Untitled - Electric Scotland

1866-68] BISHOP GRAY DISAPPROVES 371
received about eighty replies to his inquiry. The writers for
the most part thanked him in cordial terms for the interest
he was taking in these knotty problems,
copious
and statistical information. 1
and sent him
Bishop Gray, on the other hand, was indignant at the
action of Bishop Tait. Writing to a friend, he refers to
the matter as follows :
"The Bishop of London has been very impertinently address
ing not only all Colonial Bishops, but their clergy, on questions
at issue. He will get well snubbed, for the clergy are very indig
nant, and say that they should have been addressed by the Arch
bishop through their own Bishops. I have sent copies of my
replies to him to the Archbishops, and to S. Oxon., and have
written, in the name of the Synod of the Church, fully and formally
to Lord Carnarvon." 2
A few sentences may be quoted from his formal reply
to Bishop Tait s circular of inquiry :
Your Lordship will, I trust, pardon me for saying that some
dissatisfaction has been expressed to me, chiefly through the
Dean and Archdeacon of another Diocese, at the course adopted
by you with a view to obtain information on matters relating to
the internal condition of this Church. While ready and anxious
to afford any information in their power, the feeling of the clergy
is, that that information should have been sought through His
Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, with whom this Church is
connected, rather than by official communications from the
Bishop of a diocese with which we have no immediate connec
tion ; and that if the views of the clergy of these dioceses were
desired on delicate matters affecting their internal state, they
should have been approached through their Bishops. Colonial
Churches are sensitive on the subject of Church Order, and feel
aggrieved if they are dealt with differently from what one Bishop
"I cannot sufficiently thank your Lordship," wrote the Bishop of
Guiana, "for the interest you are taking
in the Colonial Church. That God
in His goodness may give you strength equal to what is required of you, is
our very sincere prayer."
:
Bishop Gray s Life^ vol. ii. p. 316.