The episcopate of Charles Wordsworth, Bishop of St. Andrews, Dunkeld, and Dunblane 1853-1892; a memoir, together with some materials for forming a judgment on the great questions in the discussion of which he was concerned

Front matter

BX 5199 .W85 W9 Wordsworth, John, 1843-1911 The episcopate of Charles Wordsworth, Bishop of St

WORKS BY CHARLES WORDSWORTH, D.D.

Late Bishop of St. Andrews.

CHAPTER II 1 Manns ad clavum : oculus ad coelum.'

The united Diocese ' the fairest portion of the Northern Kingdom ' 21

Late origin of Diocesan Episcopacy in Scotland .... 22

Rise of the Bishops living at St. Andrews 23

Patrick Graham first Archbishop (1472) 24

Short and tragic succession 25

Dunkeld and Dunblane 25

His own retrospect in 1868 26

Title of St. Andrews in abeyance from 1704 to 1844 ... 27

Episcopalians tied their own hands by the ' Assertory Act,' 1669 27

Extent and features of the Diocese . . . . . . 27

Its boundaries and river basins 28

Splendid site of Perth 28

Charm of St. Andrews 28

Other centres — Dunkeld, Dunblane, Abernethy, Glamis, Forfar,

Dunfermline, Kinross . . . . . . . . 29

Character of the people 31

Mixture of Highland and Lowland characteristics . . . . 31

Interest of the country to the Bishop from family traditions . 31

The Poet Wordsworth and Bishop Horsley 31

Conditions of the separation ....... 32

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PAGE

The Episcopal Church has a right to territorial titles, yet has a

scant hold on the population . . . . . . . 32

Smallness of his flock in 1853 ....... 33

Strength of Presbyterian organisation . . . . . . 33

Character of the people illustrated by the humorous and pathetic

sketches of modern writers ....... 34

Quotations from Wordsworth's ' Resolution and Independence '

and from his description of the ' Wanderer ' . . . . 35

The Bishop's great desire to create a united Church ... 37 Threefold duty realised : (1) To prevent the capture of the Episcopal Church by an English party ; (2) Duty to convince the Scottish understanding of the claims of Episcopacy; (3) Duty of making concessions : this emerged last . . . 37 Sketch of the working of these three convictions ... 38

CHAPTEE III

' Crescunt dona, crescunt rationes.'

Early residence at Perth : its situation in the Diocese . . . 40

Early history of St. Ninian's (1849-50) 42

Statutes approved by Bishop Torry (1851) 43

Attempt to transfer an English institution to Scotland . . 45

Character of Provost Fortescue 46

His retirement in 1871 48

Character of Precentor Humble 49

His fighting qualities 50

Lay control of Cathedral ......... 51

The Bishop attempts successfully to make the Cathedral more

Diocesan 51

Changes in 1853 52

Canon G. T. Farquhar's Summary 52

Enthronement 55

Building of St. Ninian's ........ 55

Other Churches in Perth 56

Primary Charge of 1854 57

Acknowledgment of Presbyterian Baptism 58

Follows Hooker and Bingham in agreement with Bishop Forbes

of Brechin 53

The author's judgment on the question 60

a xvi EPISCOPATE OF CHARLES WORDSWORTH

The Charge well received 64

Visitations combined with Synod (1854-58) .... 64

Bishop takes charge of Muthill (1854-55) . . . . . 65

Beginnings of the Encharistic controversy in Scotland . . 66

Originated in England (1853-54) 66

Attacks upon the Scottish Office ....... 67

• Three Short Sermons on the Holy Communion : ' their value . 67

Extracts from them ......... 68

Charles Wordsworth's attitude to the Scottish Office at various

times (1855, 1858, 1859, 1862, 1884, 1889) .... 73 The abrupt formula of Invocation in it, introduced in 1764,

