,transcrib$ f ! #ahej ,joseph ,ma/]s    
edition by ,david ,price1 email         
ccx#jgdpglaf4org                        
,picture3 ,public doma9 book cov]       
,a ,,lett]                              
,,to                            ,,!     
,,bi%op ,,( ,,exet]4                    
99 99 99 99 99                          
,,by ,a ,,layman4                       
99 99 99 99 99                          
,,= ,,private ,,circulation ,,only4     
99 99 99 99 99                          
,,london2                               
,,pr9t$ ,,= ,,! ,,au?or ,,by            
,,joseph ,,ma/]s1 ,,ald]sgate ,,/reet4  
,,mdcccl4                               
99 99 99 99 99                          
,,pr9t$ ,,by ,,joseph ,,ma/]s1          
,,ald]sgate ,,/reet4                    
99 99 99 99 99          ,a ,,lett]4     
7,,copy47    ,,my ,,de> ,,"l1    ,,9 !  
c\rse ( our conv]sation ye/]day y did me
 ! hon\r (  say+ t ,i _h pres5t$ !      
decision ( ! ,judicial ,committee ( !   
,privy ,c\ncil 9 a some:at new po9t (   

view to y1 & y wi%$ t  ,i w\ld put !    
same d[n 9 writ+ = y\r m mature         
consid]ation4  ,i d s n[--n )\t ! hope t
 my view1 if x be correct1 may t5d  to  
quiet ! fe>s ( "s ( our m anxi\s fri5ds 
by %[+ !m  :at ! effect ( t ,judgm5t    
really is1 & h[ little :5 prop]ly       
und]/ood x affects ! future prospects ( 
! ,*ur*4  ,b fir/ ,i  w\ld wi% to po9t  
out t a decision is n prop]ly to be     
treat$ z  a law4  ,x diff]s 9 ?is mo/   
mat]ial circum/ance2 t a law gov]ns  all
 future decisions1 :e!r ! ,judges       
appo9t$ to decide agree )  ! law or n4  
,b a decision is que/ionable by !m1 &   
only b9ds  !m if !y agree ) x4  ,i grant
 t a long c\rse ( uni=m  decisions      
con/antly made1 & (t5 recurr+1 w\ld     
probably be s  ne>ly equival5t z to be  
treat$ practically z a law4  ,b we are  
speak+ ( "o decision & ! effect ( x4    
,we h n[ a practical  illu/ration ( t 9 
a case 9 :i* y are int]e/$4  ,! ,que5's 
,b5* h refus$ y a rule = a prohibition1 
& y are que/ion+  t1 by r5ew+ ! same    

application to ! ,common ,pleas4  ,if !y
  agree ) ! ,que5's ,b5* on ! m]its ( ! 
argum5t1 !y w  decide z ! ,que5's ,b5* h
 done4  ,if !y d n agree !y w  )\t      
scruple act contr>y to t decision4  ,if 
! decision ( !  ,que5's ,b5* 7 a law !y 
c\ld n d ?is4  ,x may be said no d\bt  t
 ^! are c\rts ( co-ord9ate jurisdiction1
 & t ! ,judicial  ,committee is ! ,c\rt 
( ultimate appeal4  ,b ?is really makes 
no  diff]5ce4  ,x is cle> t any future  
,judicial ,committee c\ld  ov]rule ?is  
decision2 & s might ev5 any inf]ior c\rt
 subject  h[ev] to ! consequ5ces ( an   
ultimate appeal aga9/ _! decision1  to  
:i* appeal ! ,judicial ,committee itself
 is n liable4  ,9 tru?1  :]e ! ,h\se (  
,lords makes 9 a civil suit1 a decision 
contr>y to  ! rules ( law1 ! c\rts ( law
 v soon1 al?\gh !y d n  expressly       
ov]rule x1 make x practically inop]ative
 by di/+ui%+  e case :i* comes be=e !m f
 x1 h[ev] m9ute su*  di/9ctions may be2 
:il/ if ! decision be "r & well-f\nd$1  
!y c>ry x into effect fully & ) all its 

