On this page

• Text (4)

  Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

  • 

    50 &i>t l,«<Ul.#t. rSATtm ^

  • 

    THE METROPOLITAN CHURCH UNION MEETING. A...

  • 

    THE SOUTHWARK MEETING. A public meeting ...

  • 

    PROTESTANTISM AND POPERY. The Bishopof G...

• Transcript

  • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

    Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

    —? Ministerial Quietism Will Not Be Suff...

    high quarters , and assumes a very violent form in - ^ he-iconduct _ ofLJthe _ Customs Boardj . it has just called upon Mr . W . J . Hall , tEe ~ emirient ~ b < snded ; warehousekeeper , to pay up £ 16 for duties deficient in certain transactions extending ov « r twtive years , from 1828 to 1840 , and demanded payment within one week on pain of withdrawing the bonding privileges . In his correspondence with the Board Mr . Hall shows that , if the deficiencies are not mere figments , they are ascribable to those negligencies of the Custom officers against which he , one of the parties to be watched , has constantly protested , and not always in vain . From the Customs he appeals for justice to the Treasury , and surely he will have it , unless the Treasury also has been taken unwell in its moral estate .

    50 &I>T L,«<Ul.#T. Rsattm ^

    50 & i > t l , «< Ul . # t . rSATtm ^

    The Metropolitan Church Union Meeting. A...

    THE METROPOLITAN CHURCH UNION MEETING . A meeting of members of the Church , of England , called by the Metropolitan Church Union , was held on Tuesday , in the Freemasons' Hall , to consider the propriety of addressing the Throne and the Bishops on the subject of reviving the synodal , functions of the'Church . The meeting was not very numerously attended ^ _ Mi \_ Henry Hoare , banker , took the chair , and there were ~ also ~ pre 8 entT the Reverend G . An ^ thony , of East Brent , the Jteverend Dr . Biber , the Reverend Mr . Cox , and several other clergymen and laj'men of the Church .

    The Chairman , in explaining the object for which they had met , said he sympathized with much of the public feeling which has been expressed against the late erowniug act of Papal aggression , but he thought the religious part of the question had not been sufficiently kept in view . lie had no feeling but that of loyalty to the Queen , but if they wished to support the Throne they must strengthen the Church , for that was the strongest support which the Throne could have . He denied that they wished a separation of Church and State : all they wanted was that the State should be a true and faithful partner . Mr . Hughes , a barrister , moved the first resolution : —

    " That it is the opinion of this meeting that the recent daring aggression of the Pope is to be attributed , in a great measure , to the crippled state of the Church of England , the direct consequence of the long continued suppression of her synodal functions ; that the Church of England can deal with this aggression only in her corporate capacity , that is to say , in her national synod , which the 139 th canon declares to be ' the true Church of England by representation , ' and that , therefore , the prea « nt emergency constitutes an additional plea for urging the revival of her synodal functions , upon the ba » i 8 of the existing prorincial convocations of Canterbury and York . "

    He spoke of the unhealthy state of the Church , owing to the want of a Convocation . Twenty years ago that disease had reached a climax . Church principles were then scarcely known even by name . " Bishoprics were suppressed in the sister isle ; the revenues of our cathedrals were confiscated ; threats ¦ w ere held out of a mutilation of the Prayer-book , to make it moro consistent with the spirit of the age . " Then it was that a small bund of faithful men began to contend " for Catholic truth , and the faith once delivered to the saints . " He went on to speak of the debt of gratitude they owed to the writers of Tracts for the Times , and wound up by calling on all true believers to labour for the ; emancipation of the Church , " as dutiful and obedient children , looking neither to the right hand nor to the left , eschewing alike Puritanism and Popery . "

    The Reverend Jiattmy Sweet , in seconding the motion , Biiid the offices of the Church of England were in most parishes reduced to a mere mockery , owing to the crippled state in which the Church wuh kept by the law . Aguin , ' in ritual things the Church wus a spectacle to all men ; and in doctrinal questions he could only say thut pulpit was seen against pulpit , charge against charge , and diocese against diocese , by which " Koine ' s work was done iw Rome herself always desired it should be done . " The resolution wan carried by » Urge majority .

    Mr . Dudley Percivul moved an address to her Majesty , praying that , in the exercise of the power vested in her royal person , and agreeably to the aolemn pledge givtn ut her loronation , her Majesty would be graciously phrased to isnu e taken at * nhouM be bent calculated , no I only «> vindicate the Church of England from tho recent aggression of the See of Home , but to provide for the Hiipproasiou within thu Church of unsound doctrine t )( every description , by reason of -which tho Church w : ts grievously divided , as well as for the development of her internal rosourctH .

