A High-handed Superior.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4809, 7 June 1884, Page 3

A High-handed Superior.

Dukedin, Yesterday

A lengthy correspondence is published between Bishop Neville and tbe Eev. K. S. Stanford. On receipt of a letter from Mr Stanford resigning bia license as a clergy man/and asking to have bis name removed from tho clergy list, the Bishop wrote that he bad heard that Mr Stanford intended to abrogate bis Orders and enter on tbe practice of the law, and that if ho was not informed that bis information was incorrect-lie would tako such steps as were necessary to effect the public degradation of Mr Stanford from the clergy. To this Mr Stanford replied that he did not listen to rumors, nor did he make remarks on the Bishop's perfor mance of bis duties. Asa clergyman of the diocese he knew of the Bishop's being a land speculator, mixed up with pottery works, and bargaining over' bis annuity ; he had also beard many hard epithets applied to bis speculative enterprises. He (Mr Stanford) bad some right to expect Sympathy in his endeavour to provide for his family, instead of threats being hurled at him. Before . giving publicity to his letter he gave the Bishop an opportunity of withdrawing it. The Bishop replied that he had no intention of following Mr Stanford in the comparison he had set up. The rumours respecting himself arose from his having fallen into the hands of designing men sis years ago. The Bishop explains that he used the word " degradation " to mean that though a clergyman enters upon anew profession, his clerical character remains, and ought to be removed by the same authority from whence it proceeded. Mf Stanford replies giving the Bisbop another opportunity of withdrawing tbe words, to which tbe Bishop returned as an answer that the matter was so novel and so solemn that be would never be hurried into precipitate action, nor turned-aside from aoy course he might decide upon.