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Leader (1850-1860), 31st May 1851, Edition Town of 1, Page 503, Untitled Article

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      a continuance of martial law ; that the project of Lord Torrington ' s Government was wholly illegal ; that the proceedings of the courts-martial were dis-Sraceful ; and that if Lord Grey believed Mr . Selby , le Queen ' s advocate , to have libelled and slandered the character of Lord Torrington , Lord Grey was deserving of the gravest censure in sending Mr . Selby back to Ceylon . Mr . Ha web , in defence of himself , Lord Grey , and the Colonial-office , made a loose and £ eneral statement , apparently basing his acquittal of ord Torrington and his subordinates upon the assumption that officials are more likely to speak the truth , and less likely do Wrong , than other persons .

      Mr . Gladstone withdrew the question from one of personal hostility to Lord Torrington to one of censure on the Government . In treating the question he brought out with great distinctness the main points Hfg ing that there never was a " rebellion'' ( adopting ^ e word employed by the Government ) so short , so ^ ild , or one so easily excused ; that the prolongation ° f martial law was unwarrantable ; and that the e xecutions ordered by the courts-martial , and sanctioned by Lord Torrington , were an unnecessary effu-» ion of blood , and a waste of life , which he looked upon as a sacred thing . Not the least striking passage in his speech wa » one in which he convicted Mr . Hawes of unfairness in treating the evidence upon

      the desirability of the prolongation of martial law , and suppressing the facts in his speech . The Attorney - General made an impudent speech , declaring that few who had made the charges had studied the blue books , uttering commonplaces , and villifying the characters of the witnesses against Lord Torrington . Lord John Russell simply vindicated Lord Torrington by throwing over his acts the broad shield of Government approval , and reading the House a lecture on the duties of colonial governors . Mr . Disraeli , with his usual affluence of sarcasm , certainly deserved on this occasion , wound up the debate . Mr . Bailxie replied , and the House divided : — For Mr . Bailiie's motion , 202 ; against it , 282 . Majority , 80 .

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      DINNER AT THE FISHMONGERS' HALL . The Fishmongers' Company entertained a large party of the honorary members of their princely guild at a banquet in their beautiful hall , on ^ Wednesday , extending their splendid hospitality also to a number of the distinguished foreigners who are at present in London . The entertainment was of the most sumptuous and magnificent description . After a number of toa 6 ts had been given and suitably acknowledged , the chairman , Sir John Easthope , gave " The Foreign Commissioners and Jurors , " coupling with it the name of M . C . Dupin . The latter , in acknowledging the compliment ,

      said" After he came to this country he returned and described our monuments , our bridges , our public ways , our docks , and ships ; but he could not forbear thinking how much happier he had been if he could have taken these things with him . ( Laughter and cheers . ) It might be true that there was no absolute superiority in one country—that one was proficient in industry , and another excelled in the arts—( " Hear , hear !")— but he had felt that there was something he would have been still more happy to transplant than those material things that he had mentioned ; it was that spirit of incessant industry and everlasting perseverance—that constancy in adversity , and ( still more difficult ) steadiness in prosperity and activity in ¦ uccess , which were characteristic of the British , and the true causes of so many and wonderful improvements . ( " Hear , hear ! " )

      The only other remarkable speech of the evening was that of Sir James Brook , the Rajah of Sarawak , whose health had been proposed , and who made the following remarks regarding his conduct in the East : — * ' Wherever there is a man who slanders me , on the opposite aide of the world , I will truBt to my countrymen to defend me . ( Cheers . ) No clamour in this country —no earthly power shall move me from the resolve to suppress that piracy to which you have referred . ( Cheers . ) I defy any one who says they are not pirates . ( " Hear , heart" and cheers . ) This is not a subject to deal with here ; but I beg you to believe that a gentleman of character , a Christian community , do not turn felons and

      rogues on a sudden . (" Hear , hear ! " ) I beg you to believe that we are actuated by the mine motives aa yourselves . ( ' Hear , hear ! " ) I know the strong sense of my countrymen ; I know their good feeling ; I know that they will not say ' Peace , peace , when there is no peace j ' that when there is a necessity ( or the strong hand , the strong hand will be used : and , whatever may bo said , it ia necessary that might and power should rule in this world occasionally . ( " Hear , hear ! " ) You have been food enough . , to hope that the people may progress ; may say that they have progressed . ( "Hear , hear ! " ) JLet any man com *—he shall receive a welcome from me

      —and judge for himself , instead of talking on the other ide of the world . ( " Hear , hear ! " ) By Heaven , if it was the gentleman who Bat there to-night ( pointing to the seat Mr . Hume had occupied ) , he shall be welcome ; he shall receive the right hand of fellowship —( " Hear , hear ! " )—he shall judge for himself . ( " Hear , hear ! " ) I lay down my glove—let any man take it up—in the ause of justice and truth . (" Hear , hear ! " ) I lay it down peacefully . ( " Hear , hear ! " ) To Blunderer * 1 ay , let the man who dares , take up the glove . ( Cheers . ) If I have spoken wurmly , I hope you will excuse me . ( Vlwrs . y l J

