Untitled - Electric Scotland

1856-60] LETTER TO THE CHURCHWARDENS 243
authority of a gentler kind that a Bishop most effectively works;
and I would now shortly consider, in the second place, how such
authority may avail us, in the present miserable dispute.
"II. If the Rector on the one hand and those who oppose
him on the other, have any right Christian spirit, they must be
thoroughly ashamed of the state into which the parish is now
brought. If the allegations which have reached me are to be
depended upon, bad men have availed themselves of the irrita
tion which has been excited to bring dishonour on the worship
of God, and the name of our holy religion. Under such circum
stances sincere members of our Church cannot, I should think,
hesitate as to the duty of submitting their causes of quarrel for
arbitration to him whom God has placed over them in the
Church for the very purpose of healing differences. Up to this
time, however, I have received no distinct intimation from either
party of their willingness thus to be guided by me as their
Bishop ; on the contrary, indications have not been wanting, at
least on one side, that my advice will not be listened to, unless it
can be legally enforced. If the case were thus voluntarily placed
in my hands, by both parties, for friendly adjustment if the
clergy of the parish, on one hand, consented to follow my direc
tions as to the ordering of the services, and if the vestry and the
churchwardens, on the other hand, were equally willing to be
guided by my advice as to the best way of allaying the unseemly
tumults which have arisen, I am very hopeful that all might yet
go well. There has, I doubt not, been no lack of conscientious
ness on both sides, but so far as I can at present judge, there has,
I am bound to say, been a sad lack of kindly Christian considera
tion for each other s feelings.
I earnestly beseech all concerned,
for the sake of the many ignorant and thoughtless souls in this
parish of St. George s, not to allow another day to pass without
taking such steps towards Christian reconciliation as may by
God s blessing end the present miserable disturbances. Depend
upon it, none can feel any satisfaction in these church riots but
those who are the enemies of the Lord Jesus Christ and of all
true religion.
"
My advice to the Vestry is, formally to request the Rector
to join with them in
submitting the whole case to my episcopal
arbitration both parties binding themselves to act as I direct.
If this offer is not made, or if, being made, it is not acceded to,
I do not see how I can aid the parish in any other way than by