The Press. — London, England, 1854-05-13 00:00:00

442 .- . 1 to celebrate the completion and opening of the new I wing of the Brompton Hospital for Consumption. An admirable site for this bazaar has been furnished by her Makjesty's Commissioners for the Exhibition of 1851, who have placed Gore-house and grounds at the disposal of the directors. The Countess of Derby has kindly consented to take a stall. GREAT PREPARATIONS have been made for the launch of the Royal Albert,l2l guns, which will take place at Woolwich this (Saturday) afternoon. The Queen and Prince Albert are to be present, a booth having been fitted up especially for their accommoda tion. Many other booths on shore and vessels on the river have also been prepared, and a grand stand erected on the other side of the river for spectators. The applications to the Woolwich authorities for tickets have been exceedingly numerous: 9,000 were issued, but that number could not satisfy one-half the demand. anh Omni. FESTIVAL OF THE SONS OF THE CLERGY. THE bicentenary celebration of this festival took place on Wednesday last in St. Paul's Cathedral. The first anniversary of the association was held in 1055 on the same site, though notin the same edifice, the cathedral of that day having been destroyed in the great tire eleven years later. At that date cer tain zealous members of the Church, moved with compassion for the privations of the clergy, suffering under the calamities of the times, formed themselves into an association to alleviate their distresses. This private association was followed by the establishment of a public body, incorporated by royal charter from Charles 11., which became commonly known as the Corporation of the Sons of the Clergy. The funds are impartially administered to claimants from all the dioceses of England and Wales, and annually assist about 1,200 persons, of whom 700 are widows and aged single daughters of deceased clergymen. Wednesday's festival, in commemoration of the two hundredth year of the existence of the charity, was celebrated upon a scale of unusual magnificence. An assemblage of from 5,000 to 0,000 persons, all belong ing to the wealthier classes, filled the vast space under the dome and a large portion of the central nave of the cathedral. The choirs of the Chapel Royal, of Westminster Abbey, of St. George's, Windsor, of Bristol, Canterbury, Chester, Ely, Hereford, Lincoln, Norwich, Rochester, and Winchester Cathedrals, of the Temple, and other churches assisted. His Royal Highness Prince Albert, the Lord Mayor, Sheriffs, and Aldermen, together with the civic authorities of other cities and towns, were present. The interior of the sacred edifice had been fitted up by Mr. Newman, the architect, so that full service might boperformed with the effect of 300 voices under the dome. The anthem was composed especially for the occa sion by Mr. Goss, the organist of St. Paul's. The sermon was preached by the Archbishop of Canter bury from St. Matthew's gospel, x, 41.—" He thatre ceiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward." And the collection afterwards in the cathedral amounted to 6901. In the evening a splendid banquet took place, ac cording to custom, in Merchant Tailors' Hall. The Lord Mayor presided, sud among the guests, who numbered 450, was the Prince Concert. During the evening his Royal Highness, who was the steward of the year, made an effective speech to the assembly. He said : " I am highly gratified to have been a witness to the 200th anniversary of this festival, testifying as it does that the people of this country do not relax in efforts which they have once undertaken, and do not forsake the spirit which animated their forefathers. (Loud cheers.) When our an cestors purified the Christian faith and shook of the yoke of a domineering priesthood, they felt that the keystone of that wonderful fabric which had grown up in the dark times of the middle ages was the celibacy of the clergy ; and shrewdly foresaw that their reformed faith and newly-won religious liberty would, on the contrary, only be secure in the hands of a clergy united with the people by every sym pathy—national, personal, and domestic. (Loud cheers.) This nation has enjoyed for 300 years the blessing of a church establishment which rests upon this basis, and can not be too grateful for the advantages afforded by the fact that the Christian ministers not only preach the doctrines of Christianity, but live among their congregations, an example for the discharge of every Christian duty as husbands, fathers, and masters of families—themselves capable of fathoming the whole depth of human feelings, desires, and difficulties. (Cheers.) While we must gratefully acknow ledge that they have, as a body, worthily fulfilled this high and difficult task, we must bear in mind that we deny them n equal participation in one of the actuating motives of life—the one which among the ' children of this generation' exercises, perhaps of necessity, the strongest influence—l mean the desire for the acquisition and accumulation of the goods of this world. (Cheers.) The appellation of ' a money-making parson' is not only a reproach but a con demnation for a clergyman, depriving him at once of all in fluence over his congregation. Yet this man, who has to shun opportunities for acquiring wealth, open to most of us, and who has himself only an often scanty life-income allotted to him for his services, has a wife and children like ourselves, and we wish him to have the same solicitude for their welfare which