THE DUNEDIN BISHOPRIC.

Southland Times, Issue 1061, 23 November 1868, Page 2

THE DUNEDIN BISHOPRIC.

The following letter from the Lord Bishop of Lichfield (Bishop Selwyn) has been handed to us (' Daily Times/) for publication : — For the Rural Deanery Board of Otago and Southland. S.S. Hero— at seaj 22nd October* 1868. My dear Mr Edwards — The Question of Bishop Jenner has received our most careful attention ; but as I have not been instructed to communicate to you officially the decision of the Synod, I shall confine myself to a statement of my own opinion, I. The following facts appear to be admitted by all : — 1. That Dr Jenner was nominated by the Archbishop of Canterbury, at my request. 2. That he signed the Declaration of Obedience to the laws of the General Synod — "in consideration of being appointed Bishop of Dunedin." 3. That the Declaration thus signed by him was read by the Standing Commission of the Greneral Synod and recorded upon their minutes. 4. That the £1200 or £1300 was collected by me in the Province of Dunedin, in the name, and for the use of Dr Jenner, as Bishop of Dunedin. 5. That all these various preliminaries were carried out, without any remonstrance or objection, on personal grounds, in England, in Dunedin, or before the Standing Commission. 6. That during the course of these proceedings there was an interval of time amply sufficient to allow objectors, if they had wished, to petition the Archbishop of Canterbury to postpone the consecration. 7. That Dr Jenner was consecrated some months after the above transactions, on the 24th August, 1866, with the consent of the Secretary of the State for the Colonies, by Eoyal Mandate, in lieu of Letters Patent. 11. It appears by the minutes of the Select Committee appointed by the General Synod, that it was accepted as a principle to guide their proceedings — "That the burden of proof should rest upon the opponents of Bishop Jenner." The Committee seems, therefore, to have recognised him as in possession, de facto, at least, of the office of the Bishop of Dunedin 5 and to have called upon his opponents to show cause why he should not enter upon the duties of his office. Three objections might have been raised by the opponents of Bishop Jen- j ner. 1. The want of due formality in the appointment, according to the law of the G-eneral Synod. 2. Charges against Dr Jenner, on the ground of doctrine or ritual. 3. The insufficiency of the Endowment Fund, and other difficulties of a pecuniary kind. On the first point, nothing is said in the report of the Committee ; and, when I attended as a witness, I was not asked any question on this subject, though I I was able and ready to give much information upon it.

On the second point, no question was asked of me, nor was any mention made of it in the report of the Committee, except to say that they had not thought it necessary to inquire into the charges of ritualistic excess brought against Bishop Jenner ; and, further, that charges of that nature would be likely to prejudice the collection of the Endowment Fund. On the third point, viz., the insufficiency of the incoine of the Bishopric, and other pecuniary difficulties, questions were asked ; but certainly the answers which I gave were not intended to lead the Committee to the conclusion to which they seem to have arrived — that these difficulties are such as cannot be overcome. 111. I feel, therefore, that nothing has been proved by any opponent of Bishop Jenner, which ought to debar him from entering upon the duties of his office, whenever a sufficient income, clear of all incumbrances, can be supplied. In consideration of being appointed Bishop of Dunedin, he has signed a general declaration of obedience to the laws of the General Synod. He has further stated his willingness to be bound by that promise, as applicable to the question of Kitual, on which objections have been raised against him. His statements to that effect have ahready been accepted by many, who, before the arrival of his letters, had opposed the appointment. The Constitution to which lie thus sub-

mits himself was framed to protect as wallas to restrain the office bearers of the Church. The Constitution requires that all grave charges against any office beaaer shall be referred to a tribunal. In this case there have been no tribunal, no charges, no evidence, no respondent, and :*; no opportunity of defence. All the obr;^injections alleged in the Beport of the Committee relate to pecuniary difficulties, which may be removed at any time by the united action of Bishop Jenner's friends in England and in New Zealand. IV. In the absence of any definite charge or insuperable difficulty, such as ought to exclude Dr Jenner from the Bishopric of Dunedin, we all concurred in the request that, for the «ake of the peace of the Church, he would resign hit claim. But this argument of peace ' has a double aspect. Bishop Jenner may claim of his opponents with greater justice that; for the sake of the peace of the Church, they should withdraw their opposition. If he has done anything unlawful according to the law of the Church in England let it be proved. That he will do nothing against the laws of the Church in New Zealand, we have his own solemn promises, which we are bound to believe. Any breach of that promise (it is scarcely necessary to add) by his own written covenant, would makft him liable to the forfeiture of his Bishopric. Eor his sake then, and for the sake of the Synod* and for the sake of the peace of the Church, I do most earnestly entreat my dear friends and brethren in the Eural Deanery of OtagO and Southland to withdraw their opposition j and to accept Dr Jenner as theif Bishop. This way of peace is t more complete than the other, because it will bring to an end all controversial discusions, and will obviate the necessity of electing another Bishop ; and above all) because it will shew that we have con* fidence in the power of our Svnodical system to restrain those eccentricities oi private zeal which have disturbed the peace of the Church at Home. I remain, my dear brethren, you* affectionate friend and pastor, Gk A. LICHPIELD AND N. ZeAIiAJXDI ... nmt