towards the ecclesiastical head of the church, and the church itself; and so far from dictating any measures, it carefully avoids even suggesting any, obviously on the ground that specific measures can only come with propriety from those who have, by station and church authority, the charge of administering the church. It would be impossible to take any step more fatal to the repetition of an expression of right feeling, than to make it a precedent for addresses or petitions or committees suggesting, of their own authority, or rather no authority, any specific measures. In considering the state of the church as to threatened changes and the dissenters' demands, there seems no great difficulty in drawing the line where concession should end, and decided opposition must begin. That which principle does not forbid should certainly be conceded, unless obvious and very strong considerations of expediency interfere. For whatever can be done, with a safe conscience, to smooth difficulties should be done. For example, whether advisable or desirable that registration should remain with the clergy or not, whether the difficulties of any other plan are formidable or not, it must at once be allowed, that it is a purely civil business*—that it was a burthen originally laid on the clergy by Act of Parliament (a burthen, however, to which they could not reasonably object, as it only went to registering their own acts), but not either a right or a privilege. It remains still a purely civil business, and, in many cases, a burthen attended with much responsibility. In small parishes, the loss of emolument from fees on copies of registers, is a loss below all consideration, and there is no fee whatever for entries. In those ill-paid large town parishes, where these two may be often main sources of revenue, common justice will require that some compensation shall be given to those who have enjoyed this income, and, on the supposition of its being certain, have incurred obligations (by insurances on lives, or such other payments) which it would be unjust to expect that they can discharge when their means are gone. But while this is clear, it must be allowed that the matter is purely civil, and affects no church rights whatever. Again, as to marriages, while it may be anticipated that the facility for clandestine marriages will probably be materially increased by any new provisions, and while it may be feared that the reverence for the marriage tie will be diminished by the only feasible mode of proceeding; yet it must be allowed, that if there are persons who see nothing in marriage but a civil contract, and like to be married by the town crier, the clergy cannot claim, by right, to couple these persons, and still less would they wish, from inclination, to be concerned in the matter. The church, which directs newly married persons to receive the Holy Communion, can surely have had in view, in her Service, only those who were within her pale. She did not contemplate forcing the schismatic, the heretic, or the unbeliever to the Holy Communion. To have persons dragged before him for the performance of a religious office, who consider the matter to which it relates as one with which religion has nothing to do, cannot possibly be anything but painful to a right See British Magazine, vol. iii. p. 592, where the same opinion was given. minded man. If the state, therefore, chuses to declare that they who prefer the town hall and the town clerk for the celebration of their nuptials, may follow their own fancies, no one ought to object. It is presumed that, at present, even the Nottingham dissenters do not MEAN, and do not DEMAND of the ministry, that they should prevent churchmen from celebrating their marriages after the manner of their fathers, in the house of their God, and with the feelings of Christians; nor prevent clergy from registering the marriages which they may celebrate. A certificate of such celebration might be lodged in any civil office appointed, if necessary. Here, then, concession may be made, but here it must stop. The question of church-yards* was argued in the last number, and every day has added to the strength of the writer's convictions on the subject. It is not a privilege which can benefit the dissenters, but it is one which must seriously annoy and affect the peace of churchmen and the clergy. The matter was well argued by a Wesleyan at Bath, who asked the dissenters how they would like a Socinian to come and pronounce an harangue on the materiality of the soul over the grave of one of his flock, just when persons who do not happen to entertain that pleasing belief are bringing their dead to their last home close by? Nothing but confusion and ill will could possibly arise, even if there were any grounds for the demand; and it has been already shewn that there are none. And as to Church Rates it cannot be too often repeated, that this is the point on which the question of an establishment turns, and that the dissenters know this full well. They tell you honestly that the rates are no burthen, but they object to the principle. Doubtless they do, and earnestly wish to get rid of it. If this is conceded, all is conceded. Tithes were private benefactions originally in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, and these and all other property might be held by the church simply as a corporation under the protection of the law. But rates, i. e., a burthen to which all property is liable for the good of all (for that is the principle) is a test which cannot be mistaken. With respect, finally, to the Universities-at Cambridge, at this day, any dissenter's son can have every benefit of education, and may attain the highest honours, and the same is true at the new University of Durham. If they are admitted to degrees, the whole nature of the institution must be changed, for the discipline cannot