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      THE CHURCHES MILITANT . While the discussion of the Papal Aggression Bill goes on—we cannot say makes progress—within the House of Commons , the religious world out of doors contributes its quota to the general confusion . The Pope of Exeter ' s proposed synod does not seem to meet with universal approbation from the subalterns in that diocese . Forty-four clergymen who entertain strong objections to the holding of a synod , in the present position of the church and the Jaw of the land , have issued a protest against the rebellious movement on the part of Dr . Philpotts , on the ground that it is opposed to the laws and constitution of the Church of England , and altogether unprecedented in

      the history of the church . They object to it also because the primary object for which the synod is to meet is to issue a synodical declaration of adherence to the article of the creed regarding baptism , in opposition to the judgment of the judicial committee in the Gorham case ; and because the bishop intends to rule the roast . They say " it is expressly provided in the pastoral letter calling the assembly that * the bishop shall himself decide what matters shall actually be brought under the consideration of the synod , ' and * that no resolution can be deemed an act of the synod which ha 9 not his

      concurrence . '" They further add that the assembly will be powerless in law , " not having authority to pass any canons or constitutions which can settle any matter whatever , or be binding even upon those who pass them , whilst it is calculated to produce great evil and mischief , even to the disruption of the church , being designedly intended to exhibit this diocese as independent in itself , standing out in unbecoming and injurious , if not schismatical , opposition to the archbishop of the province , and the constituted authorities , by which the whole body of the Church of England is governed . "

      A meeting of clergymen and laymen was held at Freemasons' Tavern , on Wednesday , to concert measures for the establishment of a Metropolitan Association , having for its object the promotion of a temperate yet efficient reform of the National Church , such reform only being advocated as will effect a closer conformity with the scripture in its ritual , polity , ministry , and patronage . Deputations to the meeting were sent from Liverpool , Birmingham , Carlisle , Plymouth , Reading , Bristol , Bath , Leicester , Colchester , Gosport , Brighton , the Isle of Wight , Bedford , Sheffield , Nottingham , Buckingham , and from other quarters of the country . A number of letters were read , recommending active exertions for obtaining a revision of the Prayer-book , and for expunging particularly those portions of the baptismal and other occasional services which seem to favour the doctrines

      of the Church of Rome ; for restoring the power of the laity in church matters ; for putting a stop to the divisions amongst the clergy , and the irreconcilable doctrines taught in the church ; for abolishing the word " priest ; " for altering the present system of church patronage ; and for resisting the claims set up by the High Church parly . Several clergymen , chiefly from the country , addressed the meeting in favour of church reform . Most of the speakers strongly condemned the " vestiges of Popery in the formularies of the Church and her constitution . " The

      following resolutions were agreed to : — " That we pledge ourselves to endeavour to carry out the glorious Reformation to its legitimate development , seeking to accomplish , in the name spirit as the earlier Reformers , the great aims which were checked by the prejudices of the 16 th century . That we will accordingly endeavour , ia dependence on the blessings of God , to clear the Church of England from every ground or pretext for Romish teaching or practices left in the

      formularies of the church and her constitution , and from every countervailing impediment to the efficiency of the National Establishment , and that in all matters of mere ceremonial and of inferior importance , general union shall be aimed at rather than strict uniformity ; and we will sedulously endeavour to promote a comprehension of evangelical non-conformist Christians , such as was contemplated at the institution of the Savoy Conference , and by the commission of William III . in 1 C 89 .

      " That the clergy and laity ought to go hand in hand to promote the following church reforms—1 . A revision of the Prayer-book ; and 2 . A removal of the abuses attaching to church property and church patronage . " At her Majesty ' s levee hold on Wednesday , the Earl of ltoden presented an address , signed by 50 , 000 Protestant subjects in Ireland , against Papal aggression , and praying that any measure adapted for Great llritaia onttie subject ^ inay be extended to Ireland . Also to the same effect , from the dean and

      clergy of Ardngh , and from a public meeting held at Belfast . The Earl Nelson presented u . petition , signed by 2000 clergy and l' 200 laity of the Church of England , praying that all questions touching doctrine arising on appeal , or in her Majesty ' s temporal courtH , may hereafter be referred to the npirituulity of the Church of England ; and farther , that her Majesty will bo pleased to remove the- impediments which now obstruct the exercine of tho ancient Bynodical functions of the church . Dr . Cumming delivered a lecture on Popery , at Exeter Hull , on Tuesday oveniag , to a cro ivdcd audience , many perHoriH having como in the belief thut tho Honourable : and Reverend Mr . Spcncor