we feel for our own. (Cheers.) Are ~;; . n i THE PRESS. we not bound then to do what we can to relieve his mind from anxiety, and to preserve his children from destitution when it shall have pleased the Almighty to remove him from the scene of his labours ? (Cheers.) You have given an answer in the affirmative by your presence here to-clay, and, although this institution can do materially but little, morally it gives a public recognition of the claims which the sons of the clergy have upon the sympathy and liberality of the community at large, and, as such, is of the greatest value. ( Cheers.) May it continue for further hundreds of years as a bond of union between clergy and laity, and on each recurring centenary may it find the nation ever ad- vancing in prosperity, civilisation, and piety ! (Loud cheers.)". The Prince Consort concluded by proposing the health of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who duly responded. The financial report read by the trea surer stated that his Royal Highness had contributed 100 guineas, that the 113 stewards of the festival had handed in lists amounting 3,5001., that the collection at the cathedral doors was WU, that the subscrip tions at the dinner gave a sum of 3,1451., that an es timated sum of 3,8001. might be added as the pro ceeds of sermons preached in aid of the funds, that the Dowager Lady Willoughby de Broke had given a donation of 5001., and that the receipts for the year would amount to 12,0501. This gratifying statement was received with loud cheers by the company. BRITISH AND FOREIGN SCHOOL SOCIETY. The anniversary of this society was held on Mon day, at the school-room in the Borough-road. Lord J. Russell, who presided, had previously witnessed the usual preliminary examination of the scholars, with whose progress, especially in religious knowledge, he expressed himself well satisfied. At the meeting his lordship alluded to the difficul ties which the society had encountered at its origin, and those of another character but not less difficult to surmount which still beset them : " After the society has existed for forty-five years we find its position a good deal changed. Its difficulties are, perhaps, not diminished, but they are of a ditferent nature from those which formerly operated against it. During the first few years there was a strong opposition made to it from the persuasion that it was quite unnecessary to diffuse education generally, an'l that the poorer classes especially would be rather injured than benefited by the reception of that education. Now, when we have to discuss these questions we are met—as we are with regard to any matter of this kind upon which the Government asks for support —by two bodies, called respectively voluntaries and secu larists, both of which are opposed to the plans of the Government upon this subject. With regard to the first of these I need say nothing, because we are here a volun tary society. (Applause.) " Of the second class of objectors Lord J. Russell re marked that their nostrum for obviating the differ ence of sects consisted of a proposal to give only secular instruction in the schools, leaving religious education to the parents or the clergymen. He con tinued : "I own that to me, looking at this as a practical ques tion, innumerable difficulties rise up against the adoption of such a proposition. (Hear, hear.) I could not but be struck with the answer of one of the boys at the examina tion to-day, when he was asked for what purpose the Holy Scriptures were given to mankind, and he answered, To be the guide of our conduct in life.' (Hear, hear.) Well, now, what an imperfect, what a lame system must that be which proposes, either by State assistance or voluntary effort, to educate the great body of the people of this country and yet leaves out the knowledge of that which is to guide our conduct in life! (Applause.) Can any omis sion be more unwise, or more fatal to the object we have in view? The children who receive only secular instruc tion will conclude most naturally that they have the sum and substance of that which is most necessary for them. That they might attend religious instruction elsewhere is no doubt possible ; but, when you consider the time that is taken up at school, and the occupations of the various ministers of religion, you will see that it is hardly possible in practice that in one place children should receive an adequate secular instruction, and that in another place they should find a minister of religion capable of giving them the whole of the instruction which is required for their religious education. (Applause.) If that is the case, and if it is so important that their conduct in life should be regulated, will you give them moral instruction apart from the Bible—apart from any religious sanction ? That, again, appears to me to be an equally unwise and an equally fatal course, because, if these precepts of morality, these rules for the guidance of their conduct, have a divine sanction, it ought to be revealed to them, and the council of God should notbe withheld. (Cheers.) I should be sorry that, whether it be by the State or by voluntary societies, such a mistake should be made by those who are educated as to think that their education was complete unless they had received religious instruction ; or that religious in struction was something separate and professional. (Hear hear.) I have always contended that this matter of religion is secular as well as religious, that it belongs to us all, that it pervades the whole