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THOUGHTS

CHTJECH MATTERS

DIOCESE OF OXFORD.

BY A LAYMAN AND MAGISTRATE FOR
THAT COUNTY.

LONDON :
SAUNDERS AND OTLEY, CONDUIT STREET.
1858.
[Price One S/ii/lhtij.)

THOUGHTS

ON

CHUKCII MATTEES,

As a layman, I feel some hesitation in writing
the following pages. It is not so much my
intention to offer an opinion on the subjects to
which they allude, as to lay before the reader cer
tain suggestions whicli may lead to further in
quiry; and to draw his attention to the existence
in the diocese of Oxford of a condition of things in
reference to Church matters, so marked in its cha
racter and progress, that it can scarcely fail to
strike the notice of the most casual observer,
whilst it must create in the minds of those who
live within its reach, a strong feeling of anxiety as
to its probable tendency and effects.
I cannot imagine that any layman in this dio-

cese, who is at all interested in the advancement
of practical religion, in its effects for good on the
temporal and eternal well-being of the people, can
be unaware of the almost ceaseless energy that is
at work around him in Ecclesiastical matters ; and
I know well that many entertain grave doubts as
to the wisdom and expediency of the course pur
sued ; but why is it that so few among the laity
in any class care to do more than look on ? Why
is it that they are content to watch silently the
advance of principles which they do not approve;
the growth of a system to which, in many points,
they strongly object; the establishment of institu
tions, which they deem injurious, and yet refrain
from the expression of their sentiments in any way
that may be useful, and practically ignore that in
fluence, which, as" Christians, as members of the
Church, and as persons largely interested in all
religious movements, they undoubtedly possess,
and are bound to use — calmly, but decidedly —
when it may be of service to the community at
large ?
My object is to urge this duty. It is to call
upon all laymen, who value religion in its practi
cal effects and who love their church, not only for

its own sake, but as, by its wise government,
consistent working, and beneficial institutions,
it advances the well-being of its members ; it is to
call upon such to exercise their right and discharge
their duty, by speaking their sentiments, when
they conscientiously believe that the means which
are used in the administration of such matters are
producing injurious results.
Are you satisfied with the aspect of Church
matters ? and I mean by this expression all matters
that are in any way connected with or influenced
by the Church. Are you satisfied with their
present condition, as far as they fall within your
own knowledge? Does it not seem that there is a
constant and undue tendency to the centralization
of all power and all influence in one point? Is
there not a constant restlessness of action — a per
petual accumulation of machinery, for the accom
plishment, by means of boards and associations,
under diocesan guidance, of objects which would
be far better carried out in each parish by its own
minister at home? And does not this principle
tend most decidedly to the loosening of all local
interests and the prejudice of all local usefulness?
The diocese, by this means, becomes, in fact,

one large parish under the care of one pastor, with
many assistants to carry out his system. Indivi
dual responsibility is weakened — lesser obligations
and nearer ties are lost sight of in the wider and
more general interests, which are the aim of this
wholesale system. The old and close relationship
of the pastor and his flock is lost, and the neigh
bourly feeling, which brought many a helping
hand to the clergyman of the parish, for the aid of
parish institutions and the carrying out of schemes
for the good of fellow-parishioners, ceases to exist,
where, although for the same or similar objects,
the clergyman has become one of a Board, and the
parish has lost its identity, as one portion of a
district. I am prepared for the answer, which is this:
" This is precisely the condition of things we wish
to bring about; we earnestly desire to see the
whole diocese as one cure in the hands of one
man : in the Bishop all spiritual authority should
centre." The theory, doubtless, sounds well, but can it
be beneficially carried out in practice ? Far be it
from me to attempt to detract from the high and
important office of a Bishop, appointed, as he is, to

overlook a section of the Church ; but was it ever
intended, and is it desirable, that the Bishop should
be so represented in each of his clergy that all in
dividual independence of thought and action should
be merged in him?
Do we not thereby lose all the advantages which
result from variety of mind and talent — from force
of individual character — from the special adapta
tion to particular circumstances or localities of
particular methods of treatment? Within pre
scribed limits, and under authority, is not each
pastor the best judge of the necessities of his own
parish, and the best able to deal with them? I do
not advocate the principle of independence, but it
does appear to me that the tendency of things is
to draw too much to one centre, and unduly to
absorb all individual energy in the unquestioned
dominion of one mind.
Supervision, necessary and wholesome though
it is, may be carried to an extreme, and in the end
so cramp individual action, as to produce serious
injury to its own cause.
If otherwise, surely the principle should be car
ried still higher, atid in the Archbishop should
centre the detailed administration of every diocese

