Untitled - Electric Scotland

424 LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP TAIT [CH. xv.
of Holy Communion, I shall not object. If your Lordship does
object to their use I shall express to Mr. Mackonochie my inten
tion to act in conformity with your opinion in this matter."
The Bishop at once saw Mr. Mackonochie, and Mr.
Hubbard s letter is indorsed thus :
"
M. has since agreed
to give up the lights." Three weeks later the Church
warden-founder wrote in renewed distress, that Mr. Mac
konochie had changed his mind as to the lights.
"
His desisting from lighting the candles applied only to the
day following the one on which he wrote. ... I cannot but feel
deeply disappointed
And again
"
at the resolve he has taken."
I have been quite beaten down by the shock which Mr.
. . and I feel much
Mackonochie s decision occasioned me .
uncertainty as to the best course to be taken. I shrink from the
position of having to carry out by compulsion under your Lord
ship s mandate a change which ought
pressure."
not to need such a
The Bishop cordially agreed with Mr. Hubbard in
deprecating any resort to compulsion, and through
disputes that followed, his personal relations with Mr.
Mackonochie continued to be of the most friendly kind.
A correspondence, for example, took place in the summer
all the
of 1863 about a sermon which had been preached by
one of the curates of St. Alban s, and Mr. Mackonochie
again and again thanked the Bishop for his
rupted kindness
as follows :
"
"
uninter
in the matter. The final letter was
The Rev. A. H. Mackonochie to the Bishop of London.
"
ST. ALBAN S CLERGY HOUSE,
June 29, 1863.
"Mv DEAR LORD BISHOP, I found your Lordship s letter
awaiting me when I came home on Saturday night, having been