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* 4-

— ► 4

A CHARGE TO THE CLERGY

OI» THl

mi^\ 0f c#Mil^ri4tmt,

JOHN,

BisHoi' Ok Frbdbricton and Mbtrofolitan of Canaua,

AT HIS

TRIENNIAL VISITATION, ST. PETER'S DAY, 1886.

||ublisht(t bji rtqutst of the ^Mh ^<^csent.

SAINT JOHN, N. B.

ELLIS, ROBERTSON & CO. — "GLOBE" PRESS.

i886.

/<^^ ^'7 » 3

'^J'io]

A CIIAKGE

Delivbkro in Tkinitv CiirKtin, St, John,

fo Ihe 4^eniij of the jjiocefic of Jredeiidon;

JOHN,

UlSlKiC OK L'kEDERICTON AND MeTKOI-DLITAN UK C'ANAtIA,

AT HIS

TRIENNIAL VISITATION, ST. PETER'S DAY, 18SG.

^jublishrtl bn request of thf mcrqii present.

SAINT JOHN, N. B.

KLLIS, ROBERTSON & CO. — "GLOBE" PRESS.
1886.

CHARGE TO TILE CLERGY.

HkVKUKNTi AM) DkaU UltKTIIUKN' :

l'MN'(i |uriiiitt(il liy tlu' nuTcv <»t" (Jod to aildri'ss joii oncf
iiinn' on a trii'iniial visitation, it in my pli-asiiri' as wrll as my
duty to Hpi'ak to you as ono who is "Savod l»y Hope." It
would Itf idli' to atti-mpt to conceal from you our difficulties,
1»ut it Is (»n every account desinililc to take the most ho|»et'iil view of
our i)osition. If we were a very rich I'hurcli, in tinu's of ixroat
worldly jtrusperity, I could not have the same liope. Or, if we were
Hirivinj; to make the Church a clerical chih, from which the laity
Wi're rigidly exchuh'il, to the supjiort of whicli tliey contril)Uted
iie'tl.i'r money, nor intliu'uce, nor time, nor diliijence, nor p.atience,
I. .r Mi'.iyer, 1 sliould Iiave l»iit littk' hopi'; or if we we were so mis-
iUided as to throw ail our weight into the iipholdinj^ one jiolitii-al
|.aity. I should have less hope. For the Church was never founded
l>y a party in the State. It never t'lrove on ]»olitic.s, and it was
never in a less hopeful condition than when its richest benefices were
the ill-earned reward of active and unscrupulous political parti/.ans,
My hope for the Church in Cana<la, of which we are nu'tuhers and
nunisters, is not that we are so numerous as to c(»nlrol tlu- State;
nor that we are so ricli as to dispense with the contributions of our
members; l)ut that, being (as without arroij.'mce we may consider
ourselves) a branch of that Church which came to us from the ages
))ast, which no storms of ]tersecution have destroyed, .and none of
the manifold changes of the world have shaken, we still hope to
hand down to our children the truth of (4od which is indestructible;
and though comi)aratively p(K»r, we labor to make many rich, "con-
tent with such things as Ave have," and seeking the good will mid
the assist.ance of all our Brethren. Tt is hopeful, therefore, to look
back liftv years, and see what the resources of the Church were then
and Avhat they are now ; what the number of our communicants was
then and what they are uoav; what the contribution.^ of the laity
were then and what they are now ; what the number of our clergy
and the frecpiency of our services was then and what they are iu)w;
what the ai)j)earance of our Church was thou and what it is now. It

3 S'^O)

Charge to the Ckryy of the iHocete of Fre<hrictnti.

JM ph'.'iMiint to litiil that wf arr not (l('S|iainii'^' iM'caiisc thi- irrant of
i,"{,'>(»(( MtiTiiiij,', from liotiu', lias \)vv\\ rnlui-c"! to t'|,'jr»(l, a'nl will l»«'
rt'fluccd Mtill fiirthor, iiiul that 'vi» nre hiiu-iiig uj> our ciii'rgii'H to
nu't't and ovorconu' tlu' <lit!lcultv.