reasonable consequ5ces  z coroll>ies f  
x4  ,to ^? !re=e1 & !re are _m1 :o  ?9k 
t ?is decision ( ! ,judicial ,committee 
is wrong1 ,i %\ld  say1 8lay be=e !     
public ! gr\nds ( y\r diff]5ce ( op9ion 
op5ly1 9 ! %ape ( well-consid]$         
argum5ts2 & 9 ! next case  ( a simil>   
nature :i* arises g ) confid5ce 9 ^?    
argum5ts to  ! next ,judicial           
,committee1 & y w probably succe$1 ev5  
if !  same ,judges sit !re1 & m c]ta9ly 
if _! successors d s1 9  ov]rul+ ?is    
errone\s decision4  ,9 ! mean :ile y w  
say1  !re is ! evil ( a cl]k ( h]etical 
op9ions admitt$ into !  ,*ur*2 ,i admit 
! evil2 b suppose x 0 "o :o _h be5      
acquitt$1  improp]ly p]haps 9 y\r       
op9ion1 ( any o!r (f5ce by compet5t     
au?ority1 w\ld x be fair to say1 because
 ! tribunal _h mi/ak5ly  acquitt$ him1 t
 x 0 decid$ t ! ,*ur* might prop]ly be  
s]v$ by a crim9al1 & !re=e t y mu/ leave
 x8 c]ta9ly  n4  ,?is cl]k is 9 a simil>
 category4  ,9 y\r op9ion he is a       
h]etic4  ,b x has be5 adjudg$ o!rwise by

 a compet5t tribunal1 &  y mu/ acquiesce
 9 ?is in/ance1 9 t judgm5t :i* y deem  
errone\s40  ,?is1 my de> ,"l1 is !      
advice ,i %\ld v5ture to give  "u ^!    
circum/ances1 & ,i hope t 9 s do+1 ,i   
%\ld h  y\r concurr5ce4    ,b !re is    
ano!r po9t ( view also1 & ,i ?9k a v    
mat]ial "o  9 :i* ,i wi% to pres5t !    
decision to y4  ,& x 0 ?is ( :i*  we 7  
speak+ ye/]day4  ,suppos+ ! decision to 
be ( great]  weight 9 gov]n+ future     
cases ?an = ! above reasons ,i ?9k x    
is1 :at is ! decision itself8  ,n[ x    
seems to me q cle> t !  gov]n+ "p ( e   
decision z to future cases is ! rule (  
law  laid d[n !re94  ,if ! ,judges :o   
decide make a blund] z to !  facts ( !  
p>ticul> case1 & ^u t errone\s view     
decide x1  lay+ d[n ! law correctly     
suppos+ ^? facts to be true1 !  decision
 may be a wrong "o 9 ! individual case1 
b ! law laid d[n  w be "r & may well    
gov]n 9 future4    ,to illu/rate my     
proposition let me suppose t ! ,judicial
 ,committee  9 /at+ :at !y1 f ! facts   

be=e !m1 consid]$ to be ,mr4  ,gorham's 
op9ions1 _h /at$ t !y consid]$ him z    
hold+ 8t  all *ildr5 duly baptiz$ 9 !   
mode prescrib$ by our ,liturgy 7  !reby 
reg5]ate0--& _h proce$$ to lay d[n z a  
rule t a  ,cl]gyman hold+ t op9ion c\ld 
n ju/ly be refus$ in/itution by  y\r    
lord%ip4  ,:o c\ld h diff]$ f !m z to ! 
rule--h[ev]  mu* we might h be5 surpris$
 z to _! op9ion on ! facts8  ,!  rule   
w\ld be t :i* w\ld gov]n future cases4  
,x w\ld h be5  det]m9$ t ,cl]gym5 hold+ 
! specifi$ op9ions mu/ be  in/itut$--&  
no injury c\ld arise to ! ,*ur* f su* a 
decision4  ,our compla9t w\ld be t ,mr4 
,gorham did n hold ^! op9ions 9  fact4  
,?is wrong w\ld only apply to 8         
individual case4    ,let me n[ call y\r 
att5tion to :at ! ,judicial ,committee h
 done4  ,!y beg9 by /at+1 z ,i h        
sugge/$1 ,mr4 ,gorham's op9ions z !y    
collect !m f ! docum5ts laid be=e !m4   
,!y are ^!4    #a4  ,t ,baptism is a    
,sacram5t g5]ally necess>y to salvation2
 b  t ! grace ( reg5]ation does n s     

