THE DEAN OF RIPON'S ADDRESS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11481, 14 January 1903, Page 5

THE DEAN OF RIPON'S ADDRESS.

HIS EXPRESSION OF FAITH

The following letters have passed between the Bishop of Kipon and the Dean of Ripon: — The Palace, Ripon, Nor. 22nd, 1902. My dear Dean.—You will not be surprised that I write tv you respecting the paper which you read in London, and on the condensed reports of which many comments have appealed. Some of th«se and the inferences drawn from your words challenge the sincerity of your position as a clergyman of the Church of England. I can understand that you may find it difficult and even repugnant to you to defend yourself against charges of personal insincerity. To be asked to" affirm the sincerity of your belief in the creeds which y<;u constantly recite in the Church looks like an impeachment of your honour; and. under ordinary circumstance*, it may besaJd that a man casts a slur upon his honouv by attempting to atiiim it.

If the present matter were only one in which irresponsible individuals, or irresponsible societies, concerned themselves, I should readily recognise your right to bo silent; but when you realise that there are many devout and simpl-e-heait.-d j/i'D'p who are perplexed and uneasy, I m

suaded that you will not <> m assure Ultra that, whatever woids i;v p?irjses you may have used, your own faith in the simple ftatements of the creeds of ou" Church is clear, firm, and loyal.

Knowing you as 1 do, remembering how f α-mostly you have preached Christ to men, and recalling your triumplrmt voice in recking tin; cieed, I am conlldent that you would not retain your position for an'bom* if the declaration of faith made in public worship were contradicted by your own convictions. I hope, thereto]e, that yon will have no difficulty in tyving these assura.iKretj which your friends and many hearts are looking for with aiixit-ty. Ever yours truly, W. B. RIPON. To the Hon. and Very Rev. the Dean of Ripon. The Deanery. Ripon, Nov. 23rd, 1902. My dear Lord.—Since you write to me in the name of the simple-hearted and devout, I readily break through my rula of silence on such an occasion as that which l.ii« arisen, and give to them, through you, tlie assurance you ask for.

It seems* a strange thing to be supposed to be doubtful about the truths on which I live from day to day, and without which the world would be unmeaning to ma. But I gladly give to those whom yon represent the assurance that I repeat the creeds (as you say) in a triumphant voice; because "they enable me to express daily Christ as God manifest in the flesh, and that I have .no other object in life but to take Him into my inmost being, to preach Him as the Saviour of mankind, and to make Him supreme over ever}' part of human life. I shall be. truly glad if these few word? c:m have the reassuring effect which you kindly think they may have. Believe me evor yours sincerely, W. H. FREMANTLE. To the Lord Bishop of Ripon. The Dean of Ripon spoke on November 25th, at the A!be:t Hall, Leeds, for the Bible Society. Dr. Fren*:int!e was warmly received, and in his address avoided any direct reference to his paper recently read in London and so keenly criticised. When towards the close of hi.s speech a clergyman at the back of the hall rose a,ud asked what the Dean had to say about it, Dr. Franantl'e replied, "We are not come to talk about that :, ; and this little scene, which was soon over, was the only incident, by way of interruption. The Deau dwelt on Ih-a vast circulation of the Bible, and said while the living voice was important -as the ordinance of God, the Bible often acted alone, and was the power ol God. They wanted, he said, a pure Bible, and t'hay wanted to know what the Bible really said. The Bible Society had taken «. bold step in issuing a revised version, and they might say that no earnest student ought to be without it as a book to which he ■might refer some people fearful of- what was called criticism of their Bible. He thought tlwre was nothing io fear from investigation, which must in the end put them in a more secure position than before. Tha Bible Society drew together Churchmen and Dissenters, and here, he would refer to Dr. Parker, who once tried to get him to preach in the* City Temple, but, of course, he cou]d net do so. While speaking of Dr. Parker he would offer a prayer that God would restore him to his work.