The Express.
London, England, 1860-05-24 00:00:00

FESTIVAL OF THE BONS OF THE CLERGY.

Yesterday the 206th anniversary of this charity
wax celebrated, as usual, first by a full choral service under
the dome of St. Paul's Cathedra, and afterw.uds by a
banquet at Merchant Taylors' Hall. The service in the
cathedral wax attended by the Lord Mayor, the sheriffs,
several of the aldermen and members of the Common Conn.
cil Chamber, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and a large
assemblage of dignitaries, parochial clergy, and of the laity.
There was a combination of musical talent in the united
choirs of the Chapel Royal, St. Paul's, Westminster Ab-
bey, and Ht. George's Chapel, Windsor, which did full jus.
tine to the anthems and psalms, which included Dr. Croft's
Oantate Domino and the Dens Misereatur, both in E fiat;
Orlando Gibbon's " Lift up your heads, oye gates r
Mendelssohn's "Why rage fiercely the heathen;" and
Dr. Boyoe's anthem from the 106th Psalm, " 0 give thanks
unto the Lord."

The sermon, which was preached by the Rev. Archibald
Boyd, M.A.., incumbent of Paddington, from the 4th verso
of the 6th chapter of Acts : "Ye shall give yourselves eon.
tinually to prayer and to the ministry of the word"—was an
appropriate and eloquent appeal to the Christian public on
behalf of those clergymen who, obeying that injunction
with singleness of purpose, and having no means beyond a
very inadequate stipend—there being, as he said, more than
10,000 of that body whose incomes averaged not more than
1001. a year each—were utterly unable to make any pivot.
don for the education of their families, or the future previa
don of their wives and orphans, when, worn out by labour
and anxiety, they were called away. The reverend preacher
drew a touching picture of the position of the daughters of
clergymen dying under such circumstances, many of whom
were compelled to accept menial situations • while others,
failing even in that resource, were, he feared, driven to the
streets.

The banquet in the evening there was a more than
ordinarily numerous company, including the Archbishop of
Canterbury, Archbishop fidesignate) of York • the Bishops of
London, St. David's, St. Asaph, Lincoln, Salisbury,
Llendaff, Carlisle, Winchester, and Chichester ; Marquis of
Bristol, Lord John Thynne, the Lord Headley ; Aldermen
Copeland, M.P., Cubitt, M.P., Sydney, and Finnis ; Alder.
man and Sheriff Phillips, Alderman and Sheriff Gabriel,
Hon. and Rev. H. Legge, Sir F. Currie, Bart. ; Sir R. P
Glyn, Bert. ; Sir Brooke Bridges, Bart., Y.P. ; Sir C. D.
prey; W. IL Barrow, Esq., M.P. ; James K. King,
Esq., M.P. ; Joseph Somes, Req. M.P. • Colonel Skipper,
Major Moore, Archdeacon Hale, the Nestle of the Temple ;
Rev. Canons Jell, Blornfield, and Jennings ; Rev. N.B.
Mortimer, Vivian, Croly, and Spencer ; Revs. A. Boyd.
D. Laing, F. G. Merrifield' Henry Brown, R. E. Coplestone,
G. Coney, G. Ainslie, B. Belcher, T. 0. Goodchild, W. J.
Hall, J. C. Haden, J. H. Coward, W. R. Ciampi, W. J.
Crichton, J. Fothott, John Wynne, and E. Gardiner;
Mews. Wm. Cotton, H. S. Thornton, Hichens, Thome.'
Tilson, W. B. Renton, J. B. Lee, W. H. Smith, R.
Cheers, J. Propert, John Davis, H. A. Hunt. F. D. All.
croft, Wm. Robinson, Robert Stafford, J. C. Wood, F.
Knyvett, &c. ; in all nearly 200.
The Loan MAYOR presided, and after the cloth hod been
removed, and "The Church and Queen," "The Prince insert
and Prince of Wales," and other routine toads had been
duly honoured, gave " The Archbishop of Canterbury, the
president of the Corporation of the Sons of the Clergy."
His Geace, in acknowledging the compliment, adverted
to the duty of those who, like himself, bed been raised to
an elevated position in the church, to do all they could to
promote the success of an institution so beneficial to their
less fortunate brethren. In detailing the good which the
society bad done and was doing, he stated that it DOW
assisted annually by pensions and donations about 1,260
persons—destitnte clergymen the widows, the aged, and
single daughters and the children of deceased clergymen.
The sums it distributed in this way were by no meant
adequate to the object ; but charity must be cow
sidered rather relatively than positively, and though
the W. or 30/. a year pension, which was the highest
pension allowed, might seem nothing to those who had
their 1,0001. a year, it was of the greatest importance to
thole of our hard-worked clergy, who laboured their lives
away ou incomes of less than 1001. a year, and who but foe
such assistance would have the burden of their labours
increased by the consciousuess that their children were
growing up around them without education, and that when
they died those who were nearest und dearest to them
in life would be left wholly doititute. Ho appealed also to
the lay members of the church of England, and suggested
that this charity offered a most fitting opportunity for than
to show their attachment to the church in the persons at
its poorest clergy, reminding them of the promiee
that Whosoever gave a cup of cold water in the
Lord's name should most with a rich reward,"
and urging that whatever they gave to the poor and deed:
tote ministers of God's word must necessarily be given in
the name of the Lord. - -

