IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 11 1.0 ^1^ 1^ ^S itt iiii |22 11 £ 1^ 020 ■ 1.8 iiiiiiy4Ki& ^ — ^ 6" '. 1» Qr«i£irirtain tha baat original copy availabia for filming. I^aturaa of thia copy which may ba bibliographicaily uniqua, which may altar any of tha imagaa in tha raproduction, or which may aignificantly changd tha uaual mathod of f liming! ara chackad baiow. D D D D Colourad covara/ Couvartura da coulaur I I Covara damagad/ Couvartura andomrnagte Covara raatorad and/or laminatad/ Couvartura raataurte at/ou pailiculte □ Covar titia miaaing/ La titra da couvartura manqua □ Colourad mapa/ Cartaa g4ographiquas g4ographiquas an coulaur ■d ink (i.a. othar than blua Encra da coulaur {i.a. autra qua blaua ou noira) I I Colourad ink (i.a. othar than blua or black)/ I I Colourad plataa and/or iliuatrationa/ D Planchaa at/ou iliuatrationa an coulaur Bound with othar matarial/ Rali6 avac d'autraa documanta Tignt binding may cauaa ahadowa or diatortion atong intarior margin/ Lar« liura aari4a paut cauaar da I'ombra ou da la diatortion la long da la marga int4riaura Blank laavaa addad during raatoration may appaar within tha taxt. Whanavar poaaibia, thaaa iMva baan omittad from filming/ II aa paut qua cartainaa pagaa Manchaa aJoutAaa lora d'una raatnuradon apparaia a a n t dana la taxtar mala, loraqua oala 4tait poaaibia, caa pagaa n'ont paa Ati film4aa. Additional eommanta:/ Commantairaa auppMmantairaa: L'Inatltut a microfilm^ la maillaur axamplaira qu'il lui a At* possibia da ae procurar. Laa ditaiia da cat axamplaira qui aont paut-Atra uniquaa du point da vua bibltographiqua, qui pauvant modifiar una imaga raproduita, ou qui pauvant axigar una modification dana la mithoda normala da fllmaga aont indiquAa ci-daaaoua. D D D E D D D D D Colourad pagaa/ Pagaa da coulaur Pagaa damagad/ Pagaa andommagtea Pagaa raatorad and/or laminatad/ Pagaa raatauriaa at/ou palliculAaa Pagaa diacolourad, atalnad or foxad/ Pagaa dAcoioriaa. tachatAaa ou piquAaa Pagaa datachad/ Pagaa ditachAaa Showthrough/ Tranaparanca Quality of print varias/ QualitA InAgala da I'lmpraaaion Includaa aupplamantary matarial/ Comprand du material aupplAmantaira Only adMon avaHabla/ Saula MMcn ^laponlbla Pagaa wholly or pcrtialiy obacurad by arrata alipa. tiaauaa, ate., hava baan rafilmad to anaura tha baat poaaibia imaga/ Laa pagaa totalamant ou partiallamant obacurdaa par un faulHat d'arrata, una palura. ate., ont 4t* fllmAaa i nouvaau da fa^on i obtanir la maillaura imaga poaaibia. Tl P< o1 fil Oi b4 th al( 01 fil a!< or T» all Tl wl M dl an ba ri| rai TMa Htm la fUmad at tha reduction ratio checked below/ Ce doeument eet film* «u taux de rMuotton bicHqu* el-deeeoue. 10X 14X lax 22X 2IX aox X 12X ItX aox Th« copy filni«d hmm hat bMn raproducad thanka to tha ganaroaity of: Library of tha Public Arehivaa of Canada L'axamplaira filmA fut raproduit grica i la gAn^oaitA da: La bibliothAqua daa Arehivaa publiquaa du Canada Tha Imagaa appearing hara ara tha baat quality poaalMa eonaidaring tha condition and lagiblllty of tha original copy and In kaaping with tha filming contract apacificationa. Original copiaa in printad papar covara ara fUmad baginning with tha front cover and ending on tha iaat page with a printed or lliuatratad imprea- alon, or the beck cover whan appropriate. Ail other origlnel coplea ere flimed beginning on the f irat page t>vlth a printad or iliuatrated imprea- aion, and ending on tlie iaat page with e printed or iiiuatreted impreaaion. The leat recorded freme on eech microfiche ahaN contain the aymboi «-»■ (meening "CON- TINUED"), or the aymboi ▼ (meening "END"), whichever eppliea. Lea imagaa auivantaa ont At* reprodultea avec la piua grand aoin, compta tenu de la condition at da la nattet* da I'exempieire film*, et an conformity avec lea conditiona du contrat de filmage. Lea exemplalrea origineux dont le couverture an papier eat imprimia aont filmfo an commenpent per le premier plot et en terminent soit par la darnlAra page qui comporte une ampra'nte d'impreaaion ou d'iHuatratlon, aoit par le aecond plat, aeion le cea. Toua lea autrea axemplairas origineux aont fllmfo en commen9ant par la pramlAre pege qui comporte une empreinte d'impreaaion ou d'illuatration et en terminent par la darnlAre pege qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un dea aymbolaa auivanta apparattra sur la darnlAre imege de cheque microfiche, aeion la cea: la aymboia — ► aignifia "A SUIVRE". la aymbola ▼ algnifie "FIN". Mepa, piatea, charta, etc.. mey be flimed et different reduction retioa. Thoaa too lerge to be entirely included in one expoeure ere filmed beginning in the upper left hend corner, left to right and top to bottom, ea many framea aa required. The following diagrama iiluatrate the method: Lea cartea. planchaa. tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre flimto A daa taux da rAductlon diff Arenta. Loraque la document eat trap grand pour Atra raproduit en un aaul ciichA. il eat fllmA A partir de i'angia aupAriaur geuche. de geuche A droite. et de heut en bea. an prenent le nombre 4'imegea nAcaaaaire. Lea diagrammaa auivanta illuatrent le mAthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 k wmmm m; MIDDuET WORD IN SEASON TO THE m:ii:m:ber © I OF THE ANGLICAN CHURCH IN THE ^httst a( ^uthtt. BY A CnURCHMAN^. MIDDi.KTON & DAWSON, PRINTERS, SHAW'S BUILDINGS. 