Untitled - Electric Scotland

234 LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP TAIT [CH. x.
The BisJwp of London to the Rev. Bryan King.
" FULHAM
PALACE, Dec. 3, 1858.
"Mv DEAR SIR, I think I ought to commit to paper the
result of our interview yesterday, for, indeed, in such interviews
it is difficult to keep the main points in view ; and I am sure it
is due to your standing in the Diocese, as well as to many per
sonal qualities which have secured you the respect of all who
know you, that I should state my opinion and wishes for your
calm consideration apart from any of those unpleasant feelings
which an interview to investigate complaints may call up.
"With respect to what has been laid before me by the
churchwardens, I am glad to be assured by you that the candles
are not lighted at the celebration of the Holy Communion except
for purposes of light.
" As to the green vestments, stoles, or whatever they may have
been, which it appears you yourself and Mr. Burn wore on the
occasion of the anniversary, I very deeply regret that you should
think it right to assume the unusual garments you described to
me. I am convinced there is no sufficient warrant for it, and if
you continue this, it is against my express order. Surely, if in
any matters a Bishop is entitled to require the canonical obedi
ence of his clergy it is in such a case as this. You cannot believe
that there is any legal obligation on you to depart in this respect
from the usage of our Church, as explained and enforced by all
her living authorities. The very utmost point to which you can
go must be to consider that the law of the land does not posi
tively forbid you to use such vestments (as, indeed, there are
many other strange things which it has never contemplated, and
therefore does not forbid), and that, by giving an order for their
disuse, I am abridging your liberty. Surely your regard for the
office I hold, and the rubric enjoining upon you to refer to the
Ordinary, must suggest that in such matters your own private
opinion ought to be waived in deference to those set over you ;
especially when I urge upon you to give up your own wishes out
of regard for the 30,000 souls committed to you, to your useful
ness among whom I feel convinced these excessive ritual
observances are a great hindrance, as is found, it pains me to
think, in the emptiness of your great church.
"As to Mr. Burn s wearing such garments, I am glad to have