The Express.
London, England, 1863-07-20 00:00:00

LONDON DIOCESAN CHURCH BUILDING
SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of this society was held on
Friday at ; the Bishop of Lows presiding.
There were also present the Marquis of Westminster, Earl
Grosvenor, the Farl of Shrewsbury, Lord Stratford de Rad-
cliffe, Sir G. Baker, Mr. F. 8. Powell, M.P., Mr. Ckischen,
H.P.. Mr. IL Wigwam H.P., Mr. A. Brady, Mr. J. Miles,
the Revs. R. Burger, C. P. Eyre, J. V. Penh, Jonas,
J. Soon, to.
The report of the committee, which was read by the
Secretary, after referring to the progress made with the
Bishop of London's schema for raising 1,0C3,0001. in ten
years, for the purpose of supplying in • manner to some
extent commensurate with the needs of the cams the spiritual
destitution of the metropolis, and the circumstances under
which that scheme was put forwsrd, urges the increasing
dims upon the society as • claim for inasseed subscrip-
tions, adding an expression of regret that the income for
the past year shows • diminution of about 500/. from that of
the preceding year. Since May, 1862, eight new churches
ham been consecrated in various parts of the metropolis and
is suburbs, town* the erection of which 1,3501. have been
granted by the society. Grants to the extent of 5,0601. have
been made daring the year in aid of 11 new churches.
1401. towards the enlargement of two exiting churches,
4901. for five temporary churches, 1,3834 towards the
purchase of sites for four new churches ; and including &d-
-raftee foe minionary curates, personages, endowment in
aid of pante from ecclesiastical commissioners, and loans,
the total expenditure in this way has been 10,0631. There
have also been expended for minim fund groan and in
stipends for missionary curates., 1,6021.
The Earl of SHRZWBBURT moved, and the Marquis of
WISTRIVITIN seconded, the adoption of the report. Both
noblemen expressed hearty concurrence in the objects of
the society, end the noble earl congratulated the meeting
that some head bad at length been made against the spiritual
destitution of the metropolis, and upon the success of the
Bishop of London's fund.
The motion having been carried,
Lord STRATFORD DI ARDOUR' moved • resolution ex.
peening satisfaction at the formation of the Bishop's Fund,
and a hops that the administration of it through the Diocesan
Church Building, and other kindred societies, would result
in the establishment of the parochial system in its full in-
tegrity in every part of London.
This was mended by Mr. GOSCEDDI, M.P., and carried.
The Bishop of LORTIOR ilea skimmed the meeting as to
the object and of the Bishop's Fund. He sad that
it was not intwdsd to labetraot from but to supplement the
funds of the Gaining March extension societies. All the
efforts made during the last 30 years had scarcely kept pace
with the increasing population ; keno* some means must be
resorted to for meeting the immense roses of spiritual desti-
tution which existed in the metropolis when those efforts
first commenced, and which hitherto remained unchecked.
The sum be proposed, via., 10),(1001. a year, for the next tea
yews, in addition to the sum now annually collected, which
he animated at the like amount,woold, he believed, coo this
and rejoiced to find that, not withstasding the season had
ss bz admitted when they commenced operations, they had
mods encoureghig program. So far as the Bishop of Lau-
da?. Fund was concerned they had not been more than air
weeks at work, and two days ago they were
enabled to vote 5,0001. • year, which they were already in
posaesaios of. to three soMities for pviding 25
and 15 scripture readers oat of the 100 additio2=
men, and 100 additional scripture readers, which be bad
appealed to the public for the means of sending into the
spiritually destitute districts of London. One gentleman
who bad just quitted thermal had contributed 10,0001., and
a noble duke, who was • large proprietor in the metropolis,
would it was understood in • few days 'lve an eqiud rum.
There were several subscriptions of 1,0001., and 5031., and
one of 5,0001. This was a proof that those who had large
means were ready to come forward and endeavour to meet
the gigantic evil they hod to combat. But he was desirous
of satiating the aid of the poor as well as the rich, and he
had no doubt that, from the small contributions of the
middle and lower claims, • very large aggregate would re-
sult. Benda the money in hand they had
a large amonat promised ; and, determined not to
waste time, the committee had rewired, pendiag
thecompletioa of any otherorganisation which mightbe finally
decided upon, to make use of the maciaiaeryin their
and they bad acoonliogly voted 2,0001. • year for theorist
ten years to the Diocesan Church Building Society, far
the support of an additional number of missionary curates;
2,0601. a year to the Diocesan Home Minionary Society for
opening up new fields, and introducing new missionaries in
places now without such assistance ; and they had deo in
the same way availed themselves of the Scripture Readies
Society. What further agencies they might resort to he
was not prswed at present to say. They were going to
raise IOWOOOI. in the ten years, and he reminded them
that there was a body, the Ee 44iediml Comruissioasra,
from whom they might hope to obtain another
million. That commission were supposed to have b
resources, and it was one of their laws that they ebe=
contribute double what was produced by voluntary subsoil).
Lions. Now 1,C30.0001. represented 30,0001. a and the
Finsbury stall amounted to 45,0001, of which the com-
mittee of the Bishop of London's Fluid hoped to have a good
share. (" Hear,* sod • laugh.) Hi object was that the
spiritual difficulties of the metropolis should be grappled
with, not temporarily, but permanently.
After a vote of thanks to the right rev. prelate, moved by
the Rev. Yr. Lemel, weeded by Mr. F. B. Powell. H.P.,
and supported by Earl Grosvenor, who spoke of the duties a
the landed proprietors of London to make liberal provision
for its spiritual destitution, and pledgisa hinmelf and his
family to do so, the proceedings terminated.