1 8 5 9 . •' It was gravely sakl by eomo of the prelates in tboCoancil of Trent, where the doctrine of the Schoolnu:n bore great ?way, Uiat the Schoolmen were like Astronomers which flid feign eccen- kics and epicycles, and such engines of orljs, to save the pheno- mena, though they knew there were no such things : and, in like manner, that the schoolmen Lad framed a number of subtile and intricate axioms and theorems to save thei>ractice of the Church. The causes of superstition are pleasing and sensual riles and ceremonies ; excess of outward and phari^saical holiness ; over i^rnat reverence of traditions, which cannot but load the Church ; the stratageuio of prelates for their own ambition and lucre ; the i'avoring too much of good intentions, which openeth the gate to conceits and novelties ; the taking on aim at divine matters Ir*- human, which cannot but breed mixture of iniagin.'vtionH. " Superstition without a veil is a deformwl thing ; for. as it nddeth deformity to an ape to be so like a man, so the similitude of superstition to religion makes it the mora deformed ; atul as wholesome meat corrapteth to little worms, so good forms and orders corrupt into a number of petty observancis." — Lord Bacon. ■ ■ A WORD IN SEASON TO THE M£»BERS OF TilE AMLICAN CnURCH IN THB DIOCESE OF aUEBEO. BY A CHURCHMAN. It was natural to suppose that various pamphlets woula appear upon the important subject of synodical action, that both sides of the question would be treated of and discussed. It is pleasing to see that a matter of such <_'onsequonce as the government of the Church in thi." Diocese is being taken up with such interest and couimeut- ed upon with such freedom. The great beneiit of frei- discussions is that the merits of a case are examined in all their varieties, that in such examinations truth for tlu; most part is eliminated. Soberness of judgment, freedom froi.i prejudice and partizanship may be able to extract from the effusions of both parties what are the peculiar objects and views of each. - I have seen several pamphlets upon the subject ot sy- j'odical action : the most important of these are, " An Address of the Lay Association ;" " The Churchman's Protest, &c., &c., against the Lay Association ;" '' A Review of the xVddress of the Lay Association ;" " A Report of the Meeting held in the National School-house, & c, on the 24th of Jane." I am snrprised to find that in moderation of tone and mildness of expression the " Address of the Lay Associa- tion" is very much superior to its opponents. It confines itself to a plain statement of the matter befoi'e it, in- dulges in no personalities, but passes by in silence the bit- ter attacks which were made upon it. Attempts to blacken the Association have been and are in vain ; for the names of its most prominent members are a guaran- tee of its respectability and a proof that its actions are disinterested. And it will be generally found that hones- ty of purpose and rectitude of intention will sooner or later gain the esteem of the public. The second pam- phlet is the " Churchman's Protest, &c. ;" this production expresses in a clear and concise way its objection^ to the views which have been propounded by the Lay Associa- tion ; its statements arc well condensed, and although its assertions are dogmatic, a prominence is skilfully given to the leading points. The third pamphlet, which purports to be a report of the proceedings in the National School- house, on the 24th of June, is a garbled and falsified re- port, as any one can see who will take the trouble to look into it. The quality, which it most strikingly displays, is a total want of originality. It dishonestly suppresses anything which militates against the views which it advo- cates, alters without scruple the public prints from which it professes to copy, and indeed, may be taken as a toler- ably fair specimen of the productions of a man who ex- pects others to think for him. The " Review of the Address of the Lay Association" is a very excellent example of that stylo of composition which is known by the name of " polemic." It is evi- dently the work of several hands, clumsily and inharmo- niously put together. It was printed at Toronto, and was published in Quebec ; and if we are to believe the current report, is the joint production of six or seven di- vines of the Upper and Lower