business 'Aide, and is, in fact, one of those things which ought to be reckoned among the common things of which every household ought to par take. (Applauu'. )" Adverting to thestatistics of education, the noble lord cited the tables compiled in the office of the Regis• trar-General I find it estimated that although there were two millions of young per-ons, between three and fifteen years old, who are found in the schools, yet the number capable of re ceiving education reaches nearly four millions. Making SATURDAY, every kind of deduction as to those who cannot be expected to receive education, deducting a million for those children who have occupations that prevent their coming to sch oo l , and reckoning thieving among those occupations, there are still at least a million children between the ages ofthree and fifteen who are without instruction. Now, I ask you to cocsi• bider—after this society has continued fortyfive years, and the National Society above forty years, and after the etfons that have been made upon this subject—whether we hav e arrived at a satisfiictory conclusion ?" The income of the society last year was stated in the report to amount to something over 15,0001. THE CRYSTAL PALACE. HER MAJESTY has, it is understood, intimated that Saturday, the 10th of June, will be the day most suited to the royal convenience for the opening cere monial at the Crystal Palace. It appears that the 27th of May, the date originally contemplated, would , by coming into the same week with her Majesty's birthday, have interfered with her Majesty's invaa riable custom of spending her birthday week "at home," with the exception of the great annual reception-day. The 10th of June will then stand as the first " shilling " day, leaving to the working classes the enjoyments of Whitsun week and of the Derby day undisturbed by other attractions, while the season ticket holders will have the interval at their disposal for a leisurely inspection of the gigantic edifice and its contents. The floral decorations of the interior have received an important and gratifying accession. The Queen, whose deep interest in the progress of the palace has been evinced by repeated visits during the pro gress of the works, sent a few days since her head gardener, Mr. Ingram, to ascertain whether there was any deficiency in the supply of exotics, which might be supplied from the royal collections. A minute inspection having satisfied that gentleman as to what additions might be desirable, the result of his visit was an abundant supply of rare and valuable plants, which have already arrived at Sydenham, and are now in course of agangement. Twenty-four magnificent palm-trees, brought by the Himalaya from the East, and landed at Southampton, have also been delivered at the Crystal Palace, where they were received with a hearty welcome by the manages of the botanical department. These specimens were supposed to have been lost, for they were put on shore at Malta with the rest of the Himalaya's cargo whilst the vessel was pressed into the service of the State to convey our red• coated botanists who go in quest of laurels on the banks of the Danube to Constanti• nople. On her return, however, she picked them up again, and on their arrival at their future home the trees were still in fine health and vigour. THE COMMITTEE ON CORRUPT PRACTICES OF IRISH MEMBERS reassembled on Tuesday, Mr. Henley in the chair, but have announced their resolution hence forward to sit with closed doors. THE TYNE SEAMEN who go to the south of Eng land are now making 121. a month. They are better off, as far as wages are concerned, than mates or skippers. With such wages no one can wonder at the difficulty of getting seamen to man hex Majesty's fleet. THE JUDGESHIP vacant by the lamented death of Lord Cockburn has, it is stated, been offered to Mr. Neaves, formerly Sheriff of Orkney, and Solicitor General for Scotland during Lord Derby's adminis tration. THE amount expended on official residences in the neighbourhood of Downing street between 1831 and 1853 was 24,9711. 11s. On the First Lord of the Treasury's official residence, 4,1031. 3s. Od. On the Chancellor of the Exchequer's official residence, 7,230/.75. 10d. On the Colonial-office, 4,6491. Os. Id. ; and on the Foreign-office, 8,9821. 10s. 4d. STAITE'S ELECTRIC LIGHT is now being adapted for the tower at the north end of the Huskisson and Sandon docks, with the object of lighting the basin and approaches to both these docks, for which pur pose it was tried on Sunday and Tuesday evenings. THE FLOWER EXHIBITIONS which the Summer season brings forth are usually heralded by Mr. Groom's show of tulips at Clapham. The show this year is a very tine one, several novel specimens being on view, fully maintaining Mr. Groom's celebrity as the producer of new tints and new characteristics. The flowers are now in their highest perfection. THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE PROTESTANT Asso- CIATION was held on Wednesday in Exeter-ball, under the presidency of Viscount Bernard, M.P. THE MOVEMENTS OF THE ARMIES IN THE EAST are indicated by an ingenious arrangement at the United Service Institution. A large map of the seat of war has been mounted on a board, and, by means of moveable cards, the positions of the various forces — Turkish, Russian, French, and English—are day by day marked, acccording to the latest intelligence re ceived. The movements of the fleets are in a similar manner exhibited on the Admiralty charts of the Baltic and Black Sea. _'" 'M r J P 1 i.