WE REGRET the action taken by the Bishop of Liverpool in the matter of St John’s, Tuebrook, primarily for the reason that a bishop for whom we have a great respect has done himself less than justice. The Bishop already enjoyed the credit due to every man who acts upon conviction and testifies to his belief. We had not forgotten that towards the end of Father Stanton’s life, when the churches could scarcely hold those who crowded to hear him give the Gospel message, Dr Chavasse asked him not to preach in Liverpool. It was not Father Stanton who suffered then, it is not the faithful of St John’s, Tuebrook, or the Dean of Chester who will suffer now, but the cause for which all stand, including Dr Chavasse. St John’s, we are told, is under discipline, for the reason that twenty-one years ago its vicar declined to be bound by the Lambeth opinions on incense. Since then, we must remind Dr Chavasse, a whole generation of Churchmen has grown up to whom this kind of action is simply inexplicable, and who see and appreciate the splendid work which Fr Brockman has done for so many years. Moreover, a younger generation of bishops has appeared, no whit less evangelical than Dr Chavasse himself, who would not dream of taking such action. It is not Catholics who will lose, nor Low Churchmen who will gain, by an incident which all men of good will must eventually regret.

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