LETTERS, DIARIES, AND MEMOIRS

OF THE

ᎡᎢ. HON. JOHN W. CROKER.

CHAPTER XXIII.

1843-1844.

Mr. Croker's Acquaintance with Samuel Wilberforce-Article on Rubrics and Ritual"-Dr. Wilberforce on the Tractarians-His Review of certain Episcopal Charges-Bishop Phillpott's Remarks on Newman and Pusey-Mr. Henry Drummond on Jewish and Modern Ecclesiastical Architecture-The "Young England" Party-Mr. Croker's reference to it in the Quarterly Review- Lockhart's description of the Leaders-Sir James Graham's Opinion-" Disraeli alone is Mischievous"-Sir Robert Peel's Sketch of the Political Situation"The times are out of Joint"-Mr. Lockhart on Alison's History -Lord Brougham and the Corn Law League-Criticism of Jesse's Life of Selwyn-Letter from the Duke of Rutland-Lord Ashburton's Advice to Peel to "Nail his Colours to the Mast"-Peel's ReplyLetter from Sir Peter Laurie-Carlyle on "Cromwellian Confusion" -Disturbed State of Ireland-Prosecution of O'Connell-Subsequent Proceedings in the House of Lords--The Reversal of O'Connell's Conviction-Mr. Croker's Letters to the King of Hanover-His Opinion of Railroads.

ONE of Mr. Croker's most frequent correspondents at this period was Archdeacon (afterwards Bishop) Wilberforce, who had been rector of Alverstoke, where Mr. Croker had a house. Their communications related to a variety of subjects, but

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generally they were upon questions concerning the Church, in which Mr. Croker always took a profound interest. In May, 1843, he wrote for the Quarterly Review a long article on "Rubrics and Ritual," in which the Tractarian movement was incidentally discussed. This article was carefully revised before its publication by the Archdeacon, and soon afterwards-in April, 1843-he wrote to Mr. Croker about a difficulty in which his younger brother had become involved respecting a curate. "It is," he said, "a long and to me a sad story. It is, however, greatly exaggerated, foolish and wrong as entailing evil, as I think the act was. In one word, the thing he did was this: a sick man, whom he had visited for months, and of whose state he was satisfied fully, sent for him in the delirium preceding death. Thinking the man past the voice of reading a prayer, he took a Cross, and bade him fix his dying thoughts on Him who hung upon it. Taken alone this might have inflamed a parish, but coming as it did, as one of many equivocal acts, it stirred up a perfect conflagration. However, my brother (my youngest brother) is more tolerant of such ineptiæ than I can be in so serious a subject matter: and he curate, being a very good and a very zealous man, he as ar as possible defends him." In another letter he referred to the wish of the Tractarians to "sweep the church clear of all pews and seats, save the stone seat round the walls for the cripples and infirm." He continued: "There is a lunatic at Haslar, perfectly harmless (I believe, the cook) but obliged to be shut up because he has that peculiar sensitiveness about the honours due to the Virgin Mary that he would kill any one who speaks disparagingly of her. I think this would well illustrate, in one of your well-turned sentences, the growing Mariolatry of the Tract Doctors." In the same month of April he briefly reviews several episcopal charges which had recently been delivered, and remarks that the

"Bishop of Worcester's was essentially un-Church, but it seemed to me from absolute ignorance of his subject, with a very high degree of general ignorance; well flanked by a remarkable unacquaintance with the written vernacular."

The following is the conclusion of the letter:

In

But the charge of my excellent cousin, the Bishop of Chester was of another stamp, and seemed to be, from the thorough ingraining of Puritanism, essentially at variance with every principle of our Church. I do not remember to have heard from any competent and unbiassed judge, two opinions as to its essential error as well as its mischievous violence. his first edition he singles out Gladstone's statements for dogmatic censure: in his second these are in great measure withdrawn, and a quotation from the Tracts for the Times is substituted. This quotation receives the full vials of his wrath, as embodying a dangerous heresy; but upon examination it appears that the passage is a quotation from one of the most universally approved and best-considered dogmatic treatises of his Lordship's greatest predecessor, Bishop Pearson. It is this sort of violence which gives their real strength to the Tract Leaders, and which, carried out into detail in the administration of his diocese, is making it next to impossible "to gather in these the harvest of food' which they have prepared for us." I was very glad to hear you thus express yourself, as I am convinced that it is indeed our wisdom. By the way, my admirable brother here strikes me as a remarkable exception to your rule as to those who go all lengths with N. [Newman] and P. [Pusey]. There is not a touch of insanity in its remotest development upon him, and yet he is an amiable man.