It Ih pIcaMant to timl so imu'li interest tfi'm-nilly tak<ti in tlic
Suiidav Sc|i(M»Is, and in incrcasin'' the kiiowlcdir*' <»t' the niliir and
ol" the Clitu'cli, ainoni,' thosi' who ti-ach in Sunday Schools, tlioui,di
our ri'turns from tlif cU'rixy !>'"«' iK't yi-t coinitlctc. Oin- t-xaniinations
for holy ordt'rn are more Ktrii't, and (»tn' cU'rjjiy have nfci'KK to theo-
logical liltrarics in their wveral dean*'rics. Altove all it is a ground
of h< |M' when we timl tin- ch-rgy rising to a higher standard of
knowledgi' and of duty, rccognizitig the Idessmg (»f ujore constant
prayer, inort^ frecpii nt coinniuiiion, and _ivinir more oppurtutiities to
th»'ir flocks to unite with them in the blessed and heaveidy work of
prayer and praise.

It is «lelightful to find that this is done with the zeah)us and
active concurreiKH' of tlu-ir lay iirethren, who seldom fail to respond
to the joyful invitation, and turn the feast days of the Church into
oeeasionH of earnest intercessions, abundant alms giving, attentive
lieai'ug, spiritual conununion, and heartfelt thanksgiving to (Jod.
In su.'h services it has been my jdeasure to mingle, and as long as I
have strength, my countenance and support will never he wanting to
them. Xoi- ought I to lie hackwanl to acknowledge the active and
energetic assistance which has been Lciven by the IJishop Coadjutor
to every (tbject that I have name»l, many which would have failed to
receive due su)>port by jthysical inability on my ]»art to perform all
tlie increasing work of the Diocese. Such are some of the grounds
of my hope; but it would not be a true statemiMit were I to disguise
the magnitude of the task which lies before us.

The financial ])rosperity of our Church is owing in a great nu'.'isure
to the active and unpaid support of om- laity. To their assistance
we owe its present condition, and we look to them for continue<l
and increased care and diligence. Ibit there is no reasonable doubt
that our subscri|»ti(jn-lists ilo not manifest anv ;.;eneral amount of
self-denial. They might be doubled in many instances without
hardship. At the same time it is gratifying to see that larger dona-
tions come from missions which have less ability to give than they
bad many years ago, ami that for the most jiart the assessment which
is imposed as a necessity is cheerfully and ungruilgingly jiaid. We

f'/iftff/i! to the Clerfft/ of thf JJincesa of Fn«fericton.

!ook fiir\v:ir<I with liojic in tiii- tiiiif ulu'ii, \i\ \\\o iiicr<';iM«'il Miiitimft
jjiviii tn our hiiiftsiiii (Imrfli Smitt v, tin' Lti'iiti;il iiitt'n'<t taken l>v
vwry liiyitiiiti in his own piirish iuul uiiHHion, ami th«' aiil ot' tniDlciato
fiidoMincntN, HriMinir from liiiii'fMttionm of tht* llviiij^, or the iK'tjui'stK
of thosi' wlio art' ralh'tl to ixivr ai'i-oiint of thfir Mti'wanlship, wf may
Id'conic with iin«|iialitifi| satinfaction to ourMi'lvrM an<l to othfrs an
i-ntiri'ly sclf-snstainiii'i Chnrch.

Hut I ^hidlv turn to that ailvicf whi.-h it i«t rnv <liitv to jrivf vuu
ii« a hody of clrrLry wliom (ioil has jfivt'n info my n\rv. W«> tnunt
thankfully a< kiiowlftls."' that we an* M|iariM| the trials which fell U|ion
tin- fliTiry in fornnT tinifs. JJut your IJishop is, [ ho|n', tin' last
man wh<» would underrate or fail to sym|iatlii/e with the trials of
the elerv'y '" '*'"" *»>*" ''">' ; y«'t |K'rha|is thesmallness and uneertaiiitv
<»f elcrieal ineomes is not th<' i^reatest of the trials of a priest. Krom
one serious troui>Ie, the expense of outfit wln-n he enters on the
Work of a mission, the missionary is to a eertain extent releas«'d, or
at all events he is i;reatl\ assisted, l»y the loan of ftJoO ma<'<' Ity the
<'liureh Society without interest, to l»e repaid in niodera.e sums.
With (K'casional donations uranted hy loving parishi<iners, and due
<are and forethoULrht, u fleriiytmin, if he ho prudent, may keep out
of deht. IJut (iidy if lie he prudent. Those who en<,'a<;e in earlv
marriaixes JK'fore they have earned anythini; for their own support,
and those who induJLce in unnecessary expens;'S, cannot, ot. our
limited incomes, keep out of debt. And (U-hl is demoraiiziui^ as well
as (h'pressint;. It is sure to lead to horrowinur, and Itorrowint; often
supposes heavy interest, and interest supposes shifts and contrivances
and all manner of uncoiufortahle practices, a dotihtful morality and
a heavy heart. To the y<tun<j;er cler«,'y I unlu'sitatiii<,'ly say, it is
your <lutv nctt to marry until from your own iiu'ome vou have laid
by somethini; towards the maintenance of you- liousehold and the
comfort of those who reasonahly look to yon for support. For the
greater jiart of those who begin life in tlebt carry it on to the end,
and harass their own minds and the minds of others by want of
prudence at an early period. JJut after all, is not the greatest trial
of a clergyman's life in himself? We \vho are calU'd by the Chun-h
to the office and work of jtriests in the Church of God, who do not
shrink from the awful responsibility of tlie message committed by
our Lord to His Apostles, and tlirotigh them conveyed to us, had
need often to jtonder in our liearts the words which no subtlety of