unscriptural and unliturgical . . . . . . . 74

Suggestions for its amendment ....... 76

His final judgment .......... 78

The Bishop at Birnam Cottage, Dunkeld . . . .80

Moves to Pitcullen Bank, Perth. End of Annals (August 1856) . 81

Trinity College becomes extra-diocesan ..... 82

' Papal aggression in the East ' ....... 82

The Feu House, Perth (1858). The Bishop's taste ... 82

Chapter IV

THE EUCHARISTIC CONTROVERSY AND ST. NINIAN'S 1857-1860

' The truth exploring with an equal mind, In doctrine and communion they have sought Firmly between the two extremes to steer ; But theirs the wise man's ordinary lot, To trace right courses for the stubborn blind, And prophesy to ears that will not hear.'

Wh, Wordsworth, Eccl. Sonnets, ii. 40.

Bisnop Forbes' ' Primary Charge ' (1857) 84

Its connection with the controversy in England .... 85

Previous works of Pusey and Keble 86

Summary of the Charge : the Presence, Adoration, Sacrifice ;

Scottish Office 87

The Charge naturally creates excitement 95

Part taken by Bishop of St. Andrews reserved and laborious

and tending to united action ....... 96

The Charge discussed in the Episcopal Synod . . . . 97

Agitation. ' Three Bishops' Declaration ' 100

Keble's ' Letter ' to the Primus 101

XVII

PAOK

Clerical and lay addresses 101

Publication of Mr. Cheyne's ' Six Sermons ' (February 1858)

prevents a settlement 102

Their aggressive character 103

Mr. Cheyne presented to Bishop Suther . . . . . . 106

His attempted restriction on the parties 107

Synodal Letter ' of 25 May, 1858, drafted by Bishop of St.

Andrews and signed by all Bishops but Forbes (p. 349) . 108

Comments on it by W. B. Barter and Christopher Wordsworth . 110 The Bishop's explanatory letter to Sir A. Edmonstone . .111

Bishop Trower's ' Pastoral.' Keble's ' Considerations ' . . 114

Mr. Cheyne suspended at Aberdeen (August 1858) . . . . 115

Bishop of St. Andrews' ' Notes on the Eucharistic Controversy:' Summary of them . . . . . . .115

Pacific Charge of 1858 118

Mr. Cheyne's first appeal to the Bishops 119

Death of Rev. William B. Barter 121

Mr. Cheyne's obstinacy ' . . . 122

His second trial (May 1859), appeal, and sentence (November

1859) 123

His restoration (1863) 124

Rupture between the Bishop and the Chapter of St. Ninian's . 124

History of their relations 125

Bishop's view of his position in the Cathedral .... 126

Mr. J. D. Chambers's ' Opinion ' 127

Perth Cathedral School and the ' Cathedral Declaration ' . . 128

Bishop announces his withdrawal (May 1859) . . . . 128

More outspoken Charge of September 1859 ..... 129

Eastward position given up ...... 129

Pamphlets of Mr. Humble and Mr. Lendrum .... 130

Legal proceedings against Bishop Forbes (October 1859) . . 131

His ' Letter to the Congregation of St. Paul's, Dundee ' . . 131 Anonymous ' Proposals for Peace ' by Bishop of St. Andrews :

Language of Anglican and Scottish divines . . . . 131

Further proceedings 133

Interview with Keble (8 February 1860) 133

Judgment in the case (15 March 1860) 134

The Bishop of St. Andrews' own remarks . . . . . 135

George Forbes' approval of his ' Opinion ' 136

The question at issue, ' is there a Real Presence on the Altar, in the Elements, and a repetition or continuation of the Sacrifice of the Cross ? ' 136

