Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1909 edition. Excerpt: ... Circumstances of Bishop Cotterill's appointment in 1856. Bishop Gray'8 protest to Archbishop Sumner against it. Bishop Cotterill begins his Episcopate badly. The criticism is not now retracted, but silence as to the part played by the Bishop of Grahamstown in supporting Bishop Colenso, and consequently hampering and perplexing the Metropolitan, would be unfair to his memory. Bishop Gray was not responsible for Bishop Cotterill's appointment, as he was for that of Bishop Colenso. After the death of Bishop Armstrong in 1856, the Metropolitan was most anxious for the nomination of Archdeacon Merriman to the vacant see. The Colonial Office in those days practically allowed the Archbishop of Canterbury to appoint Colonial Bishops. Archdeacon Merriman's appointment was almost un fait accompli, when the Port Elizabeth Protestants, who have already been mentioned as having seceded from St. Mary's, addressed Archbishop Sumner and asked for the appointment of a Protestant Bishop of Grahamstown, who would support their secession against the influence of the Metropolitan, and Archdeacon Merriman. Archbishop Sumner distrusted the Metropolitan, and procured the appointment of Bishop Cotterill, whom he consecrated in 1856. On 22nd November, 1856, the Metropolitan wrote as follows: "It is very painful to me to have to remonstrate with the Archbishop. But I do feel strongly that the appointment is a wrong and an injustice to many, and that I am the person who, from my position, am marked out as the proper channel of communicating to his Grace the feelings of others. He has allowed himself to be made the tool of violent partisans. I am deeply grieved to have been compelled to take a step which must alter all my future relations with the Archbishop; but in...