Chart/t imill CUrf/if of tht Diottt^. of Ftah rirton.

reMoniii^ t-aii t'X|>lain iiwiiy : *' Kcrcivc thf IlulyCthimt f«»r the ottifi*
ami >*«»rk of a \mvn\ in th«' Chiireh of (hm|." Wr know ihiit tlu-y
,\rv tlu' LonPn own words, whu-ii thi' C'lmnli wnvn Ikthiihc the) an*
HIh, ami hfcaiiHr ihc promiitc iit^ivrn iiHof Hit* pri'Mfiu-f with tiM *'mII
•Imvh, cvt'ii to til" rMilof tin- w.tihl." Wf kiinwtliiit not tin- ItUlioj),
l.'ut tli«> IlinliopV Lii.-il aitil M.'Mtcr, cnti iilonc li«'»tu\v thi« or any
utlu-r Mjiiritual <,'it't. \Vi' liriow that iIiIm \h txivon l>y tlu' rliannrl of
n human itiHtrumrnt, ht'cauM* it pIcaMcH Him to work hy hiinu.ii
liu'iinH, an<l ttt i-mploy "i'artlu-n vi'mwIk." W'v know that fh»' j^ift
Vt'hich thi> LonI lichtowM to ri-mlcr oiu minis. I'v valiti, ar.d IIi»«
KacrMmcutN ctft'ctuai nicatiH of ;;;ra('c, in not to Iii' confoiunhMl with
tlu- |tt'r>ton-il Nam-titiration of tin- priiKt, wliich mn.«t Itr nunirlit for
hy him MM it in Hou<{ht for hy I'vcry C'hrihtian — l»y humlih- an<l om-
Htatit prayer anil diligent tiHc of all the meauHof ^q-aee. Itut, on tiu>
other hami, he tt» whom the Cliurch «ay», " Heet'ive," 'nuMt ltelie\i»
that the I'hi'.reh has wlnrewilhal to u'ive An<l ilia this i;ifl is t!ie
^ift of the l!oly (iho.Ht fur the effectual <lisehar},'e of our ministra-
ti> iiM is eviileiit, for from the Spirit of (io<I "every .!4<mm| an<l perfeet
j^ift" proeeeilK, ainl sun'ly that jfift which is hestoweil on uh "for
the perfecliiijj; of the saints ami the work of the ministry." When
we have ourselves desired this olli-e, when tlii' Cliureh, after
due examination, has !iestoWi'<l it upon us, when the Churih calls ns
jtriests and our onler a priesthood, it were an act <»f injj,ratitude and
of cowardice to !);• ash:inied id' the name when we use the otiice.
Xono of us taketh this "honor \into himself hut he that was called
of (lod, as was Aaron," and yel Aaron's priesthood was disputed.
Aaron himself was "compassed with iiitinnity." "The p«'(vple niadi'
the calf, ic/iich ^iaron rnitdi.^'' And, in that Lfreat miracle, when
water issued from the rock in Kadesh, Aaron shared in the uid)elief
which led to the exclusion of hoth Closes and Aaron from the promised
lan<l. If our ju'iesthood be not the sacriticini; of hulls and of jroats
it is none the less a real priestho(»<l, hecause the Lord .Fesus Christ
confers it Jipon us, Aaron's was a typical pluiesthood. Ours comes
from the (ireat Ili^h Priest in heaven, wh() says to us, "As my
Fatiier hath sent mc, even so I send you." IJut does this ijjift make
us arro«j;ant y Does it not rather humble us in the dust":' The more
our priesthood is coniu'cted with the Word of Ilim who cannot lie,
the higher it is above the ancient sacritices of the 3Iosaic rites, the
more true and real and awful it becomes, and the more holy we

