Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1850-04-30
Interesting to Episcopalians.

Some time in the latter part of last year
Rev. George Cornelius Gorham, a clergy
man of the Church of Eng land, applied to
his diocesan, the Bishop of Exeter, Tor
induction TO the vicarage Of Bramptord
Speke, in the West of England, to which
said Gorham had otherwise such title, that
itrequired only the passage of the Bishop
upon his personal qualifications as to learn
ing, doctrine and character, for him. the
said Gorham, to get full possession of the
benefice. The Bishop accordingly sub
,ected Gorham to a doctrinal examination,
in which he dwelt principally upon the
point of baptism, in respect to its regene-
rative efficiency upon the recipient. This
examination continued for space OF 8
DAYS but after a considerable interval
was recommended and 3 days more were
consumed. With the result Of this enqul-
ry the Bishop protested himself dlssatls-
fed. and refused to Gorham his admission
to the benefce, on the ground of his al
legged unsoundness on the subject Of bap-
tism.
Hereupon the case was carried TO the
Arches Court at Canterbury, presided
over by layman, Sir Herbert Jenner
Fust, who confirmed the Bishops refusal,
and of course condemned the doctrine
held by Gorham,a las not that of the Church
of England. Not yet content, Gorham
appealed to the Queen in Council, as the
Head of the Church. The Queen, ac
cordingly, placed the subject in the hands
of committee who should explore the
whole controversy and report to her.
The committee accordingly took up the
question, and after giving it very tho
rough consideration, made report to the
Queen reversing the judgment of the Can
terbury Court and recommending the IN
duction of the Rev. Mr.. Gorham to lis vi
Garage. The Reports lengthy, thorough,
able and fair, and took the ground that
opinion on the subject in dispute in the
present and past ages of the Church, COW
cred field wide enough to include within
it the Rev. Mr.. Gorham, and all who
might think with him.
This decision has, however, had the
effect of rousing the bile of the High
church party, several of whom, including
DR.. E. B. Pusey and Rev. John Keble,
have framed series of declaratory resolu-
tons, in which they say that the doctrine
of the Report is " erroneous s." that 1t al
lows all insuferable latitude; that it sepa-
rates all who hold it from the Catholic
body of the Church and annuls in them
the power to "assure TO the members Of
the Church the grace of the Sacraments
and the remission of sins )" calls for
Convention to denounce the judgment of
the committee and on Parliament to clinch
the act of the Convocation, and finally, in
case these measures should fail, demands
on the part Of the United Anglican Epis-
copate acting in its spiritual capacity, " a
reafirmation Of the doctrine Of holy bap-
tism impugned by said sentence"
The Judicial Committee Of the Privy
Council present at the delivery Of the
judgment were the Marquis of Lansdowne,
Lord Campbell, Lord Brougham, Lord
Langdale, DR.. Washington, Mr.. Pember-
ton Leigh, and Sir Edward Ryan. The
finding of the committee was approved Of
by the Archbishops Of Canterbury and
York, but dissented from by DR.. BIom-
field, Bishop Of London.