Untitled - Electric Scotland

LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP TAIT [CH. xiv.
"We perceive," they said, "(i) That the electing clergy were
a decided minority of the clergy of the Diocese ; (2) That an
equal number voted for and against the proceeding to an elec
tion ; (3) That some of those who opposed proceeding to an
election recorded their refusal to receive a Bishop if he were
consecrated as the result of so nearly balanced a vote. These
considerations suggest to us the doubt whether there is, as yet,
the proof which you have a right to require (i) That the canoni-
city of the election is certain ; (2) That it will be recognised by
the Metropolitan and Suffragans of the Province as canonical;
(3) That it will be so recognised by
the Church at home.
"We further notice that though a large majority of the lay
communicants present voteo^ for the election, yet that they
amounted only to twenty-nine, so small a proportion of the
whole number of lay communicants in the Diocese that we
doubt whether their vote can properly be taken as expressing
the assent of the laity, more especially as we do not perceive
that they pledged their order to make the needful provision for
their Bishop. We advise you, therefore, to suspend your de
cision until these important questions concerning your election
shall have been completely answered. With earnest prayers to
God to lead you in this matter to see and do His will, we remain,
ever yours,
C. T. CANTUAR.
S. OXON."
After further inquiry, however, the doubts of Arch
bishop Longley and Bishop
been set at rest, 1
Wilberforce seem to have
but, owing probably to the approaching
Lambeth Conference, any actual decision in the matter
was postponed.
In the meantime Bishop Colenso had brought an action
at law to secure the continuance of the income hitherto paid
to him as Bishop of Natal by the Council of the Colonial
Bishoprics Fund, and now withheld in consequence of his
deposition. On November 6, 1866, Lord Romilly (Master
of the Rolls) gave judgment in Bishop Colenso s favour,
and in the course of it controverted some parts of the
1
Bishop Gray s Life t vol. ii. p. 304.