It is conceded by Messrs. Crooks & Blakse, that the General Assembly
could be legally organized by the mere concurrence of all the Dioceses
in Canada. Now whatever doubt may be entertained as to the strict
right of the Metropolitan to convoke and preside over the first Assem-
bly, it is certain that the organization, such as it was, was effected with
the concurrence of all the Dioceses, and was subsequently confirmed by
a second Synod, at which all the Dioceses were represented, and in which
they all concurred. It surely cannot be Beriously contended, that the
mere participation of the Metropolitan in the organization thus effected
and concurred in, has so vitiated the whole proceedings that they are
to be considered as illegal, and in no way binding on any of the Dioceses.
The Dioceses, whether legally summoned or not in the first instance,
chose to meet, as they had an undoubted right to do, under the Act, and
at such meeting they not only assented to the Metropolitan assuming to
convoke and preside over the Assembly, but they enacted, as a part of
the Constitution, which the Legislature gave them express power to
make, that in future the Mletropolitan should have power to summon
them in his discretion, and should be the President of the Upper House.
It was in the exercise of this discretion, and under the authority of the
Constitution thus made, that the Metropolitan convoked and presided
over the second Synod, at which the Constitution was unanimously
confirmed.
Viewing the whole matter therefore under either aspect (that of strict
legal right to convoke and preside in the first instance, or the contrary,)
1 am clearly of opinion that the organization of the Provincial Synod,
as a legally constituted body under our Provincial Act, is unassailable.
I have the honour to be,
My Lord,
Very faithfuUy,
Your most obedt. servant,
STRACHAN BTHEWBNE, Q.C.
Convinced as I might be myself by the able doeument drawn up
by my Chancellor, yet I felt sure that it would be a great satisfac-
tion to the members of the Church in general, and assist most mate-
rially in at once putting an end to any doubts on this subjeot, if
I could also obtain the opinion of the learned Chancellor of the
Bishop of Toronto. I thereore immediately forwarded all the
documente to the Hon. J. H. Cameron, Q. 0., M.P.P., and I
have now reoeived from 'him the following full and eomplete
reply: