4 MARCH 1882, Page 11

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

THE BISHOP OF LIVERPOOL AND CANON TREVOR.

[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—A letter from Canon Trevor, in your last issue, contains a pungent remark on a vote I recently gave in York Convoca- tion. I ask permission to say a few words in reply. I voted against Canon Trevor's well-meant resolution for one simple reason,—I regarded his proposal as perfectly useless. Submission to " the pastoral authority of the Bishop " is a medicine which, of late years, has been repeatedly tried, and has repeatedly failed. I am utterly unconvinced that the remedy would do more good, however recommended, in days to come, than it has done in times past. It is precisely the unwillingness of clergy- men to listen to the private, friendly remonstrances of their Bishops which has been the cause of the present distress. For these reasons, I thought Canon Trevor's able speech was only labour in vain, and I voted against his resolution. He assumed that clergymen are willing to submit to the pastoral authority of Bishops ; but he did not prove it. All experience points in a very different direction.

The question I should like Canon Trevor to take up is this :- What does he propose to do with those many litigious incum- bents who are a law to themselves, who are determined to do nothing which contradicts their own will, and refuse to submit to the friendly admonition of their Bishops P Will he prevent such men appealing from tribunal to tribunal, until they come to a final Court composed exclusively of laymen ? I doubt it.— I am, Sir, &c.,

Palace, Liverpool, February 28th. J. C. IavEarooL.