The Express.
London, England, 1867-10-15 00:00:00

THE CONCORDAT IN AUSTRIA.

VIENNA, Ocr. 10.
The Common Council of this city have unani-
moualy agreed to the following address to the Em-
peror, in reply to the lengthy document advocating
the retention of the concordat recently submitted
to his Majesty by 25 Austrian bishops.

Your Majesty,—The population of Vienna has read with
painful surprise the address which 25 bishops of the coun-
tries represented in the Reicherath have forwarded to
your Majesty. This feeling could not but be increased to
an extent the respect due to your Majesty forbids us to
express in words, when we read the passage of the address
referring to the reform endeavouring to be effected in na-
tional schools. That e runs :—" It is the principles
of religion and most are attached. The mein
point is that the school shall be trandermed to
make propaganda of unbelief. The first and most
important service of the teacher is to render himself
available for this purpose. The more insolently he con-
temns religion and moral reverence eite more worthy he is
of promotion. In order to have snob instruments at com-
mand in sufficient numbers, teacher schools are to be esta-
blished, calculated to instruct their pupils in slighting
everything high and holy. People are well aware that it is
impossible to carry out such plans at one blow throughout
the whole extent of a great empire, but they want the right
to put them in force recognised, and intend then to make
the beginning where circumstances are favourable." Every
one who read these words could not fail to be at once
convinced that they referred to the intended establishment
of • treashas' educational institute by the eorporation of
Vienna. For months past the corporation has been
andesvonring to establish au institute where the teachers
of the national schools should be educated up to higher
scientific and tutorial capabilities ; for months
peat the corporation has tried to obtain the
admission of its legal right to establish such an
institute, and cannot succeed in so doing. In organs
of your Majesty's government, it has been plainly stated
that the obstacle to the opening of the establishment was
rooted in the question of creed. The address of the 25
bishops further expressly maintains that "the concordstis
opposed to the realisation of these projects." Now, how-
ever, that the corporation of Vienna is the only public
body in the whole empire that intends to establish •
teachers' educational institute, to which the question of
creed is opposed as an obstacle, it becomes impossible to
doubt that this corporation is referred to in the sentences
above quoted. Your Majesty, our efforts for the educa-
tion of competent teachers have, we may my with
thorough satisfaction, found the warmest assent and re.
cognition in all circles of the population represented by
us. The effect of that excitement the address of the
bishops has called forth has penetrated all the further and
more deeply. We should ill comprehend our mission as
representatives of this corporation were we to as-
oept the contents of that address with indifference
—were we not, elevated by our consciousness of right,
to protest emphatically and solemnly before the same
lofty authority where the accusations hurled against us
have resounded—VMS we not at once to aims before your
Majesty, and with all respect, but at the same time with
that candour which alone imparts value to an expression
of opinion, to declare the complaints raised against the
corporation of Vienna are entirely at variance with the
truth, are in fact false accusation,. Far be from us the
desire to justify ourselves before your Majesty. We should
fear to violate the sacred majesty of the crown were we
for one moment to give ourselves up to the idea that sus-
picions and false accusations could ever Influence your
Majesty's mind and heart. We are all the more confident
in this belief, because the complaints proceed from parsons
called by their sacred office not to excite, but to appease—
not to inflame, bat to pacify. The very disproportion
between these false accusations and the sanctity of the
office clearly shows that the complaints hurled spina
us are not the proceeds of a vocation dedicated
to God, but the offspring of earthly passion.
Although, however, we desire and wish no jus-
tification, yet we cannot divest ourselves of the
duty of laying our decieive protest before the throne, in
order that the insult we have suffered may not damage us
in the esteem of your Majesty and our fellow-citizens, and
in our own self-respxt, nod in order that atonement may
be made to deep] inj
ured truth. No, your Majesty, we
will not base our Tambora' Educational Institute upon the
idea of educating its pupils to deride everything high and
holy. Nothing is further from our minds than the intro.
tion of bringing up teachers who boldly despise religion
and moral reverence. It is true that we are forced alto-
gether to reject that unblessed idea of the bishop's address
which associates the meaning of religion and morality ex-
clusively with catholiciam,for to adopt that doctrine would
be to stigmatise all other creeds as immoral. But as this
corporation represents the population without difference
of religion, so does it also contain among its members men
of every cieed, who work in unison for the moral objects of
the school,and it cannot allowany statement to peas unchal-
lenged that might interfere wi th the agreement of the creeds.
We entreat your Majesty to cast a glance upon the per-
sons called by the confidence of their fellow-citizens to
represent the city of Kenna. They are men whose exist-
ence is rooted in their families, whose thoughts, efforts,
and acts are penetrated by that moral consecration which
affection for wife and child above anything inspires.
What ! We ourselves should poison our own existence?
We should hand over our children—our happideas, and
our future—to teachers who, devoid of religion and mo-
rality, corrupted these dear beings for our sorrow, our
injury, and our shame? Such an accusation is so utterly
divested of all common sense, that nothing but the blind
hatred of childless men, frozen up in the barren circle of
their own individuality, could have been able to imagine
it ; it cannot be believed by any one whose mind has re-
tained clearness of judgment. We ask your Majesty
to examine into and prove the proceedings of this
corporation with regard to the school, and then to say
whether one single fact in our past career affords
ground for the accusation that we desire to
transform the school for the propaganda of unbelief ; whe-
ther, on the other hand, we have not done everything in
our power to promote religion and morality in tuition.
We entreat your Majesty further to nut your eye over the
statutes we have drawn up for the intended institute,
when it will immediately be perceived from the regulations
themselves bow baseless and false are the accusations
raised against us. We demand from every pupil express
evidence as to the continued enjoyment of the religious in-
struction consonant with his creed; we subject the popile
to severe discipline ; we intend to place them under
course of instruction containing all the elements of culti-
vation. Our educational programme is a programme of
science, which is not bound to any particular creed, but is
based upon and places upon an equality with itself every
religion recognised by the State and equally enjoying the
protection of your Majesty. Science admits of no mixture
with questions of creed, which only disturb its
nature and its value. But in our country, in the
empire over which your Majesty's sceptre rules, it would
be dangerous to allow such disturbing elements room to
aria. The recollection of a period of disaster still over-
shadows our memory, and we feel strongly that the know-
ledge and ability of our sons, now ripening towards man-
hood, guarantees the maintenance of the state in the
future. Therefore, with the most moral of feelings—that
of co-responsibility for the security of the future—we will
undertake, at least so far as our sphere of action extends,
to procure for our children nn improved education, which
shall enable them, armed with the weapons of the mind,
to stand upright and victorious in contact with peoples
most fully developed in cultivation, whether in peaceful
emulation, or, if it must be, in serious contest. With
the strong and hopeful anticipation of finding your Ma-
jesty at one to this matter with your people, the ever-fresh
source of all state power, we venture respectfully to lay
this free-spoken address at the foot of the throne, and to
exclaim in patriotic devotion—God preserve, God bless
your Majesty'

