The clergy of the Archdeaconry of London have this week
been electing two proctors to serve as their representatives in Convo- .cation. It seems that the Archdeaconry of Middlesex elects two snore, and the Bishop selects one of each to represent the diocese. He has even the power to take both proctors from one arch- -deaconry, and so leave the other without any representatives at .all. Some of the clergy are greatly dissatisfied with this arrangement, which has lasted hundreds of years, and are .going to call a meeting to protest against it. They had much better leave the matter alone. Politicians tolerate Convocation, as they tolerate anything else which is very old and very harmless, but there is a limit to pitying endurance of that kind, and that limit will be passed when either Convocation or its supporters attempt to interfere with anything more real than itself,—such as the Bishop's authority. Speeches about " strengthening " Convoca- tion do no harm, but the laity who constitute the Church do not intend to " strengthen " an institution which first claims judicial power, and then condemns a man without hearing him.
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