necess>ily accompany ! act  ( ,baptism t
 reg5]ation inv>iably takes place 9     
,baptism4    #b4  ,t ! grace may be     
grant$ be=e1 91 or aft] ,baptism4    #c4
  ,t ,baptism is an effectual sign (    
grace by :i* ,,god works  invisibly 9 u1
 b only 9 su* z wor?ily receive x3 9 !m 
alone x has a :olesome effect3 & t )\t  
ref]5ce to !  qualification ( ! recipi5t
 x is n 9 itself an effectual sign (    
grace4    #d4  ,t infants baptiz$ & dy+ 
be=e actual s91 are c]ta9ly  sav$4      
#e4  ,b t 9 no case is reg5]ation 9     
,baptism unconditional4    ,^u ^!       
op9ions1 & ^! alone1 ! ,c\rt proce$s to 
give  judgm5t1--& !y hold t y\r ,lord%ip
 0 n ju/ifi$ 9 refus+  in/itution to a  
,cl]k hold+ ^! op9ions4  ,ev5 if !      
decision 0  9 ! nature ( a law1 :i* x is
 n1 x is at ! mo/ a law fram$  9 ^!     
specific t]ms4  ,n[ tak+ ?is to be s1 ,i
 am some:at at a  loss to p]ceive :i* ( 
^! five propositions tak5 to ! lett]    
necess>ily & cle>ly militates aga9/ any 
kn[n rule or doctr9e (  ! ,*ur* (       

,engl&4    ,does ! fir/8  ,= ,i h divid$
 ! /atem5t into p>ts = great]           
conv5i5ce4  ,i appreh5d n4  ,= t adults 
be+ baptiz$ & n  s9c]ely believ+ :at !y 
pr(ess to believe are n reg5]ate 9      
,baptism1 is a proposition1 ,i believe n
 disput$ by _m4  ,if ?is be  true1      
reg5]ation does n s necess>ily accompany
 ! act ( ,baptism1  t reg5]ation        
inv>iably 7t is to say 9 all cases7     
takes place  9 ,baptism4  ,z express$   
!re=e1 ! fir/ proposition is n          
necess>ily inconsi/5t ) true doctr9e4   
,its real fault is its  ambiguity4  ,x  
is op51 z lawy]s w\ld say1 to a special 
demurr]1 &  if ,mr4 ,gorham really s    
express$ himself1 ,i %\ld ?9k t 9 him an
  adroit special plead] _h be5 lo/ to ! 
law4    ,i proce$ to ! second clause4   
,t ! grace may be grant$ be=e1  91 or   
aft] ,baptism4  ,i d\bt :e!r ?is be op5 
to exception4  ,i  speak ) diffid5ce1 b 
,i ?9k !re are passages ( ,holy ,writ 9 
:i* x at lea/ seems probable t ! grace 0
 grant$ be=e1  p]haps be+ confirm$ 91   

,baptism4  ,/4 ,paul is "o in/ance ( x4 
,! assembly at ! h\se ( ,cornelius      
ano!r4  ,& :o %all say t a  conv]t$ &   
believ+ hea!n man1 a s9c]e c&idate =    
,baptism1 may  n h grace be=e ,baptism8 
,grace 9 ,baptism does n seem           
disputable4  ,grace aft] ,baptism is    
surely possible4  ,suppose ! case (  an 
adult duly baptiz$ ) wat]1 & 9 ! ,"n ( !
 ,,fa!r1 & !  ,,son1 & ! ,,holy ,,_s1 :o
 be+ n completely a believ]1 becomes a  
complete & s9c]e ,*ri/ian believ]       
aft]w>ds4  ,x is at lea/  d\btful1 & t  
w\ld be en\gh1 :e!r a new ,baptism w\ld 
be lawful  9 su* a case4  ,b ,i conceive
 x is1 z to ?is1 suffici5t to say t  !  
,*ur* 9 h] ,articles & ,liturgy has n   
cle>ly pron\nc$ su* a  belief to be     
errone\s4    ,! ?ird clause :i* conf9es 
! grace ( reg5]ation 9 ,baptism to  ^?  
:o wor?ily receive x & to !m alone is1  
,i conceive1 true  z f> z x goes4  ,x is
 defective 9 n add+ t our ,*ur* holds  t
 all infants are wor?y recipi5ts4  ,b1 z
 x /&s1 x is n  inconsi/5t ) su* an     

