BISHOP JENNER.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 78, 5 April 1869, Page 3

BISHOP JENNER.

The following letter appeared in the Guardian ot 15th January: — Sib,- —I cannot but fear, from what I read, that my old and dear friend the Bishop of Dunedin is misjudged by many persons; and I wish, without entering into the elaborate correspondence and proceedings which have arisen, and without blaming anyone, great or small, to call attention to several facts: — 1. Whatever irregularity t'.iere maj r have been in the mode of appointment, the Bishop had nothing to do with it. The offer was made to hira by the highest authority, and simply accepted. 1. There was not, aud could not have been, any concealment on his part either of principles or of tastes, and those who know him know aiso that it would have been still more impossible for him to wish such a thing as concealment. The Bishop's character is transparent. Truth, candor, joyful openness and fearlessness shine -in his face, and sound in every accent of liis * voice. If he tried to dissemble, he could not. Neither could he try. His self, which is truth, expresses itself in truth. 3. This ought to assure people that he will certainly keep his repeated promises to force his dreaded views upon no man. 4. But the diocese has a guarantee antecedent to these promises —oaniely, the Bishop's gentleness .and consideration for others. Painful as the discussions have been, I can forgive them for having elicited those golden words in his letter of the 28th: — " Whereas my own taste lies to a great extent in the aesthetics 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 ofCend those among whom lam appointed to ministtr. On this principle I .should feel it my duty to abstain from many .things which I should otherwise think it desirable to introduce, so that no vital doctrine were .involved." How few are there who are thus on their guard against themselves, and who restrain themselves within themselves out of charity! The fact is, if I may let out the secret, that the real danger to the Bishop's opponents lies in his loving and loveable character. He will win them in spite of themselves. A few years hence, if God wills, and many will be ashamed of their present vexation and . cowardice, and will be thankful that their opposition did not prevail to the hindrance of a blessed work in Christ's Church ; and to the discouragement of that fearless conduct which is so -essential to the office of a Bishop. W. E. Hey gate. Southend, Essex, January 11, 1867. P.S. —Should anr persons fancy that the Bishop is an unpractical man, and lost in aesthetics, I would observe that they would have soon changed their minds had they seen him in his parish cricket-field, or keeping the daily school of Preston for six months without the help of a master ; or had they seen him, as I have done, with the village lads seated around on the lawn after service on Sunday, listening to him as he read to them, and supplied them with innocent pleasures and improving thoughts. He is. thoroughly practical.