The Express.
London, England, 1868-10-16 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 16, lB6B.

TIIB run J. MICHAS AND HIS BISHOP.

A correspondence which was published in the
TiOdel this morning gives a little further insight into
the relations which exist between the Rev. J. Purchas, of
Brighton, and his ecclesiastical superiors in the diocese of
Chichester. On the let inst. the bishop wrote to Mr.
Perches with respect to the ritualistic eccentricities prac-
tised in St. James's Chapel, and declared that the
Illegal proceedings imputed to the rev. gentle-
man were of so grievous a nature as to compel his
lordship to refer the charges to a legal tribunal. In the
meantime he inhibited ;Mr. Purchas from preaching and
from taking any part in the celebration of divine service
within the diocese. Mr. Purchss's reply was that although
he and the bishop might differ on mere points of ritual, no
charge of illegality could be proved against him ; that the
accounts published in the Times were "distorted," and
that, with respect to the inhibition, the bishop misappre-
hended his position in the diocese, which was not that
of a licensed curate, but of the incumbent of a benefice.
The rev. gentleman also requested an interview that he
might learn with more certainty of what he was accused.
Then the vicar of Brighten, the Rev. H. M. Wagner, ap-
pears on the scene with an intimation in writing to Mr.
Purchas that, in obedience to the bishop's authority, he
had acquainted the clerk or verger of his intention to
officiate on the following day (Oct. 4), assisted by two of
his curates; that the services would be conducted " with
all simplicity ;" and that to avoid giving pain
to the rev. gentleman's feelings or disturbing the
mind of the congregation, no allusion would
be made to the cause of his appearance there. Mr.
Wagner intimates, in a postscript, that he has " desired
Mr. Yates to place in the vestry the floral decorations,
and not make use of lights in the morning service." Mr.
Purchas, of course, replied immediately to this letter,
stating that, pending the reply of the bishop to
his previous communication, he should take the
services himself, and, therefore, the vicar might
spare himself the trouble of making any further
arrangements with regard to his (Mr. Purchas's)
church. Then comes the bishop's reply, in which ho de-
clines acceding to the rev. gentleman's request for a per-
tonal interview, but promises to "carefully peruse and
fully consider any statement or explanation" Mr.
Purchas may see tit to address to his lordship
in writing. Mr. Purchas's answer is a declara-
tion that he has no explanation to give beyond what
he hub already given, viz., that the only irregulari-
ties of which he was conscious were omissions of certain
non-essential parts of the service, occasioned by sudden
and revere indiepo,rition, which also compelled him to
make use of the a mires of one of the choir; "but," he
adds, "having clerical help lest Sunday, this was happily
unnecessary, and I think I may promise this shall not
occur again." That communication, which was written
on the Rh instant, did not evoke any episcopal reply, and
Mr. Purchas hardly think, that the bishop 'A silence is
" quite paternal."

NATIONAL EXHISMON or WORKS or ART, £T
Lie.—ltuturn of admitwions:—Tblowlay, Ovtober
by IMAM *lade, J 1::: by payment %oh, 1;,774 ;
total, 7.617.

OUR CONTEMPORARIES.
(THIS DAY.)