ACCIDENT TO THE EARL OF SEFTON.--At the
volunteer review at Sefton-park, on Saturday, the sth
instant, the Earl of Sefton, who as Lord-Lieutenant of
the county palatine, was in attendance on his Royal
Highness the Duke of Cambridge, got thrown from his
horse during the sham fight. His lordship had got
amongst the crowd near one of the batteries, and when a
large gun of position was fired, his horse started, threw
his lordship over his head, and then rolled on to him. The
earl was promptly picked up by some bystanders, and
though evidently greatly shaken, appeared to recover in
a few minutes, and remounted his horse. Subsequently it
was stated that he had quite got over the accident, and
was in his accustomed good health. It appears, however,
that the accident was more serious than supposed. Con-
tinuing to feel considerable pain, his lordship last week
sent for Mr. Bickarsteth, surgeon, of Liverpool, who paid
him several visits. It was found that his lordship had
sustained a severe bruise on the chest, and that two of his
ribs were seriously injured. His lordship is programing
favourably, but he was still confined to the house on
Saturday.—Nanclicater Courier.
FATAL GUN ACCIDENT. —A sad accident, re-
salting in the death of a young gentleman named Fredk.
Everitt, has occurred at Ormesby St. Michael, near Great
Yarmouth. Mr. Everitt, who had recently come into pos-
session of considerable property in the parishes of Ormesby
and Hornsby, visited his estate for the first time a few
days since, and went out shooting, accompanied by two
friends, Messrs. C. Waters and G. Beck. He carried •
double barreled gun, and having shot a pheasant he pro-
ceeded to reload the empty barrel. While re charging by
some misadventure the charge in the other loaded barrel
exploded, and the contents were lodged in the side and
shoulder of Mr. Everitt. His friends conveyed him to
Mr. Beck's house, and Dr. Yore., from Yarmouth, and
Mr. Woodman, of Ormesby, were soon in attendance, but
the injuries sustained by the unfortunate gentleman were
so severe that he expired, yesterday morning. Mr. Everitt,
who resided at Morning, near Holt, was about 26 yowl a
age. He leaves • widow and two children.

