Correspondence.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 77, 1 April 1868, Page 2

Correspondence.

To the Editor op the Nelson Evening Mail. Sir — In your issue of Thursday last you notice the opening of the New Church of St. Alban's Appleby. la Saturday's issue of the Examiner is also a short paragraph including the authorisation of the Bishop. la the Colonist of Friday I also see an account of the opening, abounding with the characteristic spleen, or hypochondriac.:*! vapor too often seen in the columns of that paper, I refer to the latter portion, beginning: — 'It is a noticeable fact in connection with tho opening of this Church, and one which is here recorded with much satisfaction' &c. &c. Now, sir, with your kind assistance, I will endeavor to benefit my fellow creatures by exposing the bigotry, ignorance and conceit contained in this paragraph, as also the presumption of the writer in venturing to exhibit to the public his opinion as the rule and guidance of clergymen. The candlesticks were not on the Altar or communion table, butou a shelf above it. The removal of them was not 'witnessed by the congregation with much pleasure/ but quite the reverse, and very strong language has since been used in reference thereto. As to the act of the Bishop, I would ask, is Bishop Suter acting in accordance with the rites and ceremonies of the Church of England? As actions speak loudsr thau words, I ask all true Churchmen to pause and consider the question ere it be too late. The subversion of the Church by subtlety may soon cause Churchmen to answer like the mother of mankind. I hope all Churchmen will exercise the right bequeathed to them by their forefathers and martyrs. As the 'cunningly designed puerilities' which are so distasteful to the refined and talented writer are in accordance with the rubric of the Prayer Book arid commanded by the canon law of England, he would do well to reflect era he again advaaca opin-

ions on a subject of which he evidently is entirely ignorant. The Prayer Book of the Church of England contaius its own evidence ia words that cannot be misutulerstooJ, viz. 'Such ornameuts of the Church, and of the Ministers thereof, at all times of their ministration, shall be retained, and be in use, as were iu this Church of England by authority of Parliament, in the second year of the reign of King Edward the Sixth.' The question is not one of expediency, but what was commanded to be observed. The first set of injunctions of Edward the Sixth were issued iu 1547 (Cardw. Doc. Ann. 5). The third item is in these words ' That such images as they (the cleigy> know iu any of their cures to he or have been so abused with pilgrimage or offerings of anything made thereunto, or shall bo hereafter censed unto, they (and none other private persons) shall, for the avoiding of that most detestable offence of idolatry, forthwith take down, or cause to be taken down, and destroy the same ; and shall suffer from henceforth no torches nor candles, tapers, or images of wax, to be set afore any image or picture ; but only two lights upon the high altar, before the Sacrament, which, for the signification that Christ is the very true light of the world, they shall suffer to remain still.' The following is the interpretation of the above injunction by the Committee of the Privy Council of England, Msrch 21, 1857, in the now famous case of Liddeil v. Westertoa. "It is clear that in this passage images nre spoken of as images of persons, and that only such images of any kind as Lad been, or should he, the object of superstitious worship, were to be removed ; and it shows that ihe High Altar ■was to remain as it was before, with lights upon it before the Sacrament ; the nineteenth section provides that no person shall change the order or manner of Common Prayer, or Divine Service, otherwise than is specified in these injunctions, until such time as the same shall be otherwise ordered by the King's authority." I was informed this evening that Mr. Churchwarden Best had received a letter from the Bishop commanding him to seo that the candlesticks were not replaced. Query. — Has the Bishop the authority of the Queen ? Yours &c, Truth and Justice. Appleby, March 28, 1868/