18 OCTOBER 1890, Page 14

BISHOP THOROLD.

[To THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR,"] Sin,—In noticing the preferment of Bishop Thorold to Win- chester, you say that his translation, together with the appointment of Mr. Festing to St. Albans, "mark a period in which high practical qualities are more carefully weighed. and appreciated as titles to a Bishopric than anything like commanding spiritual influence." Now, Bishop Thorold has not the kind of spiritual influence which was exercised (for example) by Dr. Pusey ; but he has, during his episcopate in Rochester, exercised a spiritual influence of a very remarkable kind. To say nothing of that which he has exerted through sermons and confirmation addresses, no one who has had opportunities of listening to his addresses to candidates for Holy Orders can doubt his spiritual power. He has, in fact, often succeeded in deeply impressing men whom one would not have supposed to be readily impressible. The raising of the spiritual tone of those about him has been quite as remarkable as his success in organising a practically new diocese, which is, from its heterogeneous nature, very difficult