THE BISHOP OF LINCOLN.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
SIR,—In your issue of Saturday last there appear certain.stricturea on the Bishop of Lincoln's advice to the Vicar of Owston, with regard to litigating, or rather not to litigate, the question of the claim made by the Wesleyans to the title of " Reverend " on tombstones in the burial-grounds of the Church of England, which you conclude as follows :—‘"Resist not evil,' said our Lord. 'Resist evil till it begins to cost money, not afterwards,' is apparently Dr. Wordsworth's version."
Passing over what appears to be an obviously unfair application of our Lord's words, I cannot help noticing the apparent injustice of the imputation on the Bishop's conduct, who is just now in- curring heavy legal expenses in resisting what he thinks may be a simoniacal presentation to a living. Surely that is a more direct proof that his principles are not measured, as you seem to in- sinuate, by their financial consequences, than his recommendation to a friend (who claims his advice and protection in the discharge of his duties) not to litigate the point in question can be construed to the contrary.
All those who knew Dr. Wordsworth are well assured, what- ever difference of opinion they may have with him, that he is never actuated by mean or unworthy motives, but rather is too simply and frankly conscientious for a conventional age. The bitterness of your attacks on the Bishop of Lincoln must be my excuse for troubling you with this protest, for -which I trust that you will find space in your next number.—I am, Sir, &c., J. P.
[We have no doubt our correspondent's appreciation of Dr. Wordsworth is correct. Our note was not meant to impute to him in general any such policy, but rather to point out that this would be the inference justified by his advice in this particular case ; and so to throw doubts on the depth of his conscientious conviction in this case, in spite of his very great tenacity, not to say obstinacy, in relation to it. Probably our lang,tiage was rather too sharp for its purpose, but we admit our vexation at Dr. Wordsworth's pertinacity in relation to this very small act of bigotry.—En. Spectator.]
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