Untitled - Electric Scotland

1860-64] TWO ESSAYISTS PROSECUTED 313
certain of the articles of charge to have been proved, and
sentencing each of the accused clergymen to a year s
suspension.
From the sentence thus given the two accused clergy
men appealed, as had been expected, to the Queen in
Council. The appeals were heard in June 1863 before a
Judicial Committee of seven members, including the Lord
and the
Chancellor (Westbury) ; the two Archbishops,
Bishop of London. 1 The appellants in person argued their
respective cases, the same counsel appearing for both
respondents.
Stated in the briefest possible form, and omitting
subsidiary and rejected charges, both Essayists were
accused of denying, either directly or by implication, the
Inspiration of Holy Scripture,
and Mr. Wilson was ac
cused, in addition, of denying the eternity of future pun
ishment. These were the accusations which the Dean of
Arches held to have been proved, and the judgment of the
Court of Appeal was awaited with not a little interest.
Bishop Tait took the utmost pains during
the whole
course of the trial, and a comparison of the judgment
as finally pronounced, with the printed memorandum of
opinion which he, like the other judges, had circulated be
forehand among his colleagues, shows how large a share
he had in giving shape to the decision.
Although the case was heard in June, the judgment
was not delivered until nearly eight months had elapsed.-
They were anxious months. The sounds of the Colenso
strife were waxing louder every day, as the Bishop of
Natal put forth one by one the successive instalments of
his work, and frightened Churchmen began sadly to com
plain that they were being robbed of their faith by those
The other members of the Judicial Committee present were Lords Cran-
worth, Chelmsford, and Kingsdown.
- Feb. 8, 1864.