      ( Father Ignatius ) would be present to defend the Roman Catholic religion ; but they were disappointed . Dr . Cumming stated , that on Friday last , when he was seated in his study preparing his lecture , the servant came and said that a strange-looking gentleman had called . That gentleman , who turned out to be Father Ignatius , was attired in a picturesque dress—had sandals , but no shoes , on his feet—he had no shirt , and the crown of his head was shaved . After being introduced , the honourable and reverend gentleman said that it was of the greatest importance that harmony should be promoted among Christians , to which he ( Dr . Cumming ) assented , but he could

      not do so until the Church of Rome had cast off onehalf of what it confessed , because he could not consent to harmony between the Romish and the Protestant Churches until the Romish Church set aside tradition , and adhered to the Scriptures and proof alone . After some conversation , it was agreed that Mr . Spencer and himself should address the meeting for half-an-hour , one after the other . Mr . Spencer appeared to be a zealous devotee , but not a man of judgment or shrewdness ; but the great Archbishop of Westminster had put his ban on Father Ignatius , and he was prohibited from , appearing on the platform to defend the Roman Catholic Church .

      Upon leaving him , the reverend father wished all publicity to be given to the fact that they were to encounter each other in Exeter Hall , to which he ( Dr . Cumming ) immediately assented . In a few days , however , the father called again , and said that he could not meet him in Exeter Hall , for everything that the members of the Roman Catholic Church did was in harmony , and Cardinal Wiseman had said that a public discussion would do no good to their ( the Roman Catholic ) cause . In saying so the

      cardinal was perfectly right , for the Roman Catholics , like the moles , worked under ground without being seen . The father also said that the cardinal had a great objection to any discussion which should take place in Exeter Hall ; and he believed him , for the echoes of the voices in Exeter Hall were heard on the banks of the Tiber , where they produced an effect that struck terror into the bosoms of the Roman Catholics . ( Cheers and hisses . ) Dr . Cumming then delivered his promised lecture on Popery , which was much the same as the one he delivered at Hanoversquare rooms . The Chester and Manchester Church Union , at a late meeting held at Manchester , resolved to express their gratitude to the Bishop of Exeter for the manner in which he has defended the catholic doctrine of baptismal regeneration , so lately assailed , and for summoning a diocesan synod to meet in Exeter , to vindicate that doctrine , and afford the clergy an opportunity of proposing for consideration such matters as may be lawfully entertained and decided upon by a diocesan synod . They express their thanks also to the Bishops of the church in Australia , for the steps they have taken to promote the establishment of synodical action in that province , and also to the Bishop of Toronto , for summoning a convention of clergy and laymen of his diocese .

      A letter of the Bishop of London to the Marquis of Cholmondeley , suggesting that the Great Exhibition might be made a means of drawing tighter the bonds of intercourse between the Chursh of England and foreign Protestant bodies , appeared some time ago in several papers , and has given rise to a reply from Pasteur Monod , which commences by referring to the offer made by the Bishop of London : — " The Episcopal Church of England has resolved not to be behind the other Christian Churches of that country , and has therefore taken steps to place at the service of the foreign Protestants a number of edifices for the celebration of worship . Offers of this kind have been

      made to several pastors . ' Our visitors '—says the Bishop of London , in a printed letter to the Marquis of Cholmondeley—' will come amongst us as guests fora time ouly , not for the purpose of continued sojourn in this country . It appears to me that we may , in perfect consistency with our obligations as members of the Church of England , assist in providing thoae of our guests who belong to Protestant Churches , and hold the great doctrines of evangelical truth , with the means of attending the public service of God , according to their own foim of worship , during the shore period of their visit to this country , although such services could not be performed in our churches , nor could any of our clergy properly take part in them . ' "

      Ilia Btrange offer of a half brotherhood docs not satisfy Pasteur Monod , who very naturally considers that hi * church is quite as good an the Church of England , and that he would be acting « n unworthy part to accept such an invitation . " Our insurmountable objection lie * in those words of the bishop which we have italicised . Our brethren there tell us that we cannot officiate in any JftigUah Church , and that no clergyman of the Episcopal Chu . ch can unite with

      us in leading the worship which we render to God . What is this , in reality , but declaring that , in the viewof that church , we are not true ministers of Jesus Christ , and that our entireties are not true church ™ of Jetiub Chrwt ? Th « - bwhoi ) eny » , >>»»<> many words , ' that in several continental towiiH , the consistories or minister * of different Protestant churches have allowed Kiif-lirth eliigym . n to use the-ir places of worship for tin- celebration of divine service according to the rites of tut English Church , and

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      May 31 , 1851 . ] M ^ t Ht&iltX . 503

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), May 31, 1851, page 503, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1885/page/3/