THE DEBATES OP THE PAN-ANGLICAN SYNOD.

The Record publishes the following statement of
the discussions which took place with closed doors in the
episcopal conference at Lambeth. Our contemporary,
while expressing in the strongest mode its full confidence
in the bond Me nature of the communication, and its own
conviction, not only of the truthfulness of the writers,
but also of the truth of the narrative, yet gives it as cur-
rent information, to be accepted quanta., mina.
There was a general understanding previous to the
opening of the conference that, although the public and
reporters of the public press were not to be admitted to
its deliberations, an authentic report of the proceedings
would subsequently be published. We hear also that at
the preparatory meeting held to arrange the course of the
debates, it was announced by the Archbishop of Canter-
bury that the managing committee had decided that notes
of all its proceedings should be taken by shorthand writers,
and that an authentic report of its debates would to
given to the public, excepting conversational remarks.
It has caused no little impels.) and disappointment to
many members of the conference, as well as to the public
generally, to find that this promise of the managing COM-
wittee has been broken, and that the discussions of this
' most remarkable conference are to be consigned for ever
to the dark. Huey of the member, of the conference may
justly consider themselves very unfairly used at having
been brought such immense distances at a great sacrifice
of time and money, and obliged to return to their con-
stituents without the means of supplying them with any
authentic account of the proceedings and results of their
mission. They will be obliged in self-defence partially
to narrate what has occurred without justly incurring
any charge of breach of secrecy, being compelled to do
so by the managing committee's own breach of pro-
miae respecting the publication of their deliberations.
The expectation, indeed, of the possibility of hermeti-
cally sealing the mouths of about eighty ecclesiastical
dignitaries, men of independent spirit and superior intelli-
gence, was in itself perfectly Utopian. The leading fes-
tive@ of the discussions were sure to ooze out, and in a
form perhaps less favourable than if they had been authen-
tically published. The right, moreover, of a large body of
ecclesiastical rulers to discuss religions questions which are
at present violently agitating the public mind, and which
seriously affect their highest Interests, both nationally and
individually, and then to withhold from the public all
knowledge of their deliberations, is highly questionable.
Men placed in high official situations owe duties to the
public, as well as the public to them. The secrecy at-
tempted by the Pan•Anglimin llonference might have been
submitted to in the days of Star Chambers, of secret
inquisitorial tribunals, and of the dark and irresponsible
doings of such ecclesiastical despots as a Hildebrand and
an Innocent IV. ; but our ultra high churchmen and
iitruilista may rest assured that they will in vain attempt
to revive this Jesuitical and most unscriptural policy
under the light enjoyed in England inthe 19th century.
At the preliminary meeting held to settle the course
of the proceedings, the resolutions to be submitted for
discussion being read, reference was made in one of
them to the American churches, under the designation of
" Episcopal Churches of America." It was objected,
however, by some of the Arnet;can bishops, that their
legal title having "away. been " Protestant Episcopal
Churches of America," they would lose their national
identity by the omission of the word protestant. They re-
quested, therefore, its restoration. On this being granted,
a similar claim was made by some Scotch bishops, whose
churches were always styled " Protestant Episcopal," in
order to distinguish them from the " Roman Catholic
Episcopal Churches." It was then proposed by an English
bishop to settle the difficulty by the omission of the word
protestant in the title of both churches ; but both parties
persisting intheir demand for the restoration of the word,
the request was agreed to. The business of the conference
opened with the resolutions to be submitted for considera-
tion. The discussion of some of these soon
showed that there was anything but unanimity
among the right rev. members as regarded either
the great doctrinal foundations of the Gospel or
the principles of ecclesiastical government. The contro-
versy was at times rather hot, and led to a display of ex-
citement scarcely becoming the importance of the occasion
and the dignity of the speakers. This was specially the
case in the debate on the resolution defining the church's
rule of faith. One of the American bishops had defined
it with great precision in strict accordant* with the oracles
