CORRESPONDENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 264, 8 November 1871, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

any one wjli point out that it is so, I, and many others, shall be thankful ,to be informed, but if not, I hope you will protect us against indefinite accusations, and in the interests both of the public and the Church, only admit such communications as bring definite complaints of evil that can either be explained or redressed. , Surely there is quite enough reason for regrettingßishop Patteson without seeking to attach the influence of his name to the support or disapproval of any particular views that may now or hereafter be held by the retrogressive, conservative, or progressive party in the Church here or else-, where. As, however, his name has been mentioned, it is only fair to state that as a sign of Bishop Patteson's progressive spirit, I received from him during the last year a letter suggesting that men who still continued their ordinary occupations or professions should he admitted to the Deaconate of the Church of England ! This is a proposal which would tend to assimilate the Church of England far more to some of the Dissenting bodies, than any proposition - tbat has yet emanated from any member of the Church in Nelson, and it is wholly contrary to the traditions -of. the Church of England. 1 But even if I had not this proof of Bishop Patteson's liberality, and the compatibility of such novel suggestions with perfect loyalty to the Church, I protest against his name being. used to endorse any views, on which he has not definitely expressed himself. With regard to putting on mourning, let each show his mourning"as he thinks best, but for my part, I think it will be more likely to be genuine and practical if the subscriptions to the Melanesian Mission were doubled this year, rather than that a few shillings or more should be spent on hatbands and ribands. I am, &c, ' Bishop of Nelson. Bishopdale, Nov. 8, 1871.