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altered the meaning of what I have said, by keeping out of sight the qualifications and conclusions with which my words are accompanied. For instance,—I take the second and the third of the passages in question. In the second, viz, that concerning the Church, it is urged upon the Marchioness of Bath, that she ought not to present me to the living of Frome, because I had written thus:
"As long as the Church stands there before him, it is her business to see that all is right, not his.… To go out of her would be schismatical."
Here a considerable passage full of provisos is altogether omitted. I did not write as they say I wrote, but I wrote thus:
"Provided there be Orders and Apostolical Succession, provided there be open profession of the Catholic faith by the three creeds, PROVIDED THERE BE NO OPEN DENIAL OF ANYTHING ESSENTIAL TO SALVATION, THEN obedience is to come into play, and his likings are to submit to the simple fact of being where he is, and that by the will of God, in the Church visibly existing before him."
Now put it to yourselves honestly. Does not this long list of provisos altogether alter the meaning of my writing? It is true that afterwards, in the memo- rial presented to the Bishop, the omitted passage was inserted, but the first blow had been already dealt, the attack was made, the injury done. The Times newspaper had paraded the original memorial to the world, with a bitter leading article, and it had gone forth to the Church that I had written a thing which I never did write—that I was the author of a sentiment of which I never was the author: was that honest? But they say now, it was done in a "hurry" Yes, I believe it was all done in a hurry. I would beseech them, particularly my brethren the clergy, men trained in the value of words, and not unacquainted with the spirit of Christian love, to consider how grievous a wound may be inflicted, irreparable, never to be healed, in the misinterpretation of a wicked world, by bringing an accusation against a brother, in a "hurry"
