THE DUNEDIN BISHOPRIC AND DR JENNER.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 249, 7 November 1872, Page 5

THE DUNEDIN BISHOPRIC AND DR JENNER.

By the mail we received a pamphlet, entitled " The See of Dunedin, N.Z. ; the title of the Eight Rev. H. L. Jenner, D.D., to be accounted the first Bishop briefly vindicated with a few remarks on a recent charge of the Lord Bishop of Wellington, N.Z." We shall now content ourselves by publishing Dr. Jenner's letter accompanying the pamphlet ; on another occasion we shall refer to the pamphlet itself :—: — .

" To the Editor of flic Eotning Star.

'• Sib,— l venture to send you a copy of a pamphlet recently published by me, thinking It very desirable that the statements it contains should be circulated throughout the Province of Otago. "I wish; it to be clearly understood that, while there is nothing that I more earnestly desire than the true welfare of the diocese of Dunedin, X have long ceased to covet the honor of being its bishop. On one thing, however, J am resolved, vis., tb>t, God help*

ing me, I will not cease to resist to the uttermost the unhappy policy of those misguided men who would deprive me of what 1 have termed in my pamphlet my Listorical position, as tin first Bishop of Ounedin. " As to the soi-disant Bishop of the diocese, he is simply an intruder. He has no jurisdiction over the diocese — no diocesan riiiut3— in short, no claim to the spiritunl allegiance of the faithful. Yet it is true, no doubt, tha 1 ; there are others more blameable than Dr .Nevill— those, namely, by whom he tvaa induced, by false statements as to my rights, to accept =c*jisniatical consecration. The fact is, as is now universally felt in this country, the whole Anglican communion in New Zealand is at present involved in the guilt of the schism. I do not think it is sufficiently realised in your Colony how entirely the great mass of Church people at Home are on my side in this dispute. My chum is supported, not by the High Church parties alone, but by the sturdiest Protestants also.

" Most of your readers are aware what are the views repre°ented by th 6 Rock newspaper — a journal who&e very raison d'etre in bitter hostility to what is called ' Ritualism.' To those who still think that this question is only one of Protestantism v. Kitualism, I commend the following paragraph, extracted from the Rock of July 20, 1872 :— "•Bishop Jenner and Dunedin. — We have received and real a number of documents connected with this matter, and we do not hesitate to express our opinion that Bishop Jenner has a fair and honest claim to be recognised as having been, up to the date of his rusignalioa, Bishop of Dunedin. His claim is equally as qOuil as that of any other Colowial bishop isot holding letters patent. Opposed, as we are, on doctrinal questions, to Bishop •> enuer, we claim fair play for all, and we respect Bishop Jenner for the spirit he displayed in sunenderinij his position for the sake of the ' huroh. Wh trust, for the credit of all parties, that justice will be freely accorded in the matter.'

" And I would also beg your readers to bear in mind what the justice v that I ask. Only this — that the question in dispute be referred to a fair arbitration. Dr Nevill is at liberty, a3 he knows, to choose the judges ; I only stipulate that 'they be competent and unprejudiced. I engage to raise no "consequential clahna." On the contrary, I promise to abstain from, all interference with Dr Nevill, even if the award be favorable to my view, leaving it to him and the Synod to set right perhaps by a t'resh election and confirmation (not, of course, conaecration) what is wrong, and to give up everything I have ever contended for if the judgment be adverse. " The truth is, that my case is so strong that I can afford to give odds. But what can be said of theirs, who refuse terms so obviously advantageous to them? What, but that they are oppressed with an overwhelming consciousness of moral weakness ; a conviction that their sole chance is to keep silence, as those who would say --' You may talk as much is you please ; you may make proposals and offer terms to your heart's content— we care not. We have got possession, and possession we mean to keep, whether we are right or wrong.' Is the Church of England in New Zealand so strong that she can afford to take this kind of line ? 1 very much doubt ib. —1 am, Sir, your obedient servant, "H. L. Jbsnbk, D.D., " Sometime Bishop of Dunedin. " Preston Vicarage, August 21, 1872."