The Express.
London, England, 1853-12-28 00:00:00

PRESENTATION OF AN ADDRESS TO

THE REV. F. D. MAURICE.

Last evening a festival was held at the hall of the
Working Men's Association, for the purpose of affording
the working claws an opportunity of presenting an address
to the Rev. F. D. Maurice, expressive of their regard and
admiration of his general conduct, and their regret at his
being deprived, in consequence of his opinions on certain
theological points, of his position as a public teacher in con-
nexion with King's College. The room was exceedingly
crowded, amongst the compauy were several ladies, and a
number of the perienal friend, of the rev. ex-professor.
Mr. JOSEPH Coarmo took the chair, and in a brief
speech explained the object of the meeting, and paid a high
compliment to Mr. Maurice fur the exertions he had made
to improve and elevate the working classes of the metro-
polis. With regard to the dispute between Mr. Maurice
and the council of King's College, and which had
led to his separation from that establishment, it
was not his (the chairman's) intention, nor was
it the intention of the committee, to express any
opinion. lie would only say, in reference to this point,
that it was to be expected that with his kindly disposition
and known benevolence, Mr. Maurice would give a more
liberal and a more genial interpretation to those passages of
Scripture relating to future punishments, than those would
do who were not impressed with similar feelings. (Bear,
hear.) But whether Mr. Maurice's interpretation was right
or wrong, he thought the course which the council of the
college had pursued towards him was not calculated to
narrow those uivisiuns in the Church of England which
unfortunately existed. (Rear, hear.) It was a fact which
there was no disguising that the clergy of that church did
not at present possess that influence over the working
deem which their position, their talent, and their means
ought to give them—(hear, hear)—nor would they possess
it until they followed Mr. Maurice's example, and instead
of merely preaching to them from the pulpit, came amongst
them, made themselves acquainted with their feelings, their
wants, and their defects, and endeavoured to elevate and
instruct them by practical means. (Cheers.)
The following address, which bore the signatures of 960
persons, was then presented to the reverend gentleman by a
deputation of the committee :
" SO TILE REV. FREDERICK DENISON MAURICE, M.A.
"Dear and respected Sir,—The undersigned members of
the working class of this metropolis desire to express to you
those feelings of admiration and regard with which your
conduct has inspired them. To the greater number you
are known chiefly from the services you have rendered to
the class to which they belong, by your efforts to improve
their condition and introduce a higher and purer tone into
their daily life, and from the sacrifices you have made for
the maintenance of what you conceive to be vital and es-
sential truth. Those only among them who have enjoyed
the pleasure and the privilege of persona: communication
with you, can fully understand the extent to which those
services have been enhanced by the urbanity of manner and
kindliness of heart which your intercourse with them has
uniformly exhibited. It is with pain and bitter regret that they
have become acquainted with recent events connected with
your position as a public teacher in one of the chief educa-
tional establishments of this country; and while they desire to
avoid any expression of opinion as to the theological aspects
of the dispute which has unfortunately arisen, they are
convinced that that establishment will be less favourably
regarded in consequence of its results ; and the authorities
in connection with it having looked upon you as unfit to
rank among its most honoured teachers, working men will
come to the conclusion that those authorities are not en.
titled to their respect. As working men, living among
working men, knowing their views and feelings, they assert
with confidence that the affectionate regard fur you which
they have attempted to express may be accepted as a faith-
ful reflex of the feelings entertained by many thousands of
their fellows; and they believe that if anything tends to
bring the many into real communion with the church. it is
that it numbers among its members men like yourself.
That you may long continue to pursue your useful and
honourable career ; that the eminent services you have con-
fessedly rendered to the church and to the cause of educa-
tion may meet with a more generous and grateful apprecia-
tion ; that those who at present misunderstand and mis-
represent you may learn by your example, and that they
may at least emulate you in the wisdom and zeal with
which you have advocated the cause of the working man,
is the sincere and earnest desire of those whose names are
hereunto appended."

The Rev. F. D. Mauston, in returning thanks, said he
was gratified that so little was said in the address of the
circumstances which had recently occurred to him in cnn-
nezion with the college in which be had been a teacher ;
and he would dismiss that subject by expressing his grati-
tude to those who, differing as some of them must do from
him upon many points, had yet joined in this address. He
regretted that so much importance was attached to the ser
vices which it was supposed he had rendered to the working
classes, because the acts which were alluded to in the first
paragraph of the address were clearly and obviously in.
eluded in his duty as a clergyman of the church of Eng-
land. (Hear.) He valued this expression of their ap-
probation, not on account of his own acts, but for the
cause in which he had laboured to sense extent,
but in which others of his brethren, some of
whom were now present, had laboured far more,
and whose representative, when he was put so pro-
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