THE GORHAM JUDGEMENT DENISON (Edward, 1801-1854, from 1837 Bishop of Salisbury)

Long Autograph Letter Signed 'E.Sarum' to 'My dear Lord' (Horatio Nelson, 1823-1913, from 1835 3rd Earl Nelson), telling him that "Your letter of yesterday conveyed to me the first intelligence of the proposed meeting on Monday", he has postponed "by a circular last night ... confirmations which I was to have holden tomorrow and Tuesday" (and which Denison habitually took very seriously), as to "a meeting of the Bishops at this momentous time" he has "urged it upon the Archbishop in repeated letters" and is "thankful that at length this step is joined", however he advises Lord Nelson against expecting "any such immediate result as you appear to anticipate ... All precipitate action & all exaggerated expressions under such circumstances are expressions of weakness", if people in consequence secede to Rome or resign their posts "the hands of all will be so weakened ... that a good result will be almost hopeless ... the recent judgment ... is at worst ... a great blot on the Constitution of our Church", he counsels "amending the system" since "even divine things are made in a measure subject to this imperfection in being administered by human agents ... They who are tempted to quit the Church in which they have been nurtured ... should at least say ... 'Lord to whom shall we go' !", a "too eager desire for a state of perfection on earth, has ever been the temptation of sensitive and ardent minds", and they may be missing the opportunity "to be instrumental in correcting" an evil, the Bishop's desire is "preserving first the faith of the Church; & next its efficiency ... tho' the precise course which I may take ... may depend upon circumstances of which I am not as yet fully cognizant", 6 sides 8vo, Salisbury, Saturday 21st April

The letter refers to the famous judgment, 1850, by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, that the Revd. G.C. Gorham be allowed to be instituted to the rectory of Bampford Speke. In 1847 Bishop Phillpotts of Exeter had examined Mr. Gorham over eight days on his views on the effect of baptism, and declined to institute him. The judgment raised the whole question of the relations of Church and State.
See e.g. S.C.Carpenter, 'Church and People: 1789-1889', ed. 1933, pp. 196-207, especially p. 202-203, "There is no doubt that Pusey ... even more than in 1845, held the Church together ... There was a great meeting in London"; Carpenter names some of those who seceded at this time.
Lord Nelson lived at Trafalgar House, 5 miles SE of Salisbury.

Item Date:  1850

Stock No:  17224      £225

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