THE TRIAL OF DR. COLENSO.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume II, Issue 88, 2 March 1864, Page 3

THE TRIAL OF DR. COLENSO.

The trial of Dr. Colenso on the various charges of unsound teaching, which were preferred against him by the representatives of the Anglican Clergy in this colony, was brought to a conclusion yesterday, and the judgment which was then delivered by the Metropolitan Bishop is one which will not take any by surprise who have given the least attention to the voluminous and elaborate arguments of the clergy. The sentence of deprivation which has been passed upon the Bishop of Natal, does not go further than even his Lordship's own friends could have anticipated; for, bearing in mind the admission which Dr. Colenso made, long before the appearance of his most objectionable works—that he faibd to see how he could longer retain his episcopal office —a judgment more favorable to himself could scarcely have been expected from others. That judgment, however, is not to take immediate effect, for the Bishop is allowed some months to decide whether he can stili continue to hold and advocate views which are shown to be so entirely opposed to the doctrines of the church in which he holds so prominent a position. From the present time to the middle of March, Dr. Colenso will be enabled again to test the accuracy of his opinions, and although we anticipate that no retraction will be made, the additional opportunity presented for it proves unmistakeably how free the tribunal, before which his Lordship was cited, was from any taint of intolerance, and any desire to condemn until every reasonable hope of avoiding it had been abandoned. Throughout these painful proceedings, the one distinguishing feature has been an earnest wish to avoid anything which could be construed into a want of fairness to the accused; and we have little hesitation in adding that had Dr. Colenso been present he would have admitted that the issues raised had been urged strictly on their merits. Of course the proceeding will not terminate here. The first portion, only, of this important and memorable trial has yet been concluded; and the notice of appeal which Dr. Bleek announced at the commencement it would be his duty to give, and which was given yesterday, serves but as the prelude to a fresh hearing before a higher tribunal. Whether Dr. Colenso removes the cause to an ecclesiastical court, or, as is more probable, will apply for protection to the civil law, the result wilt be that an expression of opinion as to many very important questions will be decided in the most authoritative manner. The bearings of these questions upon the future position, —nay, on perhaps the very existence of the Episcopal Church, are so important that it would be a matter of regret were any other course adopted If the discipline of that Church provides no means by which to secure its professors from advocating views so totally opposed to those held by the majority, and no means to supply the deficiency can be devised, the most disastrous results may be anticipated. The sentence of deprivation extends to the exercise of any divine office within any part of the metropolitan province. The judgment itself, which is a lengthy and elaborate document, embraces the whole case, and is supported by numerous references to the staudards of the Church.—Cape Argus, 17th December.