The Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol has withdrawn his licence
from the Rev. A. H. Ward—the chaplain of St. Raphael's, Bristol,—a church primarily intended for sailors, marines, emi- grants, and others connected with the seafaring life,—who has been practising the highest ritualism. Against this act of the Bishop's, Mr. Ward has no appeal, nor indeed does it seem at all probable that if he had any appeal, it would help him in the least. He does not deny the high ritualistic practices which are now declared by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council to be illegal, but avows and defends them. The peculiarity of the case is, how- ever, that the three "aggrieved parishioners" required by the Public Worship Regulation Act have not had the courage to give their names, and that the Bishop has not revealed them ; and further that the congregation worshipping in St. RaphaePs affirm that they are completely unanimous in the support of their chaplain, and in their adherence to all his ritualistic practices. Mr. Ward, like a great many of the Ritual- ists, has certainly been a very earnest worker among the people, and has effected much which is a credit to Bristol, and a benefit to its seafaring population. Whether Dr. Ellicott had much choice in the matter—when once the chaplain had admitted that he was resolutely breaking the law—we do not know. But if he had not, so much the worse for the ad captandurn and mis- chievous Act under which the Bishop was proceeding. That three persons who do not venture to give their names should be
allowed to stop a religions work from which all who do give theft names join in declaring that they are reaping the greatest benefit, is in itself a public scandal.
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