The National Register.
London, England, 1813-10-17 00:00:00

OCT. 111._.

Cie pulpit.

- No 10.

With evangelic eloquence be %raring,
With reason %%on ns, and with meekness charmg.
LANUI4ORNE.

I?Er. BENJAMIN VALE",

CURATE OF ST. CLEMENT DANES; Axl) NIORNI.NG PRFAUIIEft AT
TILE FREE CHAPEL, WEST STRi7.ET, ST. GILES'S.

Except in the article of reading prayers, there seem few
churches that ate better served than St. Clement's. It is too
evident, however, that the best of readers are not com-
monly to he met with in this church, whether as to conduct
Or talents, but that its desk appears to be sometimes supplied,
with undiscriminating haste, from that celebrated emporium
where

" men of cloth who want promotion,
%Vitli those who wisii assistance in devotion,
Pin up thcir • wants and W•anted' to the wall,
The Lowe by some yelep'd the parsons' house of

Charity is said to cover a multitude of sins; and, there- I
fore, as we must suppose that chariti,ble considerations I
could alone induce the clerical purveyors of this popular
parish so frequently to employ incompetent leaders, by en-
listing the halt, maimed, and blind, in the service of the
reading-desk, it would, perhaps, be considered as ungene-
rous to animadvert on so amiable a trait in their character.
This is a circumstance, nevertheless, which, as noticed by
every one, it became impossible fur the pulpit critic to pass
any longer in silence.
It is happy for the parishioners of St. Clement's, consider-
ing the state of their reading-desk, that their pulpit is in
better hands. They have the consolation of possessing
an able rector for their morning preacher, a popular clergy-
man for their afternoon lecturer, and, when they want him,
a promising youog divine, called now their curate, who is
eminently qualified to fill up any chasms which circumstances
may occasion in the hortatory department of the church.
Respecting the Rev BENJAMIN VALE, thus introduced
to the reader of these critiques, custom here requires it to
be premised that he is from Christ's College, in the Univer-
sity of Cambridge; whence he came to the metropolis, as
successor to the Rev John Sheppard, who has been for
same months the Minister of Dartmouth Chapel, Black-
heath.
Nature has not imparted to the present preacher these per-
sonal requisites which distinguish ti..e true orat:x. Ile is even
below the middle stature, predisposed to corprder re, with but
a weak voice, and a countenance, although pleasing, not
marked or expressive. Shortness is alone much to the ens-
advantage of a pterlic speaker, particularly in preaching;
since his person must of necessity he elevated so as to en-
danger his standing, or, pulpits not being constructrd with
due regard to title preachers, the cushion will effec'ually
prevent both the proper display of person and the corres-
ponding eloquence of action.
Intellectual superiority ever delights in triumphing over
personal impeditnents. ith all his disadvatvagei, there-
fore. the present preacher is likely to become an orna-
ment to his profession, and an instfunieut of righteousrws,
in the church. Ills manner b.s.peaks him t.ineere; his enun-
ciation, though somewhat slow. is tus,ive as well as ,dis-
tinct ; his action, notwithstanding its iestricted.i!'ss, is at
once graceful and dignified; and 11.6 •courses ale i.lterest-
ing, informing, and evangelical.
The Rev. Mr. Vale, commonly with yo9ng preachers,
seems must at home on the evidences of religion, though in

TIM NATIONAL REC

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connection with its doetrities ; and discovers a peculiar ap-
titude for this branch of theological instruction. still so much
needed even in our day of christian splendour, and al-
ways so important to inexperienced minds. While hirn,elf
is but growing in gtace, thi4 is, perhais, bit Safest pails.
Let him not discover too much anxiety, nevertheless; in
combatting objections, while he is proceeding in
by conjuring up the phantoms of scepticism, and the maws
of criticism, for the sake of acquiring the reputation of
having once more dispatched them to rest ! The generality
of hearers are, happily for their comfort, still unacquainted
with the cavils of philusophists and the quibbles of school-
men : they want not to be furnished with the subtleties of
disputation ; and they are content, re;pecting plrilosophista.
to

know, and know no more, tbrit Bible true,
A truth the bri:liant sceptic never kuctv!"
Observing its breaks, one is inclined to irCer that this
preacher's voice is yet on the change, that it has not attained
to its full strength, and requires him, of course, whenever
he may preach in large churches, to to circumspect as tl
its application. He will do well to bear this in mind, Al-
though his voice is evidently far from strong, Mr. Vgle, out-
g sing its powers, may, by his perorations at least, so weaken
its stamina as materially to affect his health and his halms-

mon.
The reverend Mr. Vale betrays not, at present, any symp•
toms of that professional puppyism which seems too prevalent
amongst the rising divine.; of our day. Let him religiously
watch against this sin. He is now a very promising preach-
er; and, with but few faults, he may hereafter become art
eminent one.
Hiving, in the outset of this paper, noticed the manner is
which the prayers of the establishment are sometimes slurred
over at. St. Clement Danes, it now remains fur me, iu conclu—
sion, to reprobate the total disregard of the pew-openers; both
towards the poor who statedly attend this church, and to the
occasional accommodation of strangers. St. Clement's is
one of our most centrical churches; and, considering that
it is not overcrowded, but that, although respectably filled.
there is room enough and to spare, it would be as creditable
as beneficial to direct that all possible politeness, touching
the matter of seating, should, from time to time, be uni-
formly evinced on the part of those to whom the business of
pew-opening is here entrusted. Our hewers of wood and
drawers of water should be taught to know their stations in
the sanctuary; nor should the door-keepers, in the House of
the Lord, be either too proud or too remiss for the execution
of their duty. ONESIMUS.

C IRISTIAN MEA LNIENT.
WhO, NN•lan his son but asks for bread,
%%limid give him stone?' the Sallow-said:
Scripture one Menhurn
Who, ask'd for bread, provide us stone 3! , MUM.

T E PnR A ill LIT NTL R !
N A P US'e. Of riCtOry to botiSt,
But now he tells a ditr'rent story ;
Content to lTlitlch amity his host
" Coved with Mud." itilteud of If Glory!"

It is understood, that shortly atter the meeting of Parliament, s
message will be sent down by (Le Princt. Regent, rec.,tilineteling a
provi.ou for au ottended Charlotte
in take effect iron, the 7th of
oess koing attained the ake
other competent Antlioritie,,
;o altinnie and maintain an inci
tesputithiig 541111 bur ekvati:4

-
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abikhintlit for the Pi charlotte,
r January neat, when 114.1 1:1)).41 1104-
fixed by her ltuy;il Veil hu.r, asid the
for lII'S' 11latiffity, SIIO7II be enabled
.1
clypemlelit hoom•boltl, on a stale cop .
rol,k iu the State.
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