Untitled - Electric Scotland

460 LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP TAIT [CH. xvi.
The Rev. - - to the Bislwp of London.
"Mv LORD,- -The Mother and Sisters of -
Sept. 1867.
being equally
if not more interested than myself in the conditions proposed by
your Lordship, as those under which you would be pleased to
sanction my acceptance of the chaplaincy of their House, 1
communicated to them your Lordship s letter. As regards
myself, I feel I could not undertake to minister to them or to
any other in my priestly office under restrictions not contained in
the office itself. In accepting the chaplaincy under the condi
tions proposed, I should also find myself in regard to the Sisters
in the following strange position, namely, that instead of being
able as their Chaplain to do more, I should in fact be restricted
to do less for them than any other Priest not their Chaplain could
do; whilst I myself should be able to do more for any persons
not inmates of - who might apply to me, than I should
be able to do for the Sisters, who would be sure to require from
me the exercise of every possible function of the Priesthood. 1
think I may also say for them that they would be as unwilling to
receive a Chaplain under the conditions proposed, as I should
be to accept of the Chaplaincy. I think I may also include them
with myself in expressing a hope that on consideration your
Lordship will be pleased not to insist upon the proposed con
ditions. I have the honour to be your Lordship s very obedient
sen-ant,
" MY
The. Bishop of London to the Rev.
-."
"WOODSIDE, WINDSOR FOREST,
5/7* Sept. 1867.
DEAR SIR, I am obliged, in answer to your letter of the
3d, this day received, to say that I cannot sanction the practices
which I understand you to wish to introduce amongst the Sisters
of , viz., the urging on them the duty of habitual con
fession and the administering to them of vows. Both practices
I consider to be quite alien to the spirit of the Church of Eng
land, and it is at least doubtful whether the latter of the two is
not in violation of the law of the land. Great care has been
taken by the law of the land to guard the administration of oaths,