Untitled - Electric Scotland

386 LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP TAIT [CH. xiv.
"2. If you are not acting on the authority of the law officers
of the Crown, has a legal opinion been taken justifying the step
you propose ? by whom has it been given ? and what are its
terms ?
express
"
3. When and where is it proposed that the consecration is
to take place, and who are to be the officiating Bishops ?
"
But neither Parliament nor Convocation is in session ; and,
as it seems there is no time to lose, I take the only means open
to me for asking you, before you proceed further in this matter, to
give a public answer to these questions. It was only last week that
I learnt accidentally, but from the most undoubted authority,
that you proposed to hold the consecration on the 25th inst,
and in Scotland. A vigorous protest against this proceeding has
been made by persons who are among the most attached members
of the Scottish Episcopal Church. The Scottish plan is, I now
learn, abandoned ; and it is stated that, on Saturday next, you
propose to consecrate in England.
"
Meanwhile your brother Bishops in England may well be
thrown into perplexity. We know not in which of our dioceses
an act, which, to say the least, is of most doubtful legality, is to
take place. We may read in the newspapers any morning that
the thing has been already done ; and we may be left in the
disagreeable position of being called upon by others, as well as
moved by our sense of public duty, to visit some of our clergy for
taking part in proceedings contrary to the law of the Church and
realm ; when, had we been properly informed beforehand, and
the matter formally investigated, we might have prevented them
from committing themselves.
"
I am sure you will see, my dear Lord, that the Church of
England is entitled to a plain and immediate answer to the
I have asked.
questions
" You remember, from your recent presence at the Lambeth
Conference
"
i. That the assembled Bishops, under the direction of the
Archbishop of Canterbury, deliberately abstained from affirming
that Bishop Colenso s deposition was valid, either spiritually or
in any other way.
"
2. That at the adjourned meeting of the Conference the
Report of the Committee recommending the consecration of a
new Bishop, was, by the wish of the Archbishop of Canter
bury, as well as of the Bishops of Lincoln, Ely, Chester,