through his province ; his opinions only should be
acknowledged, his government carried out. But
it is not so ; neither is it to be desired. In every
position, within limits, a certain liberty of opinion
and freedom of action is undoubtedly indispensable,
and in the Church more especially is this essen
tial, on account of the opposite tendency that
inheres in its own system.
Again, I am met by the ready reply, " Are not
your objections founded rather in a dislike to all
religious activity? Is it not owing to a supine-
ness of religious feeling, an apathy in religious
action, and a general aversion to being stirred up
to religious duties that makes you question the
wisdom of the reviving energy in Church matters
of which you speak?" I reply, most undoubtedly
not; neither do I question the motives of those
who are at work ; but it is the manner in which
the work is done, the system which is gaining
ground, that raises apprehensions in my mind; I
doubt its accomplishment of its own objects; and
more than this, I think it is creating needless'op-
position and prejudice amongst a large body of the
members of the Church. What is the Church?
It is doubtless the greatest institution that has

been ever raised on earth, founded by our Lord
Himself, and as such deserving of all the reverence
and entitled to all the consideration of which we
are capable ; but it had an object in its estabhsh
ment far greater than itself; it was to be for all
time the vehicle of the religion, through which
men trust to be saved; it was to be the casket,
which should keep in safety — pure and unadul
terated — that priceless gem, which our Lord gave
to the world, the gospel of His truth : and surely
the thing conveyed is of more value than the
means of conveyance : the pearl is better than the
shell, the jewel than the casket; it is the unscrip-
tural transposition of that which is of secondary
only into the place of that which is of primary
importance ; it is the undue setting up and bring
ing forward the machinery of the Church, before
and beyond the consideration of the religion, with
out which the Church would be but a mere frame
work, which in these days provokes reasonable
objections. Consider, again, for a moment, the present sys
tem of education amongst the lower classes. 'Are
their children being instructed in a manner that
will conduce to their happiness and usefulness in
after life? Is not rather the present standard of

teaching rising far above all that is practically ser
viceable, and far beyond the requirements of the
class for whom it is intended? Jn such a system
useful subjects of education are necessarily neg
lected, from the shortness of the period for which
the children of the poor are sent to school. And
what are the causes of this injurious progress in
the scheme of education? I reply, without a
doubt, that they are to be found in the over-educa
tion of masters and mistresses in normal schools
and training institutions; in the high range of
subjects for examination adopted by school inspec
tors; in school exhibitions and other stimulants
now so industriously applied.
And whilst I allude to the system of education
prevailing amongst the lower classes in this dio
cese, I am led to suggest the very serious conse
quences which may arise in a still more important
direction, from the establishment of private col
leges, such as that at Cuddesdon, for the prepara
tion of young men who are destined to take orders.
I do not here offer any opinion on the teaching
or practices there inculcated and observed; yet is
it not, I ask, objectionable, that the last and most
important year in the course of a young man's
training to be a public teacher, should be passed

in an institution, which in its management is prac
tically a private institution, aud where every mat
ter, both of doctrine and practice, is inevitably
derived from the head of that college for the time
being, whatever may be his peculiar shades of
opinion ?
And I think we may assume one point more,
that whatever may happen to be the colour of
Church matters in the diocese for the time — what
ever system of teaching or practise may chance to
prevail — such an institution as this will necessarily
become a part of the machinery for carrying out
that system.
For men, who are to be public teachers, the
system of preparation cannot well be too publicly
known ; and, in the present day, when there exists
so wide a difference of opinion on theological
subjects, even amongst the Bishops, it appears to
me to be highly undesirable that diocesan institu
tions should admit of even the suspicion that they
are established with a view to propagate any parti
cular set of religious tenets or practices.*
Again, it needs not a great matter to raise pre-
* Since writing the above, I have been induced to offer some
remarks directly in refen nee to Cuddesdon College, which will be
found in the appendix to this pamphlet.