Criticism of this position from Scripture and antiquity . . 137

a 2 xviii EPISCOPATE OF CHARLES WORDSWORTH

Quotation from his ' Opinion,' on the Melchizedekian Priesthood 138

The writer's own judgment ........ 140

There is a ' disturbance of the proportions of faith' in the doctrine

of adoration of Christ ' in the gifts '..... 140

Danger of pressing logic to extremes 141

Our ignorance of the conditions of Christ's existence in the

unseen world 143

Equal difficulties surrounding the belief in a ' Presence of

Virtue and Efficacy ' and in a ' Supra-local Presence ' . . 143

The writer inclined to the theory of Sacrifice which regards the

Church on earth as uniting with her Lord in heaven . . 143

Eucharistic adoration properly a prelude to reception of Communion 145

Scripture again teaches a distinction between different modes of

our Lord's Presence ........ 145

Bishop Forbes passes from the Sacrifice of the Cross to the Sacrifice of the Upper Room without perceiving the difference between them 146

CHAPTEE V

FIRST PART OF RESIDENCE AT PERTH. REUNION WORK 1860-1867

' Making his hardest task his best delight.'

Wji. Wordswokth, Eccl. Sonnets, ii. 16.

Resolution to hold a General Synod carried in 1859 . . . 149

Its constitution 149

Committee on Canons ......... 150

Bishop Eden chosen Primus (1802) : his character . . . . 150

Meetings in 1862-63 151

Canon on Episcopal elections 151

Bishop of St. Andrews offers to resign 152

Work of the Synod ' . . 152

Continuation of reunion work 152

Revival in the Establishment 153

Dr. R. Lee, Principal Tulloch, Dr. N. Macleod, Dr. Bisset . . 153

Removal of clerical disabilities in 1864 . . . . . . 155

Commemoration addresses by Bishop of St. Andrews, 1860, 1861,

1862 156

Dr. Caird and Dr. Pirie 157

Dr Rorison's attempt at a Reunion Conference . . . . 158 xix

Synodal Address in 1866 15

Chichester Sermon (Euodias and Syntyche) 1867 . . . 159

Correspondence with Tulloch. ' A Plea for Justice ' . . . 160

Parallel attempts to use opportunities of educational changes . 160

Advantages of Scotland as to elementary education . . . 161

Acts of 1496 and of 1696 161

Act of 1861. The ' Shorter Catechism ' 163

Attempt at a ' Common Catechism : ' not published . . .164

A ' National Catechism,' 1864 16o

Changes of 1872 166

Call for united action in this matter . . . . . . 167

The Bishop's ' Greek Grammar ' adopted by the head-masters

of England (1866) 16"

' Shakespeare's Knowledge and Use of the Bible ' and ' Tercentenary Sermon,' 1864 168

Their value .169

Projected ' Shakespeare for the Young ' . . . . . . 170

Three volumes of ' Historical Plays ' (1883) 170

Other Shakespearian lectures (in 8vo. vol. C. W. iv.) published in

1885 in ' Scottish Church Review ' . 170, 382

Foundation of School Chapel at Perth (1866) . . . .170

Letter to ' a candid doubter' (August 1866) 171

Foundation of Keble College 172

Eeminiscences of Keble . . . . . . . . . 172

Closer intercourse with England useful in itself, but not wholly

favourable to the Reunion Movement . . . . .173

Archbishop Longley at Inverness (1866) 173

Charles Wordsworth at Rochester . . . . . .174

Consecration of Bishop Claughton (June 1867) . . 174

At Lambeth Conference (September 1867) . 175

His position in it between Archbishop Tait and Bishop Gray . . 176

At Chichester (November 1867) 178

Dr. Hook's letter 178

Reunion work dropped for fifteen years 179

Conditions of progress in such matters 179

Domestic events 180

Death of Kenneth Wordsworth (1862) 180

Death of Warden Barter (1861) 181

His character 181

Bishop Hamilton's generosity (1866) 183

Hamilton's affectionateness 185

XX

KPISCOl'ATK OF CHARLES WORDSWORTH

CHAPTER VI ' Through evil report and through good report.'

