The National Register. — London, England, 1814-06-19 00:00:00

S5B ru;pl•o4Pg! E VANG ELICISM TRI UM PIIANT IN THE ELECTION OE THE REVEREND TAIOMIS SIIELPARD, 31. A. TO THE PERPETUAL CURACY OF S JAMES'S, CLERKENWELL. Then2.l% :owlet . f. u ne :it # , l;il the nvatial ra:e, 'Tis greater gory to tcf . tx - .l‘ the ago.--WALLEII. RLIAGtor: ins again tr 13mphed..in the person of the present Minister of Clerkenwell. There was no presumption . in lookine for ward to this result, in favour of that Clergyman who had :,een appointed by the late Mr. Fosteras it were co pastor with him-eif, and who, for seven years, l:ad abun clantly thes,election thus made by his deceased friend. Possessing such titles to approbation, Mr. Sheppard from the first appeared as the object of gcneral choice, amongst the Pati.bioners, who, accordingly, have neglected no opportu wity, spat ea no effert, that might fityilly tend to secure hi, election. Psis lot is now cast. Considetieg the nature of the however, connected with its circumstances, both the pasitor and the people have mutual cause to congra tulate themselves in its termination. The REV. '!'boat AS SII EPP A RD, M. A , the newly-elected 11ve - or of St. James's, Cler kenwell, is from Itchnund . Oxfot d; where he complcteel his studies under the Rev. Drs. Dixon and Crouch, with credit to himself and satisfac fon to them. After qnitting college, his preferment, was, for some years, far from adequate to his ministerial NVOI tb, and his compersation scarcely lest inadequate to hisde:rtands. Ile has not rken immaturely into notice, therefore, I gained progressively and desei vedly on the public eve. Being Chas disciplined for the church, he was chosen After noon Lecturer of Stoke-Newington, in 1753 ; and, on the decease of the Rev. William Elisha Faulkner, M. A. (Father of the present NV. E. Faulkner) he became the Mi nister of Ely-Chapel, Holborn.. Bot he did not remain long at this place. Having - awaited the issue of the lir st memot a ble Conte,t for the Rectory of Ger kenwell, Mr. Sheppard was, in 1803, appointed by the successful candidate, the late Mr. Foster, Curate and Morning-Preacher of Pentonville eh.v.l. Upon his accepting this cure, he lc - nk Farewell of the Congregation at Ely-Chape!, now under the pastoral super intendance of the Rev. Mr. Wilcox. It is not by concealing his own opinions, by halting be tween systems and sects, this preacher deserves the apcisto brat commendation of being all things to all. Decidedly orthedox, while purely evangelical, his sentiments ate yet so nr,. ; ed as to propitiate enquiry and neutralise adversaries flumility becomes orthoiloxy. Mr. Sheppard announces ‘r, hat is truth, freely and firmly, but then he discreetly en forces it. lie is zealous ; but knowledge is mingled with his zeal. Excepting sonic fcw bead-notes, Lis sermons are extem porary. • But they are well stndied at the same time. 'flies' are alt sufficiently premeditated, and systematically arranged; puspicnously reasoned, pertinently illustrated, and applied feelingly to the heart. Both in deportment and delivery be is impressive, while free. None of the tuts of style, none of the points and traps of speech, areto be found in him. Sim plicity runs through the whole of his character. He prays with an exemplary devoutness, and most praise worthy propriety; never affecting tno much to iMprove, what so few eventually amend; consistently regarding the established ordinances of his church. Ile reveres the) forms of that church, by adopting thew, though be could pray *ell Without them. ~ - . -~.. THE NATIONAL REGISTER._, r•r JUNE 19 Although he stands but short in.stature. and is not strong . of voice, defects of this sort are scarce noticed.. Mr.. Sheppard's sermons have fo equently excited the; admi ration of his hearers, though none of them, excepting not even those on great occasions, have been committed to the press. Whatever be his reputation as a preacher, therefore, he hos yet to :tugment that reputation by his writings. But it is certainly t.,) be apprehended, that his natural modesty mind, which is apparently invincible in him, will con tinue to fi ustrate all offerors to dissuade him tgainst with -I,6lding some of his Selected Discourses .from tl e world. A ppoioted, as he truly states himself to have been, by Mr. Foster, .and with the unanimous concurrence of his friends, Cto the o!acv oll'entouv ille,and this connection having been lighly grateful to his own feelings, and not without sa tisfaction awl. improvement to them, Mr. Sheppard has, agicably to his anticipation, the gratification of now seeing that connection at length enlarged and confirmed. to the happ•ness and advantage of tlt , patties who seem most in terested in its perpetuation. The contfst has proved not le s s arduous, although less actimonious, that the fOrrner one s. Evangelical preaching, has triumphed, however, so signally as to render it hopeless for mere Moralising lectute4 to suc ceed in any place where the religious co , nmunity have the preponderating influence. Christ has still his sheep, who will hear his voice, and can hear none else t Shepherds of souls, approving themselves faithfut, such sheep rejoice to hear ; but strangers they will not follow. ONESIMUS. * July r,O, 1804. at the Ckse of the Poll, respecting TA:r. Fo s ter and 111-. Ltuttion. the numbers were Fur the iter. llt-nry Fostvr, M. A. Rev. Ricitand Lention, M. A. • • 10.3 1,047 Majority fur Mr. Fos IT re 5C T i me tz. 1814. et the Close of the Poll, respecting Mr. theppard and Mr. White. the owobers Fur the itov Th onas Siopp:ird, M. A. Rev. Ehltry %Viiite, M. A. 1,:i97 9.23 Al.ijority fur Mr. Sheppard . 469 Stich. therefore, ig flie Mfjority in 1:Ivour of Mr. Sheppard, aild .t may safely be prunucnced a ttittosphrott Que. 1)1?.1MATIC REGISTER. I)I.ITRY-LANE THE %Ti 1:. A new muslcal fi.. - ee was pei formed at this theatre ort Wednesday last, called Fair Clueing; cr, tle Ones Outwit Notwillstanding it appears to have been w:iten as a vehicle for the music, die plot is tolerably good, and the characters are well drawn. The music (composed by Mr. Parry) is exceedingly pretty and effective, and the au dience seemed to be of one opinion, by tire very liberal ap plause they bestowed on it. Messrs Lovvgrove, Peuley, Pyne, and Knight, as well as Mrs. Mountain, Miss Poole, and Miss Kelly, were excellent in their respective characters. It was given out f.,r a second representation with gent ral appiobation. It is surmised in the green-room that the author of this farce and the rompnFer are one and the same, which, since the days of Dibdin, is not a coautwa thing, nor is it a trilling undertaking. COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE. On Monday an interinde, called 7'he Grand Alliance, was produced, in compliment to the Russian and Prussian Mo narchs. It begins with God save flit King, and ends with Rule 13;•itannia. The ensigns of England and her Allics arc exhibited in it, and the genius of each country is brought (orvi . ard With much pomp. Criticism were 'quite out of its .:.~: • Ze. ~~• .