The Sun.
London, England, 1852-04-21 00:00:00

EVENING,

rit4l2,

p'e3 he thought fit; but it watt with the uc,s of
Mr. Bennett thet he had to deal with, and the conduct
of one of the dignitaries of the Church in oftinexion with
Mr.- Bennett. The H-,use w.s ewer., in.,t in 1843 Mr.
Bennett was appointed by the Bishop of L L:i the
living of St. Paul's, and from that period down to 1850
a system prevai'ed at St. Paul's which eventually excGed
the indignation of the public, and led to his rernov.i. Ac-
Hcordiug to a letter which- the •Wv . Gentlemen himself
Lad published it appeared that his proceeding.. had so
ex,sperated the public mind that a large police force was
required -to keep the neighbeurbood,ol. the church in
oruer, and on one •occasion some of. the people who at-
tended the -church were- carried before the - police
magistrate - • and punished. The- magistrate, how-
ever, in, sentencing the accused parties, strongly
censured the conduct of Mr Bennett and his fullowere,
and the subject afterwards so tereeditself upon the at-
tendee of the press that the .Bi,nop of London was at

him." To 1310),p, ,4ifnout, tingeing any of the facts
placed before him by the ruetnorie.lists. useumed the
g if: of any. dochriug he strAs satisfied Mr.
tiennt.tt w,s art .chod to the Church of England,
d tided cmgury to the evidence and against the
liw .; and tlL,tYrrtnined to institute him with,
out fa: 01,r exalrduteiOn. The memori,lists were
dis:pirito?l, but did not despair. They wrote to the
Bishop again, and m,tcle another request. They bad
alreidy received one answer, 'which was not particularly
courteous or conciliatory; but it was a model of episcopal
kindness its compared with the-Ace-y[4- This second let-:
ter: was---f' IWM requeeed by-those clergymen end lily-
men -who prescnted the insmiiritil requesting your LOtd-- 7-
sbip not to institute Mr. Bennett, to express their_ deep
regret thot you still intend to proceed' with the institu-
tion. though he has not retraced any of those doctrines
and opinions cited in their inemnrial, and which have
created so much alivm. At the same time we thank -

