The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-12 00:00:00

" To the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Rochester.

• - 6 Wixledge, by Manningtree, June 14.
"My Lord,—As one of the parishioners of this parish,
whose family are in the habit of attending the parish
church, I beg to address you on a very painful subject,
and I feel bound to do this because a full month has now
elapsed since the occurrence of the circumstance I am
about to detail, and I cannot ascertain that any notice
has been taken or inquiry set on foot by any of the
authorities who may be considered as specially charged
in such cases.

On a Sunday in the month of May last the Rev.
Mr. Wilkins, the incumbent of the parish, was in the
church for the performance of Divine service, and, after
the second lesson, abruptly terminated his reading and
began an address to the congregation, commenting upon
what he considered had been the immoral conduct of one
of his parishioners, who was present. This provoked a
reply from the party (a Mr. Eagle), who rose, and in
profane language accused Mr. Wilkins of falsehood ;
when Mr. Wilkins rejoined in the most coarse and vehe-
ment manner, and an altercation ensued between them of
a character which would disgrace the lowest public-
house. I forbear at present to enter into the particulars,
further than by adding that the service was thus ended,
and that the congregation left the church, one by one,
offended in the highest degree. My daughters, untor-
tunately, sat in a pew between the litigant parties, and
were compelled to witness the scene, and they retired
from the church with feelings such as your Lordship can
readily estimate without any further description on my
part.
" Neither of the churchwardens happened to be pre-
sent ; but this occurr once was made known to them soon
after, and I have been informed (though for this I can-
not vouch) that th ey reported the case to the rural
dean ; yet no inquiry' was made, and I therefore felt it,
imperative on me to (mil your lordship's attention to the
matter, and to request that your lordship will, without
delay, take the necessary steps, not only to punish, but
to secure the parish against the recurrence of such an ex-
hibition, for it is indee d hard that a congiegation, assem-
bled in the House of God for His worship, should have
their ears assailed by such language as was used by both
parties on the oceasior referred to, and to be sent to their
homes only to coutem plate with dismay and disgust the
sad want of all that they had a right to look for in him
who should be their spiritual teacher.
" I can, if neces:tary, readily verify the foregoing
statement and the nieute details of the case by many
respectable witnessei I;. and,
are, my lord, &c., _ _

" THOMAS MORRIS."
The Bishop then inquired of Mr. Wilkins what be had
to say in answer to the complaint.
Mr. Wilkins--. 1 throw myself entirely on your lord-
ship's indulgent f. I admit—it is not my intention to
matte any reply to what is there said.
The Bishop s. Lid it fell to his lot, and he was extremely
sorry for it, to be obliged to reprimand Mr. Wilkins
very severely f :a- the extremely improper conduct of
which he was g uilty on that occasion. He need hardly
repeat what w: 13 stated in that paper, which, in fact,
Mr. Wilkins di. I not contradict. In passing sentence
of reprimand ai ad admonition, he could not forget that
he was address ling a venerable brother of the Church,
;16,
,a;ir-t whom In no former occasion bad he heard any
charge, who . had hitherto conducted himself with
great propriety, and for whom he always entertained
a high respect. It was with great pain that he repri-
manded him on this occasion, and Mr. Wilkins was re-
primanded a,ccordirgly. His Lordship hoped that he would
return to his parishioners and enjoy once again that re-
spect and a.;tention which they bad hitherto shown him,
and he (the Bishop) believed justly so. He was aware
that in his immediate neighbourhood there were persons
who entertained malicious feelings towards him, very un-
justly, as he had reason to believe, but he hoped the
generality of the parishioners had a very different feel-
ing ; from tl le zeal he had shown for their spiritual wel-
fare, and fro sa his general propriety of condu^t until
this occasion., when he unfortunately forgot himself is a
manner whioh he could not but feel afforded a just
ground of coo 'plaint. The churchwardens were not pre-
sent, other wiFie it would have been their duty to report
the matter t him. He might add that, generally
speaking, it ai 'as not for the Bishop to take proceedings,
but for the pa rty complaining, as the Bishop was judge,
and ought not to be judge and prosecutor at the
same time ; but he felt it to be, his duty to reprimand a
clergyman f conducting himself so improperly as Mr.
Wilkins mat, ortunately did on this occasion. He would
not refer to the conduct of Mr. Eagle, as his case was
not before hi in, but it seemed to have been very im-
proper. Th. ire was some excuse for Mr. Wilkins,
though nothing could really excuse him, because he
ought to have• had his temper more under his commard.
One of the churchwardens inquired if his Lordship
would advise them to take proceedings against Mr.
Eagle ?

His Lordship said they were at liberty to do so if
they liked, ao d there was no doubt he behaved exceed-
ingly ill upon the occasion, but he did not feel it to be
his place to e nter into a matter which was not before
him.

It is utu lei 'stood that proceedings are intended to be
taken agaii Ist Tifr. Eagle.

COVENT-GA BEEN THEATRE.—The reported cninmence-
ment of the rebuilding of this theatre on its late site is
incorrect. 1 'he site of it has not been taken ; neither
has any con tract for rebuilding .it been entered into.
Whether it .vill be applied to the same or some other
purpose has not yet been determined upon•