Untitled - Electric Scotland

1863-68] CORRESPONDENCE WITH MR. MAURICE 515
an example to other clergymen. My earnest hope and strong
conviction is that many who would have been utterly shaken by
of Natal will feel that
the publication of the book of the Bishop
they have a ground to stand upon, in the Old Testament and in
the Creeds of the Church, which they had supposed was unten
able. I do not mean that the expression of my belief will, in
itself, have that effect ; but that expression, accompanied by an
act which will be some evidence of its sincerity, may lead them to
reflect, and may fix them in the Church far more firmly than they
are fixed now.
"
I know that my kind and dear friend Stanley has a great
dread of the effect which my retirement from Vere St. may pro
duce, though, at the same time, he has given me some good
reasons for thinking that the effect will be very slight.
I cannot,
as I have told him, approve in the least of his suggestion that I
to see what
should announce my intention, and then suspend it,
the Courts will do. Such a proceeding would, it seems to me,
be ignominious, and yet presumptuous ; involving a kind of feeble
threat which the Courts and every Churchman would feel, from a
person in my position, to be ridiculous. It would also destroy the
whole effect of the testimony which I desire to bear on the subject
of Bishop Colenso s book, and which, from our past relations with
each other, I could not bear, if I had had the slightest personal
interest in disclaiming him.
"
But, most of all should I be unwilling to mix your Lord
ship s name in my proceedings, or to let the clergy of your diocese
suppose that you had committed yourself to me more than you have
already committed yourself, by granting me a licence and by not
withdrawing it. I know how much discredit I might bring upon
in the
you by such an association with me, as would be implied
act of your Lordship s desiring me not to resign.
"
Forgive me, my dear Lord, if I commit what I hope will be
a solitary act of disobedience to your authority by refusing to
accept your generous permission to let your letter be made public,
and if I respectfully ask you to put no hindrance in the way of rny
taking a step which I feel in my inmost conscience is right for
myself, and which, I trust in God, will prove to be good for His
Church. I have the honour to be, my dear Lord, very gratefully
and respectfully yours, F. 1). MAURICE."