op9ion4    ,! f\r? clause is 9 ! v words
 ( ! ,liturgy4    ,! fif?1 y w obs]ve1  
is v c>efully word$4  ,x m]ely  ass]ts1 
8t 9 no case is reg5]ation 9 ,baptism   
unconditional40  ,nor  does ! ,*ur*1 z  
,i believe1 say o!rwise4  ,!re is always
 !  condition ( be+ a wor?y recipi5t4   
,if ,mr4 ,gorham ?9ks all infants  are  
s1 & he n[h]e 9 ?is /atem5t ( 8 op9ions 
says !  contr>y1 ,i d n ?9k ! ,*ur* w   
disagree ) him1 = x may  well be hold5 t
 a condition ( wor?9ess is bo? requir$ &
  fulfill$ 9 infant ,baptism4  ,& 9     
adult ,baptism ! ,*ur* does hold  t ?is 
condition is n only requir$1 b t x may  
or may n be  fulfill$ at ! "t (         
,baptism4  ,x may also be t ?is p>agraph
  means t ! condition ( us+ ! elem5t (  
wat] & ! words (  our ,,"l is requir$4  
,& if s1 ,i conceive we d n diff] ) him 
9  t respect4    ,i h n[ gone ?r\gh !   
:ole4  ,i hope ,i may satisfy y z ,i h  
satisfi$ myself1 t if ?is /atem5t ( ,mr4
 ,gorham's op9ions be a  true1 full1 &  
complete /atem5t ( !m1 & he holds no?+ m

  adv]se to ! ,*ur* ?an ^! exact words  
necess>ily import1 y  _c ) ju/ice impea*
 or compla9 ( ! decision 9 8 fav\r4  ,if
 su* an op9ion _h come be=e y z ,bi%op1 
9 8 exam9ation1 ,i  d n = a mom5t       
suppose t y w\ld h be5 satisfi$ ) x4    
,:at 9 x is ambigu\s y w\ld h requir$ to
 be made m precise4  ,:at 9 x is        
defective y w\ld h caus$ to be suppli$4 
,b ?is  ! ,c\rt c\ld n d4  ,!y are      
limit$ by ! actual exam9ation &  !      
op9ions to be extract$ f x4  ,& !y _c   
refuse ,mr4  ,gorham's pray] (          
in/itution if ! case be n made out      
affirmatively aga9/ him4    ,! law1 !n1 
laid d[n by ! ,judicial ,committee is1 t
 a ,cl]k  hold+ ^! specifi$ op9ions1 &  
no m1 mu/ be in/itut$1 if 9  o!r        
respects unobjectionable4  ,?is law1 if 
x be a law1 is t :i*  affects future    
cases4  ,if1 !re=e1 a ,cl]k 7 av[$ly to 
hold n[1  totidem v]bis1 t all ,infants 
are n wor?y recipi5ts ( ,baptism1  & are
 n reg5]ate by ,baptism1 he w f9d x     
impossible1 9 !  lett] ( ?is decision1  

to obta9 protection = t op9ion4  ,= x   
is n m5tion$ 9 ! t]ms ( ! decision at   
all4    ,d ,i !n say t ,i ?9k ! decision
 9 ?is case is "r8  ,f> f  x4  ,i own t 
to my m9d x is altoge!r errone\s4  ,b ! 
error  consi/s 9 ?is1 t ! ,judges 9 _!  
suppos$ ab/ract ( ,mr4  ,gorham's       
op9ions1 h n /at$ ! facts correctly4  ,x
 seems to me  t he holds o!r op9ions n  
/at$ 9 ?is ab/ract1 :i* ought to  h     
produc$ an opposite decision4  ,b ?is is
 l ! case ( a ,jury  mi/ak+1 or falsely 
f9d+ ! facts ( a case4  ,t makes no rule
  = ! gov]nm5t ( future cases--?\gh x   
does a p>ticul> &  irrem$iable inju/ice 
9 ! case 9 :i* x happ5s4    ,i conclude1
 !re=e1 #a/4  ,t ?is is b a decision &  
no law4  ,t x gov]ns future cases only  
if ! ,judges :o %all be call$ to        
det]m9e !m1 agree ) ! reasons giv5 9 ?is
 case4  ,t if on  argum5t & full        
consid]ation ^! reasons are insuffici5t1
 ?is  decision may--ought to be--& w    
be--ov]rul$4  ,!re=e1 x does n  gov]n or
 affect ! ,*ur*1 z a law made 9         

