The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1867-09-10 00:00:00

ectltsiastical hitllignut.

MORE EPISCOPAL ECCENTRICITIES.

Quem nit Delia perdere, prase dementia. Never
was a proverb more aouipletely proved to be bile
than by the present behaviour of some of the
bishops, who are assembling in England for tinir
approaching field day. Because they have been
invited over to England on this occasion, not by the
nation, not by the Church, but by two or three in.
dividual members of that Church, their self-im-
portance knows no bounds. Let us see what they
ore about. Here lithe Bishop of Capstans:—

An extraordinary urviee was held on Friday night at
the church of St. Michael and All Angels, Sho-editch.
It was within the octave of the Dedication Festival,
and the preacher was Dr. Gray. Bishop of Capotown,
or u the announcement issued by the parochial clergy
styled him. "His Grace the Metropolitan of Cape.
town." The church of St. Michael, situated in •
densely populated and poor part of London, is • noble
structarei and spacious as it is there was not on Friday
night an inch of space which was unoccupied. Of the
decorations of the altar it would be almost impossible
to speak in tonna of exaggeration. There were at least
fifty lighted wax canines upon it, two large candelabra
one on the north, ths other on the tooth side, in addition
to a long row of lighted candles on the rood woes, and an
abandance of gas jets. There were !losers also, taste-
folly wronged, the whole making • brilliant scene
width excited—it could scarcely fail to do otherwho—
the highest admiration. Eight o'clock was the hour
appointed for service, which was commenced with a
prouoisional hymn, at the first note of which came
from the vestry at the north-east corner of the church
• youth habited in a bright red cassock, having over
It what appeared to be two slips of casubtrie, one in front
and one behind, but which probably it will be said
was• surplice. He tirld on high a large golden cross.
He was followed by a long train of surplioed ohoristers,
two abreast, men and boys bearing banners containing
various emblems, other youths dressed in red and
cambric, three or four clergymen whose hoods showed
them to be Bachelors of Arts of the University of
Oxford, one • D.C.L., who wore a minium and scarlet
hood, and one who had • simple black hood, widish may
mean anything or nothing, who appeared to act as
chaplain to the Bishop. The Bishop came hut, or rather
last but one, as he was fol owed by a deacon who bore
a large while flag, on which there was a representation
of the cross. The procession moved from east to west
along the north aisle, and than west to east down the
nave to the altar, where all took their plows according
to their rank, the Bishop being at the north end. He
was vested of course, in his episcopal robes. There
was a full choral service, rnareellouly rendered, in
which the Bee. H. I) Nihill, M.A.. the recently.
elested incumbent of St. Michael's, and the Rev. Dr.
Littledsle took the leading parts. At the close of the
prescribed evening nervier) the Bishop amended the
pulpit and invoked the Blessed Trinity, upon which the
whole of the clergy and choristers and most of the
congregation ostentatiously mule the sign of the cross
on their faces and breasts, according to the use of the
Church of Rome. The Bishop selected for bin test the
ninth chanter of St. Matthew's Gospel, verse 33,
"Beck ye Best the kingdom of God and His righteous-
new. and all these thinp shall he added unto yon."
During the sermon the young man with the red cassock
and cambric) shoe stood at the foot of the pulpit stops
holding on high his golden cross. The Bishop pro-
nounced the benediction from the altar (this being the
second time he had given it) and a recessional hymn aloud
• Teri beautiful, • Yuri solemn, and, if it must be said,
a very exciting wines, which was not over until past
ten o'clock. Before the Bishop's sermon began, an
extraordinary Incident occurred. Father Ignatius,
after service in the church of St. Bartholomew's, Moor-
lane, and a prayer•inseting in the schoolroom, told the
congregation that he should like, as Bishop Gray was
preaching at St. Michael's, to show their admiraticn
of the Bishop for his bold de/epos of the troth against
the error. of Dr. Celsius, by using In a body to thank
bin) for it, and to ask his blessing ; those who were in
favour of doing so were to hold up their hands. All
001111rItit g, Mr. Lyne sent writ to the Bishop of the',
intention, and they went in procession to the church,
men walking two and two first, the women following,
to the number of over two hundred. They arrived at
the church about the middle of evening prayer.
greatly frightening the churchwardens, who took
them for a body of rioters come to attack the church.
However. th.ie fears were soon dispelled. At the con-
clusion of the prayers the Bithop of Capritown entered
the pulpit and informed the congregation what had
taken place, expressing his pleasure at the demonstra.
lion, and willingness to give them his episcopal
blessing. As thus people had already attended service,
and could not remain to hear his sermon, many of
them basinful long distance to go, he should give his
blessing at once. The regular concmgetm that
would receive his blessing after the sermon, he desired
to stand up, while Icuatois and hi. people were to
kneel down. This being done, the Bishop, who
appeared greatly moved, then solemnly gave his
blessing. After • few minutes' silence, Father Ignatius
and his congregation retired from the church and the
sermon proceeded.
Now, here is a man who is come to support and de-
fend our Episcopal Church by his wisdom in the
approaching synod. First of all he permits himself
to be addremed as "His Grace," to which he bee
no possible title, thereby showing that he is • vain
and silly individual, Then he ref:ageism; Brother
Ignatius, who bee made himself a laughing stock to
the whole country, thereby showing that be is as
fanatical as he is foolish. Lastly, be interrupte the
ordinary and lawful service of our Church to give
his blessing to • number of poor ignorant creatures,
thereby showing that he is so puffed up with *elf.
importance as to claim powers far beyond what the
Apostles claimed. Of course the sanction be gave to
ritualism with it. ridiculous millinery is only con-
sistent with the rest of the performanoic Now this
is the men who is supposed to represent the Church
of England in South Africa, and who has made the
Church odious in the colony by his overbearing
behaviour. No doubt he could tell, if he would,
while he is "starring" it in London, how many half.
built churches in the colony are left in ruins, because
of the suspicions that his behaviour has raised in
men's minds. The Johs Bull says :
"The Anglican bishops, who from all parts of the
globe are arriving in this country, in obedience to the
Primate's summons, are greatly disappointed at the
little interest apparently felt among the clergy and
Islay in the approaching Pan-Anglican Synod. They