. .
length induced to remove the Rev. Gentleman from his your Lordship for giving us the credit of objecting to
living. The 'letter of the Bishop se:cempanee,g the. dist, him only from a sense of duty.. And on the recogni-
rniesal was familiar to the Buse, as must also be Lion of this principle we now trust your Lordship will
the reply of the Rev. Gentleman to it. It would be. re- so far oblige us as to stay institution for the short period'
membered that the Bishop's letter recommended Mr. of a fortnight, in order that we may deliberete calmly
Bennett to resign, or legal measures would be taken to ores matter of such great importatce, and consider who-
remove him; sod in accordance with that recotn- ther or not we may take further -steps." Was that an
mendition Mr. Bennett did resign, and his resige unreasonable request-coming, as it did from a congre-
nation was accepted by the Bishop; not, however, geiion under the Bishop's spiritual charge,- deeply
bef ire ' the Rev. Gentleman • had made a formal moved upon a religious question, and showing a degree '
protest that 'he had violated no rules of . the ot solicitude upon it for which a b ishop might have'
Protestant Church; . and the -Bishop had declared been expected to feel some sympathy ? Whit was the '' ''
that he had not only been tinfaithtul to the Church but reply ?• Some days elapsed bef ire it was received, and then
insubordinates to his diocesan. It was then publicly re- it was as follows: -" Rev. Sir,-I beg to acknowledge
pored that Mr. Bennett had either gone to Berne or in- the receipt of /your letter, and remain your faithfuhsere
tended to go there; but at all events, however that vent, - BATH and WELLS,"--(Heir, hem., enda laugh.)
might be, the people of England fancied he had left He (Mr, fleet-swain) would not eemment uuou that reply.
their church for ever. Imagine, however, their surprise. --(Hear, hear.) these gentleman had presumed to ex- '
after what he had said and written, that it should ercise the right of private judgment, which he presumed -
come to pass that ha should again be appointed was distareful to their Bishop; and they received their •
to . a living.' in- the Peotestent Church. It was reward, He recollected reading that Archbishop Laud .
a matter of surprise that any patron emir] present had said on one occasion that he hoped "to live to see
him, but to still greater matter of- surprise the day when the proudest gentleman of England would
that any prelate could be found hardy enough stand uncoverel before the suet/lest priest." He thought •
to institute him. When Mr. Bennett lett - St. Paul's he this reply. of the Bishop breath. d the spirit. of Laud;
declared thathis religious ceuviciions were unchanged :hough he hope tile gentlemen of England would not
and unchangeable, and it was right that the House bend to lee-(144r. hear.) The Bisbee, however, had
should know what church he attended durieg the twelve iiistituted. Mr. Bennett, wee was inducted into the vicar.;
months which intervened between his resignation ege of Frome, where he had a large income paid by the .
and his appointment to'. the living' of Frome. State, wile patronage of three livings and the 'appoint-
It had been stated in a public print that Mr. Bennett bad ment of several curates; with • those cpportuniies of
spent the interval in Bavaria, where, ' instead of at- using his influence which were given to ministers of
tending the 'English Protestant Church, he was a the Established Church in a position 'of authority. And
constant attendant at muse and upon • subsequent what was the first publio- act of Mr. Bennett after bis in-'
inquiry being instituted into the truth of this ductionh The Reuse would remember that when he bad
statement it was found to -be aubstanally correct. resigned St. Paul's, Knightsbridge, and St. : Berriebase
The fact was notorious to all English residents, Pimlico, three curates of the latter church sent in their re.. .
and it' might be considered - as proved. that Mr. eignahon in a public letter, addressed "to the Bishop of
Bennett wee, to all intents and purposes, out- London," in which they said, " Having beard that. it is
wardly at least, a Roman Catholic, and had lost your Lordship's desire that the services in the church •
all sympathy for the Church in which he had been should be performed in a manner different from that' in
brought up. : Notwithstanding these circumstances which we have hitherto had the privilege of enjoying
he was appointed Protestant minister of a Protestant them, we beg to resign our cures into your Lordship's
congregation at Frome.-(hear.) The people of Fiume hands." Signed, first, by- the R• v. Mr. De 'Gee; and
