Untitled - Electric Scotland

392 LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP TAIT [CH. xiv.
to the opinion expressed in the letter addressed by the Bishop of
Oxford and myself to Mr. Butler, that there is nothing in Dr.
Colenso s legal position to prevent the election of a Bishop to
preside over them, by those of our communion in South Africa
who, with myself, hold him to have been canonically deposed
from his. spiritual office. Believe me, my dear Lord, yours
sincerely,
C. T. CANTUAR."
Disappointed in his endeavour to obtain the support of
the Home Episcopate, Bishop Gray fell back upon the
Lower House of Convocation, where he had good ground
for expecting more encouragement. After two days of
vigorous debate, the Lower House, on February 20, 1868,
passed a long resolution accepting as valid both the
deposition and excommunication of Bishop Colenso, and
praying for a synodical declaration from the Upper House
to the like effect. 1 On the following day Bishop Wilber-
force, who was now less certain than formerly as to the
validity of what had been done, moved that the Upper
House should postpone taking any action in answer to the
prayer, and, while thanking the members of the Lower
use for the zeal exhibited in their protest against false
teaching, should appoint
a Committee to consider the
whole subject To the general surprise this resolution 2 was
seconded by Bishop Tait:
in admiring, if I may
"
I join most heartily, he said,
"
venture to say so, the unselfish courage and devotedness which
the Bishop of Capetown has shown in this matter. I am sure
that he has acted throughout under a deep sense of his duty, as
a Christian man should, and has shown an example
in not
swerving from that duty which is worthy of all praise ; but I have
ventured at various times to express an opinion that I cannot
approve of many of the individual acts to which he has con
sidered that his duty required him to have recourse in the very
1 For the words of this artictdus cleri see Chronicle of Convocation, Feb.
20, 1868, p. 1275-6.
2 See Chronicle of Convocation, Feb. 21, 1868, p. 1296.