The Church of England in South Australia.

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 514, 19 March 1851, Page 2

The Church of England in South Australia.

Although we have already devoted considerable space to the movements in South Australia to which the " Sydney Episcopal Minutes" have given a foicible impetus, if they did not originate it, — we yet find it necessary to return to the subject, in order to accomplish our object of placing our rerders in possession of all that is material in the history of one of those conflicts of opinion which form so marked a characteristic of the a«e, and one the results of which may very probably be such as to entitle it to the attention even of that class of observers who attach little interest to religious or ecclesiastical contentions, except in so far ?s they bear upon the secular affairs of society, or form a mere chapter in the general narrative of passing events. The following is the letter, (which we before refened to), addiessed by B^hop Short to the Chaiiman of the great Church Meeting of the 28th January acknowledging the receipt of the Resolutions adopted by that Assembly : Adelaide, January 31, 1851. Dear Mr. Morphett, — I beg to acknowledge ibe rereipt of the Heboliuions pis^d at a meeting held on the 28th in Pulteney-sj t School-room, winch reached me this day; a d I take ims opportunity ot makmg a few obsetvation*, which I request you to make public, a"d to tiansmit, together with the resolutions, to his Grace the Archbishop of Ca terbury:— 1. The attempt • ..o narrow tbe tetms of communion «nd admits'on ino the Ministry alleged against the Bi-hoi s, in the Ist resolution, is nega )V ed by ihe language of the Mmv c i elf on Holy Baptism ; which si, iles that they 'do not pteaume to think that they can inform oi guide ihe judgment of tbe whole Church 1 * in this tna ter; and secondly, by incorp >rntiu£ in the same Minute the statement of the B.shop of Melh iurne, which appr> vs to favour another construction of ibe baptismal Lervices; thereby indicating liberty ef judgment on this subject. 2. The institut on of duly elected conventions of the lait\, su^ested in the Minutes, sitting simultaneously with Synods of (he Clergy, under authority of the Queen as supreme Head of the Church, n< natives the attempt on the part of the Bishops to " assume eccleM<i>tical authority, and obtain an ex'eiiiion of power,'* allegrd in the second and third rcjolutions. With such conventions and Eyl)od^ hitting, either simultaneously or conjointly, it would be moral'y impossible. 3. Any disloyal wish to repudiate or restrict the lawful supremacy of the Queer is negatived by Minute 2, affiimmg the canons of A.D. 1603 to be binding on Bißhopi «nd Clergy of the Australasian dioceses. The l»t article ol ihe 36th canon expressly affirms the Queen's supremacy, and it is fuither secured by sub..scriptiou to the Thirty-nine Articles, in the declaration prt-fixed to which it is set forth. 4. Lastly, with respect to Tractnnan and Ami Protesiant views : having witnessed the beginning, rise, pi ogress, and eventual tendency of that party in the Church I have no hesitation in snymg that, with their ductiinal statements on sin after baptism; the mystical presence in the sacramental elements, and propitiatoryefficacy of the Lord's Supper as> a sacrifice j the virtue of penance ; me ntoiiousness of works ; the exultation ot the Virgin Mary; the invocation of Saints set forth in one of the Tracts for the Times ; reserve in pi caching the doctrine ol the Cross; the as>>unaption of the piii sthood and apostolical succession being necessiry to give validity to the sacraments as means of grace j Romanizing books of devotion and lives of the English Saint-. ; the setting up of outward forms and disused ceremonials; insuboidma ion to the civil power as supreme tC in all causes and over all persons ;" the, putting a non natural sense upon the Articles and Liturgy ; the disingenuousness ami want of moral honesty in many of the disciples — with all these things, and poß^ibly many more if brought to my recollection — I neither have nor have had any symi athy whatever 1 re* cord d my vote in convocation at Oxford against Mr. Waid and his book, entitled the "Ideal ot a Church ;" and I am fully prepared, with God's grace, to stand by the Scriptural principles of our Reformed Protestant Church, both as to discipline and d«ctnne, in their plain, ordinary, moderate, and geneial acceptation, as undeistood before the late Romainz ng movement; and iv whith for twenty years of parochial ministration, I ever held them, prey ous to my consecration at Bishop of Adelaide I n joice to witness a godly jealousy among the laity fur the purity of the faith won for us at the Reformation ; and would conclude with the prayer th»t we all — Bishops, Cle'gy, and Luty — may be guided into all truth, and kept from any zeal which is not after knowledge. I remain, dear Mr. Morphett, Yours, faithfully, Augustus Adelaides Hon. J. Morphett, This communication is marked by the same conciliatory tone which we have previously noticed as characterizing the Bishop's letters during this painful controversy ; but it seems doubtful whether its matter will prove satisfactory to those of the clergy and laity in his diocese who have found, or' who at least think they have found, germinant principles of Tractananism in the " Minutes " which he defends. However his lordship's repudiation of many of the opinions and practices of the Tractarian sect may prove gratifying so far as it goes, they will probably (judging from their speeches and resolutions,) apprehend that he still leaves deeply important questions — as that of Baptismal Regenera ion — just as they were before the correspondence took place; and they may regard his declaration of a determination to "stand by the Sciiptural principles of our Reformed Catholic Church," as having little definite cogency, seeing that the very point at issue between the parties is — What are those principles ? On both sides there is an equally clear avowal of attachment to the Protestantism of the Church :--the divergence appears when they come to explain what they respectively understand by that term,