10
judice. A slight cause, perchance, makes the
weak brother to offend ! but, nevertheless, preju
dices are entitled to consideration — and " woe unto
him who causeth the weaker brother to offend,"
Yet in many parishes how needlessly, nay, how
selfishly, are little matters of personal taste
indulged in by the clergyman — such as in altera
tions in little matters of practise — in Church deco
ration, music, architecture, and the like — without
consideration for the feelings or objections of pa
rishioners, and at the risk of throwing stumbling
blocks in the way of those who are, it may be,
only too ready to fall.
But I am asked, What have such practices to do
with the subjects to which you have already
alluded? I reply, they co-exist. In the same
diocese they are found together. They do not
appear alone, and how can it be affirmed that they
are not to be attributed to the same system?
But there is yet one point more which I cannot
leave unmentioned, and in referring to the re
ligious teaching which prevails very much in this
diocese, I am anxious to avoid all expression of
opinion on doctrinal subjects, and confine my
remarks simply to the general character and

11
course of theological instruction, adopted by those
who approve the system of Church matters to
which we have alluded. Without question, then,
as to their orthodoxy, is there not a very undue
proportion both of time and attention given to
certain favourite doctrines, whilst others are but
slightly and seldom noticed? It appears to me
that the Church and her institutions are made the
prominent subject of teaching, whilst the Founder
of that Church Himself is comparatively little
preached. Do we find that our spiritual teachers
give to each doctrine, as nearly as may be, the
same proportion of consideration — the same weight
that is allotted to it in the Holy Scriptures? Is
not the life, and essence, and vitality of religion lost
in the earnest endeavour to inculcate its forms
and practices? And what is the effect on the
minds of the unlettered? They catch the outline
— they lay hold on the leading points — they hear
certain subjects constantly repeated, and naturally
attribute to them the importance, which seems to
be warranted by such frequent notice ; and so their
views are misdirected and their religious know
ledge o-rows perverted. I impute no intention of
wrono- teaching, but I cannot avoid the conclusion

12
that this style of teaching which is an essential
feature in the aspect of Oxford Diocesan Church
matters does in effect tend to establish wrong
views on most important points amongst the un
educated, incapable as they are of qualifying
what they hear, or of grasping a whole course of
instruction, as distinguished from its individual
parts. I advocate no set of opinions, but I think that
undue and unscriptural preponderance is given to
certain favourite doctrines which are held in high
estimation by a certain class of teachers.
Let me then once again urge upon the reader to
consider these suggestions, and to inquire further
— to watch the progress of things about him — to
be candid in the expression of his views, and espe
cially to those amongst the clergy with whom he
may be acquainted. There is a widening breach
between the clergy and the laity of this diocese.
The former ask, Why will not the laity co-operate
with us? The latter lament that they cannot act
with the clergy, because they see so much to
which they object.
And I frequently hear it urged on the part of
the clergy that the laity are suspicious of their

13
motives; unwilling to co-operate with them, and
wanting in that feeling of respect and goodwill
towards them as individuals, without which any
thing like combined action is impossible. To this
I strongly demur: — there is, I am convinced, no
man more fully appreciated and sincerely respected
by all classes of the laity, than an earnest, simple-
minded, practical parish priest; one who uses his
profession for the advance of practical religion in
his parish; whose first and constant aim is the
well-being for time and for ever of his parishioners ;
who is willing to carry out schemes for good
amongst his people, with the assistance of those
who are able and willing to co-operate with him ;
to work with and for his flock.
I repeat that such a man can do anything ; his
local influence is unbounded, and the esteem in
which he is held by his parishioners is all but
universal ; but, let him merge his individuality in a
system ; let him begin to talk incessantly of the
Church and her requirements ; let him press upon
his parishioners this or that scheme, not on
account of its intrinsic good, but because it is a
part of the Church system — one wheel in the great
machine — let him attend Boards, and Committees,

14
and diocesan meetings of all sorts and kinds for
purposes hitherto successfully carried out at
home- (or they might have been) amongst his
neighbours; and as he becomes more absorbed in
this system; as the parish becomes less a parish
and assumes the character of a divisional portion
of a wide district ; as, in fact, what is called " The
Church" instead of the minister, begins to work;
so surely does his influence diminish, and the
estimation he was held in decrease. Divisions —
unchristian prejudices — opposition to the Church
generally — dissent, grow up apace, and dislike to
the new system is followed by objections to the
maintenance and support of the Church herself
and Church institutions; tithes are grudgingly
paid, Church-rates refused, and a condition of
things is helped onwards that threatens to shake
the fabric of the Church to its foundations.
Little do many think how great and fearful a
catastrophe may be hastened onwards, through the
offensive accumulation on all sides of innovations,
observances, and practices, petty, perhaps, and in
themselves unworthy of notice, but one and all
belonging to the same class of religious views, and
symptomatic of the same un-protestant tendency.