Chiirifr to the Cle tjy of thu Dioctm: of Fnihrictitn.

nityl.: to III'. It' itiir nrtiif lu- far iiolili-r than tlu' hin- of tin- |ifii|iU'
fur a iiiorM I of Itri'iul ; if wc Hcck to iiIi-mnc <iiMl latlici* Mian man; if
Wi' iiwiiit th«' jinlj/mciit «»f our ^lal't^'r, whom' wonl " |»i»T»'«'H \\n vwu
to thi' tlivi«lini; of hoiiI i.nil Mpirit, at»«l "liHrovi'rii'j.* thf thonyhtH ami
intt'UtH <»f thi' I. fail," what mainur i»»' pcrHons oiij;ht \vt' to Ik-?
What intt'u'rity, what «lili<,'«'ncc. what faithfllIn^'^M, what Ht'iiouM
stu<ly, wliat nol.l«in.f.H of |»ui'|iom', what h!,»alt) to thr Chiircii, what
«l|j*ort'»ion, what iK'ailiu'NH to thi' worjil, what wt'i}.i;hiii>x of th«' Scrip-
tiirt', what "rijH'ni'NH ami |m rffttrn'ss" of -ij^t" in ('liii!*t, what
watthfuIn«'HM in tT, .vhat |>ati«m'c' ami hifriility, what <'oiiraj(t'

ami >tia<lfaHtm';''' hat can' f'»r cviry ^olll ciniriiittcfl to tmr i\\\\v<iv
wiionhl \sv ••on'in.i. illy show. Siin-ly llM-tiim-of a l{i.«*lio|i's \ isitation
nIii!u1<1 Ik' a tinu' of < Iono rt'i'l4'»iiiii<; with ourNj'lvt'H ' How im|MTtVctlv
havi' Wf fn'.lil' ! our inii.istryl What mjiurii-uniin^is an- ihtit in all
our Hi-rviii'Ml la li-o forty-xt'conil y»'ar of niy K|»i^«•^•|>att•, no Icsh
than fifty of tlic fit riry liavi- lnun rallfil to tlii-ir •. , mt. As I ( /i>,t
my t'yi' Hon-owfiiily over tliis mimlirr, ami w- i. .»•; at (i.iil's sparing'
nu'H'y to inyst'If, I sliiKiili'i- at tiu' tliou;;Iit tliat I may prove wanting'
in that /t'al, «t»ailfastni'SM, t'ouram- ami liiimility wliicli niakf nn' an
oxainplf to you wlio still remain ainori<;st us.

*' The j>vici<t''s lijtH shtiiild knp knoir/cff(/i\^^ Kanu'stnt'ss ami
intt-urity of pu/posc aiv ifroat jxifts, Init t.. " present critical
iv^v «lemamls more of us. The l<no\>Ie«li;e wliicli the priest's
lips slutuld dispense is of wider r!ii.i,'e, !'i:d of various Ivimls.
In former days, poor and ignorant peopU' t.<iilv for granted
all that their pastor .said, and made no fiivtlier in<niiry. Ih- must
know what was riulu. They were simple and coiitidinL;-. That
was enoU!j;li. l>iit it is not so now. Kverythin;j: is cilled in
({Ui'Htion, .'ind tlie wliole world is turiu'd loose to iucjuire, to .auritate,
to debate, to applaud or to condemn. Wliat chance lias tiie s ,np!«
niimleil ck-n.^niau wlio merely reads his cliapttr witliout thought,
and performs Ids oftice witlnn.; l<no\vin<j: the liistory of the Praver
l>')olv and wli.it is essential to a riiflit understaiidiiii; of it? TIh'
priest's know Ii'dj^e sliould above .all be liiltle knowled^'e, for tliis is
the piiint in which so many of his hearers :»re <leficient, and this
involves consttint l.'ibor antl the most diligent in(iuir_y. It is easy to
select scnijis of the EuLjlisli version and (iu:)te them autlioritat"- ely
on all occasions. Uiit if we consider how the Bible is coiistriicted,
wluit kiu>vvledge is recjuired of history, of the <jraduai education uf