' The gracious Providence of Almighty God hath I trust put these thorns of contradiction in our sides, lest that should steal upon the Church in a slumber, which now I doubt not but through His assistance may be turned away from us, binding ourselves thereto with constancy ; constancy in labour to do all men good, consLancy in prayer to God for all men.' — K. Hooker, last page of Dedication of Book v. of his Treatise Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity.

PAGE

Proposal to consecrate Bishop Macrorie in Scotland . . . 186

Proposal to revive Archiepiscopal titles 189

Irish disestablishment 190

Letter from Bishop Claughton 191

Biography in ' Seotichronicon 191 Important conference of Clergy and Laity at Perth (1868) . . 192

Its Influence on Episcopal Synod (1869) 193

Correspondence with R. Palmer on Establishment . . . . 194 Christopher Wordsworth becomes Bishop of Lincoln . . . 196 Bishop Hamilton's death (1869). Depressing period . . . 197

Troubles among the Bishops 197

Renewed disputes at S. Ninian's. Mr. Burton Provost (1871-1885) 198

Perth Nunnery. Ritual Charge of 1872 199

Letter from Bishop Williams of Connecticut 200

Precentor Humble's presentment : dismissed by the Bishops . 200

Special Synod of 1873 201

Proposed Committee 201

Address by Dean and other Clergy 202

Various circulars .......... 202

The Bishop gives notice of intended resignation (1874) . . . 203

Resignation suspended 204

Attempts at a modus vivendi with Provost Burton . . . 204

Its partial success (1874-75) 204

Precentor Humble's death (February 1876) 206

The Bishop's character of him . 207

Move to St. Andrews (October 1876) 207

Deaths of Bishops Ewing (1873) and Forbes (1875) . . .207

Of Rev. W. G. Shaw of Forfar (1874) 208

General Synod of 1876. Glenalmond Students. C umbrae . 208 Sermons in England, especially in English cathedrals . . . 210

Visit to Gladstone (1876) 210

Work of New Testament Revision (1870-1881) .... 211

' Final Suggestions ' on the four Gospels 212

Dr. Field's ' Otium Norvicense ' 212

CONTENTS xxi

PAGE

Secondary advantages of the Revision 213

Letter from Dean Blakesley 214

Charge of 1881 214

Letter of Archdeacon Palmer 215

The writer's judgment 215

Important book on ' Outlines of Christian Ministry ' (1872) . 216

Its value 217

Supplemented by ' Remarks on Dr. Lightfoot's Essay ' (1879) . 218

Stanley's Sermon on ' the Burning Bush ' 218

Letter from Bishop Williams of Connecticut .... 218

Note on ' Sacerdotalism ' . . . • 219

CHAPTEK VII

RESIDENCE AT ST. ANDREWS AND LAST EFFORTS AT REUNION

1876-1892

' He who would win the name of truly great Must understand his own age and the next, And make the present ready to fulfil Its prophecy, and with the future merge Gently and peacefully, as wave with wave.' From J. K. Lowell, A Glance behind the Curtain.

Reasons for the Bishop's removal to St. Andrews . . . 221

Influence on him of the learned society there . . . . . 222

Retrospect. The ' Church Service Society,' founded in 1867 . 223

Its influence on Presbyterian worship 223

The Bishop renews his efforts 224

Sermon at the consecration of Edinburgh Cathedral (1879) . . 224

Review of Lord Bute's ' Breviary ' 225

Correspondence with Dr. Milligan (1880) 225

Duke of Argyll on origin of Episcopacy 227

The ' St. Giles' Lectures ' (1880-81) 228

His criticism in ' Discourse on Scottish Church History ' . . 228

Letter from ' A Son of Toil ' 229

Summary of the Bishop's views on Church polity . . . . 230 ' Prospects of Reconciliation ' (1882) drawn out by Milligan's

conduct as Moderator 231

Dr. Sprott's theory of ' Two Orders ' 232

How far supported 232

Presentation of Portrait painted by Mr. H. T. Munns . . . 233 Invitations to preach in College Church and Parish Church,

St. Andrews, accepted (1884) 234

Letter to Dean Johnston 234

Archbishop Benson's general sympathy with his efforts . . 235 xxii EPISCOPATE OF CHARLES WORDSWORTH

PAGK

Description of a University sermon at St. Andrews by the poet

Robert F. Murray 236

Important article on ' Union or Separation ' (May 1884) . . 237 Its influence on the position of the Bishop at the Seabury Commemoration 238

Address prepared by him for that event 239

Article on ' Archbishop Hamilton's Catechism ' (January 1885) . 240

Death of Bishop Christopher Wordsworth (March 1885) . . 240

Relation of the brothers 241

' The Case of Non-Episcopal Ordination fairly considered ' (3 September, 1885) . . 241

' Public Appeals ' (2 vols.) published 1886 242

Suggestion that Presbyterian Orders, though irregular, maybe valid 242

Address at Aberdeen University (February 1886) . . . 245

Invitation to lecture at St. Cuthbert's, Edinburgh . . . . 245

Changes in the Episcopate 246

Bishop Dowden consecrated and Bishop Jermyn elected Primus

Charge on Book of Common Prayer. Jenny Geddes . . . 246

Bishop Dowden, with his Chapter, objects to St. Cuthbert's lecture 247

' The Yoke of Christ to be borne in Youth ' published (1887) . 248

Letters from Presbyterians and others . . . . . . 248

Dr. Cxmningham's ' Lee Lecture ' discouraging .... 249

Other publications 250

' Jubilee Tract ' ' . . .250

' Question of a Metropolitan ' 251

Move to his last home, Kilrymont 252

Letter to Archbishop Benson on ' Ecclesiastical Union between

England and Scotland 1 253

Case of the Donatists 254

Wide proposals of the Committee of the Lambeth Conference (July

1888) 257

The Report re-committed 259

Charge of August 1888 on Lambeth Conference . . . . 259 Invitation to preach before University of Edinburgh, ' A Threefold Rule of Christian Duty ' 259

The author's own judgment 260

Discussion of Prmciple, Precedent and Expediency . . . . 260

These indicate weak points in the Bishop's scheme . . . 262

Further opinion reserved 263

Obvious points emphasised . 264

Duty of co-operation in practical work . . . . . . 264

Altered relation to St. Ninian's 264

Healthy influence of ' Supernumeraries,' Revs. S. B. Hodgson

and G. T. Farquhar 264 xxm

I'AGK

Bishop uses Cathedral again (1882) and onwards . . . 265 Death of Provost Burton and appointment of Provost V. L.

Korison. Lord Glasgow's failure : a blessing in disguise . 265

New life of Cathedral (1886-1890) 265

Consecration of nave (7 August, 1890) 266

Verses to G. T. Farquhar 267

Family bereavements 267

General Synod (1890). Cordial relations with his colleagues . 268

The Provost made Dean and Bev. A. S. Aglen Archdeacon . . 268

Charge describing work of General Synod (1890) • . . 269

Jubilee of Trinity College, Glenalmond (1891) . . . . 271 Charge ' On Old Testament Criticism ' (1891) . . . .271

Analogy from reaction against Wolfian theory of Homeric poems 272

Present of a chair and pastoral staff (April 1892) .... 273

Continued literary activity 274

Last Charge read by Dean (October 1892) 275

Untoward incident 276

Final words on Eeunion. Foundation of ' Scottish Church Society ' 277

Last illness and death (5 December, 1892) 278

Burial in Cathedral Yard and Epitaph 279

Summary of the Bishop's public services by Dr. Danson and

Canon Farquhar 280

His supposed egotism 282

His belief in the reality of the movement among leading Presbyterians ........... 283

Testimony of Dr. James Cooper 284