Untitled - Electric Scotland

1863-67]
"FATHER IGNATIUS" 503
with the so-called Order of St. Benedict, under Mr.
Lyne s governance. A small monastic house was estab
lished, first at Norwich, and then at Laleham, near
Staines ; and the extraordinary behaviour of its inmates
brought upon the Bishop a series of appeals, both from
High and Low Churchmen, that he would inhibit Mr.
Lyne from officiating or preaching in the diocese. The
Bishop however declined to do so, and Mr. Lyne preached
immense con
in more than one London church, drawing
gregations, especially to his week-day addresses in St.
Edmund s, Lombard Street, when the street was blocked
by the crowds who vainly tried to get into the church.
The Bishop remonstrated again and again with him for
the extravagance of his proceedings, and repeatedly de
clined to admit him to Priest s Orders, or to give him any
general licence. In one of his letters to Mr. Lyne the
Bishop says :-
"
Independently of the rules I have mentioned [as
to the need
of a University degree and other certificates] there are further
difficulties in your case. I have always intimated that, consider
ing the strange things which you did, and the book of devotion
which you issued in the Diocese of Norwich, I could not entertain
the idea of your being accepted as a candidate in my diocese till
I was satisfied that you had publicly retracted the book in ques
tion, and were resolved not again to encourage the practices
which disturbed the Diocese of Norwich. ... I have no reason
to suppose that if you were in Priest s Orders to-morrow you
would not follow the same course which you pursued at Norwich,
and indeed reports have reached me as to what is going on in a
house under your direction [at Laleham], that make me very
anxious as to what you are doing in my own diocese. From
these considerations I mention no others you will see that it
is impossible for me to accede to the request contained in
your letter. I must urge upon you the duty of conforming to
the rules of the Church in which God s providence has placed
you. That God has given you powers whereby you are able
greatly to influence those whom you address in your pastoral