would not hare crossed the seas and left their more
sweial duties for • mere Conference, and the African
bishops in particular are intensely disappointed that in
the programme issued by the Prinate no mention what-
ever is made of the sad state of asks in Natal. They
have held several private meetings, and early next weak
will have an interview with the Archbishop on the
subject. To pass a series of empty resolutions, merely
expressive of received platitudes, will be to throw away
• great opportunity ; and we earnestly trust that some
alteration in the programme will be mate- Can it be
thst the Bishop of London, as is reported, muds it •
lime qci non with the Archbishop that the Natal
question should not be discussed r

Here is indeed • confession that makes us hopeful--
the disappointment of these prelates is the Church's
hope. No doubt they hoped to bring Natal before
the Episcopal council. A good chance Dr. Colenso
would have! Better, far better, that one diocese
should be distracted, than that a preoedeat for
Episcopal tyranny over the whole Church should be
established. The first report of the Ritual Com-
mission is poor enough; but what would it have
been if the commissioners had all been bishops?
No, the whole business of this synod is a faros and
and a failure; it was the creation of Dr. Samuel
Wilberforoe's scheming brain, it will end in mockery
and shame. They dare not entertain any grave
question of real interest, for they have no authority.
and so, having paraded themselves before the eyes of
• people, who cannot be "whipped op" into the least
sympathy, they will separate again, carrying back to
their respective sees a fresh stook of Episcopal pre-
sumption and Sectarian prejudice.
The two greet objects which the promoters of this
meeting have in view, are let, the establishing the
paramount claims of Episoopacy through Apostolical
Succession; and 2nd the spread of Episooptiay by
meting of that which is called, "The Society for
the Propagation of the Gospel," hut which is really
at the present time • Society for the Propagation
of Bishops. With regard to the first object, we
maintain that no persons so disparage Episoopacy,
or bring it into so much contempt, as those who
claim for it more than is its due, by the absurd
notion of A poatoliaal succession. Archbishop
Whew'', who by himself is • greater authority than
the whole Pan Anglican Synod together, says in his
"Kingdom of Christ," "there is not a minister in
all Christendom who is able to trace up, with any
approach to certainty, his own spiritual pedigree;
and goes on to show in a passage of masterly power
of argument, the utter impossibility of such • claim
being maintained. Dr. Arnold, in his introduction
to "Sermons on a Christain life," says, "It (Apos-
tolic:al suoonnion) is • doctrine destitute of all
internal and external evidence."

