THE BISHOP OF NELSON AND THE DUNEDIN BISHOPRIC.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2553, 24 April 1871, Page 2

THE BISHOP OF NELSON AND THE DUNEDIN BISHOPRIC.

We have been requested to publish the following correspondence, which appears in the Nelson Examiner. It will be read with interest by a good many persons “ As I find on my return home that very general circulation has been given to a telegraphic communication made by the Dunedin correspondent of the Melbourne Argus, respecting a request made to me by members of the Church of England in Dunedin, may I ask the favor of your insertion of the accompanying letter, a copy of which I addressed to the Liev. Mr Edwards, of Dunedin, who had received a memorial, largely signed by members of ' is own congregation in the Diocesan Synod of Dunedin, requesting him to nominate the Bishop of Nelson to the vacant see:—

“ ‘ Dunedin, February 28, 1870. “ ‘ Dear Mr Edwards, —In reference to the memorial respecting a proposal to nominate me to the vacant Bishopric of Dunedin, which you were good enough to show me this afternoon, I am anxious that you shall not be misinformed as to my views or intentions respecting such a proposal. 1 have not moved in the matter myself in the least degree, and my only wish throughout has been to be ready to obey any call of the Church from whatever direction it may arise. As circumstances, however, stand, I do not consider that I could accede to the wish that I shall come to Dunedin, even if it were unanimously desired. Had there been no prospect of Dunedin obtaining episcopal supervision shortly, I should have considered it a call not to be lightly set aside ; but as it is at present, while I thank those who have thus expressed their confidence in me, and assure them that it will not be forgotten, I must ask them not to proceed furthor, as I shall be unable to accede to their wishes. 1 trust a new era of invigorated strength lies open before the Church of Dunedin, and that many who now stand aloof from it will be found among its staunchest supporters. “ ‘ Believe rao to bs yours faithfully, “ A.B. Nelson, N.Z. *•' ‘P.S.—Will you be so good as to convey the contents of this letter to the memorialists ’ ’ “The above letter will, I think, put the matter in rather a different light from the telegram. I made a verbal communication to the same effect on the same day, to the Rev. Mr Granger, who had received a similar memorial. I certainly do not think it necessary in appointments of this kind to wait for a unanimous invitation. Many appointments which have been far otherwise, have eventually proved very satisfactory to all concerned. “ I am, &c., “A. B. Nklsok.”