A hundred years ago
From the 'Spectator', 11 September 1869—The Bishops unequal to their work are really begin- ning to resign. Not only is it understood that the Bishop of Winchester resigns early next month, but he will not even accept, it is said, the full retiring pension to which he is entitled. The Bishop of Bath and Wells has already resigned. It is too much to expect that the Bishop of Exeter, who is but 91, and has only held the see for 38 years, should give up possession be- fore he can count his hundred years; but the younger generation, as we may say, of Bishops is really setting a fair example of disinterested- ness. Few men with comparatively light work to do are willing to admit that they are past doing that light work, and this is generally the bishops' cases. The proper exercise of the divine right of abdication really requires a remarkable balance of true humility and proper self-confidence, and we can't expect bishops to be exceptionally gifted with such a balance of characteristics as that.
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