Chnr(/e to the Clergy of the Diocese of F>'e(leri<-t(>ii.

inaiikii ., of succcssivt' cnis of ])i'<iLiTC'ss, ot' tin- Lcvitifal ritiiiil, ut'
the t'lilliliiifiit of |>r()|ihccy in the l)irth Mini ministry of J«'siist Christ,
of the fouiuhitioii, laws and in-ooross of the Christiaii C'liiirch. of the
(U'V('lo|iiiU'iit of Christian doctrini' in th;- letters of the Apostles, of
the hist<iry of the Jewish nation since the destrnction of the 'rcinple,
we ninst see that no small task lies hefori' ns.

The pHettCn lq>s ttlnndd kii'jy kiioii'ledyi ! How eanfiil >liou!il
Wf lie that in answering' the ol»je( tions of the scoffer we (Ik not insist
on unwise and traditional interpretations of Holy Scripture whicli
the text does not contain. How sparinyshouM we he of atteniptini"-
to lav down a scheme <if future events instead of statini;' clearlv
the fultihnent of the past. What deep knowiedo-e is reipiired in
e.vplaininy the history and unfoldinu,' the nieanint; of these ancient
creeds, whose ro<»t is in the Scri|>ture, whose accui'acy of (h'iinition
was obtained hy men deeply learned in l>il»le truth, who were not
only defenders of the faith, hut sulYerei's on account of their main-
tenance of it. Nor is the knowle(lu,e of the foundation and progress
of the Church less necessary when oui' portion in the Catholic faith
is denied l>y some, ;ind the continuance of the Church hotli hefore
and after the Reformation is set at nounht hy othei-s. H.appily, the
greater the ditliculty of ac(|uirini;' such knowledge tlu> more almiid-
antly are we supplied with commentators of orthodox jirinciples and
extensive learning. .\nd every year hooks nuiltiply on us which
illustrate some sep;ir:iti' ]iortion of Holy Writ, and throw light on
its acknowletlgcd ditticulties. Among our numerous heni'factors of
this kind must he specially enshrined in our rememhrunce the
honored name of tlic late veneraliK' Bishop of Lincoln, whose deej)
and extensive knowledge of the Holy .Scrijituri's and of the works of
the primitive fathers, and whose unswerving loyalty to the Church
is a safi' guide to studious clergy; whilst his unsparing lilierality has
enabled us to enjoy the benefit of his labdi's at one-half the price
which we should otlierwise have jiaid. Such knowledge' is indeed a
possession forever, a treasure which in this new country we could
not otherwise secure, for which no gratitude of ours can be too
great, no love can be too fervent.

I am A'erv unwilling; to detain vou lonox-r, but vou will not tiiink
me tedious if I add a few words of advice on some important points.
First, on the duty of those in whose hamls the ])Ower of electing
rectors to j)arislies is vested, and on the duty of the clergy in resjiect

