The Express.
London, England, 1866-10-25 00:00:00

CHURCH CONPXRRNCE AT HERTIMBD.

A °Much oonferenos, consisting of the ele_Fiff and
laity of the deaneries of Hertford, Ware, and Welwyn,
was held at Hertford on Monday. The bishop of the
diocese met the members of the cooferense at Bt. •
Church, where there was litany salvias, sad the conference
was held at the Town-hall in the afternoon, under the
presidency of the bishop. The subject far maddoration
was " How we may inoresse and extend the good effects of
the services of churehmen, and of the pastors of the
March, among the various classes of society, and especially
in regard to the artisan and laboaring classes." I)
cussion was opened by a paper from the Hon. and Be,.
Lowther Barrington, chaplain to the bishop, which was
read in Mr. Barrington's absence, by the Bev. Owls@
Denies. The paper colazonser by remarking as the
Inadequacy of the ordinary means of regular service in
the national sanctuaries to convey the gospel mosey
to the poor, and on the necessity at going amongst
the people as the apostles did. Reference was
made to the labours of Whitfield and Wesley,
who had established en influence ono their followers
equal to that of the church of Rome over those who
nowledged her sway simply by the ministry of the word
of Gad and by prayer, and it was urged that the than*
should adopt similar mesas. Education; was another Mans
of reaching the people, but there were classes in which
the children were seat to labour at so early_ as age that
they could only be reached through the medium of night
schools, which might be conducted by the laity. Some-
thing, however, ought to be done for the present genera-
tion, and in remarking on this pert of the gable* Mr.
referred to the lames el the " Bible wiMea."
liellittCsomeedul efforts ofj"lies Marsh, and of Ma.
Whitmn, of Shrembury. Minh might also be done
by intending the diaconate, se ea te enable 1M ehnreh
to meet the wants of the time. With reference to
religious brotherhoods and sisterhoods, Mr. Barrington
spoke with great reticence, admitting that special training
for ministering to the poor and the mirk was a peat ad-
vantage, but suggerting that in all asses the lay brothers
and sisters should be under the direction of the parochial
clergyman.—Mr. Dimsdale, MP., thosOt that the duties
of the laity and the clergy should be clearly defined, and
that they should be kept separable Theo was a great deal
Of committee work which they could perform, and much
that they could do in the direction and advocacy of reli-
gious societies, which would release the elegy from such
duties end enable them to give their undivided attention
to their spiritual functions.—Mr. R. Banbury, M.P., was
strongly in favour of a large employment of lay agency,
both in visiting and preaching. Laymen mulct not be pre-
vented from yaeasb ' when they felt the necessity and
the duty of • so, and the church should magmas and
direct their efforts.—The Rev. H. S. Warleigh also spoke
in favour of the employment of lay agency ; and the Rev.
R. Parrott, a ritualistic clergyman, contended for attractive
services and better sermons. A dismission ensued, inwhick
many clergymen and laymen took part, some of them
urgiletfhe necessity of employing laymen in visiting and
in gi cottage lectures under the dire Mon of the Faro-
chiel c ergy. Ultimately it was resolved, " That the
Lord Bishop be requested to nominate from the three
rural deaneries represented here five laymen and five
clergymen, to confer with him ea to the best means of
leasing and extending the good effect of the services of
the church among the various classes of society." The
Bishop of Rochester said that he felt his hands greatly
strengthened by the resolution. Of the propriety of em-
ploying lay agency in the work of the search he bad not
the slightest doubt, for there were numerous
Scripture which unquestionably laid upon every
man the burden of proclaiming the gospel. There was
no doubt that the universities contributed •
number of candidates for holy orders, in conseqtele=
the poor emoluments which the church offers, and it was
therefore the more necessary that the services of laymen
should be obtained to do the church's work. The pro-
ceedings concluded with a vote of thanks to the bishop.