were in an aging of apprehension, and -dreaded-that what the first act of Mr. 'Bennett, as vicar of Frome, was to
bad occurred in London might take place in Frame; ant ' dismiss the popular curate whom he found established
they sent a very .strong but most respectful memoria, there, sod to pat -in his place that reverend gentleman, ' '
to the patroness of the living to cancel the appointment. - Mr, De Gee.' Now, in what position did the parishion-
This memorial was signed by five -clergymen,. and the era of Frome stand? The place was excited; the clergy
most influential part of the people in the had memorialised; the laity had protested; the Noncon•
town, but the only reply they received wa • fortnisfs . had held a public meeting-(A leugh)-in
that ' the appointment was already male, an,• which they had raised their voice on beaelf of Protest-
could not be reversed Now, 'he did not c- tnplein of the antistu sgainst 'what they coneetered a new " Papal ag-
appointment, because in making it the porous, grerition. '-(Hear, and a lauge.) This was a question h
ouly - exercitied em undouteed and legal right, in which the Dissen'ers had as strong en ineres, as the "h',
according to her conscieetious vi* ws and convictions. members Of the Estehltshment.-(Loud cries of ' Hear," •
The writings and preachings -of the 11-v. Gentleman since from the Liberal side) They -might not be amenable
his appoitoment to the living of ,Frome, proved Layout'. to the discipline of the Eetablished Church; but who
all doubt that his views and princirlee had teeters would • deny . that Protestantism had been deeply ins
gone no change, and he appeared to le hour under deleted to them, and he believed that they would form
the impression that, within ten years, Protestantism the best bulwark 'against encooachments upon the
would have ceased to exist, and the 'Bible be found -Protestantism of the country.-(Cheers from "the Non-
to
be
,a fiction, so far as it was of use in pro- c intotmier, Membere.) It not then to be sneered at
moting and, extending Christianity. He pasto d that the 'Disseeters had protested against, -Mr. Bennett's
no opinion upon such doctrines, but he appointment. Men of most respectable character and
simply mentioned them as having been propounded position iti Frome had absented themselves from the
within the parish church of ' Frome arid remonstrated church, and the trustees or a Church school, twelve in
against by his own parishioners: • the= Biseep er L eidon camber, bed resolved that the children should not attend
vyer knew
to
Churcho o' f fRM o
Rump, e B,
aennd-
hei long ago been made acquaint• d with ell theee roe-ut the church. The people ot Frome knew what had hap-
proceedings 'but he had t then no notice of them, paned in London.Thoe
and the 'Reverend Gentleman was lift at full nett'a curates had gene
liberty 'to go- on Preeehiug those principles which while ministers in the Church of England bad made use
he (Mr. Horewah) had faintly introduced to of every opportunity their position in it might afford
the House as they were explained by the them to make converts to the Church to which they were
Rev. Gentlechan himself. Now the House was fully themselves hastening. They knew that in the parish of
conversant of the immense Powers exercised by a bishop. St. Benedetti Mr. Bennett had established a convent of
He was a dignitary at large, enjoying great wealth, Sisters of Mercy (as it was called), and that every one
and being responsible -to no one; he could live of those lathes had gone over to the Church ohlttitne.
where he liked, or do as he liked. It the Bishop They knew also. that among the members of his zone
were a bad man, his power could be • used for gregation many had gone over, not obscure in teatime'
- - e
the purpose of inflicting injury upon the and they naturally dreaded the same results at'
people ; while, on the other hand, if he were Frome. They knew also that the evil had not
well disposed and gifted with a nice conscience, rested with the seceders themselves; that though.f.
his office was capable of much good. The ecclesiss- many bad by leaving one church and entering another,
tics' law, however, regulating the - appointment of found rest, others had not been so happy. He spoke in '
beneficed clergyman was exceedingly strict. The bishop the hearing of those who could bear testimony to the -
could not ordain any one eomieg iroca another diocese, truth of the statements he now made-of those who
tireless be first brought sufficient testimony of his former knew the family afflictions, the domestic sorrows which '
good life and behaviour from the bishop of the diocese had been occasioned, and the social distrust which these