Charge to the (JUriiy of the Diocese of Fredericton,

of ti'stiiiionials which tliey Ljivc to |K>rson.s who are (k-sirous of
obtnininj; a bt'iieficc. The \\\\v a]>i»ear.s to im])ose cheeks on ..II the
parties who are interested in this important matter. Tlie hiity have
a hirije ]»ower entrusted to them, and the law very ])roperly provides
that it should not l»e autocratic and absolutely hcyond control. The
])ersonseIecti'd must he in priest's orders, witliout which they cannot,
aecordinuf to the rites of the Church of Eni-land, administer IIolv
Conmiunioii in the Church, or in the chamber of the sick and dying;
and they must have the Bishop's license, which is a security to the
laity that the Bishop has obtained i)roj»er and sufticient testimonials
from those who :u'e coinjietcnt to give them, of soberness, ]iiety, and
honesty ; and this during jiersonal acipiaintance for a period of three
years. Similar testimoiuals are required by the heads of res]iec,table
firms before they will admit a young man into their em))loyment.
A check is likewise imjiosed on the clergy. For if they give careless
testimonials out of mere good nature (as it is termed), they wilfully
imi)Ose u])on the Bisho]», and testify to what they might know on
enquiry to be untrue, and that by a most solemn attestation to Avhich
in writing they have voluntarily set their hands A check is also
impeded upon the IVishoj). For if he institute and issue liis mandate
for induction without sufficient testimonials from the clerirv, in
respect of personal kjiowledge for the recpiired time, and from the
Bishop of another Diocese (if the person to be elected come from
another), then he violates the order of the Church, injures the clergy
and laity who are placed under his protection, and subjects himself
to ecclesiastical censure. And the laity are ecpially wrong if they
persist in electing a ]>erson who is not in ])riest's orders, or who
has no testimonials or insufficient testimonials. And they are light-
ing against their own interests, for testimonials are required as their
security again'^'t the intrusion of unfit persons. And it is not
unreasonable to suppose that the Bishop, who has familiar intercourse
Avith the clergy, may have opportiuuties of knowing which the laity
have not. And it is most desirable on all accounts that the laity
and the liishoj) should be satisfied as to the election.

/Secondly — on Confirmation. It is no doubt a great benefit to
l)arishes to have this holy rite administered frequently. But it
should Tiot be overlooked that there is as much if not more need for
watchfulness after Confirmation is over than during th^i preparation
for it. The minds of the young are open to every kind of impression.

tliitrge to the Clergy of the Diocese of Frederkton.

and wlicii tln' lii'st lit nt' canu'stiu'ss lias s|)«'iit itself, if the nricst ho
lutt wati'lifiil tt) htrt'iiu'tlu'ii tilt' pKi'l iiiiiti'('s?<i(tii whicli was iiia<l»',
there may l»e a s|iei'(ly tU'cleiision from tlie promise of early |ii<'ty,
or ii disposition to seek assistaiiee clsewhert'. For this reason IJilde
ehisses or Coiiimunieants' classes are ueede 1 after Contir.iiation ; and
the clerny must not suppose that their work is emled when there are
no more to l»e confirmed at that special time. The younu' i'<'(|niro
clear and iletinite teaching', lessons of reverence in rcLi'aril to the
servici' of Holy Coiinnunion, whicli, if they do not 'j.v\ from ns, tlu-y
will learn nowhere else. AVe must not take it for ii'rante*! that they
ha\c all they oni,dit to know on such matters. It is highly ]iroliaMo
that no delinite instruction Inis ever been li'iven them hv their
parents on the fundamental ilorti'ines of their religion.

Next, 1 would sjieak on the Marriaj^e Ser\:ce. I know of no
inoru solemn rite in the whole Prayer Book than this. The symbol-
ism of the rite taui>ht us by St. Paul ; the solemn a])])ea] to "the
dreadful day of judirment, when the secrets of all hearts shall be
revealed;" the certainty that "those who ai'e coupled tonether
otherwise tlian God's Word doth allow are not joined tou'ether by
God," and even if their matrimony be legal, it is not in (Jod's sight
lawful; the solemn espousal "till death do us jiart;" .lie three-fold
blessing; the prayer that they may "live together in holy love unto
their lives' end" — these re[)eated cautions and warnings and
blessings invest this rite with a signiticance and seriousness unsur-
jtassed. And yet, where is there a rite more irreverently handled ?
I do not si)eak of the baser sin that is sometimes committe<l before
marriage, but of the frivolousness with which n-.atrimoiiy is under-
taken. The absence of religious feeling, especially of religious unity;
legality made the sole measure of lawfulness; the money-making

business which often forms the chief desire for union ; the hasty
])erforming of the rite in a house, where the prayers seem unsuitable,
the blessings UJiHt, wliere the whole wish is to make the service ns
short as i)ossible; or if it be fashionable to go to Church, the crowd
of Irreverent uazers, bent on nothing but criticism on the dress of
those who are appealing to God for His sanction and His blessing —
when all these signs of frivolity are manifest, who can won<ler that
the rules and prohibitions of the Church are trami)led luider foot?
that bonds so lightly made are as lightly regarded, and that in a
neighboring country (as i ^ated on liigh authority) one in ten of every

Chan/e to the Clergy of the Diocese of Fredericton, 1 1

f.'iiiiily is said to have liad a divorce, and in some cases two or lliroc
divorces; so that njutual rospcct and family love liavc been Itrokcn
np again and again. What kind of children innst such disunions
produce? A heathen ))oet who lived in a loose age will tell us —

-(■Etas i)arentuiH. pejor avis, tulit
Xos noiiuiores niox daturoos
rrogcniem villosiorcm.

