The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-12 00:00:00

DECANAL CHAPTERS.

These subjects were set down for the sectional meeting
in the small ball-room, which was filled to overflowing—
?. R . S. Miles, Esq., presiding.

Prayers having been read by the Rev. J. T. Ludlow,

The Cumnataar said they could not expect on an occa-
sion like this, where all parties in the Church were repre-
sented, that perfect unanimity would exist, but he did hope
that the different speakers would be listened to with atten-
tion, and that due regard would be paid to the remarks
they were pleased to make, and no disturbance ensue. He
called attention to the rule, which he thought of great im-
portance, that the duration of the speeches should be limited,
a rule, he thought, which would be very salutary on other
occasions as well as this. (Hear, hear.)
The Rcv. Prebendary TREVOR then read a paper " On
Synods of the Church." He said that when the visible
Church of Christ was described in the 19th Article as a
congregation of faithful men, in which the pure Word
of God should be preached and the sacrament duly ad-
ministered, it implied the existence of a power to determine
what was requisite and reforming what was amiss ; while
the 25th Article held that the power to declare rites and
ceremonies resided in the Church itself, and not in any
extraneous authority. The Church was spoken of as a
corporate body, capable of doing right or wrong, and
responsible for its actions; but he contended that without
some kind of representative assembly this was impos-
sible. Such assemblies were to communities what con-
science was to individuals. They could never accept the
political assembly and the state tribunal in place of the
synod. In the earliest form of ecclesiastical government
the bishop possessed little authority apart from his clergy,
and the diocesan synod was the most consistent element of
the Chutch. He adverted to the constitution of convoca-
tion, and said it had advanced as far as it could advance,
and was an imperfect mode of representation. He warmly
advocated the revival of diocesan synods, and argued that
an episcopate without a synod was not Scriptural. He
contended that diocesan assemblies should include all the
licensed priests of the diocese, and was about to point out
the importance of admitting the laity to the synods when
time was called by the chairman, and the rev. gentleman
had to resume his seat.
The Rev. T. Lathbury, of Bristol, followed, contending
that ecclesiastical matters could only properly be settled in
ecclesiastical assemblies. He contended that, in asking for
the revival of synodical action they were asking for nothing
new or nothing contrary to law.
The Rev. A. H. LEE next read a paper on the past and
present state of synodical action in Ireland,
The Rev, Dr PUSEY, who was greeted with loud cheers,
advocated the revival of synodical action, more especially in
view of the recent judgment of the Privy Council.
The Venerable Archdeacon Denison, the Rev. Keevil,

and the Right Hon, J. Napier also spoke in favour of the
revival of synods.
The Archdeacon of ELY then read a piper on " Rural
Deans and Decanal Chapters," and was followed by the
Rev. Prebendary Mayne, and congress adjourned at five
o'clock.

HEALTH OF LONDON.

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(From the Registrar- General's Report.)

In the weak that ended on S urddy the deaths I
of 1,263 persons, of whom 637 were males and 62.6
were registered in L')ndon, It the deft' hs
from epidemic cholera in the fortieth week of 1854
are excluded, it will be found that the average
number of deaths in corresponding weeks of ten
years, 1854.63, was 1,085, and if this result be
corrected for increase of population, it becomes
1,193. The deaths registered last week are, there-
fore, 70 i❑ excess of the estimated number.
Scarlatina was fatal to 80 persons ; in the pre.
vious week 95 deaths were recorded from this
disease ; it prevails more especially in Deptford.
Seven deaths were caused by smallpox, .35 by
measles, 20 by diphtheria, and 55 by typhus.
One hundred and forty deaths from phi hisis were
registered,and 184 persons died from other diseases
ot the respiratory organs.
The wife of a carman, aged 65 years, died from
pemphigus. A photographer committed suicide by
taking cyanide ot potassium.
Last week the births of 997 boys and 899 girls,
in all 1,896 children, were registered in London.
In the ten corresponding weeks of the years 1854-
63 the average number (corrected) was 1,798.

At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean
height of the barometer in the week was 30.043 in.
The barometrical reading was 30.19 in, on Monday,
and decreased to 20.90 on Wednesday: The mean

temperature of the air in the week was 49 7 deg.,'
which is 3.0 deg. below the average of the same
week in 43 years (as determined by Mr, Glaisher).
The highest day temperature was 62.4 deg. on Fri-
day. The lowest night temperature was 37.5 deg.
on Thursday. The entire range of temperature in
the week was, therefore, 24.9 deg. The mean of
the highest temperatures of the water of the Thames
was 56.8 deg. ; that of the lowest was 54.6 deg.
The difference between the mean dew•point tempe-
rature and air temperature was 9.2 deg. The
mean degree of humidity of the air was 71, com-
plete saturation being represented by 100. The
general direction of the wind was mot and east-
north-east.
The births registered in Dublin during the week
ending Oct. 8 were 142 and the deaths were 82, in
a population of 254,808 (1861), spread over an area
of 3,808 statute acres.

18,008 persons died in London during the quarter
which ended on Satarday, Oct. 1. In the corre-
sponding quarters of the years 1860-63 the numbers
of the deaths registered were 12,916, 14,932, 15,133.
and 17,105 respectively. Zymotic diseases were
fatal to 6,421 persons, being more than a third part
of the total number; in the same period of 1863 the
diseases classified under this head numbered 6,295.
Diarrb cea, as usual at this season, caused the greatest
mortality in this class, 2,080 persons dying from
this disease; the east and south districts suffered
from it the most severely. Cholera was fatal to
130 persons, the majority being children. Smallpox
caused 140 deaths, a number which contrasts favour-
ably with that in the corresponding quarter of 1863,
when 512 lives were lost by this scourge of the hu-
man race. Measles exhibits a large increase, causing
855 deaths; in the same period of last year the num-
ber was 221. The east districts show the greatest
mortality from this disease ; it was particularly
fatal at Poplar, Bow, Mile-end-old-town West, and
in some parts of Bethnal-green. Scarlatina was par-
ticularly fatal at this season last year, causing 1,519
deaths; in the quarter now expired it caused 805
deaths; of this number 74 occurred in Westminster,
and 24 in the sub-district of Belgrave, St. George,
Hanover-square. Typhus carried off 980 persons,
and visited with much severity the east and south
districts of the metropolis.
Phthisis destroyed 1,933 lives. The numbers of
persons who died from this disease in the corre.
sponding quarters of 1860-63 were respectively
1,721, 1,765, 1,720, and 1,799. Otter diseases of
the respiratory organs proved fatal iu 1,699 cases.
From diseases of the brain and nervous system 1,734