    be permitted to meet periocK « ally to deliberate and decide , as if the right of continued action were inherent in th & se _ jecclesiastical bodies by tha constitution of the realm : That the iiwlependelf 6 ~ acti ( 5 h " of-ecclesta 8 tteal synods or convocations , without control of the Crown a & 4 the legislative a » thority , is not tanctioned bv the law * of England : That it is the prerogative of the Crown to convene both Houses of Convocation and to allow them to deliberate upon such matUrs as by Royal authority may be committed to them ( where occasion may wise ); but that It Js equally the right of the Crown , ibf the peace of the Chtrrchand the preservation of the

    , truth of Christ ' s gospel , and the jrfritual Hberties of the whole body of the Church , that convocations should not be permitted to become the arena of party discussion , as they have heretofore been , and as they would undoubtedly again become , the great injury of our holy religion , were such assemblies allowed to meet from time to time and deliberate as an ecclesiastical Parliament : That in the present agitated state of the Church it could not conduce to peace , unity , or concord , were the Houses of Convocation to be permitted to discuss any question of the faith or discipline of the Church of England as already settled by the Articles and Formularies . "

    He denied that the Papal aggression was owing to the crippled state of the Church . In his opinion it was owing to the Oxford movement . The extremes to which that movement had carried some had misled the Bishop of Rome into the notion that England was ready to throw herself at his feet .

    After a series of explanations and recriminations the amendment was put to the meeting , and , on a show of hands , only thirty-six wereheid up in favour of it . It was , therefore , declared lost by a large majority . The Address to her Majesty was then carried almost unanimously , amidst loud cheers .

    Tho Reverend J . E . Cox , vicnr of JSt . Helen ' s , Blshopiigattf , moved an an amendment : — ' * That it in not . enaential to the freo aciion of the Church of lingUnd that ujnoda or convocations tdiould

    The Southwark Meeting. A Public Meeting ...

    THE SOUTHWARK MEETING . A public meeting of the inhabitants of the borough of Southwark was held on Tuesday , at noon , at the Town-hall , pursuant to a requisition to the High Bailiff , very numerously and respectably signed by electors and householders of the borough , to take into consideration the propriety of memorializing the Queen , and to petition Parliament against the recent aggression of the Pope of Rome . The High Bailiff , who was in the chair , charged the Catholics with having used the encreased influence and freedom granted to them •? to make an onslaught upon our Q ueen and our clergy . "

    Mr . Apsley Pellatt proposed the first resolution , which expressed the opinion of the meeting that the bull of the Pope , by which he had parcelled out this kingdom into dioceses , to be governed by a so-called Archbishop of Westminster and other Popish Bishops , was an insolent attack on the civil and religious liberties of the country , and an invasion of the rights of the throne , which ought to be met with the most unyielding opposition . That the Romanists weTe endeavouring to introduce the canon law , which w * s adverse to the spirit of the British constitution and its genius . Endowments to the Romish faith were then deprecated , and the resolution concluded with the recommendation of a measure to repeal the grant to Maynooth .

    Mr . W . Vickers , in seconding the resolution , said the Queen had not yet been told with sufficient plainness what the people wished her to do . The people of Southwark , however , as plain-spoken men of business , knew what they wanted , and what they would not be satisfied without . They desired that the canon law should be prohibited in this country , and that it should be declared high treason in any person to attempt to put it into execution . ( Applaxise and hissiny . ) The Chairman read the following letter from Sir William Molesworth , dated Paris , January 12 , addressed to his friend Dr . Black : —

    I got your letter wist night . I wish I had had earlier information of the intended meeting in Southwark , for 1 would have arranged our departure so an to bo in London in time for it . I should much like to hear the opinions of my constituent * , and to express to them my opinion on the ( subject of pupal aggresnion . . For the latter purpose 1 write the following short statement of my opinions , which ( if you receive itin time ) I wish you would cause to be rend to the mooting . I consider the act of PiriM IX . in beatovring territorial titles on Dr . Wisemun to be a foolish und impudent proceeding . Hut however much 1 muy blame the ucr ., 1 cannot approve of the contumely uiid ubune which in consequence of it has been caHt . upon our Roman Catholic fellow-subjects and their religion , nor couli ! I < m account of it consent in any

    way to depart , from that wine policy which during t . ho la » t nve-arnl-twcnty yearn h » H beeu pursued with regard to Ireland . Therefore-, in the next mission of Parliament , if there should be proponed any bill of pains and [ tenuities against Roman Catholics , or any other rnciiRtire iit opposition to t )* e principle * of rrligioun liberty and eqnaliry , i limit oppom : it . 1 intiitt observe ttuit . it is in times of difficulty and popular excitement , that great , principles ought , to be maintained , a . SHeiled , and vindicated by those who believe in them . I would , therefore , recommend my constituent * that , in accordance with the principles ol religion * liberty and equality ( uhioh were tho true principle * of the Httlormnlion ) , every man ought to be entitled to adopt the religious faith which he prefers , and to propagate it to the bent , of his abilitien—that the mate ought to interfere as Httlo as possible in religious

    matters , * nd that every wet . ought to ^ p « jmttej Jo manaeeits spiritual concerns in the manner which it con Sders beS From these principles I cannot consent in any ot to depart , however much I may condemn the . conduct o * Se ^ SrtiTvi 5 OT ^ management of the papal states I have lately witnessedbowefer much I may admit that this attempt to create English tUles of honour and dignity is an invasion of The prerogative of our Sovereign an J an insult to the ! KtP . h SSon-howwrer I may be inclined to avenge will assemoie