of the Book of Common Prayer, when another American
bishop expressed the strongest dissent. He said he had
farconsidered the rule of faith of mother church to be
on the writings of the doctors of divinity and
fathers of the primitive Christian churches, and on the
creeds and decrees adopted by the general councils in con-
junction with the canonical books of the Word of God.
He decidedly objected to the protestant doctrine of the
right of private judgment, claiming thus the exclusive in-
vestment of all power in matters of faith in the clergy.
After some discussion the question was in a measure com-
promised by the introduction of a reference to the concur.
rent opinions of the undisputed general councils. The
subject, however, which gave rise to the most painfully
vehement discussions was the case of Bishop Colenso. Two
of the colonial bishops spoke with great excitement. They
proposed a declaration amounting to a vote of excommuni-
cation, and also urged the appointment and consecration
of another bishop in his place. While all agreed in de-
ploring Colenso's heresies, these ultra measures were
strongly opposed, especially by two English bishops, as
acts of open rebellion against established law. One of
the English bishops more particularly, who acted through-
out the whole deliberations with great firmness
and judgment, rebuked the strong denunciations of some
colon'als, who taunted English bishops for being in bond-
age to the civil power. The settling of the general decla-
ration issued by the conference at the close of its proceed-
ings led also, as was unavoidable, to clashing, of opinion.
This was more especially the rase respecting the statement
referring to the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. An
American bishop strongly objected to it as at first worded.
On its being referred to a committee he obtained their
consent to the following modification :—lnstead of " Seek
for oneness with Christ in the blessed Sacrament of His
body and blood," as the sentence first stood, and which
might imply the objective presence of the sacrifice of the
mass, a more protestant meaning was imparted to the
statement by the insertion of words, seek in faith" for
oneness.
With regard to the publication of any general declara-
tion, this has been considered by several members of the
conference a decided breach of faith, as it was distinctly
stated in the invitation asking their attendance that the
conference was nut to be committed to any public expres-
sion of opinion, being only intended for private brotherly
consultations. Not a few felt the impossibility of a meet-
ing consisting of bishops who held opinions on funda-
mental principles, both doctrinal and ecclesiastical, as
widely opposite as the swo poles, agreeing without some
compromise of principle to any general statement of opi-
nion. In the present case, probably two-thirds held the
Romish views of baptismal regeneration, of the real pre-
seem of the body and blood of Christ in the bread end
wine of the Lord's Supper' of the sacrificing character
of the priesthood, and of salvation through the sacra-
ments, which the other section considered wholly sub-
vendee of the protestant doctrines of the reformation.
It may not be generally known that the proposal of this
Pau•Anglican conference first came from the colonies, in
an address from one of the Canadian synods to the Arch-
bishop of Canterbury. The colonial bishops are all, with
a few happy exceptions, longing. through a thirst for au-
eme spiritual power, to bring about a complete separation
between church and state, as is the case with the Ameri-
can episcopal church. They felt that they had it in their
power on the present occasion to promote this end had
they chosen to do so, since, by uniting with the American
bishops, they would have placed on this question the
English bishops in a humiliating minority.
We cannot better conclude this outline of the proceed-
ings of the Pan-Anglican conferences than by referring
to the description of the scene at Ephesus, Acts xix. 32,
as affording a not inaccurate view of the spirit in which
some of the meetings were conducted :—" Some therefore
cried one thing, and some another, for the assembly was
confused, and the more part knew not wherefore they had
come together." A— cried one thing, and IS— an.
other ; C— cried one thing, and I) another ; E—
cried one thing, and F— another; but the greater part
might have asked—For what have we been sent for from
so great a distance, and at such expense and loss of time!
" Surely it is trifling of the worst description, and only
proclaiming our weakness, if not our unsoundness. in
spending our strength in denouncing Papal assumption
and Mariolatry, questions on which we are all agreed,
while we dare not touch the idolatry of the Mass, or wor-
shipping Christ in the elements of bread and wine—the
question now tending in pieces the church of England."

