The Express.
London, England, 1866-01-30 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 30, 1866.'

the advertisement of the fiat lecture :—" Seleo- I
" tions of sacred music each *veils( 1 to com-
" mince with HAYDN'S Creation: Principal
" vocalists : Miss Roan HEUER, Mr. MIRANDA,
" and Mr. Rzwwlcx. The choir specially or-
" ganised. Conductor, Mr. JENNINGS. Organist,
" Mr. JOLLEY. Pianist, Mr. HARPER. Tickets
"for single night-2s. 6d., I.s. 641., 3d. Course of
" sit —los. 6c1., 55., 2s. 6d., ls. Back seats free."

It certainly looks as if the statute bad been vio-
lated, and hereupon the active spirits of the Sun-
day League say that if the " Sunday Evenings for
" the People" are illegal the sooner the Act of Par-
liament which made them so is abolished the better.
But this is a somewhat violent remedy for
so small an inconvenience. Before proceed-
ing to that extremity it will be prudent to
inquire whether the law is, upon the whole,
useful ; and next, if the answer is in the affirma-
tive, whether it may not be possible for the mana-
gers of the St. Martin's Hall lectures to adapt their
arrangements to its provisions. On the first point,
we do not think the public are prepared for the
simple repeal of the Act, which would permit the
opening of places of amusement for gain in all our
great thoroughfares on a Sunday. We believe that
such a proclamation of license would be regarded
by the vast majority of the reflecting portion of
the nation as a national misfortune, and if the
managers of the Sunday League are well
advised they will not attempt to bring it
about. But there is another thing which they can
do. If it is of so much importance to inform the
world that, while as to things scientific we are ap-
proaching millennial perfection, in point of religious
knowledge the world stands thereabouts where it
did when PAUL preached on Mars' Hill, cannot
they do for their gospel what other preachers do
for theirs—rely on the zeal of the faithful? They
are not celled to erect expensive buildings or to
maintain a priesthood, and they have no altar ;
but there can be no reason why they should not
have an " offertory," and pay out of it the expenses
of their institution. This may not be the best
course open to them, but it would be better than
stopping their lectures and entering upon litigation,
which promises neither instruction nor enter-
tainment.

It may be hoped that certain other congregations
will take heed to their ways after this warning.
St. Martin's Hall is not the only place of resort
where music, by professionals, advertised in the
week, is to be heard on a Sunday, a charge being
made for seats. And although the music may be,
in fact as well as in name, part of the worship of
the DErrv, as far as a portion of the congregation
Is concerned, there can be no doubt that its attrao-
tiveness is relied on u a source of revenue.
Although in this case " judgment " has not "begun
" at the House of God," it is time for some of our
clergy to set their house in order.

Soma stir was made yesterday morning by an
announcement that proceedings were being taken
at Washington for the recall of the American
Minister from London, and the issue of a procla-
mation of non-intercourse with England. The
statement was, however, at once appreciated at its
true value, when it became known that
its only basis was the introduction of a resolution
into the Senate, by Mr. Clusrmga,which had been
"tabled"—Anglin "shelved"—by a majority of 2
to 1. Mr. CHANDLER is Senator from Michigan,
, and the same gentleman who in December, 1864,
offered in the Senate a resolution demanding that
the Secretary of State should be instructed im-
mediately to make out a list of American ships
destroyed by vessels from England, and de-
mand payment with interest ; and about
the same time suggested that notice should
be given for the termination of the Extra-
dition Treaty with Great Britain. This,
however, was at the time of the St. Alban's raid,
when the corsairs from this country were reck-
lessly destroying American commerce. Mr.
CHANDLER is a prominent, but not very influential
Western man, and the large majority by which his
proposition was set agile shows how strongly the
Senate is inclined to a policy of peace.

OUR CONTEMPORARIES.
cram DAT.)