THE BISHOP OF DUNEDIN.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 938, 28 April 1868, Page 3

THE BISHOP OF DUNEDIN.

The Bishop of Dunedin sends to John Bull a few words of explanation of his present position, which may serve to rectify certain misconceptions prevalent in many quarters. The Bishop says — 1. That some in my diocese are anxious that I should remain in England is unfortunately true. But it is also true that the Rural Deanery Board of Otago and Southland (the body by which, until my Diocesan Synod is formed, the affairs of the Church in that part of New Zealand are administered) decided at a special meeting, held on 11th September of this year, that they did " not feel justified in dissuading me from undertaking the charge of my see."

2. There is, no doubt, some truth in your remark, that it was a mistake my not foing out months ago. But it must be orne in mind that, had I gone, it must have been in the face of assurances that there was no chance, in the then financially depressed state of the Colony, of raising anything like an adequate endowment, a consideration which I could not afford to disregard. Then came the Pan-Anglican Synod, and, about the same time repeated entreaties (including two telegrams) that I would not leave England until I had heard the result of the efforts that were to be made at the Rural Deanery Board to keep me at Home. So that I was not without inducements to remain. I am happy to say that all obstacles are now rapidly disappearing. The endowment is now all but, complete ; the,' general opposition to myself, though by no means at an end, is deprived of much of- its strength by the resolution, above referred to, of the .Rural j Deanery Board ; and finally, I hope there j is no doubt that I shall (if it pleases God to give me a prosperous voyage) be at work in my distant diocese long before the arrival of Bishops Selwyn and Harper, who are now in England. 3. One word as to my " ultra-ritualism." It is not (if I know myself) on account of my love of music, or my too easy yielding to the wishes of my friends, that I have so often appeared at " ultra high churches." In point of fact, I have accepted invitations to preach in. all kinds of churches, without troubling myself about the opinions of their clergy, and, if numbers go for anything in such a matter, my ministrations in churches where a "moderate" ceremonial prevails, have outnumbered, by at least twenty to one, those occasions on which I have officiated in what are called " ritualistic churches. But in truth there is one thing which, since my consecration, has prevented me 1 fromrejectinginvitationsfrom "ritualistic" clergymen as a matter of course, lest I should compromise "the dignity of the Episcopate ;" and that is, that I nave not yet been able to acquire the art of turning my back on my old friends, or my old principles. What those principles are, and have been for years past, may be gathered (by those who have had no opportunities of watching my career) from the following extract from a letter written by me in the year 1851, in reply to inquiries by one near and dear to me, respecting my views on various points of Church ceremonial -. —

" On the whole, then, my theory is this — I consider none of these things [certain details of ritual] essential in themselves, but the principle of obedience, and of doing one s best that the English ritual should lose none of its Catholic character, Ido consider essential. But whereas my own taste lies to a great extent in the esthetics of divine worship, I think I am bound to be very watchful, lest, by indulging this taste to the disregard of the prejudices of others, I should fatally offend those among whom I might be appointed to minister. On this principle I should feel it my duty to abstain from many things which I should otherwise consider it desirable to introduce, so that no vital doctrine were involved."

These words shew what my principles were seventeen years ago. X have not changed them sinee — I do not see any reason for changing now. They have kept me, on the one hand, from " dissembling my views," to quote the accusation of some of my Dunedin friends ; and, on the other, from forcing them upon people. And they have, moreover, made it impossible for me to withhold sympathy, still more to stand aloof — as from men infected with leprosy or plague — from those who, in spite of occasional excesses, are doing the true work of the Church as few have ever done it, at least in modern times. There is a danger, surely, against which we shall all do well to guard, lest, in opposing the efforts of those who are giving up all for Christ and His poor, wo be found in the ranks of the ''fighters against God." — I remain, Sir, yours faithfully, H. L. Dunedin. Preston Vicarage, Sandwich, December 28.