Year: 1873




4 FIGHT FOR THE OXFORD PULPIT


A singular controversy has recently agitated
ecclesiastical circles in England, and has created
deep interest even among those who ordi-
narIy pay little attention to clerical disputes
The distinguished DR.. Stanley, Dean of West
minister was nominated by Vice-Chancell0r
Liddell TO be one Of the Select Preachers this
year at the University of Oxford. He had
often served before in this capacity, and
his selection excited no especial remark.
He is one of the most illustrious of the living
graduates of the University, and his sermons
and treatises are probably more generally
read by the undergraduates than those of any
other divine Sixteen years ago he was elected
Regius Professor of Ecclesiastical History at
Oxford. His life and work have not
been obscure. His position is known of
all men. He is by inheritance as
well as by convictions and by pre6minent
abilities the leader of the Liberal clergymen
of the Established Church. His father, the
late Bishop of Norwich, was so broad in his
views that, as the French say, he smelled
strongly of the faggOt. The Dean of West
minister is too cultivated a man to be violent
in anything, and is the last person one would
have designated as dangerous to religion and
the Church


But his nomination reused series Of sud-
den and energetic reclamatiOns which proved
conclusively how real and positive things the
creed and discipline of the Church still remain
among the ministers Of the Establishment.
Among the earliest who spoke was Dr. GOul
burn, Dean of Norwich, who wrote singularly
excited letter to DR.. Stanley, referring to their
early friendship in an almost lachrymose strain,
but saying that he regarded him as throwing
the whole weight of his high character
and powers in favor Of the RatiOnalistc
school, and that it was the paramount duty,
of every Churchman and every Christian to
protest against this school which DIR. Goul-
burn thinks is "undermining the faith of
many young men, and paving the way for
" the total rejection OF revealed religion
He therefore, though it seemed with great
agony of mind, resolved to vote in
Convocation against the confirmation Of
his dangerously brilliant friend. A
still more lclamQrogs champion of the
endangered tfe6d whsa Mr. Burgon, who took
upon himself the task of sounding tho tocsin
through the Island, and bringing in the rural
members to vote against Liberalism in the
University pulpit. He denounced the learned
Dean as the "avowed champion of negative
"aBd cloudy Christianity" who was sapping
the very foundations of faith. The jour
nails took up the question, and were,
as might be expected, very generally
on the side of Dean Stanley aud against bis
nervous critics. But there was enough oppo-
siton to make the DISCUSSION very hot one,
and the result was awaited with an impatience
which does not often attach to the proceed
ings of body like the Convocation. Even
the guards and baggage-men on the trains
from London to Oxford that day were inter-
ested in the matter. and betted in a lively
way upon the chances of the popular orator of
Westminster Abbey.


But the forces after all seemed very equally
divided, and there was deep hush in the
Sheldonian Theater when the Vice.Chancellor
rose to state the matter before the session.
He began to read the names of bis nominees
The first was that of the Bishop of Carlisle,
which was kindly received. Next came the
name Of the Very Reverend Arthur PEN
rhyn Stanley. "Placetne uobis, domini doc
torres I? placetns vobis, Magistriw There was no
debate; there was scarcely fuency enough in
tho language Of Cicero in that assembly To J