement, it has an thunder:, Miss Saunders, Mrs Surtees, Miss Senses
and events that have preceded and Mr G. Saunders, Mr. Broughton, Mrs Broughton. Ms;
rasatoard'oennot be disregarded ; ani, ro con. Bowen", Mrs Kelsie. Major Waller (7th), Mrs Waller,
my impressions drawn from the scheme itself Mr Devenish, Mrs Devenisb, Miss Clarke, hle
▪ ecarnsed. Sheaf. Id, Mr. Hunt, Captain Aldworth,Mrs. Aldworth,
A wave of ecclesiasticism has been Wising over Mrs Phobia°, Miss B. Phabayne, Mr Templer, Mre
Znrem and It, force is not jot spent. The action of Templer, Miss Mortimer, Major Robinson. ?CBS Robin.
the Readoh Church in our generation the revival of son. Mr C. Robinson, Mr Si. George (7th), Captain
• similar aselvity, and in a Isitails.r spirit, In our own Itoolaloni (ith), Captain Banda (7t14. Kr Austen. Ks
shush. the evident program of the sse.rdotol section FOAM W(tl.jjf Achilles),Blr Penney (H.M.S. Achilles),
and the fact that the more nomerous and Mr Midge, Mrs Bridge, Miss Bridge, Captain Palmer,
issinasiv=ortera of the ttsuod en, of this Wilkinson, R.N.. Mr. Squire (7th), Mr Lang-
poiat the wisdom Oldham., opposition. Lir Stevens, Mr Baker. jun., Lord Dawkins,
Bat there le mother point of Am, from iamb to Mr .1. T. n 0!,,, Mrs Mitchell, Miss Mitchell, Mr
piped that of the stoiz We mutt not forget that Stanley Orred, R.F.. Captain A• B. Foster. Colonel
the Chereh odlialartd is not the &en& of • sect, but Coson, Mrs Barnard, Miss Burnard, Mr Rosh), Mr
al She whole
uid thlross rim to the leriollll Batten (lob),
seaddirsuca
eh
„tam of the hied in YOUNG MEN'S CHNISTIAN ASSOCIATION —A meet'
stegligr, with its invariable tewlasay to strengthen Mg of tLe ootamittee of this association Was held at
'ea and to huge, spirituel rule, should, the room, St. Thomairstret, on Wedeaday erasing leak
iselallisaneur In= the fume,be
mintiammod a, eU. After a rather quiet time in the affairs of the easocla•
llay MR= which tusk t. mum,lion the committee have been stirred up, either to do
'Wm* man Waif ihemiwodosilAs in dupla' or " Ithad been Peal, resolved tomato quiescent

With regard to the Synod, I have no ski: to hinder
It. Considering the number of olergymen th t do
nothing for nine months in the year, and require the
other three for rest and change, It would irLl ho
gruel to seek to deprive them of one more Goan!, to
Salisbury—one more excuse for leaving tluir pariehes.
If the Synod ever comes together, it appears to me to
be about to make the same mistake that our Naval
Authorities made with the unfortunate "Captain"—
attending only to external defences. and neol,cting the
principles that keep it afloat. And the result elI bo
the same: the first storm that arises will turn the poor
old @harsh bottom upwards, and then Synods, Con-
and ittui-decanal Chapters will help to sink
treersrirretrieveable ruin.

But hindering lion; thing; watching is another. I
am happy to say that the Synod will be well watched;
end, If ever it gets beyond the ordinary work of mutual
adulation—if It takes one step that shall endanger the
liberty of individual clergymen or congregations, I
think I oan promise its great upholders that then) will
be a real Diocesan Synod, such as met at Salisbury in
1867, consisting of the "selfish, and idle, and c.wardly"
Protestants, which will really represent and expros
the feeling of the diocese. in a manner more plain per-
haps than agreeable. Meanwhile. I would rather be
held up indirectly to scorn by the Rev. It. Smith, as
" selfish, lazy. and eowardly, nucatholic, and
sectarian," than be suspected of a boldne, that ever
shows itself on the stronger side, a Prot. st mtism
that protests against nothing, and a Cethol ci• y A Lich
Is simple Indifference.
I had hoped that the Diocese was to be left in peas%
and oven when this uncalled for Synod was first started,
I hoped that I should have been able to 11.ep clear of
the matter • but my many friends aurmr the laity,
would aertilnly have taken It ill If I ha ',grantee.'
such an unsatisfactory letter to remain unanswered.—
Yours, &a