15
But these things are not at all trifling in their
results; of late years, as the march advances,
men have presumed to introduce greater and more
glaring innovations; to enjoin the use of the con
fessional, warranted neither by the Holy Scriptures
nor by the Church, excepting only as a voluntary
act for the relief of a burdened conscience, when it
can find no other source of comfort; to speak of
the two sacraments as absolutely necessary to sal
vation, and not as we are taught in the Church
catechism, as generally so ; and even to talk openly
in disparagement of our Protestant Church. The
laity of every class are strongly opposed to all this !
I do not hesitate to say that, as a body, the laity of
this country of all ranks are deeply indignant at the
Romanizing movement of the present day : Why
then are they silent? Now, they may arrest the
progress of this insidious tendency. They have
influence enough, if they will only put it forth, to
check these growing symptoms in time. But,
shortly, it may be too late, and their only alterna
tive be yet more painful — to submit or to secede.
May this never be ! but, rather, let us confess our
differences in time, and protest honestly and
openly — as it is our duty, our right, and our
c

16
interest to do as Churchmen — a responsibility
which, as members of a Christian community, we
owe to ourselves and to each other.

17

APPENDIX.

CUDDESDON COLLEGE.

Not many months have elapsed since the pub
lication of a pamphlet, entitled " Correspondence
relating to Cuddesdon Theological College, in
answer to the charges of the Rev. C. P. Grolightly,
and the Report of the Commissioners thereon."
How is it that the case rests without further
notice? How is it that amongst those into whose hands
this pamphlet must have fallen, there has been no
attempt to place the whole matter again before the
public in its true light?
It, surely, is of no small importance that an
institution such as this college, should be free
from every taint of suspicion, whicli could in any
way prejudice the objects for which it was estab
lished !
Such colleges are at present new to the world,
and consequently attract much attention. They
are intended to supply an important link which,

18
doubtless, has been hitherto wanting in the prepa
ration of young men for the ministry; to fill up
the important interval of time between the conclu
sion of the university course of education and the
period of ordination, by a directly theological
system of instruction ; to give the last finish to a
young man's preparation for holy orders, in fact to
be to him the most important year of his life, the
year that shall settle his views, establish his prin
ciples and give to his religious character a stamp and
colour which, probably, will never after leave him.
This is no question of private moment. The
public are deeply concerned in the result of the
experiment, and not only have a right to inquire
into the nature of such establishments, but to be
satisfied that they are so conducted in all respects,
as to be safely trusted with the great responsi
bilities they have undertaken. It must be expected
that those who are interested in the advance of
religion, will anxiously watch so important a
movement, and question all that may appear ques
tionable; and those who found and conduct such
institutions should be ready to meet this public
scrutiny in a fair and candid spirit, or the under
taking will assume a private character, and the
college, originally intended to complete the educa
tion of those who are destined to be public teachers
of religion, will sink down into a school for the
private inculcation of such views, both in doctrine
and practice, as may chance to he held by the
managers for the time being. Than this nothing

19
could be more injurious to the interests of the
Church. If a suspicion arises, let it be openly met ; if a
charge is made, let it be fairly disproved or can
didly admitted. No matter how the suspicion
may have arisen, or from what quarter the charge
may have originated — it may have been enmity to
all religious progress, or the unreasonable preju
dice of party feeling — no matter! Public insti
tutions, like public men, must be ready to main
tain their ground in the face of the world, and to
answer all questions. It avails nothing to say
that the charge is in itself frivolous, or the result
of weak and narrow-minded prejudice, or unworthy
of notice, or the like. The question has been
mooted — attention has been drawn to the subject !
Is the charge true, or is it not?
This is the only way to deal with all objections.
Is there any truth at all in the alleged charge?
Nay! more. Is there any ground whatever for
it? or, without any subterfuge, can it be wholly
denied? Let us turn to the case which has suggested
these remarks. What are the facts ?
A charge was made in a published letter against
Cuddesdon College, by the Rev. C. P. Golightly,
containing several distinct allegations.
The Bishop of the diocese, under whose imme
diate direction the college is placed by the first
rule of the institution, after instituting inquiries
and issuing a commission of investigation, writes a

