Paivars letters that we received by last French mail from Dean Butcher leave no doubt that he will not return to China, Ho has delayed sending in his resignation longer than was wise in the interests of the Church in Shanghai, but we may readily imagine that it cost him a strong effort to break up the ties that had been growing and strengthening for seventeen years. The position of the Dean of Shanghai Cathedral is a peculiar one, and for this unique position Dean Batcher, have been always ready to allow, bad some special qualifications. But we fare not prepared to say that Shanghai in 1888 requires the man to fill its Cathedral pulpit that it required in 1864. The place is changed and the Charch has changed, and that Dean Butcher realizes the Inst fact very fully is proved by his recent article in the Contemporary Review—entitled "Seven. teen Yenrs After." He has seen with his own eyes the changes in the doctrine and ritual of the establishment at home, and be sees the influences which mould the men who come out to China in these Latter days, Ho may feel that he is in some sort "too old fashioned" for the post, and that he could not be in accord with the new, as ho was in a conspicuous degree with the older, generation, It may be best for the interests of the Church in China that the Dean should not return, though his old friends will miss his kindly manner and the quick sympathy that took so lively an interest in everything and everybody in Shaoghai, The question of a successor is naturally in meu's mouths. For our part we should desire some fresh blood in the place. We want a man who can understand a mercantile community and a marine population. 1t would be a great mis. take to select a mere bookworm who had never bad experience of men, and, at the risk of offending many mou for whom we have the highest respect, we must say that we think the appointment of a missionary would be a mistake. There is the same objection to making a Missionary Dean of Shanghai as there is to making a Consul Minister at Peking. The Missionary would be Chinese in sympa. thios, tastes, and leanings, and he would be unfaithful to his trust if he did not press the Chinese side of our mixed social life upon the attention of his congregation whenever ho had the opportunity. Now this would not be popular and would not be usefal, It would be doing in religion exactly what Sic John Pope Hennessy did in politics, and few persons would point with satisfaction to the Chinese career of the present Governor of Mauritius, In effect, for our superb Church and difficult parish we want a man who has been in the habit of preaching to intelligent, bard-beaded English congregations, who can work if neces sary amongst the sailors, and who has some knowledge of China, We believe it is an open secret that a clergyman who combines all these qualifications in remarkable degree has entertained not unfavourably the iden of coming out to Shanghai; and we are assured that the Foreign Office and the respected Bishop of the Diocese would be pleased to assist the Trustees in securing for Shanghai a man in all respects suited to the responsible and important position which Dean Batcher has unwillingly, and after long and anxious consideration, given them an opportunity of filling up, Ofcourse we have written the above in fall knowledge of the fact that the Trustees have made a temporary rangement with the Rov. F. R. Smith of Canton, Chat this is only tempo. rary, and can be no more, is clear from the fact that the appointment has been made without the sanction or even the knowledge of the subscribers, The Cathedral was built under an Act of Parliament, and that Act forms part of the trust; all proceedings, therefore, in regard to the building must necessarily be regulated thereby. In the Act it is provided that the iveum. bents shall be appointed by Her Ma. jesty through one of her Principal Secretaries of State, and shall hold such their offices for and during Hor Majesty's pleasure and no longer, As, however, the whole salary is paid by the community, the Secretary for Foreign Affairs would, as a matter of courtesy, appoint the nominee of the Trustees, us representatives of those entitled to a voice in the matter. Such is the proper course to adopt, in accordance with the constitution of the Cathedral. It is therefore absolutely necessary that in taking steps for the defiaito filling up of the vacant Deanery, the Trustees should act upon the authority, and in consonance with the expressed wishes, of those whom they represent, when the nomination of the subscribers will no doubt be daly ratified by the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.