Provinces. Bold, intern' pcrate and dogmatic, it is not surprising that the " Re- view" should be more remarkable for energy of expression than for coherency of argument. Grovelling before his ecclesiastical superiors, the writer strives to gain their fa- vor, not only by humbling himself before them, but also by abusing their opponents. His constant cry is "nothing can be done without a Bishop I" He believes that this watchword will ultimately be the rallying point of the laity ; he also believes that he has been fortunate enough to find out a point at which papists, pagans and puritans meet. What or where this point may be we arc not in- formed as accurately as we could wish. There can hardly be said to be any analogy between the Lay Association (the puritans of the author of the "Review") and the Pope " that pagan full of pride." But thus much may bo assumed with confidence, that, among the people of Quebec, the opinion will prevail that there is a nearer and closer connection between popery and puseyism, than between popery and the tenets of the Lay Association. The Lay Association might be said to hold strong protest- ant opinions ; it cannot with truth be said to have any popish tendencies. Such an accusation, from men who openly practise and eagerly ape popish customs, is not less ridiculously absurd than wilfully malicious. The clerical party seem anxious to throw the odium of the disturbances of the 24th of June upon the well drilled efforts of certain laymen. But it is known perfectly well that there was no system of drill organized, and that the interruption to the harmony of the meeting did not pro- ceed from laymen but from a clergyman. An amendment as to the position which deacons were to hold in synodical meetings, was the first inteiferencc with the intended pro- ceedings. A clergyman from Kingsey was the author of this motion, concerning which the " Report" does not condescend to take any notice. A 2 ,'*;. I Again, the derogatory epithets, which were used hy laymen against clergymen, are faithfully recorded ; but no allusion is made to the strong expressions which were previously employed by clergymen against laymen. The Bishop himself, in a pamphlet has extolled in no measured terms the superior temper which was displayed by the clergy at the aforesaid June meeting. "A quarrel," says his lordship, " requires two parties ; the unequalled meek- ness of the clergy enabled them to endure without reply the taunts of the laity." Now, a very short time after the mixed meeting at the school-house, a meeting of the clergy took place to take measures for supporting their privileges, &c. At this meeting a clergyman was so fiercely assailed and abused that he was compelled to leave the room iu which the meeting was held, and was actually leaving the house, when he was laid hold of and pulled back into the room by some of his clerical brethren, who jnstly dreaded the scandal which would ensue should any news of this untoward affair reach the ears of the people. As there were no laymen present at the meeting, at which this dispute took place, no blame can reasonably attach to the laity ; tiie most bigoted partizan must also admit that in this affair the clergy alone were at fault.* The secret journey cf the Bishop to Toronto, and the ignoring of the existence of many of the best friends which the church has had in this diocese, naturally created a feeling of indignation, and demonstrated iu the clearest manner the necessity of a body like the Lay Association. * la a note of the » Review' it is insinuated that an attempt ia made to set the clergy all wrong with their flocks, because the " learned and eloquent Dr. Falloon" is stated to have said what he did really say. I have made careful enquities with regard to this matter, and I could bring forty or fifty highly respectable witnesses to prove that the " learned and eloquent doctor" did utter words to the effect that " the people in his parish always thoaght as he did." Au Act Is to be prepared aflfecting the best interests of the laity, yet the majority of tlie laity are passed over unnoticed, as completely as if they did not exist. By whose advice soever the Bishop acted upon this occasion, it must be admitted that ho acted neither wisely nor well. Anything that is secret and underhand, that is not open and aboveboard, is repugnant to the feelings of English- men. They have an impression — it may be an erroneous one — that whatever is straightforward and manly will bear the light without shrinking. - I have not been able to detect in what has been writ- ten, said, or done by the Lay Association, anything that indicates personal hostility to the Bishop ; I have not been able to find anything that has a tendency to excite a breach between the clergy and laity ; I have not been able to detect any indication, on the part of the laity of the city, to