20
congratulatory letter to the principal of the college
and announces to the world that every charge
brought against the college by the letter alluded
to is completely negatived.
In order to obtain further testimony to the
soundness and purity of the system observed at
Cuddesdon College, a circular letter was then
issued to every incumbent, at that time in Eng
land, who had, up to Christmas, 1857, given titles
to holy orders to curates there trained, and their
replies to this circular were published. To these
were added letters from students themselves and
other letters.
At a meeting of clergy held at the Bishop's
Palace, subsequently to the publication of the
pamphlet in question, the clergy were called upon
by the Bishop to express their confidence in the
Principal of Cuddesdon College; as to his future
conduct. And, finally, the defendants in this case claim
their verdict with great confidence and self-con
gratulation. Let us now see with what reason this position
has been assumed.
Let us examine the evidence and ascertain how
far it goes to prove or disprove the charge that
was brought against the college ; and we shall see,
whether at the time the allegations were made or
at any other time, there existed any and what
grounds for such imputations. For, it cannot be
satisfactory to the public, and certainly ought not

21
to be so to those who are concerned in the direc
tion and management of this college, that such an
answer should be given to any charge of unsound
ness, as may amount only to a bare refutation-
having reference to the strict wording and literal
meaning of such charge, and not embracing the
whole scope of the subject, and fully and honestly
meeting the accusation in its broadest sense; I
mean to say, that it is quite possible to deny with
truth the present existence of an evil, inasmuch as
it may have ceased to be: but such a denial
scarcely comprises the whole truth, if it does not
admit that there has been ground for the allega
tion, although it may have passed away.
As between complainant and defendant the case
may possibly appear fairly closed. The former
made his charge, the latter denied it ; so far, the
matter seems to be at an end ; but it is uot so with
those who have been looking on: their attention
has been drawn to the subject, and there remains
much that appears unsatisfactory and unexplained.
Much doubt has been" created in the mind of the
public — especially of the lay public — as to the
general soundness and purity of the system,
against which the charge was made, although, in
the narrowest sense, a literally truthful denial may
have been given.
The charge which was brought in the letter above
referred to, contained and re-asserted four distinct
points of accusation, as extracted from an article
in the Quarterly Review (January, 1858), and fur-

22
ther imputed general unsoundness to the system of
Cuddesdon College.
The four allegations were as follows : —
I. That the chapel of the College is fitted up
with every fantastic decoration, to which a party
meaning has been assigned.
II. That the so-called altar affects in every parti
cular theclosest approximation to theRomish model.
III. That the service of the sacrament of the
Lord's Supper is conducted with genuflections,
rincings of cups in the piscina, and other ceremo
nial acts foreign to the ritual and usages of the
Church of England.
IV. And lastly, that a Service-book is in use in
the chapel concocted from the seven canonical
hours of the Romish Church.
On the circulation of the letter containing these
allegations, the Bishop writes to the Principal of
the College, treating the charge somewhat lightly,
and begging the Principal, with great confidence
as to the result, to reply distinctly to each sepa
rate charge.
The Principal, in his reply, of course vindicates
the aim of the Conductors of the College, and
speaking as to the alleged points of ritual, he
says, that the College has faithfully adhered to the
rule laid down by the Bishop. He goes on to say,
and this is deserving of notice, that in obedience
to this rule anything which to the Bishop, or to
any judicious friend, may have appeared question
able, has been from time to time removed.

23
Thus we find that this rule, laid down by the
Bishop, is of such a nature as to admit or permit
from time to time of the introduction of question
able innovations, and then to be appealed to by
the Principal, as the standard in obedience to
which such questionable innovations should be
removed. Surely so elastic a system as this, a
system which gives birth to questionable practices,
and then, as they grow immoderate, suppresses
them, is not one that can be safely trusted for such
important ends as those which it has in view.
Surely, the very admission, by the Principal him
self, of the past existence of things questionable, is
enough to raise a doubt in the pubhc mind, whe
ther there has not been good ground for suspect
ing the soundness of this institution, although at
the time — the precise moment — the charge was
brought, the ground for such suspicion may have
been removed.
And it is scarcely a satisfactory explanation of
the word " questionable," used by the Principal
himself, which we find in a note appended to his
letter, where he says the word " questionable " is
not used in the sense of " illegal," or even " objec
tionable." I admit it might not mean "illegal,"
but how the word "questionable" is to be ex
plained, if it does not imply an objection, I am at
a loss to conceive. That which is questionable, is
clearly open to an objection — liable to be objected
to — of doubtful character, and so, objectionable.
And further, the very fact of the removal of such

