The Express.
London, England, 1857-11-03 00:00:00

172YIMIIITT INTBLLIGBNCE.

CAMBRIDGE, ocr. 31.
THE UNIVERSITY PULPIT.—Among the proposi-
tions to be submitted to the Senate on Thursday next, by
race, as amendments to the proposed new university statutes,
is the following To rescind the provision in cap. ft,
sec. I, perm. 4 of the revised statutes, which gives power to
the committee there specifier:lto prevent from p m the
University church any one convicted before them o
o the doctrine or discipline of the Church of Englandin,fi
PCd subject Is exciting great interest in the university. ix
member of the council Odd by the Corribridoe Chrersick to be
the Christian Advocate) has circulated the following nine
" Reasons why the university should not eurruder Itejtuis-
diction with respect to Great St. Mary's Pulpit ,"
1. Because the advocates of such surrender have not
justified their propose, by showing that previous statutes of
this kind have ever yet been executed with undue severity,
or have led to any serious violation of the pesos of the uni-
versity.
2. Because the statute In cap. vi., sec. I as revised and
regularly accepted by the Senate, but now submitted to them
for repeal is still leis open to the charge of possible harsh-
ness or oppression • the judge! there appointed being at least
as likely to be tolerant and discerning as their predeceasora,
and lie penalty in cue of a conviction being now reduced as
far as possible, consistently with any legislation on the
"3. Because on general grounds, it Is most reasonable
that the cognisance of the university sermons, which are
of the nature of public lectures in divinity, delivered in St.
Mary's thumb., should be reserved as heretofore within the
jurisdiction of the academic body.
" 4. &Mid the
ice of calling public teachers to
amount for uttering t errors has been meanimonaly re-
affirmed by the Senate the case of the Lady Margaret and
Monied= ProSseore of Divinity.
"6. Because the argument, according to which the cog-
nisant* of matters here contemplated should be left in Adore
to the culinary tribunals of the country, is fatal to all plead
put forward in defence of our forum domeetiewm! whereas
the purpose of the university to keep its hold upon that privi-
lege has been distinctly reasserted in other cases.
6. Because, to say the least, it is extremely doubtfal
whether. in the present state of English law the jurisdic-
tion of the biehop of the diocese extend. to such 'peculiars •
as the university Belvieu in a parish church; and, there.
fore, it is doubtful in the seine proportion whether, if exist-
ing safeguards be removed, the univerilty as such, have
any means at its disposal, however public, tedious, and
expensive, of declaring its want of confidence in some
erratic
" 7. =, whatever be the right solution of that point.
It is well known that the country at large, and more particu-
larly parents who send their sons for education in religious
truth as well as in the arts and sciences, have been accus-
tomed to expect such care and firmness on the part of the
univeeeity ; and therefore any declaration to the contrary,
like that embodied in the new proposal, would necessarily be
regarded by them as the repudiation of • public duty.
8. Because previa= far more stringent, and far wider
in their range, have been continued m the new Oxford
Statutes, with thirsted of the commissioners and the crown ;
and to place the two universities in this respect upon a totally
different footing would be manifestly unfair to one, if not
injurious to both.
"9. Because there is great raison to apprehend, at the
present juncture, that any manifestation of laxity or indiffe-
rence, with regard to religious subjects, would do very much
to stimulate and embolden a class of persona, whose main
object is to sever the remaining ties by which the university
is connected with the church of England."