The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-24 00:00:00

v-trening 211111.

LONDON, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1844,

" Ecce iterurn Crispinus, et eat mihi swpe vocandus."
Doctor PiiieeroTs is again in the field, and we
foresee—as we remarked a day or two since—that we
shall be_ often called on to notice his controversial
eccentricities—to apply the most lenient term to his
present perilous course of conduct. For the third
time this bustling, mischief-making Prelate has rushed
into print, and his last letter is of quite as incendiary
a character as its two predecessors. Like them it
concedes nothing, but, on the contrary, is peremptory
and exacting to the last degree. In some passages it
affects the logical, but its logic is of a most peculiar
;nature, and tells directly against the course of policy
which the Bishop is so resolutely bent on carrying
out to the fullest extent. Thus, the Right Reverend
writer states that previously to the issuing of
that episcopal ukase—hie Pastoral Letter, he di-
rected inquiries to be instituted as to the spirit
in which it might be received throughout his
diocese, and " was assured," he adds, "by those
whom I addressed, of their firm conviction that little
or no dissatisfaction—none that would be of serious
moment or of long duration was at all likely to arise
against an order which might issue from authority."
This first step on the part of Doctor PHILLPOTTS was
in every respect a judicious one. He acted with sound
discretion in endeavouring to ascertain the sentiments
of his flock and the strength of their digestion before
he crammed the whole Rubric down their throats ;
but having discovered that they were averse to the
swallowing of such a tough substance, he should—
if only in his high capacity of a Christian
minister of peace—have withdrawn his obnoxious
ordinances, and permitted the Church service to be
conducted in the usual fashion. But instead of this,
he has insisted on his ordinances being obeyed with a
vehemence that has increased in exact proportion to
the popular ferment which they have excited through-
out his diocese! lie abides by them on the very
score of their unpopularity. his arguments in their
favour are drawn from their notorious inefficiency. Was
ever such logic 'yet put forth by one who is in the
possession of all his faculties ? But the Bishop of
EXETER, we fear, is not in this enviable condition.
His starch, overweening notions of authority have
clouded his better judgment. His prejudices have
overlaid his common sense. He has a sort (A
rubrical Monomania upon him. Only ima-
gine his boasting of his efforts to restore
tranquillity by his Pastoral Letter, when the
immediate effect of that most injudicious communica-
tion has been to bring the clergy into painful collision
with the laity throughout the diocese of Exeter!
Was this well said or well done on the part of a
minister:of the Gospel of Peace ? Was it his duty to
throw in the apple of discord, when by a little timely
concession—a little show of conciliation he might
have ensured the continuance of order among his
flock ? But in justification of his proceedings he ob-
serves—" I see a resolute determination in many
parts of England to resist all Church authority ; I
see schism in its most mischievous form,
tinder the guise of nominal churchmanship,
rampant, and of coune intolerant wherever
it is seen." If the Bishop really sees this, he must
be endowed with most extraordinary powers of
vision, for he sees what no one besides himself can
see. Never did the Church possess more rightful
authority than it does at the present day. Never was
its legitimate influence more readily acknowledged.
Never were its wishes more cheerfully obeyed. Look
at the immense number of new religious structures
that have sprung up, as if by magic, in all parts
of the country, on the very first expression of
a recommendation to that eff.ct by the dig-
nitaries of the Establishment ! Look at the
enormous subscriptions for charitable and religious