We have now to invite attention to a document which we have not had an opportunity before of noticing, but which, in some respects, is the most important that has been published since the " Minutes" were issued. Hitherto we have seen the Laitij recording their Protest against the virtual invasion ot some of the principles of the Reformation which they believe to be contained in the Minutes ; now, we find the body of the Clkrgy of South Aus tralia taking a substantially similar ground, and taking it, so far as we are informed, with entue unanimity. It appeals that the Bishop requested his Clergy to give their judgment in the matter. It might have been better (as they more than hint) if his Lordship had consulted them before he pledged himself to the " Minutes," and before the manifestation of public feeling elicited by those " Minutes" had been so unequivocally called forth. However, the Clergy of the Diocese did meet for de iteration at the Chapter- house at Ad laide, and on the sth of February forwarded to his Lordship the results of their conference. The document bears the signatures of the Very Rev. Dean Farrch, and the Rev. Mess.s. W. J. Woodrocic T P. Wilson, W. H Coombs, J. 0. Bagshaw, A. B. «tirnbtt,J. Watson J.W. Sciioai.es, J. Fulford E. K. Miller, and S. P "R, Ali om. It will be seen that, in languaae, as strong as is consistent with their fespe'et for the Episcopal office, they declare dissent froux the conclusions of the I* -shops on neaily all the points contioveited. The se-ies of" propositions" in which they embody their views expre-s this so forcibly and clearly that we are induced to place them on record in our columns in their own words, without abridgment '• Propositions above referred to. 1 That our proceeding-, may be made public. 2 That we proceed to the consideration of the ••Minute*" seriatim: omitting, howevtr. all discussion upon the question of baptumal regeneration, except to affirm on the propriety or otherwise of us mtiocluetion into the " Minutes." 3 That we repaid the meeting of the Bishops respectively of Sydney, Tasmania, New Zealand, Adelaide Newcastle, and Melbourne, simply as a voluntary Iwmbhne of the chief pastors ot the Australasian moce»«. to confer upon matter, aflecting the mieresti ° f we approve mainly of the objects on which the Bishops proposed to consult-as specified in Srr.ion I —we caunot refrain from expressing re-let fh.t as they had not conferred with their respective 1' before their meeting, they should have forwarded their " M mutes ' to ISngland, with a vi. w, .1 is pre.umed, to imptiial legislation, without previously submitting them to the clergy and laity of their re. spective dioceses. Future Synods and Conventions. 5 That adverun* lo chap, m , •On Future Synods -ndVo..ventions," we are of opinion that it would be Preferable for the clergy and laity to meet in one assembly or convennon, consisting or every hceuud me»bTt« havm? cure of souls, and one or more lajmeti chosen by and out of the members of each congregation, in full communion, and presided over by the Bishop of 'h e diocese. I Subdivision of Dioceses and Nomination of Bishops. 6 'lhai therein and power of her Moht Gracious Majesty to subdivide the Australasian dioceses and to nominate Bishops thereto has hitherto been wisely and beneficially excised, and ought for the p.esent to be retailed intact; and th*t, should a period anne when it should be deemed expedient that her Majesty should relinquish the right of nominating to colonial sees, we areot opinion that, according to am lent usage, such n«ht of nomination slu.uld be vested in the clergy of the dioceses over which the Bishop is to preside. Church Membership Minute.— On a discussion ot the phrase " duly baptized," it was. understood that the word " duly" was intended to be explained by the words following, viz. — " wilh water, m the name of the Father, S^n, and Holy Ghost," and mat to refer to the penon baptizing. Discipline. Clergy. 7 . That, as the Australasian Bishops "disclaim" the right, power, or wish " to suspend or revoke, at their own discretion, the license? of Ctei gymen,*' we are of opinion that the licenses of incumbencies should, as far as possible, be in the same form of words as those issued to incumbents in England, aud not revocable at " pleasure." 8. That it is desirable there should be a power of depriving Clergy, convicted of immorality or her«»y, of their incumbencies. Status of Clergy. 9. That we view with some degree of fear and disapprobation the desire of the Australasian Bishops to license Clergymen to charges of a " temporary nature," and the wuh'expressed by them " that candidates for Holy Order*" " should place themaelves' entirely at the disposal of their JBibhop for some definite term of years, and leave to him the responsibility of appointing and changing their station during such period ;"— as we be.ieve such a policy, if general, would, under piesent circumstances, be injurious to the mHinlenance of mental independence, doctnnil purity, and pastoral fidelity among the junior cleigy, and would be inimical to their domestic comfort and general usefulness. 10. That it is of the u most importance to the respectability, influence, said efficiency of the clerical body in this diocese to keep up, ai far as possible, the standard of secular and theological learning for candidates for holy orders which is required by the Bishops at home. 11. That, under present circumstances, it is not desirable to admit to the diaconate, tor the s-ervice of tae Church in this diocese, persons whose previous «*tositio» in the colony would materially impair their jHuence. 12. That, for the due preseivation of order and barmouyi it is desirable that no deacon or caterhist should be introduced into any district already undrr the care ot a prfsbyter, but on the nomination of such presbyter to whom the said deacun or cateclnst bhoul. be gubord.nate. Liturgy. Marriage of Persons neither of whom belongs to the Church. 13. That whereas up to u recent period no marruges of dissenters in England were legal unless celebrated according to the riles and ceremonies of the Esta*. Wished Church, and whereas at the present time the ronjority of dissenting marriages are so celebrated in the mother^country, we are of opinion that no Austra* lasian Clergyman ought to refuse to marry any parties