It is true that the Bishop of Salisbury, with
characteristic simplicity, takes the trouble to print
at the end of his Charge, his ecclesiastical pedigree,
Conscious perhaps of having no other claim to the
attention of men who know their Bibles, he falls
beck upon his pedigree! Unfortunately his lord-
ship has to do with some practical laymen. He
has in his Dianne men who are great breeders
of horses, and cattle, and sheep : with them pedigree
is everything, but they have learnt to look upon such
thing, with great suspicion. There are men who
can in five minutes write you out • pedigree for your
horse, cow, or hull, and *hew that the one is de-
scended from Eclipse, the other from Butterfly, or any
other famous progenitor in the book of "the stud"
or "the herd" and so men of business learn to be
cautious, and thus they do not attribute much to
his lordship's pedigree. Again, they know by sad
experience, that the beet blood sometimes runs in
the veins of "a screw,' or a "soft one ;" and while
breed is something, performance is another and more
important matter; and even "the blood of the
apostles" will not make them swallow the absurd
contradictions and transparent nonsense of a
late Charge. So we think that if this Synod esta.
bindles anything with regard to the Apoatolical
Succession, it will demonstrate very clearly, that that
idea is a fiction. But with regard to the Society for
the Propagation of the Gospel, here is the pro-
gramme, taken from the Standard
The detail a of the praised i ngs are not yet settled, but we
believe it is intended to make the conference as compre-
hensive as possible, and to obtain the fullest and widest
expnwsions of opinion on the subjects to be submitted,
and it is hoped that mach good will Remus therefrom
to the Cherob at large. Arrangement, are now in
active progress, in order that the opportunity of hearing
of the work of the Church abroad from the lips of those
who are actually engaged in directin its work may be
extended to AS many as possible, and to this end it is
proposed to have a large public meeting in London, on
September 27, and to have sermons 'preached in the
principal London churches on the 224 of September. It
is air, intended to have sermons in the various provincial
cathedrals, and meetings in the chief county towns. /cc.
The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, which
has been engaged for over. century and • half in plant-
ing the Church abroad, and is now much straitened for
funds to carry on its work, has undertaken to organise
tkese arrangements. For the City of London, the
church of fit. Lawrence, (bid Jewry. will be open for •
special series of missionary *avian for the week
September 15-22. This has been arranged by special
requext, and many of the *denial bishops are expected
to take part in the services.
We readily acknowledge the cleverness of the dodge
for raising the wind. Salisbury is to-morrow to be
the scene of one of those touting performances, when
among men like Dr. Grey, of Capetown, will appear
the once Protestant Dean of Cork. Protestantism
does not pay, so the Dean is entering on a new line
of character. Protestants should know what he ia
about, and have done with him. There are men in
the church who can take up and lay down, and
change their line of performance, like actors deal
with their several part.; but we don't navy them
their consciences.

But we must not pass over the moving spirit in this
matter. Working quietly and behind the scenes,
our old friend Dr. S. Wilberforce appears to be the
string puller of the conclave. And in order to show
what kind of spirit he is likely to introduce, and
how far a Synod under his influence is likely to be
conducive to real Christianity, he has just been
displaying his el.,quence on the subject of Sunday
schools. In spite of great caution, and • plentiful
'apply of religious expressions, there constantly drop
from bis lordship sentiments which chew that he is
not only • stranger but an enemy to all real and
practical religion. In his late speech in the Isle of
Wight the Sunday school teacher in his or her quiet
self•denying work is burlesqued and treated with
the same reverence for religious devotion, as Charles
Dickens shows, whenever he introduces • professedly
religious character. His lordship says "it is a
mistake to set children on a hard bench and to make
horrid faces at them when they begin to bun, or to
knock them on the head when they go to 'loop."
Thus does the model bishop speak of a work in
which many thousands of our countrymen and
countrywomen are engaged, with wonderful patienoe
and self-denial. If one person more than mother
deserves to be treated with respect, it is the
voluntary Sunday school teacher, whom this
episcopal jester considers • proper subject for his
scorn and contempt. His lordship has already
11 found out his mistake, and has been answered in •
way that would make anyone else ashamed. But if
the present style of instruction is wrong, what does
be recommend. "Of course there should be some
colouring of Christianity and religious teaching
about it, but particularly the little things should
be taught to sing, for which they were always
ready : little religion and as much music as
possible. A well chosen director, for • Synod,
that is to influence the future course of • Christian
Church. His lordship due not know that the one
book, which is above all others, the little child's
book, is the Bible; and if a teacher know his work, 1
little children will listen with attention to Bible
stories as long as he will read to them. His lord•
ship does not know—strange ignorance!—how many
thousands have publicly acknowledged the debt they
owe to Sunday schools, and the purely religious
instruction they there received. More deplorable
ignorance of the real state of the Christian Church,
• more audacious ignoring of what has been done by
Sunday Schools in his own church and other
Protestant churches, we have seen exhibited.
Is it likely that the country will feel or display any
interest in •
smieztti2 of such individuals as this
Is it to be ex that any good can poenhly
arise? They h better go on, and having decided
on the important subject of the pattern of their
mitres, and the length of their croziers and the
circumference of their lawn sleeves—they had better
proceed and add some new saints to the Church
Calendar, after the fashion of Rome. Let them
restore St. Thomas of Canterbury, so cruelly
removed by Henry VIII, and add Archbishops
Bancroft and Laud, with Bishops Bonner and
Gardiner, and then the farce will be complete, and
If they don't conclude in the ancient form of words
"coo *Wife," they may say "no. ridete."