24
things as appeared questionable, at least argues
the probability of an objection being raised to their
continuance. True, these matters may have been very unim
portant in themselves, may have affected practice
and form only, and had no reference to doctrine or
principle ; but this is no satisfactory reply ; if, in
deed, it were doctrines that were questionable, the
College would cease to be a Protestant institution ;
it is quite enough, if, in matters of form and prac
tice, the system at Cuddesdon College admitted at
any time of being questioned: it is by these mat
ters that so much injury is now being done to the
cause of religion; so much prejudice raised; so
much distrust created in the minds of the laity to
wards the clergy; so much hindrance thrown in
the way of the advance of real sound Church prin
ciples. It is the playing with trifles that offends
the mind of the public; the indulging in selfish
fancies and tastes, approximating to, though not
reaching Romish practices ; the adoption in parishes
of petty usages, such as those alluded to in the letter
containing the allegations, in spite of the feehngs
of a whole congregation ; it is this religious trifling
with externals which is daily growing more offen
sive to the public at large, and more injurious to
the vitality and substance of religion.
But let us proceed. The Principal continues : —
" I will speak of our Chapel and its Services as it
existed at the time that Mr. Golightly's attack ap
peared." This gives the writer of the letter a

25
manifest advantage; he confines himself to the
moment when the charge is made, and answering
it thus in its narrowest sense, simply denies all the
allegations contained in it.
This letter brings a short reply from the Bishop,
in which he states his satisfaction at reading its
contents, and his intention of issuing a commission
to the three Archdeacons of the diocese to examine
and report further.
Whether or not such a commission was likely to
be thought an impartial and satisfactory arrange
ment by the world at large, I need not here in
quire : certainly, the three Archdeacons would be
anxious, if possible, to find all things as they should
be in a College under the immediate directiou of
their own Bishop. A commission issued to more
indifferent persons might have carried on the face
of it a fairer and more straightforward appearance !
However this may have been, there can be no
doubt whatever as to the perfect honesty of the
report of these commissioners ; for, in spite of all
possible bias, they admit much ground to have
existed at some time or other for such allegations
as those which originated these proceedings.
In reference to the first allegation, they report,
" We find that the Chapel is very highly adorned
with painting and gilding on the walls and roof
and with hangings at the east end. We see no
reason for imputing a party meaning, &c. Never
theless, we think it right to express our opinion,
that there is too lavish a display of ornaments, and

26
we consider that excess of decoration in the Chapel
of such an institution has a tendency, &c, and to
encourage in the students a disproportionate regard
for the mere accessories of public worship, and to
invest them with an over-prominent importance.
The reader will recollect that the first allegation
was, that " the Chapel is fitted up with every fan
tastic decoration, to which a party meaning has
been assigned."
The Bishop states to the world that every charge
is completely negatived !
Can he have read the report of his own commis
sion on this first allegation ? And, with their admis
sion of the painted, gilded, and ornamented condi
tion of the Chapel, can the first allegation be said
to be " completely negatived?"
With regard to the second allegation, in refer
ence to the so-called altar, the Commissioners re
port, that at the present moment there is nothing
objectionable; but, they add, with great candour,
" a cloth with lace was formerly used," " a metal
cross stood on the shelf of the table : it was given,
and was placed there by the donor without objec
tion on the part of the heads of the College ; but
was removed about a year ago by your Lordship's
direction." " It was given !" A valid reason, doubtless, for
the allowance of a thing in itself questionable ! If
" questionable " does not mean " objectionable,"
why was this metal cross removed? If " qustion-
able " does mean " objectionable," why was it ever

