The appointment of four new Bishops has been announced during
the week. The Rev. Pritchard Hughes is made Bishop of Lla,ndaff ; Dr. Gibson, the Vicar of Leeds, becomes Bishop of Gloucester in succession to Dr. Ellicott, who has resigned ; while Dr. Harmer, the Bishop of Adelaide, has been appointed to the See of Rochester, rendered vacant by the appointment of Dr. Talbot to the new See of Southwark. The readiness of Dr. Talbot to undertake the burden of organising a new diocese after ten years' unremitting labour in the See of Rochester is a proof of devotion to duty not less admirable than that of Dr. Gore in exchanging the more picturesque bishopric of Worcester for that of Birmingham. At his enthronement on Thursday week Dr. Gore dwelt with much force on the strength of corporate feeling in Birmingham, and the hopeful auguries of a new access of strength in the life of the Church of England in the Midlands to be drawn from the foundation of the new bishopric. He also paid a generous tribute to the influence and inspiring example of two great Birmingham Christians of recent times, neither of them of his own Communion,—Cardinal Newman and Dr. R. W. Dale. At the public reception held in the Town Hall a cordial message of congratulation was read from Mr. Chamberlain, who said that he felt sure that Dr. Gore would always find the Nonconformists of Birmingham " ready to give to him any assistance in their power in that great sphere of common work and duty, which is large and important enough to find ample room for cordial co-operation." In this context we cannot refrain from mentioning the admirable letter addressed by the Bishop of Manchester to the Free Church Council. The spirit which should inspire Churchmen in their attitude towards the Nonconformist Churches could not have been better expressed.
Previous page