from which he came; and brought, in writing, testimony abuses had generated. They had heard of parental
of ability, 'honesty, and conformity to the ecclesiastical agosies-they had heard even of broken hearts; and if
laws of the Church of England, and, stcondly, after such things had occurred in London, why shoud they'
that, the clergyman mast tied ego examination by the te t occur in Fr. me? Ann where was to be found the
bishop. Now, as to the manner in which the certificate remedy? • Tne Biehort of Bath and Wells told them that
was given; it evas signed by three beneficed clergyman; :he parties were satisfied but were the people of Eng-
and it they were not resident in the second de ce,e, it Istel satisfied? Were the pantie arid the Prote,tants of
must be countersigned by the bishop of the diocese tr in England satisfied? Was Parliament satisfied? He
which he came. The term of the certificate was, "We .ould rather ask, was there to be no redress for these -
whose names are hereunto suteceb,.d. b. ing three belle- thieve, and where eas it to be found? Not certainly in
fired cOrgymen of the Church of elegiand, do deceive the morality of our clergy-not in the consciences of our'
that the presentee bath been personally kuown to us for prelates. Our clergy, alas! were too much mis'ru'led
the space of the last three yeare and that we have had and our prelates were too deeply tainted, The laity of
opportunities of observing his chnduc ; eud that during England, thaek God, were yet sound.-(Hear, hear.)
:be whole of that time we verily believe that he hath The laity of England were the Church of England--
lived wisely, soberly, and honestly ; nor have we at they constituted its soundness and its hope; and it was
any time heard anything to the , contrary thereto; for the laity of the Church of England to bestir them-
net hath he at any time, so far as we are swats, selves on the present occasion -(Hear. hear.) And
written or taught anything contrary to the doctrine how could they so legitimat, ly heedr themselves is'
and discipline of the Church of England." through their representativee in Parliament? HP
Now this certificate required th h three beneficed eler- propesed, therefore. that the House of Commons, repro-'
gymen should state that during the three last }ears they renting the laity of England, should lay the petition -at
had opportunities of observing Mr. Bennett's conduct, the foot of the Throne, arid pray of the Queen that she
.and that they could testify that he had done nothing con- would add one more to the many claitns_she bad already
trary to the doctriae er discipline of the Church Of Eng- established upon the love and admiration of her faithful-
land. Had any three beneficed clergymen of the dioceSe subjects by becoming the protector of her people and of
of London signed that certificate in this case, stating that their religion, by assisting them, not against assaults
during the last three years they had an opportunity of from without, but against treachery from within--not'
observing Mr, Bennett, when during
three years he had been on the Continent; and that they the Church's own unwerthy sons-('Hear, hear)-that
could testify that during that time he had done nothing even when those enemies were found in high places,
contrary to the doctrine or discipline of the Church of and though they might be dignitaries of the Church, she
England, when during the summer ce 1851 he had been would c-impel them to obedience of that law which the
habitually worshipping in the Roman Catholic Church? Bishop .4' lesrh and Wells had so wantonly repudiated
Incredible as it might appear, the certificate teed been on this ecoesiee-that she would evince her sense of the
signed by three Clergy men of the Church of England in great scandal done to the Church of which she was the
the diocese of London!-(Bear.) But this was not all, need, and show herself the true deteeder of that faith
An humble address be pre'.
Those clergymen not being reeident in the diocese to and that libe'ty by which ner throne had been esti.
which the presentee was removing, it must be counter- blishett.-(Eleae.) T.hiaetii,o,,) A . and Learned Member cotta
that
signed by the biahoo of the dioue.e from which he was eluded by moving
going. had the Bishop of London countersigned the to-ti- rented to her Majesty, preying that she will be .gra-
moniel? Hadehe Bishop of London, set, tied pressed for eieuey pleased to direct inquiry to be made whether doe.
the resignation of Mr. Bennett, as gutty of uelaithful- respect Nos paid to the decrees of the constitutions and
tees to the Church of England and insubordinate to canons ecclesiastical of the Church of England in the
