31 JULY 1875, Page 3

The Rev. A. H. Mackonochie, the recent!y-suspeuded incumbent of St.

Alban's, Holborn, returned to his duty last Sunday, after his suspension, and a copy of a very severe lecture or philippic, ad- dressed by him to his Bishop (Dr. Jackson) on that prelate's neglect of his duty to St. Alban's Church during Mr. Mackonochie's suspension, was distributed in the church. The drift of the letter appears to have consisted in reproaches addressed to Dr. Jackson for not taking any pains to look after the church in the enforced absence of its incumbent,—Mr. Mackonochie carefully explaining that the only proper course for the Bishop would have been to take charge of the church himself, in conjunction with his chap- lains, but that, of course, " the parish would not have liked this course," though "it would have respected it for its courage and straightforwardness." Mr. Mackonochie, in the latter part of his letter, indulges in a good deal of speculation as to the reasons why the Bishops so steadily persecute the only party in the Church which "cares one straw for their sacred office." Possiblythe reason may be that the only party in the Church which cares one straw for the office of bishop, is far more rebellious against that sacred office than the parties which do not care a straw for it. When you show you• deep respect for a superior by steadily pummelling him, that superior is apt to think other people's disrespect pre- ferable to your respect. The Apostolical party treat the successors of the Apostles with so consistent a severity, that it is no wonder if those successors prefer the clergymen who say, " I go not," and yet go, to the clergymen who, professing to say, " I go, Sir," not only do not go, but exhaust the resources of invective against those who gave them the injunction.