THE BISHOP OF MANCHESTER AND RITUALISM.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
Sin,—Unless there is an alteration in the constitution of the Church of England, I do not see that the Bishop of Manchester could do otherwise than he has done. The main principle which ought to rule a clergyman's life is violated by disobedience to the Ordinary. Disobedience would be a duty, if we were called upon. to deny the divinity of our Lord. But are we to put mixing water with wine in Holy Communion, the wearing of this or that vestment, and other such-like vagaries, on the same footing with belief in Christ being God ? The line, to me, is clear and distinct enough. Could a Bishop be found to deny the divinity of Christ, defy him ; but in a matter of dress or arrangement, obey. It is a clear duty, which we undertook.
I can tell your correspondent, "0. R. P.," that if tbere is a county where Ritualism would be disastrous, it is Lancashire. The Reformation laid great hold on its people, though, of course, it is not difficult in our large towns for earnest, hard- working clergy of the extreme party to draw a following from the large area. On what principle are we to hark back to an imitation of Popery ? No doubt, the historical High-Church party does hold the key of the position, but I hope and trust they will not hold their a3gis over the disobedient. They will, if they do, alienate the masses, and hasten Disestablishment. Men write as if the Bishop had not tried every effort which kindness and liberality would dictate. While we cannot know all the circumstances, it is wrong to write "that he will cease to confine his liberality to the tolerance of opinions in which, be himself shares." It is an ungenerous insinuation. Liberality would be ill-timed which would lead the Bishop to allow a vio- lation of the fundamental principles on which our Reformation was founded.—I am, Sir, &c.,
[Why could not the Bishop of Manchester have done what the Primate did, and what the Bishop of Oxford did,—namely„ refuse to permit the prosecution ? In the latter case, the right of the Bishop to disallow the prosecution was reviewed an affirmed by the highest Court of Appeal.—En. Spectator.]
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