be maintained. It rests assuredly on religious grounds, and can be maintained on no other. Chapel, instruction in that divinity which is necessary for a layman, and all connected with it, must be given up; and, from a system of education, the thing will sink to a set of Lectures on Greek and Mathematics, or, in other words, the English universities will lose their distinguishing character at once. * Will not the same principle, which lets the dissenting teacher into the churchyard, open to him the doors of the church, if he chuses to contend, that an address from the pulpit is as essential to his service as a prayer at the grave; and that, as in some cases the consecrated ground is purchased by the parish, so, in all, the fabric of the church is supported by it? On these points, then, churchmen must take their stand, and fight boldly for the good cause. It is only necessary to add here that the dissenters are dreadfully alarmed lest the Wesleyans should desert them, and are compelling even the Christian Advocate, which has been reviling them so long, to alter its tone, and try gentle means and flattery. The following paragraph from the Christian Advocate demands attention: What value can the dissenters set upon Earl Grey's "sincere desires of relieving them," when they compare his words with his deeds? No minister was ever more bountiful in fair speeches. Mr. Edward Ellice tells the dissenters of Coventry, that, "They will best promote their objects by continuing their support of, and confidence in, the present government, for which it has hitherto been so much indebted to them. There is every disposition to adopt all measures for their ease and satisfaction which may not be inconsistent with the just claims and security of the Established Church." On the other hand, however, we find Mr. Wilks, who, a few days ago, was inculcating the same lesson, confessing to the dissenters of Ashton-under-Lyne, that, in his opinion, the ministry will do nothing more than alter the marriage laws; and that he shall have to prosecute even his Registration Bill, beneath their "frowns!" He is of opinion, that the Government intends to remain "indebted" to the dissenters; and we sincerely believe that he is right. The present ministry will make no concessions to the dissenters, except they be compelled by a terrifying demonstration of numerical force. You may frighten them into any thing; but you will coax them into nothing. For the Socinians, indeed, it was to be expected that they would do something, in token of gratitude for their support to the Church-and-State doctrine, in Dr. Williams's Library; and hence the promised Marriage Bill, which is no boon, except to them. For our parts, we are afraid that the cause is lost, past recovery, this session, if not this Parliament. But we must have the dissolution of Church and State in the next batch of pledges; and we advise as many as would be members of the House of Commons in the year 1835, to turn their attention immediately to the study of Towgood and a few other authors of that stamp, not omitting the New Testament itself. Bishop of Worcester, Worcester Cathedral ....... Dec. 22, 1833. Jan. 25, 1834. Bishop of Rochester, Church of St. George, Hanover Square, London, Feb. 16. The Bishop of Salisbury recommends to the Candidates for Deacons' Orders, who intend to offer themselves at the Ordination-week in next, for their first examination, to prepare themselves with some knowledge of the Hebrew language. Moderate diligence employed for a small portion of every day, and steadily pursued, will, in two months, ensure an encouraging proficiency. A premium of Hebrew Books will be given to the Candidate who shall have made most progress; and to others according to their proficiency. Candidates, by applying to Mr. Davies, Registry, Salisbury, may be supplied, gratis, with a Tract entitled "Motives to the Study of Hebrew." { CLERICAL APPOINTMENTS. Chaplain to the Northampton Infirmary. Head Master of the Grammar School at Aldenham, Herts. Second Master of the Grammar School at Wimborne Minster, Minister of Trinity Chapel, Woolwich. A Surrogate for Bath and Wells. Head Master of the Grammar School at Lewisham. By Letters Dimissory from the Bishop of Ely. (From the Worcester Journal.)-Our excellent Diocesan has, with his accustomed solicitude for the welfare and good regulation of his diocese, determined on reviving in the various Deaneries within his Lordship's jurisdiction in Worcestershire and Warwickshire, the ancient office of RURAL DEAN, which has been discontinued in the diocese for nearly a century; and we are happy to find that so proper a person, in all respects, as the Right Hon. and Rev. Lord Aston has been the first of the beneficed clergy to accept, from the hands of the Bishop, the appointment to so honourable, useful, and important an office, Name. PREFERMENTS. Preferment. County. Diocese. Abthorpe, Geo. F. Thorpe-on-the-Hill R. Lincoln Lincoln Pec. D. & Abthorpe, Wm. H. Bierton w. Buckland V.Bucks {or Line} tree Candlesbey R. Fulham R. Homington P. C. Ovingham P. C. Norwich Essex London Lincoln } Flitton cum Silsoe V. Beds. Modbury V. Lincoln Devon Exon Lincoln Lincoln Chester Chester Worcester Worcester Hereford Hereford Wilts Dawson, F........{Allallows R., Lom-London bard-street St. Mary de Crypt R. Sarum Cornwall Exeter Gloucester Gloucester Winteston Chap. P. C. Ditto Felton R. Hodgson, W....... Bampton V. Howard, Hon. & S Donnington R. near Hughes, Edward Nutfield R. Langley, T......... Landogo P. C. Lloyd, Hugh Long, Samuel...... ............ Penstrowed R. Belleau with Aby {St. Catherine's Ch. Liverpool Devon Hereford Salop Hereford Surrey Winchest. Sarum Lincoln Lincoln Patron. D. & C. of Lincoln The King Magd. Col., Oxon. D. & C. of Sarum C. W. Bigge, Esq. Trustees Bishop of Hereford D.& C. of Canterb. cumbe Jesus Coll., Oxon. Ld. W. D'Eresby |