27
permitted to stay? Doubtless by that rule, to
which the Principal, in his letter, refers all practices
that had at any time existed in Cuddesdon College !
There is not much, probably, in a lace cloth and
a metal cross ; no indication of party was intended ;
but this is a poor reason for the use of toys and
fripperies to satisfy morbid tastes at the risk of
creating prejudice in many minds, of causing se
rious offence, and by a continued series of such
trifling practices, unavoidably creating a party,
and affixing to it its own characteristics.
With regard to the third allegation, the Com
missioners could only report on what they were
informed by the authorities of the College; and
their statement, therefore, is but a repetition of the
denial made by the Principal in his letter above
alluded to, and does not amonnt to evidence. It
appears, however, that in one respect there had
existed at a former time, though now abandoned, a
custom of rinsing the Sacramental vessels in the
piscina of the Chapel ; one of the points contained
in the third allegation, and stated by the Bishop to
have been completely negatived. Truly, in point
of time, it was negatived ; for the custom had been
abandoned, but that there had existed such a prac
tice, and consequently the ground for such an alle
gation the report of the Commissioners admits.
With regard to the fourth allegation, the Com
missioners report that the contents of the " ques
tionable" Service-book are "not only unexcep
tionable, but highly valuable." They add, how-

28
ever, that this book " has been cast in a form which
bears an unfortunate resemblance to the Breviary
of the Church of Rome, and think that it would be
much improved if the compilers would abandon
the title, &c, re-arrange the order and number of
the Services, and remodel the whole book upon a
more simple plan."
The history of this Service-book almost pro
vokes a smile ! " Unexceptionable and highly va
luable," it is still destined to be wholly and totally
remodelled! And then " the unfortunate " (mark
the word), " the unfortunate resemblance which it
bears in form to the Romish Breviary. Unfortu
nate! but, probably, accidental! It reminds one
forcibly of the excuse given by Aaron for the
Israelites when they made them a calf to worship,
when he says to Moses, speaking of the melting of
the metal for the making of the idol, " behold
there came out this calf!" an unfortunate accident,
for which no one could be called to account. You
would imagine the book had been so formed by
accident — an unfortunate but unavoidable acci
dent! and, probably, by an unfortunate accident
had been allowed to remain in the Chapel ; and so
we may conclude that the decorations, the lace
cloth, the metal cross, as well as this book, were
all unfortunate resemblances of Romish practices ;
unfortunate, indeed, but not the less injurious;
singularly unfortunate, too, in the uniformity of
their tendency ; • singularly indicative of a great
neglect somewhere as to the excrescence from time

29
to time of questionable practices ; and such prac
tices are no isolated acts, but they speak of a sys
tem as surely as a feather indicates the drift of the
wind that bears it onwards.
Thus much for the Commissioners' report. The
reader can judge for himself how far it proves or
disproves the four allegations to which it refers.
The Bishop, in his concluding letter to the Prin
cipal, says, " I am rejoiced to see that it (the report)
negatives completely every charge brought against
you by my gossipping friend, Mr. Golightly."
Can any one else see this whole transaction in
the same happy light?
Suppose, however, we grant that Mr. Golightly's
four allegations are completely negatived, and, at the
same time, recapitulate the facts established by the
report of the Commissioners, and whoever is able,
let him reconcile the circumstances of the case!
We find admitted the existence of decorations and
a lavish display of ornaments in the Chapel at the
time of the Commission, and also the existence of
the book so unfortunately like a Romish Breviary.
We find admitted the past use of a lace cloth ; the
former existence on the shelf of the table of a metal
cross ; the habit of rinsing the Sacramental vessels
in the piscina of the Chapel, at this time abandoned :
these are the facts which we learn from this report
in reference to the system pursued in Cuddesdon
College ; and it is for the public to judge for them
selves how far a system can be deemed sound in

30
which such practices are found at any time to have
been permitted.
Now, let us look for a moment at the answers
given by incumbents, to whom a circular letter
was issued, asking them these two questions : —
I. Have you observed in any curate employed
by you, who had been trained at our College, any
tendency to teaching or practices other than those
of the Church of England?
II. If you have observed any such tendency,
should you say that it had been fostered or
repressed at Cuddesdon?
There are nine extracts published in this pam
phlet, taken from amongst the answers of thirty-
nine incumbents, who had in their employ forty-
six curates from the college. And I cannot but
observe, that, probably none but those who hold
theological views of a particular class, would seek
for curates from Cuddesdon College. It is all
very well to describe these thirty-nine incumbents
as persons " representing very different shades of
theological opinions," but it is more than likely
that these very different shades of opinion would
all be comprised in those views commonly known
as High Church views. Such men would not
object to — nay, would probably themselves indulge
in — the same kind of practices and observances
which are complained of by Mr. Golightly; and it
is highly improbable that these incumbents would
raise a complaint with regard to a system of
which they so approved, as to choose their curates