In the course of the evening it was stated that since the
foundation of the charity about 2,000,0001. sterling had
been distributed in pensions and donations ; that at the
present time then were 712 widows and daughters of clergy.
turn in receipt of pensions, varying from 10f. tc 2JI. a years
while on an average upwards of 500 clergymen and children
were anomaly assisted ; that worth and need were the
only conditions required from applicants for aid, the
harassing and degrading conical of a public election
being unrecognised by the conetitution of the charity ; and
in speaking of its results it was further added, the good
effected is not, however, to be immured merely by the
amount of money given away—the alma distributed have
in very many cases called forth assistance from indivi.
duals who otherwise might not have contributed
at all to the relief of the applicants. This
more especially happens in that branch of the
society's objects which provides funds for the education of.
and placing out iu life, the children of poor clergymen—an
object effecting oninixol good, whether viewed iu the im-
mediate relief to the parents, or the ultimate benefit to
society.
The health of the Lord Mayor, the Marquis of Bristol
and the other stowards, and the Bishop of London, having
been given and appropriately acknowledged, the right. rev.
prelate taking ociadon in thanking the company for the
compliment paid to him forcibly to urge the claims of the
charity.

The REGL,TRAR (Mr. Baker) announced that the collection
in the cathedral in the morning amounted to 1421. ; the aunt
ut the dinner, including certain cheques sent to hint
by gentlemen who could not find it wnvenieut to attend, to
984/. ; the done tii swot stewards -w ho contributed according to
custom 30 guineas on the first and 20 guineas on each subs
sequent mansion they acted in that capacity- to ttoo/. ; from
investment« of stewards' fees and other Kindler receipts in
former years, 1,046/. ; making • total receipt on ;he festival
account of 2,972/. Besides which there had been 700/. re-
ceived in legacies since the list festival, raining the whole
to 3,672/. As showing the propene of the moiety during
the hod eight yours, lie added that a conaiderable number of
petll4loll% had been permanently raised—that whereas in
1852 there were only two pensioners of 25/. each, there
were DOW 14 ; in 1852 there were no pensioners of 201..
tech, now there were :42; in 1852 there were but 22
pensioners of 1T.., now there were :hl3. (Hear, hear.) In
1852 the higher pensions--that was those above 10/. a
year—were hut 24, now they were 379. In 1852, the num-
ber of 1(9. pennioners was 888, but by increasing the num-
ber of higher twusions only t 43 now received so little an
10/. a year. (Hear, hear.)
The dinner, which was excellently served, was supplied
from the Loudon Tavern. A 'titanic...A selection •was per-
formed by Meant.. Francis, Lockey, Buckhuid, Fielding,
Wince, the choristers of 81. Paul's Cathedra, and the
toast. were effectively given out by Mr. Higgs, who
officiated an toast-maater.

Only oue more reception will take place at the
Tuileries this 110118011-011 seedily evening next.

The Prato of Vienna announces that the journal
Newsee Naelerickaten (Latest News) was seised on Sunday
Ltd for publishing reports nut very favourable t the same
Lion of the King of Naples.

A letter from Florence etatei that the party of
the Grand Duke of Tuscany is agitating in that city. &di%
tioua writing% are patted !very night on the walla of the
palace, and Nome of the nohket (-undies in Tuwutny do not
tliaguiae the fact that they are compiling to &templed' the
restoration of the limed Duke. The government it Wanted
' ' "

for having acted so mildly, and it is recommended to adopt
energetic lIK.WitUVI against agitatcr%, particularly against
the clergy.
A letter from Rome of the nth inst. ittinounoea
that the papal government has oLtnined powessiou oC
several very important documents, which contain the in-
struction% of the revolutionary committees to their agents,
directing them to hasten an insurrection in the ',Wen of the
church, and likewise ii, the Atbru,ai ►nd Calabria. It
adds that the Court of Rome pmpootm to address copies of
these documents to the great powers of Europe.