(To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR:) SIR,—Allow me to
state, in reference to the correspondence which has appeared in your column, in regard to the imprison- ment of the Rev. S. F. Green, a fact connected with his prose- cution which is not as widely known as it ought to be. One of the three promoters of the suit against Mr. Green, without whom it could not have been instituted, is a man who had been previously sentenced to six months' hard labour for embezzling money which belonged to his employers. Now, it is impossible to believe that the Bishop of Manchester could have been aware of this fact, when he consented to Mr. Green's prosecution ; but, if not, is it too much to say that in his anxiety to enforce what is, at least, a doubtful interpretation of law, the Bishop has shown himself strangely forgetful of the very elementary duty of, at least, ascertaining the character and "bona fides" of the men who were bringing an accusation against a priest whose high character and entire devotion to his flock entitled him to every possible forbearance on the part of his Bishop? As for the Church Association, that body may reconcile the use of such instruments with that respect for the law which it so loudly professes, if it can. Men of honour will, however, be disposed to think that religious prejudice must have strangely blinded the eyes of English gentlemen, before they could condescend to combine such professions with such practice ; while most men will agree that if, like the Bishop of Manchester, the Church Association pleads ignorance in its excuse, and endeavours to throw the blame on its solicitors, that plea can only avail it on the condition of an immediate applica- tion to Lord Penzance for Mr. Green's release, and the abandon- ment of all further proceedings, based upon a representation signed by such complainants. The whole circumstances of the case will be found in the evidence, whenever it is published, given before the Royal Commission on Ecclesiastical Courts.—I am, Sir, &c., CHARLES L. WOOD.
10 Belgrave Square, S. W., March 29t14.
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