Letter from Bishop Hills to Robert Tomlinson 17 April 1877
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[1] Bishops close April 17. 1877
[2] Rev: Sir:
[3] With great pain I feel com-
[4] -pelled to notice your breach of the discipline
[5] and order of the Church of England in
[6] officiating and communicating at the
[7] Reformed Episcopal Church in this city
[8] on Sunday last.
[9] You could not officiate there without
[10] violating your subscription pledge made
[11] before me on receiving your license, nor
[12] without becoming implicated in the
[13] schism of Mr. Cridge, nor without dis[-]
[14] loyalty to the Church of England whose
[15] peace Mr. Cridge lately went to England
[16] to disturb and whose Pagan Book
[17] & doctrines or depraved by the body
[18] in which he belongs.
[19] As you were aware of my remon[-]
[20] st[r]ances upon the same subject with
[21] your brother missionary last year I am
[22] compelled to conclude that this is a
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[1] deliberate act on you part of defiance
[2] of the authority who’s admonition
[3] you were bound by your ordination
[4] vow to respect.
[5] I therefore see no alternative but
[6] to withdraw your license, the effect
[7] of which is that you cease to be a
[8] recognized clergyman of this Diocese,
[9] and of the Church Missionary Society here.
[10] I can only add my earnest
[11] hope that you will be led to see
[12] your error & speedily place
[13] yourself in a position to be
[14] reinstated
[15] I am, Rev: Sir,
[16] faithfully yours
[17] {Eloluacha?}
[18] Rev[erend] R. Tomlinson