The Express.
London, England, 1868-01-27 00:00:00

THE BISHOPRIC OF NATAL.

it appears that Accrington, in Lancashire, of
which place the Rev. W. K. Macrorie is rector, is the spot
originally selected for the consecration of the rev. gentle-
man. Mr. Macrorie, who is in London, has sent
to a local paper at Accrington a copy of a letter ad-
dressed by him to a friend who seems to have protested
against his acceptance of the bishopric. Mr. Macrorie
contends that Dr. Colenso has been deposed by the only
court which had authority to depose him, namely, the
Court of the Metropolitan, by which he has been
spiritually sentenced. The Judicial Committee of the
Privy Council is a tribunal which has never possessed
the confidenoe of churchmen ; it has ruled, how-
ever, that in South Africa the church is in
the position of • voluntary association. The notion
about St. Helena was absurd. "Surely," says,
Mr. Macrorie, " if the writer ever meant it for any more
than • good joke, he must have taken us for a very stupid
I set of people to think of giving ourselves the trouble of
going out to St. Helena, when, supposing there was •
dial difficulty about holding the consecration in England,
we could go comfortably down to Scotland, and there act
without the slightest rink of violating the law." He is not
lat all afraid that the crown would appoint, when Bishop
Coleneo's office " really," to use his correspondent's ex-
I pression, " becomes vacant." In conclusion, the rev.
gentleman tells his friend that should he now
I avail himself of the lotus penitentier, be will ask from
I him, as a proof of the genuineness of his convictions,
a small annual contribution towards the fund for carrying
on the good work in the diocese which he (Mr. Maororie)
must endeavour to raise before his departure in the scam-
' mer. Mr. Macrorie appends the following postoript:—
' One word respecting the Bishop of London's attitude
towards the Natal question. It should be borne in mind
that Dean Stanley, the avowed apologist for Dr. Colenso
and his views, has been for the last 20 years the Bishop of
London's intimate personal friend and theological ally.
These are the words, just published, of the bishop's friend
and (till lately) examining chaplain The doctrines
of the Bishop of Natal are such as the universal church
has never condemned; such as within the church of
England are by law allowed.' As regards the bishop's
hasty judgment of his brother bishop's intentions, I may
say that the Bishop of Capetown assured me that he never
would perform a service in any diocese without the entire
concurrence of its bishop."
The Metropolitan Bishop of South Africa, Dr. Gray, in
a sermon preached in the church of St. David, Exeter,
yesterday morning, referred in the following terms to the
Bishop of Natal, and the proposed appointment of another
bishop in the place of Dr. Colenso:—" I will not dwell,
my brethren, upon this subject at any length to-day, and
it will not be exported that I should dwell upon • m►tter
that is still under discussion ; but this only will I s►y,
that the bishops of Africa will take no step without con-
sultation with the primate of the church of England, and
that whatever course they pursue will be in hearty
concurrence with his wishes, and in entire accordance
with his instructions. But I doubt whether the church
in this land feels bow great a hindrance to the truth
and how great a danger and scandal exist in that land,
as well as in the church at home, because he who
went forth to prowl Christ's truth and Gospel now de-
clares that the Holy Scriptures, which are the record of
God's revelations to man, do not contain an unerring re-
cord of His truth, end do not contain, even upon faith
and morals that which we are all required to adhere to,
and asserts that our blessed Lord knew no mere than an
intelligent Jew of his own age and period—that He was,
in fact, ignorant—that it has been reserved to • critic of
this nineteenth century to point out the blunders of his
ignorant Lord, and that He whom all the angels wor-
shipped is not a fit object for our adoration. Them
things, day by day, are being taught in the name sad
with the claimed authority of the church of England, and
we in that land feel that it compromises us, and comms
mises you, and that if we tolerate such teaching we are
unfaithful to the Lord, we are untrue to Him, or betray
His cause, and we shakes Hie blessing."

AERONAUTICAL EZHIBITION.—The council of the
Aeronautical Society have decided upon bolding an exhibi-
tion in London of objects connected with aeronautical
science in the month of June. Arrangements have
been made for the exhibition to be bald at the Crystal
Palace.
DEVER OF AN EMINENT AOILICULTIIRIBT.—Mr.
John Grey, of Upwood House, near Haydon-bridge,
Northumberland,better known in the agricultural world as
John Grey, of Clinton, died somewhat suddenly at his
reddens* on Wedneeday, at the venerable age of 83. Mr.
Grey had boon failing in health some time, but his death
was redden. His last.Frenee in public. was ea Tues-
day week. when he at the manual dinette of the
Hexbant Farneers' . On Wednesday wag last
Mr. Grey was descending the stairs to his si
when be beams faint, and eat down upon the stain,
died shortly afterwards, almost before be could be re-
moved to Ids room. Mr. Grey's name will be always
usesising with the dscelninnent of agricultural sainnse Ls
the nstiltsrs mattes.