,convocation w\ld d4    #bnd4  ,i       
conclude t ev5 if x 7 a law1 x mu/ be   
tak5 9 !  exact t]ms us$ by ! ,c\rt2 & t
 ^? t]ms con/ru$ lit]ally1  are n       
necess>ily inconsi/5t ) s\nd doctr9e4   
#crd4  ,t ! real error 9 ?is case is "o 
( fact1 viz41 t !  ,judges h mis/at$    
,mr4 ,gorham's op9ions1 or1 :i* is !    
same ?+1  h n fully /at$ all ! errone\s 
op9ions :i*1 f !  docum5ts submitt$ to  
!m1 he really holds2 & t ?is error1     
lam5table z x is1 does n g beyond a     
wrong decision 9 !  individual case1 &  
_c be cit$ z a prec$5t1 except = !      
purpose ( avoid+ su* mi/akes 9 future4  
,n[ if ?is be s1 :y %\ld ?is decision s 
mu* di/urb ! m9ds (  zeal\s & s9c]e m51 
:o 9 all o!r respects1 & up to ?is "t1  
h rema9$ 9 our ,communion among/ ! mo/  
valu$ ( its memb]s8  ,aft] turn+ ?is    
matt] mu* & (t5 9 my ?\ghts1 ,i mu/     
delib]ately say1 t 9 my humble judgm5t x
 %\ld h no su*  effect4  ,x may be t !  
preval5ce ( errone\s views1 br\ght n[   
"u our notice1 %\ld cause a great] c>e  

to set =? (t5 & m  emphatically ! tru? 9
 ?is matt]4  ,9 all probability ?is w   
succe$4  ,= ! tru? ne$s only to be %[n  
to be successful4  ,or x  may be t y\r  
,lord%ip & y\r bre?r5 w d well to assi/ 
!  inf]ior ,cl]gy1 & u1 ! laity ( y\r   
flocks1 ) "s assurance  & advice on ?is 
important subject 9 dispute1 & to decl>e
  au?oritatively t our ,*ur* does n hold
 d\btful op9ions on ei!r  ( ! two great 
,sacram5ts1 = surely if %e did1 %e w\ld 
n be a  true bran* ( ! ,ca?olic ,*ur* at
 all4  ,i tru/ we %all n look 9  va9 to 
our ,bi%ops = an answ] to ?is "q4    ,b 
9 any ev5t1 ,i see no gr\nd = leav+ !   
,*ur* 9 su* an  em]g5cy4  ,we ought r1  
,i ?9k1 to cl+ m closely to h] 9  ?is   
/ruggle aga9/ error & latitud9>ian      
op9ions4    ,) _m apologies = giv+ y !  
tr\ble ( read+ ?is long  lett]1 & ) !   
reque/ t y w fav\r me ) y\r op9ion z  to
 ! subject ( x4                         
,believe me1                            
,my de> ,"l1                            
,v fai?fully y\rs4    ,! ,"l ,bi%op (   

,exet]4                                 
99 99 99 99 99    ,p4,s4--,i am aw>e t x
 is a receiv$1 & probably a correct     
op9ion1  t ,baptism1 if rightly         
adm9i/]$1 is to all p]sons effectual    
reg5]ation1 ei!r = good or = ill4       
,p]haps x 0 = ?is reason  t ! v same    
decl>ation1 8,see+ n[ t ^! p]sons are   
reg5]ate10 is reta9$ 9 ! s]vice =       
adults1 z is f\nd 9 t  = infants1 al?\gh
 ! reg5]ation = good is 9 adults conf9$ 
to  ! wor?y receiv]s ( ! rite4  ,& !re  
is a fur!r confirmation (  x 9 ! peculi>
 word+ ( ! ,article ( ,baptism1 :i*     
speaks (  !m :o rightly receive x2      
:]eas1 ! article z to ! ,eu*>i/  speaks 
( ^? :o 7n only7 rightly 7b7 wor?ily & )
 fai?  receive x4  ,if ?is be s1 x w\ld 
seem to exclude wor?9ess1 & )  fai?1 f  
be+ necess>y +r$i5ts 9 ! effectual      
reg5]ation (  baptism1 ?\gh necess>y 9 !
 effectual reg5]ation to et]nal life4   
,b ?is really w\ld n v>y ! above        
argum5t1 & !re=e ,i only  adv]t to x "h1
 t ,i may n seem to h undesign$ly omitt$

 x4  ,= x is q obvi\s t bo? y\r ,lord%ip
 9 y\r exam9ation--,mr4  ,gorham 9 8    
answ]s1 & ! ,judicial ,committee 9 _!   
,judgm5t1  ref] only to ,reg5]ation to  
,et]nal ,life--us+ x always 9 ! good    
s5se z di/+ui%$ f ! effectual reg5]ation
 above ref]r$ to4  ,& !re=e grant+ !    
above to be ! true & correct view ( !   
doctr9e1 x w leave ! pres5t argum5t     
precisely ( ! same1 if (  any1 value z  
be=e4                                   
99 99 99 99 99                          
99 99 99 99 99                 ,,london3
 ,j4 ,,ma/]s1 ,,pr9t]1 ,,ald]sgate      
,,/reet4