defraud the laity of the country of their fair share of power. If, however, they had any such inten- tion, they would only have copied an example previously set them. For when, upwards of a year ago, at the sug" gestion of the clergy, the Bishop elected six laymen to represent the laity, and, with six clergymen, to draw up u constitution for the Synod ; his lordship's choice fell upon five lay.nen of the city, and upon a sixth, who although now living in the country, had resided in town all his life. The rural mind and rural interests were, ^lerefore, lees fairly represented here than at the meeting on the 24th of June last, when several gentlemen of weight and intelli- gence, from the country, were present, who did not object to the views expressed by the laity generally on that occa- sion. But the Lay Association express the greatest res- pect for the rights of their country brethren. They invite them to think for themselves. It would appear, however, that it is a crime to urge people to exercise their privileges fts free members of the church, or to exhort them to rea- ; 1 in ; I rton upon what they are about to do, not to follow blindly like sheep. It is certain that in all ages of ecclesiastical history, any such attempt has been considered factious and schismatical. The design, both of the clerical party and of the Lay Association, is the same ; both undoubtedly wish to in- tlueuce the Easter election of delegates to the Synod ; both know that much will depend upon the men who will constitute that body. The method of proceeding, which has been adopted by these two parties, is very dissimilar. The Lay Association has openly declared and clearly stated the principles upon which it intends to act. The clerical party does not meet fairly or confute logically an} of these statements, but begs all questions of law, assumes where it cannot prove, and denounces — even from the altar — the Lay Association as innovating and heretical, and extols the Bishop's veto as the concentrated essence of true churchism, the safeguard of the country laity. The Lay Association has only the press, or an occasional ■visit of a member, when Invited to a country mission. The clerical party has a spiritual police which pervades the country, which enjoys a personal and pastoral influence which, with some honorable exceptions, warns from the pulpit and freely distributes both pamphlets and prejudice. And if it be true that most of these clerical planets re- volve compliantly round an ecclesiastical centre, that orders from head-quarters are performed promptly and without hesitation ; then every exertion ought to be made that the high responsibility of framing the constitu- tion under which churchmen are to live, should not de- volve, as regards the lay element, upon uninformed or ob- sequious delegates. It has been stated most unjustly that the laity of the city are desirous of claiming higher privi- leges than their brethren of the country. Nothing can be more untrue than such a statement. The Laity of the if! city can have, and desire to have no separate interests from the laity of the country ; their views and objects must be similar, if not identical ; for they must both equally desire the advancement and prosperity of the church to which they belong. One of the principal accusations, which have been made against the Lay Association is, that they have sought to engender distrust and separation between the clergy and the laity. I am sorry .-o say that clergymen, in some instances, have not hesitated to countenance such a report. Bnt, when wc examine into the matter, wc find tliut the clergy were the first to separate themselves from the laity. In the June meeting, the clergy proposed that they should vote by orders. The laity resisted this demand, because it was unknown in law, contrary to British practice, unauthorized in the church ulitil pro- vided for in the constitution. Strictly speaking, all who were present at that preliminary meeting, whether Bishop, Clergy, or Laymen, were present under the coraprehensivo character given by the law of " members of the Church of England." If any one will take the trouble to look into the garbled " Report'- of that meeting, to which I have alluded, he will see that it was the clergy who first cla- moured to be separated from the laity. It seems to me, carefully considering these matters, that the Lay Association and the clerical party arrive at en- tirely different conclusions, because they reason upon en- tirely different premises, Tl>e clerical party look upon a Bishop as a kind of deity who is gifted with certain mys- terious powers wblch he can impart at will to whomso- ever he pleases. The Lay Association agree with the laity generally in looking upon a Bishop as an officer , ho presides over (oversees) the affairs of the church. The one party speaks of the " Church this," and the " Church that," and the " Church at large ;" the peculiar proper- 1 1 Hi! il ties or position of which only the initiated can define. The other party looks upon the laity as composing the c .