    Oat insult . In a shorfc time Parliament Her Majert * * * Minister will state the course which they S ^ uV sue in this matter , and then I shall be able to determine whether I can , consistently with the principles which I have laid down , give them my support , ^ conclusion , let me earnestly deprecate all expressions of religious bigotry , intolerance , and animosity ; and let me impress upon the minds of my' constituents that however blameable may have been the conduct of Pius IX ., no blame can on that account be justly cast upon our Roman Catholic fellow subjects-Believe me . , ever yours truly , " William Molbswohth . ( Cheers for Sir William Molesworth . )

    Mr . Thwaites proposed an amendment , condemning the Papal Bull , pronouncing it alike impolitic and unsafe that the state should continue to cherish by endowments the Roman Catholic or any other faith , and calling upon Lord John Russell "to abolish all endowments of religion out of the * public

    purse . " A . very irregular discussion followed , m the course of which Mr . Alderman Hurnphery , M . P ., spoke against the amendment . The chairman ultimately put the amendment , which was lost . He then put the resolution , which was carried amidst cheers and hisses , as was also another resolution against Puseyism . Before the meeting terminated " God save the Queen" was struck tip by some person , and the great body of the meeting responded to the appeal by singing the anthem in chorus .

    Protestantism And Popery. The Bishopof G...

    PROTESTANTISM AND POPERY . The Bishopof Gloucester and Bristol has addressed a letter of advice to the clergy of his diocese , in reference to the recent Papal movement . He does not seem to think that the " universal burst of indignation" will be sufficientto withstand the encroachments of Popery : — " The probable result will be that the Papists will alter their plan of operations , but not abandon their pretensions . The anticipated measures of the Legislature , though they may reflect the sentiments of the country , cannot be expected to do much more than protect our Sovereign from similar affronts , and teach the enemies of our Church greater caution and a less presumptuous tone . But the emissaries of Rome will redouble their diligence in two directions ; first , they will work on the imaginations of the young and enthusiastic ; and , secondly , will enlist in their ranks the ignorant multitudes of our population , whom the circumstances of the age , b 3 congregating in dense masses , have left destitute of adequate tpiricual instruction from our present parochial system .

    " All our protestations , therefore , against Papal aggression will have been made in vain , unless we defend those who are exposed to the machinations of the cntmy by the practicable method—an extension of the influence of our Church , and the diffusion of Scriptural knowledge among the benighted parts of the population . The present temper of the country seems to hold out a peculiarly favourable opportunity for effecting a great encrease of Church extension ; indeed , we should neglect the means which Providence has placed within our reach , were we not to endeavour to turn the feeling which has shown itself with such unexampled unanimity into that direction . " Actuated by similar sentiments , a committee of influential churchmen has been established in London for

    the purpose of collecting and employing a Reformation Memorial Fund , to be employed in obtaining encreased means of spiritual instruction where it is needed throughout tho land , and I now request you and all my clergy to preach a sermon on such bunday as muy appear to you most expedient , and causo a collection to bo made for this object . " The Bishop of Durham has addressed a letter to the Archdeacon of Lindisforne , in which he calls upon the clergy to instruct the people upon the discriminating doctrines and relative merits of Popery and Protestantism . Among the leading errors of Popery he places—mariolatry , the doctrine of purgatory , the grant of indulgences , the enforcing of celibacy , and , lastly , the confessional , which he considers tho most dangerous of all . He ia of opinion that

    "It may be necessary to provide some restrictions upon the introduction and circulation of Papal Bulls in this island ; and to prohibit tlie iiMmimption of episcopal titU-m conferred by JXome , und deriving the name from any place in this country . It inny uIhw be deniable to forbid the existence of monastic institutions , Btricily ho ct * H # < l ; nor run the residence , of any Jesuits appear otherwino than injurious among Scotch and Mnglish l ' rotet , tant « . That order is well known to h » ve shown itself « o durtgoroiiN that it wuh nuppren « ed by Clement XIV . in 1773 , with the approbation of all wise and uoinl men . "

    The secesHion from the Church of England of Mr Francis R . Ward , son of Mr . Alderman Ward of IJristoV and a member of fhe eminent letfal Hrm of OsbornJ ' Ward * , and Co ., of that city , who , with hi * lady we * ' hut week received iulo the Uomun Catholic Church h ; l « beeil followed by that of the JLtevcreud J . JJ . Woodwail

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Jan. 18, 1851, page 2, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_18011851/page/2/