THE BISHOP OF DUNEDIN.

Southland Times, Issue 957, 25 May 1868, Page 2

THE BISHOP OF DUNEDIN.

The following correspondence, which appeared in an English journal, has been handed to us, with a request that it should be published in the " Southland Times" : — Sir, — I have to request the favor of your inserting these few lines in reference to a statement at the close of a letter signed "Wm. Carr Young," which appears in your last impression. Bishop Jenner's " participation in the recent services at Ethelburga's, Bishops-gate-street, was neither more nor less than this — that at the 1.15 p.m. service, which consists merely of a hymn, the Te Duem, and sermon, his lordship kindly preached the sermon. This second service had been preceded by a celebration of the Blessed Sacrament, at which his lordship was not j present, and, in fact, only arrived at the church just as the first congregation were departing. T cannot, therefore, but regard Mr Carr Toung's attempt to connect Bishop Jenner with the observances (whatever they may have been) at the celebration of the Sacrament, with " violation of rubrics" and with " glaring idolatry," as about as gross a violation of truth and of Christian charity, to say nothing of the respect due to the office of a Bishop, as it has ever fallen to my lot, in a thirty years' experience of a public life, to have met with. Surely it was Mr Young's duty to have ascertained the facts of the case before he ' gave a world-wide currency to reports which I solemnly declare to be utterly and wholly false. With regard to the Bishop of Dunedin's sermon, I may perhaps be allowed to state that it was a simple, plain, and earnest exhortation to Chistian duty and patience, and that he pressed upon the attention of his hearers some of those " signs of the times" to which they would do well to take heed. In fact, the sermon, which had not the slightest reference to ritual or doctrine, was wholly practical throughout. J. M. Eobwell, M.A., Sector of St. Ethelburga's. 70, Highbury New Park,]^, Jan. 14, 1868.

Sib,— l cannot but feats from what t read, that my old and deaf friend the Bishop of Dunedin is misjudged by many persona; and I wish, without entering into the elaborate correspondence and proceedings which have arisen, and without blaming anyone, great or small) to call attention to several facts :— 1. "Whatever irregularity there may have been in the mode of appointment the Bishop had nothing to with it._ The offer was made to him by the highest authority, and simply accepted. 2. There was not, and could not have been, any concealment on his part either of principles or of tastes. He was well known in the diocese of Canterbury as having been curate to Mr F. Murray, and to Dt Mill at Brasted ; and subsequently by his marked line when Minor Canon of Canterbury. He was known also by his connection with societies and publications which promoted I Catholic music and hymnology. He was known all through Kent, and far beyond it, as Precentor of the Choral Union. He could not have disguised his views if he wished. But those who know him know also that it would have been still more impossible for him to wish such a thing as ! concealment. The Bishop's character ia transparant. Truth, candour, joyful openness and fearlessnes shine in his face, and sound in every accent of his voice. If he tried to dissemble he could not. Neither could he try. He is " sincere in word and action " without rule or effort. His self, which is truth, expresses itself in truth. 3. This ought to assure people that he will certainly keep his repeated promose to force his dreaded views upon no man. 4. But the diocese has a guarantee antecedent to these promises — namely, the Bishop's gentleness and consideration for others. Painful as the discussions have been, I can forgive them all for having elicited those golden words in his letter of the28th :— Whereas my own taste lies to a great extent in the aesthetics of divine worship, I think I am bound to be very watchful, lest by indulging this taste to the disregard of the prejudices of others, I should fatally offend those among whom I am appointed to minister. On this principle I should feel it my duty to abstain from many things which I should otherwise think it desirable to introduce, so that no vital doctrine were involved. How few are there who are thu3 on their guard against themselves, and who restrain, themselves within themselves out of charity ! The fact is, if I may let out the secret, that the real danger to the Bishop's opponents lies in his loving and loveable character. He will win them in spite of themselves. A few years hence, if G-od wills, and many will be thankful that their opposition did not prevail to the hindrance of a blessed work in Christ's Church ; and to the discouragement of that fearless conduct which is so essential to the office of a Bishop. W. B. Hetqa.te. Southend, Essex, January 11, 1868.