*. ^ or church, and upon the clergy as their ministers. It would he idle to deny that the clerical party can find m<3n of authority who will sanction almost any extreme way of thinking. But it is not from the extreme of party rancor that truth is to be obtained.* If we ascend to the very earliest days of ecclesiastical antiquity, we find that the apostles declined any legislation in ecclesiastical government which would interfere with future ages or change of circumstances. The internal constitution of each little christian society was founded upon a basis of independence and equality ; no formal union existed amoug these different societies, but they were bound together wi<^h ties of love and faith. We are told that in these little communities, *' the want of dis- cipline and human learning was supplied by the occasional * The clerical party seem to look upon the Fathers as of equal authority with the Scriptures. One of the pamphlets which have been lately issued quotes St. Ignatius as an authority from whom there is no appeal. The same pamphlet also settles and arranges events v.hich are but imperfectly known, with an insolent dog- matism which forms the most striking characteristic of the publi- cation. It would be well to remember that there are always two sides to a question. The epistle of Ignatius to the Smyrua^ans un- questionably exalts the episcopal dignity, but its genuineness and authenticity have beea questioned by many eminent scholars. I do not intend to open up the controversy in these pages ; I would merely observe that a statement taken from writings, the genuineness and authenticity of which are doubted, does not carry great weight with it. The maxim nulla ecclesicf sine episeopo belongs to the time of TertuUian. Lot any one compar'' what is said of Bishops in the episiies ascribed to Ignatius, with what is said upon the same subject by the ap sties themselves, or by St. Clement, whose epistle was probably of the same date as the Book of Revelations, and he can hardly fail to acknowledge that there ore gre at diflferences both in tone and aeatimeut. s: II ine. Tha 3 c .i. Ha ;ers. It can fiud extrema of party isiastical gislation fere with internal founded ) formal 3ut they We are it of dis- jcasional J of equal hich have om whom i arrangea lent dog- the publi- ways two laoaas ua- cacss and lolars. I pages ; I ings, the not carry episeopo ' what is ,b what is or by St. the Book lat there I assistance of prophets, who were called to that funo tion without distinction of age or of natural abilities, and who, as often as they felt the divine impulse, poured forth the eiTusions of the spirit in the assembly of the faithful." Upon the cessation of the office of prophet, deacons (male and female) were established, then presbyters or priests, and after these the bishops or episcopi. Several passages of Scripture prove that the terms presbyter and bishop were nscd indiscriminately to denote the same order of persons and the same office. Each society had a certain number of these " episcopal presbyters," whose authority was equal. In the course of time one was elected annually, who presided over the aiTairs of the community for the space of a year. The office of presi- dent or overseer, which was at first held only for a year, gradually became a life office. But its powers were only exercised with the advice of the presbyters or priests, and with the consent of those who composed the church, eccle- sia or assembly. As it has been well said, the Bishops of the earlv church were simply the first of their equals^ the honorable servants, of a free people. We have the authority of Tertullian himself for the fact that, at the election of a new president or bishop, the laity thought that they became part of the priesthood. His words aae Nonne. et Laid sacerdoks sumus ? For more than a hundred years after the death of the apostles, the christian communities weie governed in this maimer. As their numbers increased, it was thought that a bond of union, which would draw together and unite these commnnities by common tit5s of interest, would give individuality as well as combination and strength to the christian body. Towards the close of the third century, the first regular Synods were established. These Synods con- sisted almost entirely of the bishops or presidents of the different communities ; presbyters and the people were IS m lu ill M admitted, but they had no voice in the discnssion. From the establishment of these Synods, dates the rise of the episcopal power. Bishops soon ceased to be mere elec- tive officers of the presbyters, and gradually assumed to themselves those high