his bishop, bad he signed a certificate to the effect recent institution of Mr. Bennett to the vicarage of
that dieing the last three years he was a faithful Frew.,"
hicredible as it Afar a slight pause, ,
,
Eh:tdabhleiashrdEnetnittL the Bishop of Lendon The CHANCELLOR of the
tri i n ist er
.e
seem,f the
he
might EXCHEQUER rose
had actually signed the memorial-(Hear, hear) -though and said-Sir, Ido not think it possible to exaggerate.
with a qualificatioe.(Henr, hear.) the impertatice of the question which the Hon. and-
hreheraedwsaiu
sgneodit --
qualification iii the canon. The presentee Learned Gentleman has brought under the 'consideration
could not be admitted without testimony in writing from of the Itruse.- And; Ste, when I think to what a class
the bishop to his honesty and conformity. The law, of discussion t the present debate may give rise if the
therefore. was clear that the bahop must give the testi- House sanctions the motion of the Hon. and Learned-
' mony. The practice had been, however, that three cler- Gentleman, I confess I look to the future of Parlierachie
gymen of the Church of England should sign the card- tary duty as one rife with elements of no slight ifite-
heats, but that the bishop countersigned it merely to the teat=-with elements of discuss on which may produce a
effect of sayiiig that he attests that the elergymen ',whet very important effect, and one not anticipated, upon opt-
signed it were resident in his diocese, and not as testify-, nion out of doors.-(Rear, hear.) Sir, I myself am not
ing t i what they stated. , There bad behn this' deyiation
,prepared now to offer any opinion upon the circunt
from the practice, however, in the tieheent 'case, that the seances to which the Honourable and Learned. Gentle!
Bishop of London had written in the margin of 'the cer- 'man hr.s called our attention this evening. I feel, and
tificate that he was Only to be understood as atteatieg. I have never' felt more acutely, the inconvenience of a
that these were genuine signatures, and was riota.Party popular assembly like this being engaged in discussions
to the statements of the certificate. At least he pre- such as that to which we have now listened.-(Hear,
hear.) -But, Sir, I must confess that as I listened to the -
stoned . thee, this, was. see andethet the Bishop bad 54).,
sO,,theie had .lieen address of
,the Hon. and Learned Gentleman, 1 was
.
sought to save ids eonaisteticY, It much struck with
thrown additional responsibility onehe Bishop of a 4.
do for ' •
and Wells;, ande.es be received a
.eertificate fronlJhe has ma • dealing h
wit., the sabj.ct to he has
which'
ficatie it: vies a referred. Aect •the inadequacy of the proposal ne-
- zding, to the Hon. and Learned Gentle-
Bishop of Leaden with sits unusual quilt , ht ...
euear, man, a very 'great grievance
reason for ,uausual prudence and. preeeetiothrhhhe .• • , , , has , by
circumstances, such a some of her Mai, et ' b' •and that, toe, with re-
bear.) .And surely, under Such ed explanation s ,) 4SU jects, , , ~ , .
elect to matter '
which ate calculated 'to interest their
certificate, with such qcaiificetion,. q i
I.P -n- r there hadr been feet s
and elucidation.--(Eleur, hear.)• ' Eiotftier
Loudon who had .i.
doinge in a matter the most acute.-(Hear,
and Learned Gentle• -
three clergytneh ~of the dieeese.. net understand that the II
a qualification on theremedy°i'for thegrievances
part ;lie certificate
willkithaii fool not' been s' nf d man has really propesed any , ,
ie before the
part of the Bishop, or the et 01.3 t,....1._u,,..
....a,
hT . he has alleged. The prepositto House is, ,
by the Bishop, in which case the id .•h e t e nted to
and that "An humble address be pros her Majesty,
Wells hadeleliberetely dispensed wits the preeturien4
..,raying that she will be graciously pleased to direction=
. ,
' tabliphed by law tor the to curity of suetquiry to be madeeeihetheedue respect 'Was paid•to-the'"
which were es
Church.-(Hear.) And, ehere was this further Pdhe decrees of this hiestitultou
' ' s and canons' ecclesiastical
of.
°yea after the certificate, was reeitive'd,.chili, iEngland in the recent institution of Mr.
••
that, he.hied, "the Church
the Bishop. was bound to examine the presentee. By the Bennett to the vicarage of Frame. "V
Now, I think, that
39th csuottethe presentee . must appear on snail exit before assenting to this address, the House would do well.
wination: worthy , 4 his ministry ; . and,
by the 48th 'to consider whether, by agreeing to it they will estabe
canon, 110 .9X101i01,17,1,1,ad to, I?eipermitted 'to serve in any lish 'any authority able to cope with the circumstances
