The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1860-02-28 00:00:00

FRIDAY.

Lord DUNGANNON called the attention of the House
to the performance of Divine Service at Sacller's-wells
and other theatres by clergymen of the Church of
England on Sunday evenings, and moved that such ser-
vices, being highly irregular and inconsistent with
order, were calculated to injure rather than advance the
progress of sound religious principles in the metropolis
and throughout the country. He supported his motion
by dwelling upon the incompatibility between the asso-
ciations of the theatre and those of religion, and con-
cluded by declaring his opinion that the present move-
ment was fraught with danger to the Church of Eng-
land.
The Archbishop of CANTERBURY thought it would be
bitudicions to agree with the motion of the noble lord.
Lord SHAFTESBURY oOnsidered that as he was the
chief originator of this movement he was bound not to
justify but to explain the motives by which be had been
influenced. This he proceeded to do at great length,
assuring their lordships that every step hail been taken
to procure other buildings sufficiently large for the pur-
pose of prayer and preaching before hiring the theatres,
but without success. He denied in the most unqualified
terms the assertion that disturbances had occurred and
refreshments been sold during these services, and
declared from personal observation that a more orderly
and decorous set of persons than those who had attended
these services could not have been met elsewhere.
While he was ready to admit that these servicni were
abnormal, the condition of the lowest raiiks of the
classes, of whom not more than 2 per cent.
.ended any place of worship, required an abnormal
remedy, and he urged the propriety and duty of preach-
ing the Gospel among those classes in every place where
they could be assembled. The good effects produced by
these services Anil by previous efforts inede by the clergy
were already visible among the working clus-es, whom
on account of their migratory habits it was most ditfi•
cult to reach by any other means. It was very well to
any that these people ought to conic to the oil-pointed
places of worship, but if they could not be induced to
come to church or chapel it was necesaary to hear with
their prejudices, not to leave them to their fate, with
the alternative either of conforming to rubs or being
left to themselves. The character of the services was of
the most simple description, and as ,to the objection
which had been made, that the building in which the
service took place desecrated the Word of pod, he won
of opinion that the Word of God consecrated the build-
ing. These services had produced a wottlertul effect
upon some of the more desperate localities, and land not.
as had been supposed, diminislieff the congregations of
the neighbouring churches and clispds, but, as lie
showed front several letters, had actually auguienksl
them. In conclusion, lie considered that the iresent
movement, so far from being trejudicial, would be
highly beneficial to the Church of F 11,411114, us it would
bnng Into closer contact and communion with the lower
classes, and thereby conciliate their good will and affec-
tion ; and he asked their Lordships if they were ready
by affirming this motion to say that Divine service
should not be perferined elsewhere than in churches or
chapels, although the social anal moral condition of the
lower classes should demand the most vigorous exer-
tions to reform it—because, if they were ready to do ISO,
he must tell them that the resolution not having the
force of law would be only so much waste paper.
Lord GRANVILLE urgently appealed to Lord thin•
pnnon to withdraw his motion, as it was one with
which the House ought not to deal in its single capacity.
The House by passing a resolution in conde iiiii ation of
the movement, would merely inske itseif a Inlighing
stock to the country. If the movement were tont rsry
to the feeling of the public, that feeling would ulti•
mately operate more strongly against it than any res.,-
lotion.
After • few words from the Duke of b/ARI.BOROUGH,
the Bishop of Li..iNDAYY and the Bishop of LoN DON,
laird DUNGANNON said lie never intended to have put
the House in the 111,11,110114 VOSiti iiii of pronouncing an
opinion on this subject. Ile merely wished to have the
qui,,tion discussed, and, as his object had been tulfilled,
he would ilow withdraw his motion.
The Loup I 'unnc•td.iiit would merely remind Lord
Dungannon of the following line of Dr. Johumuseia:

working
attended

they

" Lcgitima. pectura punt I're-'.'
The motion was then withdrawn.