who may a;^ply to him, though they be not members of our communion. Ministering to Dissenters. 14. That, while we are relieved from any legal <' obligation" " to perform rs-ligiom services for persons who arc not member* of our Church," yet, to guard against any inisconc<ption, we desire to express our readiness to afford our ministerial offices, as far as in us lies, to any who miiy neeil or desire them. MintJtc— We deem it inexpedient to expiess an opinion on some points touched upon in chapter vii., as we believe thece points mutt be left, to a certain extent, to the discretion of the officiating minister. We (eel bound, however, to remark that in seition 9, lettir d, no mention i» made of marriages to be solemnized on certificate from the Re^is'rai's Office j but we cannot suppose that it is intended by such omisMon to condemn the so'emnization of such marriage! by ministers of our Church. We desire also to express the difficulty we are under of unders'aivding what is meant by the advue ot the Bishops to repel from the Holy Communion persons who have married within tl\e prohibited (k'»iees " until they h,tv.repented and he reformed " Holy Baptism. 15. That the introduction by the Australasian Bishop, of the question of Holy Baptism into then " Minutes" was uncalled for and injudicious; that the construction put by them upon the " Crted, Ait\cle~, and Litnr^v," with respect to this subject, wmld, if imposed, be tantamount to a new artn-le ot faith ; atd that the dogmatical determination of a question wh-rh has ever been practically considered an open one, virtually narrows the terms of communion with our Church. Education. 16. That, whilst demrous of seem? a school established in connection with every church in this colony, we shall be piepared to regard favourably a. y system of education in which the Bible shall be the basis of the institution given. Missions. 17. That we hail wjih great satisfaction the establishment of the Australasian Board of Missions, in connection with our Church, with a new to the conversion of the aboriginal inhabitants of Australasia and the Isles of the Western Pacific. ; and we earnestly hope and pray th*t such measures may be adoped an'l chi ried out by its members as may be ctowued i with the Divine Messing. ! The Bishop, in his answer, briefly acknowt ledges " the calm and serious spirit" by which the resolutions of his clergy are characterized, and adds, Should Her Gracious Majesty as supreme head of the ( hurch of England, authorise the Clergy and Laity of the Australasiin Dioceses to frame their own eccle-i* astical polity, subject to her approval ; and should it be deemed advisable to depart on any point from the existing constitution of the English Church, I trust that the pattern of other reformed Protestant and rpi copal Churches will be followed, and the relations of the bishops, clergy, and laity, as s.t forth in the Scriptures, carefully prrserved. We have now laid before our readers the principal facts and statements contained in the Adelaide papers on this interesting subject, to which we probably shall not (so far at least as respects South Australia,) have occasion to return again, until we shall receive further intelligence from the seat of this ecclesiastical war. Whatever may be the final issue, the present position of affairs seems to be an arraying of the great majority of the clergy and laity of the Diocese in opposition to the most distinctive features of the scheme and opinions propounded by the majority of five out of the six Australasian Bishops at the Sydney meeting. There can scarcely be any considerable number in the diocese who concur in their lordships' views, — as the Reports of all kinds before us represent the public mind i as in a great measure united on the other side. It remains to be seen how the collision thus produced Avill terminate. In one result alieady attained, however, the genuine and loyal sons of the Church of England, — as distinguished from those whom Lord John Russell with equal truth and pungency, calls her " unworthy sons " — will join in the sentiment of the Bishop of Adelaide, " I rejoice to witness a godly jealousy among the laity for the purity of the iaith won for us at the Reformation."

The Band of H.M. 58th llegt. (by the permission! of Lieutenant-Colonel "Wynyaid, C.13.), will perform in the grounds in front oi old Government House, to-morrow afternoon from four till six o'clock. PROGUAMME. Overture— -Op. " Les Diamens.".. Auber. Melange— Op. «• The Daughter of St. Mark." Balfe. Duetto — Op. "Lucia di Lammeimoor.".. Donizetti. Aria—" Pro Peccatis"— " Stab,it Maier".. Rossini. "Waltz — " The Jenny Lind.".. Koenig. Quadrille — "The Prince of Wales.".. Glover. Romance — " Sir Wi fretl" (Queen's Love). . Ndihan. Ballad — "The lush Emigiant.".. Baikei.