privileges which they have since for the most part enjoyed. It i« pretended that their au- thority is (linived directly from God, that they are endow- ed with high and mysterious virtues which they can impart to others, that in all spiritual matteid their authority in their dioceses is absolute. If we were to enquire who it is that claims such lofty power for, or endeavors thus to exalt the bishops and the clergy, should we be surprised to find that bishops and clergy were the party in ques- tion ? If authority is wanted for these purposes, reference is made to some old writer, who was a bishop or a priest. The laity of the present day are expected to receive his ipse dixit as gospel and to bow before its infallible decrees. Now, I would humbly submit that it is not considered a mark of worldly prudence or wisrom, to take any person's word for his own worth. The man who would extol him- self highly, or who would claim immunities or privilege for his office, would be looked upon with suspicion. Only two classes of men enjoy a time-honored and prescriptive right to f what is vulgarly called) butter themselves — Hotten- tots and Homeric heroes. The opinions of the early re- formers concerning the powers of bishops were very dif- ferent from those now in vogue in this diocese. Bishops Hooper, Ridley, Jewel, Parkhursl?, &c., &c., looked upon episcopacy as a useful but not as a divine institution. — Cranraer plainly avowed that there was, in his opinion, no difference in the primitive times between bishop and presbyter. During the reign ol Elizabeth, the bishops were little more than her ministers. Elizabeth saw clear- ly the great power which she enjoyed as Head of the Church through the bishops ; when she wished to carry into mMU)^^. 1ft I. From 86 of the aere elec- sumed to ave since their au- •e endow- in impart thority in re who it i thus to surprised in ques- reference ' a priest, ceive his decrees, sidered a person's xtol him- irilege for Only two ive right -Hotten- early re- very dif- Bishops ked upon tution. — :nion, no liop and 3 bishops iw clear- i of the arry into ti effect any great project wliieh was at all tinged with unpo- pularity, she issued an order to her bishops desiring them to take such measures that the project should be explained and duly commented upon in every church in the king- dom. This exercise of power the great Queen emphatical- ly called a tuning of the people. To indicate the change which took place in religious feeling, in one generation, it may be mentioned that James was prepared to barter his power, and to allow the Pope a modified supremacy, in order that he might be able to marry his son into one of the great continental houses. Let any one compare the ■clergy of the Reformation, the clergy which followed Craumer, with the clergy of the time of Laud, and he will see a similar change. From being looked upon as a useful ecclesiastical polity, episcopacy began to be invested with high and sacred privileges which no human power could give or take away. I cannot see anything that should induce us to tie our faith to such times. In those days the divine right of kings was as firmly believed in as the divine right of bishops, and grave writers have contended that the mon- arch possessed the god-like gift of curing disease by his touch. Yet in what category would we place any in- dividual who endeavored to prove the divine right of kings, or the power of curing the king's evil, by quota- tions from Filmer or any other writer of that way of thinking ? Still we all know that the philosopher Locke was expelled from Oxford for writing against the absurd opinions of Filmer. Perhaps the two points, about which the clergy seem most eager, are, that the power of veto should be held by the bishop, and that laymen before becoming members of synod should undergo a sacramental test. In England the power of the bishop is regulated by the laws of the land. Here his power is absolute. No 14 i i ; ! •il one who is injured, even though by episcopal inadvertence, has any right of appeal ; he must abide by the injury which he has received. In these remarks allusion is made merely to the office of bishop, not to the temporary occu- pant, whatever may be his virtues or his infirmities. The veto, however, is a power which could not be safely trusted to any one man, however good he might be. The clergy, with some exceptions, say that the veto is essen- tial to, or inherent in, the episcopal office ; and at the same time urge that the power of vetoing should be grant- to the bishop by the synod. There tijems some inconsis- tency in this reasoning ; for, if the power of veto can be bestowed by the synod, it must be admitted that it can also be withheld by the same body. A curious enquirer might ask, what then becomes of the essence of the episco- pate ? Few people would object to a