Untitled - Electric Scotland

402 LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP TAIT [CH. xv.
to any alteration in any part of the Book of Common Prayer,
without the full concurrence of Convocation. I could not, how
ever, concur in giving countenance to the extreme ritualism that
has been adopted in some churches. I cannot but feel that
those who have violated a compromise and settlement which has
existed for three hundred years, and are introducing vestments
and ceremonies of very doubtful legality, are really, though I am
sure quite unconsciously, doing the work of the worst enemies of
the Church. ... I confess I have witnessed with feelings of
deep sorrow the tone of defiance with which the recently intro
duced practices have in some instances been supported. I fear
that such advocates know not w rhat spirit they are of, and I would
fain hope that they may still learn to adopt something more of
Christian moderation and Christian humility, that, with S. Paul,
they may be ready to acknowledge that there are many things
which may be lawful and yet not expedient, and that they may be
more ready to lend a willing ear to the pastoral and paternal
counsels of those who are set over them in the Lord."
Convocation was to meet in a few days, and it was
evident that the thorny Ritual problem would at last be
handled in the proper quarter. In a clear and weighty
speech, the Dean of Ely, Dr. Harvey Goodwin, introduced,
on February 8, 1866, a series of resolutions upon the subject,
and, at the request of Archdeacon Denison, a Committee
of the Lower House was appointed the first of its kind-
to consider and report upon
"
such measures as may seem
fit for clearing the doubts and allaying the anxieties
which copious allusion had been made. In the course of the
discussion which, in the Upper House, preceded the appoint
ment of the Committee, Bishop Tait spoke as follows :-
"
Of course we naturally view these subjects from different
standpoints. The Church of England is very wide, embracing
persons of very various opinions within the limits of our common
faith, and the Episcopal Bench would not be a true representa
tion of the Church, if within our own body there was not that
variance of sentiment in minor matters which exists in the
Church itself. But there are limits beyond which the practices
"
to