Untitled - Electric Scotland

i86i-66] BISHOP CRAY S ACTION 339
not unnatural hesitation about placing its block-grant for
the diocese of Natal in the hands of a Bishop whose
Metropolitan was already denouncing him as a heretic,
and whose successive books were exciting general con
sternation. Archbishop Longley, who had a few weeks
before succeeded to the Primacy, was disposed to support
the Society in handing its Natal grants to the Arch
deacons instead of to the Diocesan, but before doing
so he consulted Bishop Tait, who, consistently with his
previous line, replied as follows :-
The Bishop of London to the Archbishop of Canterbury*
"Dec. 22, 1862.
" MY DEAR LORD ARCHBISHOP, ... I take it for granted
that it is a principle of the Society to pay all respect to those
who are at the head of the several Colonial Sees, simply in virtue
of their office, and that it is only in obedience to this principle that
the Society has hitherto acted in any way through the Bishop of
Natal. I know not who the persons are who now call on the
Society in this distressing case to set aside its principle in refer
ence to Bishop Colenso, while in all other respects he is recog
nised in undisturbed possession of his office as Diocesan of Natal;
neither do I know how far such persons express the sentiments of
any large body of the friends of the Society. But I do not think
the Society will act rightly in following the advice indicated. I do
not think the Society can, as matters stand at present, properly
transfer to any other than the Bishop of the diocese of Natal
that official position, whatever it be, which, according to its rules,
a Colonial Bishop holds in reference to the Society s funds. -
I am, very truly and dutifully yours, A. C. LONDON.
Bishop Gray and his friends in England were now
eager to take formal action against Bishop Colenso, and
in a characteristic letter to the Dean of Capetown Bishop
Gray described his plan as follows :-
"
"Jan. 2, 1863.
I have been thinking a great deal about this trial, and I
have to-da^ had a talk with S. Oxon. He quite agrees with my