I thank God we have not got so low as this. But we should fear
lest one step further should lead us to a point from which we eainiot
go back.

The clergy, then, will do well to refuse to sanction unions ])ro-
hibited by their own Church laws uid to exhort and jjersuade their
jiarishioners to have marriages celebrated in the most reverent way ;
and further, which is probably the more difticult task, to persuade
them not to contract marriages where there is no bond of religious
union, more especially where it is almost certain that the validity of
our orders and Holy Sa'-raments will be denied. Or, they will have
to submit to being re-baptized, rc-confirraed, and then deprived, as
they most richly deserve, of one essential part of the IToly Sacrament
of the Lord's boi-y and blood. If you think highly of holy matrimony
you will endeavor to counteract such evils as opi)ortunity may be
afforded you.

It only remains for me now to thank you for the many marks of
your respect and confidence which have been shown to me on sevv'r.il
occasions. A Bishop can only be useful when he acts, not as an
autocrat over his clergy, but as their fellow-laborer, in concert with
them in the duties of their common calling; and in the exercise of
his ministry, the Church of God from the earliest dayr, has eommitted
to his care functions in which priests take a subordinate ])art. The
cleigy will readily acknowledge that these spiritual powers have been
entrusted to him for the strength and protection of the whole body
of the faithful, according to the wise rules which the Church herself
imposes.

A Bishop is as much restrained as a priest in matters of the
highest moment by the creeds which are the bulwarks of our faith,
and by the d( Inite and clear interpretation of Holy 8criptures,whicli
our oflices severally contain. As long as we abide by these land-
marks there must be a substantial and visible union amongst us,
greater than the mere opinions of any single member or officer of the

Charcje to tlic ( 'kripj of the JJiocese of Fredericton.

Church. It were to be desirc-il thiit wo sliotihl see eye to eve in all
things; :iml tliat there should he no ilivision, eveu of opinion, but
that we sl'ouM be " perfei'tly joined together in the same mind and
in the sanu! judgment." lUit as this is not to bo expeelc-d, and some
j)oi.;tH, eillier of ritual or of speculative theology, will probably
always remain o])en to discussion, our best security is that charitalilc
construction of the actions and motives of others which each man
unquestionably desires to be practised towards himself. In theso
respects the Ciiurch of England occu|»ies the i)eculiar position of
being more tolerant and comprehensive than any other religious body
with which we are accpiainted ; and while there is a considerable
di ersity as to the means by which reverence is promoted, the Church
inllexiblv holds fast to primitive d;)ctrino, pritJiitive order, and
itractical i)ietv. So that whilst there has been in the last llftv vcars
a peaceful revolution in matters not absolutely fundamental, and in
the aspect in which certain theological opinions are presented to the
mind, and multitudes see no evil whatever in what they formerly
looked upt)n with <listaste, or even with horror, the Church has not
departed one iota from the fimdamental doctrines of Christianity,
and at the same time she has been everywhere stirred up to greater
a!id more earnest efforts in reclaiming the fallen, in searchinjj: for the
wandering, and in promoting every design which tends to the practice
of reverence and love.

It has ever been my earnest desire and prayer to act on such
princijjlos ; and if in the })rosecution of these I have seemed to any
of you to exceed the bounds of a sober judgment, I trust that you
will understand that I have not acted without much weighing of ilie
subject in all its parts. As Bishop of the Diocese I only claim what
seems to me to be an essential part of the Episcopal office: to mediate
between conflicting oi)inions and to give com])lete toleration and
support to all that may fairly be considered as within the limits of
the Church in the Province of New Brunswick. A narrower line
than this does not commend itself to my judgment; and I am ready
to bear patiently whatever amount of censure may be thrown upon
me for having adopted it. More than this I need not say ; less could
hardly be said by one who has the courage of his convictions, and
who desires to embrace in the circle of his charity and his jnayers
schools of thought which differ and methods of action which vary,
but which are consistent with the hearty love for the ark which con-
tains us all. Brethren, the grace of God be with your spirit. Amen.