31
from its immediate influence. On the contrary,
and as might be expected, in these nine extracts
there is an indignant and in one case an intem
perate denial of the existence of any reprehensible
tendency in the system of Cuddesdon College, or
of anything like Romanism in its students. It is,
moreover, well worthy of remark that several of
the curates alluded to by the writers of the letters,
from which the extracts are taken, are stated by
them to have gone to Cuddesdon College " with
erroneous tendencies," " with shaken allegiance to
the Church of England, and doubts tending
towards Rome," " with misgivings as to the
orthodoxy of the English Church," &c. ; but that
at Cuddesdon College, all this was cleared up ; the
doubts removed; the erroneous tendencies re
pressed, &c.
Three of the writers of these letters — of the
nine — make this important statement — important
indeed! For what is it that leads young men
with Romanizing tendencies to Cuddesdon Col
lege? Why do they fix on this institution to
complete their theological education?
Is there not some attraction there for men
whose minds are thus wavering? Is there nothing
in the system there which is calculated to meet
the requirements of this morbid condition of reli
gious feeling?
Is there not that there which satisfies this
unhealthy craving after something beyond the
ordinary teaching and practice of the Protestant

32
Church, and which so settles the doubts and meets
the tendencies of these Romanizing minds, as to
stay their further progress and make their own
Church just palatable?
A young man contracts a morbid hankering
after the mere externals of religious worship; he
fancies them aids to devotion ; he gets an appetite
for religious frippery, and finds to his disgust that
there is nothing in our solid, scriptural, Protestant
Church, to satisfy this yearning. Here is the
person, who, on the evidence of these incumbents,
goes to Cuddesdon College — there he finds the
decorations and ornaments of the chapel, the lace
cloth, the metal cross and the service-book, so
unfortunately like a Romish Breviary — and he
finds, moreover, that such things, though ulti
mately removed, are allowed at all events for a
time ; their existence is a part of the system he has
entered upon ; his appetite is gratified and he sees
no occasion to go further. "If this is the Pro
testant Church," he exclaims, "it will do for me."
But, alas! the evil does not stay its course so
readily! It all becomes a part of his creed; he
goes out into the world and takes his love of such
follies with him; and in his future parish there
arise heart-burnings and disunion; solid religious-
minds are grieved at such trifling, whilst the
weaker brethren are offended ; the congregation is
divided ; the Church grows empty and the nearest
meeting-house grows full. Practical religion is

33
sacrificed for the sake of a lace fringe or a metal
cross !
And the taste was acquired or at least con
firmed at Cuddesdon College ! ! ! Rapidly, too,
whether for good or evil does the stream flow
onwards; for at Michaelmas, 1857, fifty -two cu
rates had gone forth from this institution, out of
which thirty-six had settled in the diocese of
Oxford! Then come extracts from letters written by
former students and by others, which, in point of
evidence are of little value, as it is scarcely pro
bable that those who received their education at
this college and identified themselves with its
system, would speak in disapprobation of the
course which they themselves adopted, for the sake
of the advantages they believed it to possess ; and,
we may be sure, that no letter from a student,
who might have changed his views, would have
been made public in this correspondence. With
reference to the prayers extracted from the various
service-books used at Cuddesdon College, I shall,
as a layman, abstain from offering any remarks ;
only suggesting that their tone in many respects is
very unlike the spirit of those which are contained
in our most excellent Book of Common Prayer.
I have before alluded to a meeting of clergy that
took place at the Bishop's Palace, subsequently to
the publication of the pamphlet, when, with the
small exception of five or six, they passed a vote of
confidence in the future management of this college.

It was, doubtless, a wise precaution that this pro
ceeding was not made public, with .the names of
those of the clergy who so expressed their appro
bation of this institution, or at home in their own
parishes this vote might have tended to shake their
influence with many. Thus the whole matter came
to an end, whilst the supporters of the college con
gratulate themselves on their victory and glory in
the result of the investigation. Whether the
victory is theirs, let the reader of these few pages
for himself decide! It is, however, a matter of
no personal consideration; it is of grave impor
tance that such an institution should be clear from
all suspicion of wrong teaching or erroneous
practice. It is not enough that its supporters
should write letters of congratulation to each
other, and vote mutual confidence amongst them
selves. It is practically a public institution; it
affects the welfare of |he people at large, and
before the world it must j^tand wholly acquitted, if
its principles are to be respected and its influence
to become permanent.

F. Sliuljerl, Printer, 51, Rupert Street,