I trust that Sir Robert will not yield an inch to this Dissenting clamour as to his Education Bill. It seems to me the very crisis of the moral power of his government, and deeply anxious as I am for its stability and renown hereafter, I watch every step with the keenest anxiety. I am afraid that Sir Jas. G. [Graham], at least, does not estimate the relative strength of Dissenters and the Church aright. The weakness of the Church a few years since, and the marvellous change which has come over the mind of England, have so entirely altered the position of all questions with which they are connected, that a man formed to official life in the old groove, can

hardly be prepared for the present state of things. Do you think that he has realized the fact that, out of the 16 or 17 millions of our population, the conduct of Government on this question will cordially attach to them some 12 or 13 millions, if it stands by the Church; whilst no concessions will do anything really to attach the 4 millions besides, who feel in their inner hearts that they are severed in truth from our politics by a gulf which no concession or assimilation can bridge over. This at least is my conviction; and I wish that your powerful influence would suggest it to Sir R. Peel.

The Bishop of Exeter (Dr. Phillpotts) to Mr. Croker.

MY DEAR SIR,

Bishopstowe, May 2nd, 1843.

1. I differ from you in what you say is the general result of your opinion, that whatever is, is right in respect to Ecclesiastical rituals, &c.

I go thus far with you, that, considering all thingsespecially that the Church has not been permitted to legislate, nor to deliberate for itself, for 120 years, nor in calmness and sobriety for 40 years more-it is marvellous that things are so well as they are.

2. You differ from me about Convocation less, probably, than you suspect. I wish it to sit again, only for the purpose of synodically devising a better Synod than itself; one, more like Synods of the early Church-in one house, with less of power to Presbyters-but more of means of counsel and aid from them to the bishops than their separate House gives. I need not tell you that Convocation is not the ancient Synod of our own Church.

We need and must have-a legislative body, sitting for real business from time to time. It ought to consist of bishops either solely (in the presence of Presbyters who should have a right, not to debate with them, but, hearing what they discuss, to represent by writing their opinions, when they think it necessary) or of bishops and such divines and representatives of the clergy, as shall be found necessary, securing a real preponderance to the bishops.

I write not without having previously thought on this matter-but without ever drawing out my thoughts on paper,

and, therefore, securing a full right to change my opinion on conviction.

But I am confident, that it is hardly possible for us to go on long without restoring to the Church a real church legislation. If you were a bishop, you would feel the necessity as strongly as I do, for you would not be content to let things slip smoothly and gently down, without an attempt to keep up the fabric committed to your charge. You would strive to restore what we have lost-and very much have we lost-as well as to preserve what we still hold.

Of the Rubrics, I think very few are really obscure, still fewer impracticable. I am favourable to the restoration of obedience to them, though perhaps I agree with you in not thinking very judicious the manner in which this was dealt with in the charge you refer to. There is not perhaps enough needing amendment in the Rubrics, of itself, to require a Synod.

But of the Canons, this cannot be said. Many of them are indeed impracticable, and therefore not only these, but many that are practicable, have fallen into desuetude. There are few which are fitted to the present state of things. They must be altered if the Church is to last in England, under the pressure of all that is opposed to it in the privileges (supposed or real) of Dissenters-and with the little of real power of restraint over it's own members, even it's clergy, which it at present has.

That there are not incalculably wider departures from what is right in the state of our Church, is a most astonishing testimony to the faithfulness of the clergy.

3. I give up Newman and No. 90 fully.

For Pusey (the most guileless of men, the most disinterested, the most truly evangelical) I feel too warmly to give him up, much as I think in him to be not right.

Of the effects of the tracts-and of that movement-my opinion is what it was. I rejoice in heart, and am humbly thankful to God, for what I see of the young clergy—whose feeling and views are, almost without exception, in some degree influenced by that movement. It is true, that only little has fallen under my eye, as Bishop, of the foolish extravagances, which I have heard of elsewhere.

I write immediately on the receipt of your letter, and in the midst of much occupation.

If, after what I have written, you still think I can be of use to you, command me.