place without examination. by thy bishop of the diocese. to which the Hon. Gentleman has referred.-(Hear,
This ,examiustion t was not mire matter of form.. There hear.)' gorse, tor example, the House assents to
wile no point on which, the; I
tete ' , was More explicit,. this -motion; and that inquiry is made in accordance
There was a judgment of. Lord E 11411:),
orough on thin with ite 'So use, in fact, that her Majesty
question. in whieh- he stated that,' in all. cases, hethere . desuee thithConenieston of inquiry, it will be acconepse
was. to be an exemivation by the: bishops 7 that' was ' sled by do authority to force any one to make any 00M; -
to precede admission. The duty of examination was;; Phttnication be may be
. unwilling to offer.-(Hear, hear.)
cast upoetehim by
the express terms of the canon h ' The Commission of inquiry would not have any power
and, therefore, if 'either the. bebop would met-eh 9imine , to:Ataill train the very individuals they might most like ,
at all, ors-only in a mud 'her I etit h court -cote& :to subject te inquisition the information they requirettes
eme ectute 2, • , — heleere bear) On
interfere, by' mandamus ~,.., mamma- _ -the statement, of the Hon. ape ,
to eoniPel 84"'''''e' 'f' ihe Leareed'Gentletean
ilea to be made as pertahrad. co hie der.y.„ The wordi e4l,l"tie of' these theo ahem • himself, it appears to me that ate
statute is ',approve,' rand the hitileop must PXere-s , wives must occur-either there is it '
f ' resent etesii
approvitl .according taehis, conscience. or such ..ineans o
~ p !
.., tie, a remedy for theseelleked ' griehandelh
i ethat can pre- .or there is eote-h(lieur .0
information as he can Obtaia. , .Ever shin. 0,ii.0,'. oich a tnejeet With h d 'ft, ) I speak, of oteiree, es
early minister to his .conscientiouseee ili..
blb_e!iesTet his ceps
, spy Menteer of this lit rence which must best bechinee
probation, and may fairly. and re.asente e , . t
~ else who has- not ihh'peeticular,
adeats.able in a-,cour ,of 'learning which applies to th • ee• - I cannot
elusions; though not f ulnallY
"On these griainds but believe t -
.. , $
'OD.. , lows ver-1 hav I e a.ways' iiiiderarbod--tna
law, may be taken into consideration.
_..mor.aliwci
skiers
iiitio,.
h.
eta
f Fcoiue beceene. 11 ache in
thappeal from a prelate who . .
se
thereforeethe parishioners t,.
Apr the 'cireihnetences, 'cenytiv4itida ot.
theßishop, praying him to. eto thn e ~,
_,,,, ~,, 'law. , ~,,._
west;
.e,
an 4• croons of the Church-that they!
and institute. the exeetlithetteher q thhhh-fo.hotitaii d:r7 :44
.rb, h aliteal to the Aiehbishole.--• (El ar, hear!)
he eeted not be. igh"ranhet t,''''' -- '• el d. . '-' i e eondect of a prplate is so' sebjrch to' th" -.
Bishop, Iv . - • i oc,h,,,ltovi, 410 net en este n telperior ' revisien I
'I,
' ' 'c
- to
tainly -waseeet igoOrah ,
pia,,,, -e e , eee
~..heek
_an appeal:ught to .e,,
f .ile ceecumaLlOti‘in `laid tief,re
evee to notitte say one, e ,
''''' seep y said', Rev. - .;d "
him• by-the memorialists;,but,,s eep y. .
.. eat, . toe Cfpuse of COrnmons.-(llear, hear.) I think thas
dear Sir,-Ishavie reed the teemed* signed beyeu.. Rah , ea h e
tath- 4- ppp,,l Should be hail in hottetecce to adopting'.
I not been (I can assure you) eatiafled that,-Atr• Beneett, O. tribuiltil which is confeesedly inadequate to attain.
was not attached,to,.or likely to be influenced in rime , the deeired' result.-(Hear, hear.) Seel knOw 'that
of, the Church . of ;BoDM or likely to ithieence
;ether! , many persons are of opinion that there -is too greata
in that direction, I; should haye declined to institute him facility tiff haled in the institution of clergymen to belie-,
- from -whetever quarter the nomination might have come.: foes; bat I do not wish to give an opinion or enter into
Bur. I „in an hill sati4fiel that he hest a firm tied deep- rine ~,,,tree„,se on that eultject on the pr. sera occasihn•
ro iced ettachinent to -Lir own Churoe, end repuitettee It heed ,-silt be *newt, the suet; an . pini•in cl.,es exist,
1 ROlinatt NtLinbritiO4, tb4l,lfe,ei, I skuuki Ott 44114,40 i uetly . end threevaauy are, of pinion that .is - snej.,ot
~ this a proper 7---4.
by him, him, and uncourteously to the Marchioness of Bath'
I to legisliite on, in order that some check may -be iihplie`•
and I must adhere firmly to my iainstituting
tention of
and an increased control established, • Satin whoa was

1

is
-Toth,
•
_

9‘Vi .0
1.4
oe 2-
10 017,14,

'

. , { ~;:

~..

n:.::

,

•

'
.

ft:

`'~~

! !

~ .<'

• I

~:
;,

3~, '~.
I
~'"

J.

)';jd0c,,,,04119,

r
`.~ 4

U~`
1.: i. ~.
y.

;;0!
s°l
- 01'

~S ~.

„tb•
tis„:tf
etP.g

'

'!"#.17.44111
044
li(

ri
-

:i10.,' l

,rise
edl„-.00
e 11
a•
s';
•
, .

10;d0

;di
.50

bar
01 „r1)11
Sib