The Express.
London, England, 1867-09-24 00:00:00

THE RECENT PRUSSIAN CIRCULAR.

BERLIN, Szer. 24.

The semi-official North German Gazette publishes
the following remarks upon Count Bismarck's re-
cent circular

Great general satisfaction will have been felt at the
circular despatch lately addressed by Count Bismarck to
the diplomatic representatives of Prussia abroad. The
stand-point adopted by the Prussian government towards
the South German States (the same as we long since
pointed out as the only correct view) is based upon
the acknowledgment that the task of linking more closely
together the two portions of Germany rests with the South
German States and not the Northern Confedera-
tion. Neither compulsion nor taking advantage
of the more powerful situation the nature of events has
granted to the North German Confederation, will deter-
mine whether a closer or more distant bond shall unite the
German nation • but only the free will of the South Ger-
man States. Only thus can we gain real Federal allies in
the South German States, and at the same time advance
within such bounds of wise moderation as shall afford
foreign countries not even the appearance of a cause for
mistrust, since Gennany thus united not only satisfies the
national feeling, but at the same time affords a guarantee
of international peace. Germany thus united, and afford-
ing free scope to well-founded individualism in addition to
collective forces, ran have no further ambitious aspirations.
Content in herself, she will see other powerful nations
near her without envy. Aameciated with them in the com-
mon interests of peace, Germany will only make use of
her power to maintain that peace should the necessity
arise, but never to shake a condition of affairs
fraught with so many blessings. Unalterably maintaining
the rights of the nation to arrange its private affairs ac-
cording to its own will, and without the interference of
foreign countries, though at the same time avoiding every-
thing which may wound the susceptibilities of foreign
countries, Germany will advance towards her happy
future by the path of peace. No doubt can exist that •
nation advancing with so much moderation as under
Prussian leadership is the case with the German people—a
nation which so willingly respects every foreign nght—
such • nation, we repeat, is entitled to expect that its
rights will be respected by other nations in a similar
manner.

THE BISHOP OF ROCHESTER AND THE WEEKLY
Oertftrosr.—The new Bishop of Rochester is doing his
best to make himself acquainted with the spiritual wants
of his large diocese. In addressing • meeting at Colchester
on Friday, Dr. Claughton first pointed out bow inadequate
were the incomes of many of the clergy to enable them
properly to discharge the duties of their station. In many
cases on an income of 200 f. • year the clergyman had to
supply a stipend for the curate, to provide for the
wants of his family, to subscribe to the maintenance of
schools, to help the poor, and generally to carry on all
those good works which of late years had been so multi-
plied in all parishes and in all districts. His lordship then
reminded the laity that it was in their power to render
peat assistance to the clergy, by giving largely in support
of schools, and by alleviating the wants of the poor. The
subscription list was an excellent agency, no doubt, but
there was another and very ef cacious. way of helping the
clergy, and that was by making liberal collections in
churches. He thought this plan was the best which could
be devised, for it introduced the habit of giving amongst
the people. The introduction of the weekly offertory was
the revival of an ancient practice, for it afforded a means
of giving freely, lovingly, and habitually in the sight of
God, according as men could afford. It was impossible for
• clergyman to go visiting his flock without pecuniary
means. In Kidderminster, when the rates of the poor
were 9e. in the pound, if he bad not been able to go out
with some silver in his pocket, he did not think he could
have gone at all. No man could effectively point to
heaven in a home where poverty and hunger reigned su-
preme, and in such • home it was impossible for the poor
clergyman's most pions ministrations to prevail.
THE BISHOP OF WINCHESTER ON TH.: CRISIS IN
THE CHCRCH.—The Bishop of Winchester ham been paying
an episcopal visit to the Channel Islands, which are in his
diocese. After dwelling with satisfaction upon the increase
of churches, he went on tospeak of thepresent critical times.
On the one hand there was a widespread and increasing
diffusion of errors, neologian, latitudinarian, and infidel,
throughout all Christendom, propagated in many parts
industriously by word of mouth, and elsewhere, if not
orally, in works suited to the capacities of all classes, and
circulated largely. On the other hand, there was a deter-
mined antagonism to the national church making
stealthy but formidable progress by various plausible
claims for privileges and immunities under the specious
name of toleration. Among these especially there was
an increasing tendency to test all institutions by their
results ; and having alleged unfruitfulness against the
church, her foes, in their own opinion, had proved its
uselessness. On that ground it was especially desirable
that the clergy at this time should be both earnest and
learned :—"This is no time for folding the anus in slum-
ber, or for acquiescing in any low, cold standard of inoffen-
siveness, satisfying it may be the requirements of the law,
but not of conscience. The very schoolmaster will shame
the clergyman if he do not keep ahead of him in know-
ledge and intelligence and aptitude to teach." Referring
to ritualism, tho bishop said that while there ought to
be no mutilation of the services, no want of reverence
on the part of ministers or people, no scant observance
of times and seasons, which are faults of great magni-
tude—there ought, on the other band, to be no approach
to that form of worship which speaks to the eye rather
than to the heart, "or, worse still, which symbolises
doctrines repudiated by our church at the reformation,
carefully excluded from her liturgy, but surreptitiously
reintroduced by what is called the educational power
of ritual." He should express no opinion as to the
report of the royal commissioners, se it would not be
fair to do so till their final report; but meanwhile he
feared that the ultraisms and extravagances of • com-
paratively few were bringing discredit on the whole
body. " Like the sufferers under some contagious disease,
they bring the suspicion of taint on all their companions,
and subject the whole ship's company to quarantine. The
whole church is brought into disrepute, its prestige
lessened, its authority shaken. Essentials and non-essen-
tials become confounded, and calm and thoughtful men
themselves find it difficult to know where to take their
stand, where to draw the line, where to insist, and where
to yield." The bishop concluded by calling upon the
clergy to " preach the gospel according to the examples
of the gospel ; so may we be built up together in the same
faith, partakers of the same sacraments, strengthened by
the same hope, governed by the same discipline, and
firmly united in the same bond of charity."
_ _ _ _ _

DEATH OF MS WICKHAM, M.P. FOR BRADFORD.
—Mr. Henry Wickham Wickham, M.P. for Bradford, died
at his residence, 12, Waterloo-place, Leamington, yester-
day afternoon. He bad been confined to his room for
about six weeks part, during the whole of which period
be was under the medical treatment of his neighbour Dr.
Jones. He was tho son of the Rev. Lamplugh Hird,
prebendary of York, was born in 1800, and in politics was
liberal-conservative. He was a partner in did celebrated
iron-works at Lowmoor, Yorkshire, and was on the com-
mission of the peace for the West Riding, for which divi-
sion he waa also a deputy-lieutenant. He was also chair-
man of the West Riding court of quarter Beslllolll and
chairman of the Lanouhire and Yorkshire Railway Com-
pany. In 1852 he was first returned to represent the town
of Bradford in parliament haring been an unsuccessful
oindlelato in an election whisk took plant in 1847.