The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-01-06 00:00:00

THE DEAN OF CARLISLE ON ENGLISH

LOYALTY.

On Sunday afternoon the Dean of Carlisle (Dr.
Close) preach.' in the 'athedral upon the illness of
the Prince of Wales. He believed the expression of
national feeling in connection with the Prince's illness
to be due to the uprising of indignant loyalty that
had been insulted by republican insolence. Ile be-
lieved it was the response of British hearts to the
squabbling politicians who came and talked to us about
republics being better than monarchies, Men had been
going about babbling of treason and trash when this
event happened, and evoked the remarkable expression
of loyalty which had been witnessed. With what
astonishment Frenchmen had viewed thisuniversaleym.
pathy. Tolle Frenchman, of all peonle, it was the most
puzzling and perplexing, for he had seen So many re-
publics and empires and kingdoms that his feelings of
loyal sympathy had been shattemb If Frenchmen had
been able to comprehend it, France would not have
been what she is now. Under God, this British nation
had, by the experience of a thousand years, learned the
wisdom and goodness of those who had gone before.
They were always willing to repair the old ship, to re-
move the rotten beams, and put in better materials. They
were not going to sink the ship, but make it float again
over many a stormy sea, such as it had often weathered
before. That was the secret of this universal feeling—
a kind feeling, a loyal feeling, which had caused this
country to rise majestic among nations. There was,
moreover, a rely great and peculiar phenomenon con-
nected with that universal sympathy far more striking
than all. Not only had a spirit of universal sympathy
sprung up, but a spontaneous and marvellous spirit of
prayer. Long before any published notice was taken,
we heard of families and religious bodies meeting to-
gether to pray for the Princes life, and many a sweet
prayer went up from the social altar. Pursuing this
part of his subject further, the Dean attributed the
recovery of the Prince entirely to the efficacy of the
prayers of the people.

BISHOP FRA.SER ON ROYALTY.
On Sunday evening the Bishop of Manchester
preached at St. Georges Church, Unsuortg, near
Bury, on the occasion of the opening of a new organ.
His lordship spoke from Isaiah xxxviii, 20. He
said :

We English people had seen, and he hoped hod been
thankful for, an equally wonderful recovery from sickness as
King Ilezekiali, lie supposed that a fortnight ago we all
thought we should have lost the heir to the Cream. By God's
special mercy the Prince of Wales still lived, and there was
every reason to hope he would ultimately be restored to his
former strength. lie dared say moat of them had read that
touching letter of the Queen to her people, which was
published in Saturday's newspapers, and in which alb,
thanked them from her heart for their aypmpaty shown
with her and her family in their deep sorrow, and asked
them to continue their prayers still for the recovery of her
dear son. Though the Archbishop of Canterbury had
thought it proper, as he (the bishop) thought it proper, to
direct that that prayer, which was drawn up for them in

the time of the prince's greatest danger, should be discon-
tinued, he still hoped that In their pullli6 meetings to-
gether Sr public worship they, English clergy men, would
still priy for the health of the Prince of Waks. And he
supposed everybody indulged in the bright hopes now of
s
further blessed consequences to the nation from this severe
sickness. They all hoped that under the teaching of God's
blessed spirit [ld sickness of oar Prince would
prove to have
been a instniment in the hands of Providence in fitting him
to be a worthy king over a great people. Englishmen, he ,the
n
bishop) thought, were never slow to appreciate the good-
ness or greatness, or devotion to duty, or the influence of a
good example in those who had the rule over them. The
names of King Alfred and Queen Elizabeth had a magic in
them still the ehivalry of the !snick Prince, the piety of the
Sixth Ellis nod, still tinged with romantic Interest the pages of
0110 nation's history : and under none of those sovereigns had
the nation enjoyed a larger measure of I iappiness and prosperity
than during the reign of our present Queen. The nation now
asked—perhaps had a right to ask—high qmilities in those
Ohio guided its destinies pro ortioestc to their great station.
N ice, or folly, or unwisdom in high places might du infinite
berm by its example, lust as virtue in the same high places
might do inealeuhible good by its radiating infilltglee. Ile
thought it was impossible to over-estiniate—.and ill thee
days, when disloyal utterances were heard here and there, it
was well that we should remember—what the nation owed,
in its influence upon the whole tone and character of society,
to tile personal example of the Queen. He (the bishop) had no
great belief in reconstruction of tither the Church or the State
upon new bases. Some people thought we should thrive much
better with a disestablialied than with an Established Church,
with a Xenolitie than a Monarchy. Ile thought we could all
, thrive very well as things were now if only we made the best
of our privileges and our opportunities. Ile did not think
it was a very safe path to venture on—the path of revolution
—when lly a little improvement and reform we could make
our existing institutions answer all the spiritual and tem-
-1 pond wants of the nation. fie had infieite faith in the
capacity for improvement that God had given to every one
of us, if we would only use our opportunities. It was we
who wanted improvement, and not so much the institutions
of the country.