Untitled - Electric Scotland

1856-60] I.KTTKK TO MR. STUART 221
forbids an innovation, you will drop the practice objected to, even
though you may think it right for your own justification to place
on record that you do so merely out of deference to an authority
which you feel bound to respect, and to which, indeed, the
Prayer-Book distinctly refers you in all points which admit of any
doubt. I have told you that I have no intention at present of
bringing such matters into a court of justice, believing that I best
consult the well-being of the Church, already too much disturbed
by the agitation of questions of ceremonial, by endeavouring to
rule as long as I can by the quiet and private exercise of that
power of godly admonition with which I am intrusted. Let me
call to your mind that if, notwithstanding the legal grounds I
have stated to you, you still suppose my exposition of the law to
be erroneous, your dutiful acquiescence in my decision does
in nowise prejudice the general question, while I believe you
will, on calm consideration, find such acquiescence satisfactory
to your own conscience, and far more likely than a contrary
course to further the great object you have in view viz., your
gaining and retaining a wholesome spiritual influence over your
people s souls. Such influence, I cannot doubt, would be likely
to be lessened by the unseemly spectacle of your setting me at
defiance.
"
I know that I write to one whose life shows that he feels
deeply the ministerial responsibilities, and, therefore, I am the
more hopeful of your acquiescence. Believe me to be, my dear
Sir, faithfully yours, A. C. LONDON."
" MY
The Rev. E. Stuart to the Bishop of London.
"
i MUNSTER SQUARE,
Monday, March 8, 1858.
LORD, I write to acknowledge the receipt of your letter
of the 5th instant, containing a command to me to discontinue
the use of lights at the celebration of the Sacrament.
"
I must respectfully decline to obey this command, as I
believe that in issuing it you have (unintentionally, of course)
transgressed the limits of that authority which the Church of
England has committed to her Bishops.
I believe that you have done this by forbidding what the law
of the Church distinctly authorises, for the Rubric (which is our
law in this matter) distinctly authorises such ornaments of the