Untitled - Electric Scotland

342 LIFE OK ARCHBISHOP TAIT [CH. xm.
errors, and what appears to me the very unbecoming spirit in
which they are urged, I greatly regret the decision at which a
majority of my brethren has arrived, as likely, in my estimation, to
extend the influence of the publication of which we all dis
approve, and place many of those who disapprove
of it in an
altogether false position.- I remain, my dear Lord, yours faith
fully and dutifully,
A. C. LONDON."
In consequence of this letter two further meetings of
the Bishops were held, and after long and heated discus
sion the Bishop of London succeeded in securing the
adoption by the assembled Bishops of a joint address to
Bishop Colenso, instead of the collective inhibition which
had been at first proposed. The address was drawn up
by Bishop Tait, 1
and, after a few verbal changes, was made
public in the following form, and signed by forty-one
Bishops, English, Irish, and Colonial, the only dissentient
being the Bishop
" To
of St. David s :
the Right Reverend J. W. Colenso, D.D.,
Lord BisJiop of Natal.
"
We, the undersigned Archbishops and Bishops of the United
Church of England and Ireland, address you with deep brotherly
anxiety, as one who shares with us the grave responsibilities of
the Episcopal Office.
"
It is impossible for us to enter here into argument with you
as to your method of handling that Bible which we believe to be
the Word of God, and on the truth of which rest all our hopes
for eternity. Nor do we here raise the question, whether you are
legally entitled to retain your present office and position in the
Church, complicated, moreover, as that question is by the fact
of your being a Bishop of the Church in South Africa, now at a
distance from your diocese and province.
"
But we feel bound to put before you another view of the case.
We understand you to say (Part n. p. xxiii of your Pentateuch
1
Bishop Wilberforce s biographer is in error in attributing its authorship
to that Bishop. The original MS. exists as drafted by Bishop Tait.