An indecent contest,—indecent, it seems to us, on both sides,—
went on in June, at the cathedral town of Natal, Pietermaritz- burg, for the temporary possession of the Cathedral Church, -without, however, any complicity on the part of Dr. Colenso, who was absent, and who would certainly not have sanctioned all that some of his violent adherents did. Dr. Colenso, however much -we have differed from his school of criticism, has always hitherto seemed to us the model of a Christian Bishop in temper and spirit towards his opponents. Dr. Colenso had left orders that -St. Andrew's Church should be open to Bishop Twells, of the Orange Free States. But the latter and his supporters in- sisted on having the Cathedral. Dr. Twells had been com- missioned by the so-called Metropolitan and Bishop of Capetown, Dr. Gray, to confirm in Natal and preach in the cathedral church. His friends say that he was not intending to assume any of Dr. Cole,Aso's jurisdiction, but only to confirm those of the other party who would not apply to Dr. Coleus() for confirmation, and that he was only to preach for the Dean, Dr. Green, who has for some time had a service of his own for the Gray party in the colony, distinct from the Bishop's service, in the cathedral. The Colenso party, in the absence of their Bishop on the coast, would not allow this, however, and the church was closed on the 26th
June last against Dr. Twells,—and, as it is said by the other party, new locks and bars were applied, and the church garrisoned' by six men. On the 30th June the door of the cathedral was battered in by a sheriff's officer, Bishop Twells entered the church, and preached (we should fear after such a scene in scarcely a very loving frame of mind). Subsequently, the cathedral was actually flooded by some of the Colensoite party, to prevent Bishop Twells from confirming there, and a vulgar notice pastel up. " On Sun- day next a sermon will be delivered at St. Andrew's Church by Bishop Swells on the Deluge." As far as we can see, both parties, including Dr. Twells, behaved as if their faith would be promoted by physical violence and outrage. We are sure Dr. Coleus() must have bitterly disapproved the conduct of his partizans.
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