Letters and replies re the St. Leonards Church
"To the Editor of the Gazette, - Sir, I observe that you have taken the liberty of of appending to my name in your Gazette of last Saturdays a remark highly prejudicial to me, and besides altogether untrue. You there state (upon what authority I care not to enquire) that I never applied to the Bishop of this diocese for permission to officiate in St. Leonard's Church. Now the truth is I applied for his Lordships license at the earliest period I could do so; in fact, within eight or nine days after commencing my duties as curate. Moreover, I have obtained the Bishop’s license of which my officiating last Sunday, may perhaps be sufficient proof. In justice to myself, therefore, I beg that you will in your next number correct your own misstatement, and thus, in some measure, set me right with the readers of your paper; but before you publish anything detrimental to the character of another, I trust you will see the necessity of first satisfying yourself of its undoubted truth. I am, Sir, your obedient servant"
F.S. Willis.
The Editor's Reply. - A foot note to the above epistle was as follows: The Editor has taken another liberty with the Rev. Dr Willis, - a pardonable one, he hopes and that is to italicize such portion of the reverend gentleman’s communication as carries with it its own refutation. The fact that he applied for the Bishops license within eight or nine days of his doing duty as Mr Workman's curate, is sufficient proof that he never sought the requisite permission before he commenced or strove to commence his ministrations. There are some other points in Mr. Willis's letter that might be notice, and probably will be noticed at a convenient season, but, for the present, the Editor is content to let the public draw their own inference. It may not be amiss however as the above letter has reference to the unhappy scandal in connection with St Leonards church to intimate to numerous querists, that there is a probability of other accommodation being soon provided for the now scattered congregation.
Another Letter. - "Sir, - Having seen the letter of 'An Annual Visitor' in your paper. I have ventured to add my testimony as to the prejudicial effects the state of things at St. Leonards church will have upon visitors, I having been necessitated through it to remove to Hastings. I was very glad that An Annual Visitor cleared up the doubt as to the true position in which Dr. Willis stands towards Mr. Workman as curate as I know from actual experience that there was an opinion abroad that he was the Bishops representative and several friends of mine had been misled by it into attending the service which they otherwise would not have done. Without making any surmise as to how by whom or for what purpose this opinion was first promulgated, it is very obvious to those whose interest it is that it should be generally -
