The Sun.
London, England, 1818-01-03 00:00:00

THE BISHOP OF GLOUCESTER.

FOR THE SUN.

Mr. EDlTOR,—Having seen in the Bristol
Paper an Advertisement of the Annual Meeting
of a Tract Society to be holden in this City, and
recollecting, that on preceding Anniversaries the
Bishop of an adjoining Diocese has generally pre-
sided, it became a matter of consideration whe-
ther the Protest delivered in a neighbouring city
would produce any effect in the mind of that Hon.
and Right Rev. Prelate, and whether, in the pre-
sent instance, he would retain that Chair, which
on former occasions he bad usually occupied. It
is gratifying however to reflect, that the Meet-
ing on lVednesday last received no 'encourage-
ment from Episcopal presence, and, that the
Chair was taken by a Clergyman of this city.
'lt is nit for me to eriquire by what right
either of precedent or delicacy, the names of
two Bishops are inserted as Patrons to a Society
unsanctioned by the Bishop of the Diocese ; fur
there cannot exist a more satisfactory proof that
it meets with the disapprobation of our own Dio-
cesan, than its not receiving his sanction and as-
sistance. • The Bishop of Bristol,
_though ill-
health unhappily prevents his residing - in the•
Diocese, has ever manifested a genet-bus and lami.
able zeal to contribute to such Societies: as .he con.
ceives worthy of his support.. When, therefore,
from a principle of conscientious duty, he with•
holds that support, surely it might have been ex-
pected, that no Bishop of a neighbouring Diocese
Would- have stood forward as the professed advo-
vate of the Institution, and have taken that Chair
which his brother had declined to occupy.
Though it becomes every man to speak of his
superiors, and particularly the Dignitaries of the
Church, with proper respect, there are occasions,
however, where silence would be reprehensible.
When the Religion of our Forefathers is.assailed,
the Rights Of our Church invaded, and our own
Character called in question, it behoves every man
to cry aloud. The voice has been raised in Bath,
it has reverberated here, the good effects of which
have been already felt, and I doubt not but will
prevent in future the formation of similar' socie-
ties, formed upon principles equally irregular:.
The Members of the Bath
.Missionary 'Society
have threatened to expose the Archdeacon, by
making public the whole case, and that an easy
and satisfactory Reply can be made; if so, why
has it not been already dune,—why has this manly
and open Protest been suffered to remain onanswet•
ed for nearly three weeks ! Notwithstanding this
culpable omission, the Members of the Society,
without any colour of consistency, without any
regard for public opinion, have ventured to charge
the Archdeacon with having
asserted what is
" not the fact," acid that his statements are" un-
authenticated, and founded on misapprehension:*
These are the weapons this Party haS too long
rt
he) se oi
rr taetttl
etmo
p;tswfhictitsletrvaetredth,eitrheanasrearweeolipnfoosremd'eod:
that their proceedings are misrepresented, and
their intentions perverted. Their exertions, for-
sooth, are to promote the ends of the Goipel-, and
what they consider as zeal in their own cause,
they nobly and generously designate as persecu-
tion and intolerance in their opponents. The
time is arrived when a stand must be made against
every innovation. Let me ask why the old and
established Institutions are not suffidient for the
exercise of every charitable disposition ? Schism,
alas ! has so far extended its influence in this City,

that each individual must be at the head of his

peculiar Party, no longer content to look up to
his Diocesan as an example; lie must search for

some modern Society, that he may bring into no-
tice that name which would otherwise be buried

and concealed. 1 object to Institutions formed
on such principles. Religion is not the theme for
a public harangue; it is of too sacred a nature, to
become the engine for merely making a speech to
gratify the pride of an Evangelical Politician:
With regard to the nature of the Society in ques-

Lion, I have only to ask, in the language of Mr.

TiiOMA3, why these Missionaries are not placed
tinder the direction of the Bishop of cALCVTTA

ifbeargument is unanswerable. In my humble

judgment, the Archdeacon merits the 'thanks of
every lover of the old and regular Church, and I

cordially acquiesce in all he has asserted, and be-
lieve he was fully justified and authorised.in for-
bidding the banns in the name of nineteen twen-
tieths of the Clergy in his jurisdiction. •
Bristol, VI January, 1818, ORTHODOX.

The first Snliscriplion Concert of -E` The Exeter
Choral Society " was held last evening at. the
Swan Tavern large Room. The selection of
pieces was well made, ankl the perlormaner of
them elicited the applause of a very num* rou. and
respectable Assenthly.- The Baud, both vutai and
instrumental, was a truly effluent one.—Mr.
GARBETT arranged and conducted the yertm in-
ance, aid Alr., ASLIWICK •Itd.—(Exeter flying
Post, Dec, 31.)