Tux NOETHUIN COUNTIES ASYLUM TOR IDIOTS.
—lt was stated yesterday at • public meeting held in
Southport that 40.0001. of the 60,0001. required for the
establishment of the Royal Albert Asylum for Idiots and
Imbeciles had already been either obtained or promised,
and that • very considerable sum had been obtained solely
through the exertions of ladies who had oollected small
amounts in rural districts, where the committee could
scarcely themselves act. Dr. De Vim stated that the
building of the hospital near Lancaster was being pro-
ceeded with, and that the foundation stone would be
laid next spring. The asylum will accommodate about 500
persons ; and it was explained that as its objects were edu-
cational, oar* would be taken to avoid crowding it with
those who after a full trial were found to be positively in-
curable. _ .

•••••••••••••
LAMP Porrs.—The Secretary of State or the
Commissioner of Police may cause to be attached to any
lamp poet a placard or signal for the purpose of carrying
into effect the provisions of the New Trani.) Regulation
Act, which will take effect on the let prosisuo.

THE CONSERVATIVE LAND SOCIETY.

(THIS DAY.)

The quarterly meeting was held this afternoon.
The Sweeties (Mr. (runemen) halting read the adver-
tisement convening the members, the sixtieth report of the
executive committee was presented, and is as follows:
" In laying before the shareholders their sixtieth quar-
terly report, the executive committee have the satisfaction
of submitting the annexed returns for the four quarters of
the financial year which terminated on the 30th September
last, as also the grand totals of receipts to Michaelmas,
1867

Quarters ending

Dee. 25,1866
Much 26,1867
June 24, 1867
September 80, 1887

Totals to Illchaelmas,l
1866

Grand totals to Mid
summer, 1887

7.—x;:" Tow I ftemipta.
!progress. plead. Muss.

A ad.
as 1,705 a T
Ns us Km 11
01 I GM 26.191 18
is i PI 29,944 4 5
009 0.100 110,965 011
6,011 115.014 MAD 610
kw 27.79$

1,72:1

20,063

2386

11.109.nes 7 9

The total withdrawals sines the formation of the society
(1852), to Michaelmas, 1867, are 306,74 W. Os. 2d. ; the
total sale of land for the same period is 537,050/. 19s. 6d. ;
the reserve fund to Michaelmas, 1887, is 13,348/. 3s. ; the
register of rights stands as follows:—Completed, 6,738,
drawn, 3,336, seniority, I,BoB—total, 11,902 ; deduct
sights exercised ostestatea, Re., 9,190 ; unexerelsed rights,
2,,09. The last share number on the register of rights
by seniority of membership is No. 18,968. The last share
number issued to Michaelmas 1867 was No. 27,763. Since
the last report (July 2) the second portion of the East
London estate, Forest-gate, was allotted on the 2nd of
August. The sales on this eligible building property
have been very successful, and it is satisfactory to add that
building operations are in active program The expecta-
tions of the committee that the Forest-gate estate, from its
close proximity to the station, and also to the Stratford
Junction, would prove a popular locality to meet the in-
creasing demands for dwellutg-boases in the eastern sub-
urbs for all classes of the community, have been thus far
realised. Additional portions of the Forest-gate estate
will be offered in due course, the continued demolition of
houses, owing to the extension of the Metropolitan Railway
system, rendering the opening up of new districts within
an easy distance of town an absolute necessity. The exe-
cutive committee have been so strongly impressed with the
important., of securing building land within the metropo-
/Hen range, that they have successfully negotiated for the
acquisition of another South London estate. When it is
stated to the shareholders that it is Bolingbroke Park, with
Its mansion and grounds, its extensive frontage to
Wandsworth-common on the one side, and frontage
to Battersea-rise on the other, the whole being
close to the Clapham Junction and New Wands-
worth stations, it will be at ones sees that • most
eligible purchase has been made far the society's purpose.
So aeon as the legal formalities have been carried out the
first portion will be duly allotted. The executive commit-
tee have nominated Mr. PermiStsee, public accountant, and
Mr. Newnham Winstanley as the two auditors on behalf
of the board. The two candidates to be elected by the
shareholders at the present meeting are Mr. W. H. Clemow
and Mr. James Goad, whose names have beau duly adver-
tised under Rule 30. After this day's election the four
auditors will meet in due course to examine, audit, and
report as to the accounts and belanoweheet for the financial
year ending September 30, 1867, to be presented at the an-
nual meeting early in December next. The executive com-
mittee have heartily to congratulate the members on the
happy auspices under which the sixteenth year of the Con-
servative Land Society has commenced."
The auditors were duly elected, and thanks voted unani-
mously to the directors.