modification of tho veto to prevent any hasty or violent changes, such as is judiciously proved by the Lay Association in their draft of a constitution ; but if the sense of the synod is clearly expressed for two years in succession, no hasty or violent change need be dreaded, and the measure should then be adopted. The bishop might say that he would never oi>- pose the wishes of tiic majority of the diocese, and (no doubt) he would mean what he said, lint let us, merely in illustration of this, loot at facts, at things which have happened, not at things which may happen. Let it be supposed that the bishop says that he would never put himself in opposition to the wislies of tlie majority of the churchmen of his diocf sc. The sense of a majority would just now be very much in favor of an excellent society, which is virtually excluded from working in this diocese. The Colonial Church and School Society is a society which was expressly constituted for the benefit of the colo- nies. This society would supply the country districts with teachers and schools, would liberally help the underpaid :» 15 ladvertence, the injury iion is made lorary occn- infirmities. ict be safely ht be. Tho eto is essen- and at the Id be grant- me inconsis- of veto can I that it can Dus enquirer f the episco- ation of tho s, such as is their draft od is clearly y or violent mid then be Id never op- se, and (no t us, merely which have Let it be J never put Drlty of the ority would out society, lis diocese. s a society of the colo- istricts with e underpaid i I clergy, would send oat and maintain rcissionaries of \\a own. Two archbishops and upwards of twenty bishops have sanctioned its proceedings with their approval. Her Majesty the Queen, the temporal head of the Anglican Church, is its gracious patron. We have spiritual distress, ignorance, underpaid clergy, — a society offers to assist us in our difficulties, and its aid is rejected, because the whole affairs of the society are not placed under the immediate influence and control of the bishop. All that the society asks is to be allowed to appoint those whom it pays (snb- servient to the approval of the bishop) and to receive nn accounu of the moneys which it expends. Other bishoi)'< and other dioceses welcome it, but in this diocese its mo- derate requests have been rejected. One clergyman high in favor even went the length of advising the society to take refuge among the Methodists, In a full meeting of the central board of the Church Society, an attempt was made to leava unacknowledged certain assistance which had been received from the Colonial Church and School Society. Five clergymen did all in their power to carry through this attempt. All the laymen present, the best friends of the church in the diocese, and most of tho clergy strenuously opposed the attempt. The Bishop threw the whole influence of his authority, personal and official, into the scale of the minority. Such things show us what we would have to expect were we to allow the power of veto to be wielded by any individual. Why should we forge a chain for our own necks ? Why should we take our precedents in what relates to bishops from the fathers of the third century, in preference to the apostles themselves ? The fierce rhetoric of Tertullian and the bold craft of Cyprian assign far higher powers to the episcopal office than will be found in the writings of the apostles. In the scriptures we do not see the primitive bishop adorned with the mitre of the prelate, or 16 V- ^ i i 4. '1 enveloped in that haze of misty divinity which now snr- roands him. The great apostle of the Gentiles himself says, with noble pathos, " these hands have ministered i^nto my necessities and to them that were with me." It has been said that the word veto has been purposely chosen to render the power which the veto would confer upon the bishop odious in the eyes of the people. Those who talk in this rash and inconsiderate manner show that they are not accurately acquainted with a sub- ject upon which they decide so peremptorily and dogmati- cally. Now, it is well known that the tribune's veto is a very dififerent thing from a bishop's veto. The tri- bune's veto was odious to the wealthy and noble, but was looked upon with aflfection by the plebeians. What analo- gy is there between the two vetos ? Might I be pardon- ed for recommending to the writers of polemical tracts the propriety of brushing up their historical knowledge; In discussing theological matters, a bold dogmatic asser- tion is perhaps preferable to any attempt at reasoning But in matters which come witliin the domain of our oli friend Piunock, the same method of argument would hardly be so successful. The author of the " Review of the Address &c." quotes Dr. Burnet and Father Paul to prove that puritanism Cthe Lay Association) and popery are in many points ono