SIMONY COMME IL FAlJT.
THE manner of appointing Bishops in England has subjected the relations of Church and State to very disagreeable remarks. It is not altogether the actual selection, but the mode of selecting, can- didates for the Apostolic Succession, that gives rise to scandal. When the see of Gloucester and Bristol became vacant, it was announced that the Reverend Chenevix Trench had been nominated, and that selection was all but universally received as creditable to the Government. But it was almost immediately an- nounced that the report of Mr. Trench's nomination was " prema- ture." Again, within the last few days, Mr. Trench has been an- nounced as appointed to the deanery of Westminster, in succes- sion to the late Dr. Buckland • and in noticing this report the Globe says that it is " somewhat premature, but not so much so as on the former occasions," for that in a few days the Q,ueen's approval will be asked for Mr. Trench's nomination. On this qualified indorsement of the report the Tunes makes the fol- lowing remarks. gi We really hope that there will be no mistake this time with regard to Mr. Trench. We have reasoulo believe that the premature designation' to which our contemporary alludes placed Mr. Trench in a very painful position, because some persons were weak enough to imagine that he had some share in that designation itself; the simple fact being, that, without his knowledge, his claims were so powerfully represented to the Premier that he was on the eve of being nominated to fill the vacant see of Glouces- ter and Bristol, when still more powerful influence was urged in support of Mr. Baring. We believed that Mr. Trench, whose theological chums will at least bear comparison with those of Mr. Baling, and whose literary at- tainments are far superior, would adorn the see of Bristol, and therefore we expressed pleasure at the prospect of his elevation : we are now glad to see that he is about to be, if he is not actually, Dean of Westminster ; and we are sure that all who know him will rejoice that his new dignity will not rause him to pass from London society into episcopal residence in a provin- cial city."
We do not know why the story which is in everybody's mouth should be left in this enigmatical form ; for the tale is not ob- scure as we meet it in society. The " premature" report was the more " painful," since it was generally understood that Mr. Trench had an interview with Lord Palmerston and he was sup- posed to be himself the author of the " premature " rumour that he had been selected for the vacant bishopric. Now the fact ap- pears to be, that Mr. Trench was really intended by the Prime Minister to be the Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol ; but, according to the current story, by some " understanding " or other the see had been promised to Lord Ashburton ; who was to be, as it were, the patron holding the nomination of the candidate for that living. That such things have been, is notorious, though we do not know by what title any nobleman, more especially a nobleman out of office, can be considered. to have any share in instituting a clerk to a bishopric. We may be answered, that to allow such. an exercise of influence is not more irregular than the no- torious " arrangements " for the appointment to ordinary livings ; that:the bargain by which a vicar induced a curate to take a curacy under the legal rate of .salary, or- that the sale of advowsons, is an instance of usages which establish a certain practical licence in the Church. We may be told that the lay im- propriation of tithes is really a worse invasion of ecclesiastical property and of religious propriety. Anecdotes may be told us of persons in the civil service who are supposed to obtain appoint- ments onpayment of large sums of money ; , and rumours are also current of agencies in which persons employed by Government obtain strange commissions ; while Government contracts have become a proverb.
In short, we may be answered, that although there is a profes- sion of checking corruption at the present day, the practice is against the profession, and that the corruption is only more veiled and more polite than the open peculation and simony of past times. We answer, that however human nature may be disposed to run back into bad practices, the public opinion of the present day is decidedly against corruptions in any form. • If the sales of advowsons and lay impropriations are contrary to the spirit of the law of the Church, they have become usages, and are avowed; while the distribution of bishoprics on grounds of personal liking or "understanding;" has not become a usage, and would be avowed only to be .stopped by the peremptory indignation of the public.
We continue the current story. As soon as it was known that Mr. Chenevix Trefich had been selected for Gloucester and Bris- tol, a nobleman busied himself to interpose a bar to the appoint- ment. The nobleman mentioned was Lord Shaftesbury, and it is said the person to whom. he applied was the wife of the Premier. It is said that he objected to Mr. Trench on the ground that he.is a." Puseyite." If this is correct, it is indeed an extraordinary innovation upon the constitutional treatment of the Church. What is a " Puseyite" ? where is any section of the Church re- cognized by that title ? How is a Minister of State holding Church patronage in his hand to distinguish between a Puseyite and the reverse of; a Pnseyite ? Is there any complaint against the orthodoxy of Mr. Trench ? Has he laid himself open to the enforcement of the law of Church discipline ? He is remarkable for the power and grace of his published works ; and if he is classed among Puseyites, it has been probably from the high artistic mid moral tone of his productions ; for indeed there is so little distinctness in the designation of " Puseyite," that in the present ease it was applied without reason or justice. Mr. Trench is not a " Puseyite." There would have been more force in the objection, that there was an understanding to give the see to some- body else—to allow Lord Ashburton thnnext appointment; and if
Lord Ashburton was the patron of that living, it is of course no surprise for the public that a clergyman of the Baring family should be inducted.
Such is the story afloat. We see no reason why it should not be distinctly stated—no reason why it should be adumbrated in those allusive strictures of the Times. There may be some re- sponsibility attached to a direct statement of the facts, and to a publication of the names ; but if the story is true, it is a function of the press to accept the responsibility of exposing abuses ; and if the story is not true, the direct publication of the statement and of the names will enable those who are involved to prevent society from whispering away the good name either of the Goveriv- ment, of Lord Shaftesbury, or of the Church. If the story is only in part true, the abuse ought to be arrested before it is developed. The offices of the Church are as little as the offices of the Army to be considered properties for distribution among particular fami- lies, to be regulated by the chances of the ins and the outs ; and the sooner public opinion sets itself to break up any such arrange- ment the better.
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