Letter Robert Tomlinson to Church Missionary Scoeity 17 March 1873
[1] Metlakatla
[2] March 17th /73
[3] Reverend and Dear Sirs
[4] Before this you, no doubt, have learned
[5] from Mr. Duncan‘s letter to Mr. Wright that I was
[6] to leave for Victoria to be ordained Priest. From
[7] the enclosures in that letter you could also learn
[8] the effort which has been made to establish Ritualistic
[9] training and practice in the Cathedral at Victoria
[10] and the firm and noble stand with the Rector of the
[11] Cathedral (Dean Cridge) had taken. though you may
[12] yet have to learn that for this step the Dean has
[13] received a severe censure from the Bishop. While
[14] Archdeacon Reese is a welcome guest at the Bishops
[15] when he comes to Victoria and basks in the full
[16] sunshine of his favor.
[17] On learning the course events had taken
[18] at Victoria it became a matter of much prayerful
[19] consideration with me what course I should adopt
[20] under the circumstances. Whether I should withdraw
[21] and not go to Victoria at all or if I went how
[22] I should act.
[23] I did ^not^ feel called upon to adopt
[24] the first course as I felt that thereby I would be
[25] prejudging the matter and that it was quite
[26] possible that when the Bishop and his party
[27] saw how universally the laity sided with the
[28] Dean they might at least abstain from any
[29] further attempt to push matters for some time.
[30] Moreover I felt sure my motives would be
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[1] misconstrued and that I would be set down as blindly
[2] following the Dean on mere personal grounds.
[3] The course which I determined to adopt was
[4] to go to Victoria and while I carefully watched
[5] lest while I inadvertently I might be led to act
[6] in such a way as to give even the semblance of
[7] support to Ritualism, not to refer her in any way
[8] to what happened unless the Bishop thought
[9] to make my ordination an occasion to further
[10] press his designs. With this determination I
[11] arrived in Victoria. The Bishop received me
[12] very cordially expressed his satisfaction at
[13] my arrival and his great pleasure that I was to
[14] be ordained Priest. No reference whatever was
[15] made for the previous events. At a second and third
[16] interview there was the same cordiality. but the
[17] most complete reserve with respect to matters in
[18] connection with the ordination. I was only told the
[19] subjects for and the days of the examination and
[20] the day appointed for the ordination. While who
[21] were to be examiners, what the arrangements, and
[22] where the examination was to be held, we never
[23] once mentioned. and it was not until after the
[24] notice of the ordination had been given out in Church
[25] on the Sunday previous to the appointed ^one^ that I
[26] was fully discerned to the reason for this silence.
[27] Instead of following the practice of the past
[28] 7 years of conferring with the Rector of the
[29] Cathedral as to the arrangements on such
[30] occasions as ordinations, confirmations &c
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[1] and which is never given rise to any difference
[2] between the Bishop and the Dean. The Bishop
[3] informed the Dean that he had determined to take
[4] the whole matter into his own hands entirely irrespective
[5] of the feelings of the Dean.* thereby excluding the Dean
[6] from protesting or objecting to any teachings or
[7] arrangements however Ritualistic. This intrusion
[8] was followed by a letter of the manner of proceeding
[9] as arranged by the Bishop. It is needless to say
[10] that this move on the part of the Bishop placed me
[11] in a very critical position. Before I decided on
[12] anything I decid determined to see the Bishop.
[13] In answer to my inquiry the Bishop said that
[14] I had nothing whatever to do with the matter, that
[15] all I had to do was to come on a days appointed
[16] for the examination and come on the hour appointed
[17] on the Sunday for an Ordination. that was nothing to
[18] me what arrangements were made or who made them.
[19] that it was a monstrous thing for a young deacon to
[20] come and criticize the action of his Bishop. &c.
[21] My answer was plain. However humble my position
[22] I was an ordained minister of the Church and
[23] responsible for my actions. This simple Gospel of
[24] Christ has been {???} by teaching doctrines
[25] which I believe to be false. The teachers of this
[26] false doctrine have been upheld while the protester
[27] against it has been censured by the Bishop.
[28] and how another effort was attempted to still
[29] further strengthen the false teachers. I could not.
[30] I dare not look up upon myself as a mere machine
*[on side of paper]
[1] see copy of B[isho]p’s
[2] letter to Dean Cridge
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[1] being acted upon. nor even indirectly countenance
[2] such teaching. I entirely repudiated all intentions
[3] of coming to criticize his actions. However much I
[4] might differ from him it was not my part to
[5] judge him. I was simply concerned as to how I
[6] must act myself. The interview terminated by
[7] my withdrawing from the Ordination and the Bishop
[8] requesting me to state my reasons on paper. which
[9] I accordingly did (enclosed is a copy of the letter
[10] (copy no 1)). In a few days I received an answer
[11] (copy no 2). This letter speaks for itself and seems
[12] to not to need no reply. Shortly afterwards the Bishop
[13] in a letter to the Dean accused him being the
[14] cause of my not being ordained. To this groundless
[15] accusation I sent a reply (copy no 3) and so
[16] the correspondence closed.
[17] I have but drawn a rapid outline of the matter
[18] and endeavoured to place the salient points before you
[19] and I have purposely ^omitted^ any but the most cursory
[20] reference to my own feelings. But now that it
[21] is all over I cannot but expressed the great
[22] satisfaction which I enjoy I’m looking back on the
[23] course which I was enabled to steer. Though still
[24] only a deacon and the only deacon in the diocese
[25] and disappointed in my wish to be priested.
[26] Still I can see the good hand of my God guiding
[27] me and I can bless him for enabling me to
[28] sink self in duty. I would wish humbly yet
[29] earnestly to beseech you, Reverend Sirs, to cast
[30] away all anxiety with respect to these missions
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[1] because there is still no priest attached to them.
[2] God has signally blessed us hitherto. The Christians
[3] all growing in grace. The Catechisms are increasing
[4] in numbers. There is a decided desire amongst the
[5] surrounding heathens to hear the word Preached.
[6] Civilization is steadily advancing at to the two
[7] settlements and in addition to all these there is
[8] the closest bond of Christian union between
[9] Brother Duncan and myself to carry on the
[10] work in our different spheres. Which is more
[11] than can be said for any other two missions in
[12] the Province. Your Reverend Sirs, have on more
[13] than one occasion sent forth men to supply
[14] the want of fully ordained minister yet
[15] without success. and now I had thought to fill
[16] the post myself. but it must be it must not be now. The
[17] door is closed unless we are prepared (which I
[18] sincerely trust we never will be) to sacrifice
[19] the simplicity of the Gospel for formality
[20] Let us only hold fast to the motto “Jesus only“
[21] and our Heavenly Father who has hitherto blessed
[22] us will continue to bless us and we will one
[23] day know why our desire has been so long
[24] denied us.
[25] In conclusion I would earnestly seek second
[26] my dear brother Duncans request for a schoolman
[27] send us an earnest man with his heart in the work
[28] prepared patiently to labour at the school
[29] and to prove his fitness for the work
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1. I wish to express my best thanks to Mr. Wright
2. for his kind cheering letter.
3. I had intended to write more fully and to
4. send you some account of Missionary tour
5. I took last November amongst the {???} tribes
6. and indeed I set apart a sufficient time
7. for this purpose when at Victoria but I was
8. unexpectedly called on to sit up with a sick
9. child and therefore it is that I can only send
10. you the enclosed account of the “Native Whisky
11. seller.
12. Believe me
13. Yours Very sincerely
14. Robert Tomlinson