and the same thing. They certainly do agree in one point at least, viz : that a bishop is not a perfect infalli- ble creature. The pope was of opinion that it was wrong to entrust absolute power to any bishop. With the case of Father Chiniquy before us, few people will say that the sovereign pontiff was wrong. But we Protestants claim higher privileges and immunities thanRoman Catholics ever thought of doing. What is the use of these privileges and immunities, of the right of private judgment, Ac, &c., if we are to be checked and restrained by a strong coercive metv^ i^ii 'i i mm les himself ministered 1 me." 1 purposely ould confer he people, itc manner vith a sal> d dogmati- ine's veto The tri- e, but was hat analo- be pardon- ical tracts nowledge; btic asser- reasoniug )f our oil uld hardly c." quotes mrltanism )oints one in one ict infalli- ras wrong 1 the case y that the nts claim lolies ever leges and &c., if we civQ mecw It Bare like the veto ? Should it be deemed desirable to make use of the veto in the deliberations of the synod, it is a gift which can at any future time be easily conferred. But prudence would certainly dictate that a trial should urst be made without that dangerous power ; for we should remember that however objectionable it may be found, it cannot be revoked. If we look across the lines to the episcopal church in the United States, and ex- amine the working of its machinery with regard to vetos, we shall find that where there is no veto, the church flourishes ; that where the veto does exist, the church does not advance. Vermont is the only diocese out of the 35 in the XJuited States in which the veto exists. In 1839 that diocese had 22 clergymen; in 1857 the number had increased to 23, thus shewing an increase of one clergyman in eighteen years. The increase during the same period in the other dioceses of New England ranged from 50 to 340 per cent. Such facts as these speak volumes. Our colonial diocesan synods are as yet un- tested experiments ; the organization in the United States has been long tried. It would be well for us to pause and consider before we fly into the face of, and act direct- ly opposite to statements which are supported by such convincing figures. I here agree most cordially with the Lord Bishop of the Diocese, who, in his recent circular, dated 21st February last, solemnly warns the clergy and the people against precipitate conduct in the new experi- ment of synodical action. He says, " we must guard our people against the imagination that we are to rush at our experiment, as if we had now got at our opportunity to carry out this or that favorite object, — to give vent to, and to exercise some eager prepossession, or to eflfect some sudden and sweeping renovation of afiairs. We must en- ter upon and with careful and cautious steps, &c." The clerical party will surely 'see that to give vent to their B 2 , 18 iliilf * u 1 1 ] i I I eager prepossessions respecting the veto, will be to rejec* the excellent advice of their diocesan ; and the faithful laity will surely see that to save the synod from rushing at the experiment of the veto, and to withhold from the bishop that power which can be given at any time, but never recalled, will be but to take the careful and cautious steps which he enjoins. With regard to the proposal that no one shall be al- lowed to legislate for the church who is not a communi- cant, I am surprised that there can be two opinions. In former days, the Test Act was looked upon as the rampart of religion, and the Corporation Act as the bulwark of liberty ; but we live in better times. The principle of the thing is contrary to the feelings of the present age. It has always been a boast of the Anglican Church that, in all that regards participation in the Holy Communion its members enjoy that liberty which clu'istiaus should enjoy. To make the sacrament of the Lord's Supper a necessary {|ualiHc'atioii for being a member of the synod is an ill- judged, ill-considered attempt to foster hypocrisy in the laity and to increase the i)Ower of the clergy. It does seem strange that this one thing only should be deemed necessary to qualify for membership for the synod. Will it be creditable to the synod, that conduct which is con- demned even by the world, should be so far venial in the eyes of the church, that the church member, for instance, whose gambling and swindling practices, whose fraudulent bankruptcies, and readiness to grind the face of the poor, combine to exclude him from respectable society, deprive him of commercial confidence, and entail upon him the execrations of the suffering, should be qualified to enjoy the privileges of legislating for the church, if only, fresh from his pursuits, he will but add to his other crimes one crime more, that of unwOTthily partaking of the Lord's Sup- per. Guill, vice, and ignorance