Untitled - Electric Scotland

152 LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP TAIT [CH. vi.
teaching given at Rugby. This teaching, it was said,
"
has undergone of late years a development which would
have shocked the celebrated man whose great name still
rests upon the School"; and the accusation was expanded
at some length. The article, appearing as it did just when
public attention was directed to the School by the vacancy
in the Head-mastership, seemed likely to work consider
able mischief, and drew from Dr. Tait an immediate and
vehement reply. If it
;s difficult to recognise in his
somewhat fiery letter the man who in later years had a
very different way of meeting such it onslaughts, must be
remembered that it was less his personal opinions which
were challenged than the Christian character of Rugby
School.
The Dean of Carlisle to the Editor of" TJie Guardian!
"
SCHOOLHOUSE, RUGBY, \-]th Dec. 1849.
"SiR, My attention has been directed to an article in your
last number, in which, in terms as direct as it usually suits the
purpose of an anonymous calumniator to employ, you speak of
Rugby School as having become, under my superintendence, a
refuge for heresy and latitudinarianism ; and endeavour to
represent the spirit now paramount in the place as that of a
sectarian and a freethinker.
"
However indifferent I and my colleagues may be to any
personal attacks on ourselves, I feel that I ought not lightly to
allow this great place of religious education to be vilified. . . .
As to the words sectarian and latitudinarian, and even heretic,
I suppose you use them considerately ; but I believe that coming
from you they will be rightly understood by the public to mean
simply that the person to whom these epithets are applied differs
from your particular views in interpreting the formularies of the
Church of England, though he may be supported in his inter
pretation by the authority of many of the wisest and most pious
of those whom the Church delights to honour. ... I do not
intend to enter here on any indication of Mr. Highton s opinions
as to the particular subject to which you allude. ... If you
really wish to know whether the charge you have made against