The General Council of Exeter. (From the "Britannia," June 7.)

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 577, 25 October 1851, Page 3

The General Council of Exeter. (From the " Britannia," June 7.)

The Bishop of Exeter appears still determined to raise a universal <>xciteinent in bis diocese, if possible, by his unwise attempt at Synodical action. The leading and most influential presbyters among his clergy, and the best and most intelligent of the laity have entered solemn protests against this piece of episcopal willulness. Otheis of the people under his jurisdiction less fastidious in their use of elements of opposition, are stirring in all directions, either for fun or mibchief. The press has freely declared its entire disapproval, if not contempt, of his designs. In short, the Bishop must either be enamoured of a sort of martyrdom, or be very ill-advised by the younger and scarcey wiser heads that are around him. Some think the Bishop of Exeter is dissolving into a presbyterian, whose ecclesiastical polity subsists on Synods ; others think he is bent on provoking a collision with the State, under covert of which he may secede and head the 'Tree Church of England j" but more discriminating minds believe the the Synod of Exeter is a mere splenetic manifestation — a farewell demonstration of spite — a sort of ecclesiastical defiance to Lord John Russell, such as a beaten schoolboy, squaring his fists, presents to his master, which rendered into woids is, vI am not beaten yet." It is Ilis Exeter Holiness's parting kick at the Archbishop of Canterbury, after which dutiful vindication of his consistency and career, he will quietly go to sleep in bis mitre, and trouble no further Chuich or State. It is by far the prefprable course to let the Bishop quietly indulge his delusion. The gentle ripple of his imaginary Synod will rock him to sleep. He knows himself it is a pure sham and no more Synod than the Chartist convention was the House of Commons. It is an old man's plaything — it propitiates an irritated temper, it comforts a restless spirit — it will hurt nobody — it will endanger no part of our constitutional freedom. Mr. Hatchard will still be vicar of St. Andrew's, Plymouth. The breakwater will not move an inch out to sea, and travellers will enjoy the beautiful scenery of Devon as really as if no Synod had been held, and no Henry of Exeter had bearded his piimate. The whole concern is a heavy* joke, and its Right Rev. concoctor knows this as well as we do, and no doubt he indulges in his quiet moment* in many a hearty laugh at thehttle tractanan ephemeral flies who buzz about his ears, and make preparations for the Synod as if it were a general council of Christendom. Should some of the old popish bishops sleeping about Exeter Cathedral, rise up and present themselves at the Synod, how they would laugh at this mimicry, and marvel at the episcopal and prebondal gravity cast like a cloud over so fine a piece of fun. They would no doubt, if allowed a deliberative word, suggest how much better it would be for the Bishop of Exeter to consult with his brother the "Archbibhop of Westminister," and join as a suffragan of his eminence in the Synod, which is to be celebiated in the "back slums" of the Borough. It 13 a pity to pretend where reality is practicable, or to indulge in shams with substances so near. We write purely to keep the Bubjects of Henry of Exeter quiet, and to assure them that hi» lordship is as harmless ia his Synod, as is a hyena in. its cage in the Zoological Gardens. He is quite* peaceable — there will merely bean exhibition in Exeter aa there is an Exhibition in Hyde Park.

[As our Journal has been read by our Scotch contemporary, the Inverness Courier, with so kind an appreciation of what he considers its merits, we invite his attention to the fact — of which indeed before now he may have been cognizant — that, if it ever was liable to be called a "tiny" journal in point of size, (although we deny that it was at any time as small as Chambers') — the Lilliputian days have passed away, and it; is now equal in magnitude to most of our colonial contemporai'ies, and larger than the Inverness Courier's own sheet was, in days which some in our establishment are old enough to remember. Matter of local and general interest is also crowding upon our original columns from time to time, and we hope to keep pace with its requirements. It gratifies us to know that our efforts to call attention to the condition and capabilities of our fine colony are noticed and responded to by many in the old country, as well as by the Courier. — Ed. N. Z.~\