The Sun.
London, England, 1839-12-21 00:00:00

Lord Mayor to preach asern.ani , he might he a poli-
tical parson, he might be a high Churchman, or a low
'Churchman, or he mightbe an evangelical preacher, and qq
whichever of them he was, it was impossible for him to I
please such an audience as that Corporation, mixed as it
was. He might be a conscientious man, but 'nation- ,
minded ; he might be one who could not see farther.
than his nose—(A laugh)—he might be one who de-.
pounced every one who differed from him or his belief
—one who might excite any other feeling than Chris-
tian or kindly feeling. Speaking from his own experi-
once there were scarcely any of the sermons that were
worth reading.—(Hear.) Out of the six years he bad
been in that Court be could only point out two sermons
that were good for anything, and it was very naturally
so, for Lord Mayor's Chaplains were most commonly
young men who were not qualified to instruct such et
Corporation as that of London. In discussing such a ,
question it was impossible not to touch upon the sermon
preached not along time ago. What were the feelings
excited by it—did it tend to allay irritation ? No. It
was denounced even by those belonging to the Church.
What then must have been the feelings of those
belonging to the Court, whose feelings and whose
creed were denounced from the pulpit ? The langeage
made use of in it was calculated to waken and keep alive
a spirit of bigotry and intolerance. He saw no useful
object promoted by the printing of the 'sermons—it was
a useless expense. It might be said that gentlemen not
'belonging to the Church need not go to bear the sermon,
nor were they obliged to read it ; but was it proper that
such abusive language should be printed at the expense
of a fund contributed to by all
Mr. PEACOCK seconded the motion. The practice,
however, was not so old as was represented, for it had '
been introduced within the last 50 or 60 years. It was
not of the slightest use, and entailed an expense thav
ought to be saved.
Alderman Sir W. HEYGATE regretted that snags a
motion had been brought forward, as it was a decided
interference with a yen) ancient custom. That it was
-so be was certain, for late) he had been looking
over some books that bacinged to his great grandfather,
and in them he found Lard Mayor's Chaplains' sermons
ordered to be printed by the Court of Aldermen bad
existed for upwards of 150 years. He thought, upon
general principles, it was inexpearient to meddfe with
ancient customs, unless avery, good reason were given
for the change. Flu differed from Mr. Wire that th©
printing of the sermons was a useless. expense, and tat
they hi general were unworthy of it. He made apaint
of reading all since ho had belonged: to the Court, and
many of them were in his opinion very good. During
that twenty-rix years there had been many very eminent
man appointed as Chaplains—he alight-mention one of
great eminence, Dr. Tooke a -but there had been
many others. If the sermons . were not publisher
there would necessarily be tagreater want of talent, for
knowing that they.will thus come before the world, of
course the Chaplain would. take. more 'pains over their
preparation. Besides the phblication of the sermon was
a check upon absurdity, or illiberality, or unchristian
doctrines. It- operated as a check upon the power of
the clergyman while in the pulpit, and upon tyre ground
of expense, surely an outlay of 501. a year was too trifling
for the notice of such a Corporation. The Church of
England'was still the Established. Church of the country,
and so long as it was thought right and necessary to sur-
round CdSporations with the- atoenclance of Chaplains
they must be of that Church. Toe late sermon was an
exception to the general rule, and ought net to be taken
advantage of to put .an.end to so 'ancient a custom.
Mr. Alderman Wiirrr. supported the motion, for if
an. end were put to the printing: of those sermons, the
Court :would be saved from-becoming an arena for a
politica-religiOus discussion periodically, as it had been of
late.

Mr. JUPP agreed in every word that had fallen from
Sir 'W. Heigate, and he would: therefore oppose the
motion.

Mr. Lofr supported the trofion, in the hope that it
would prevent such unpleaSant discussions as they had
had of late.

Mr. WIRE replied, and upon a division the motion
was lost, the numbers being—
. For the motion .....
Against it
Majority
The LORD MAYOR informed Court that he had
received from the Rev. Smith a,' piece of the wreck of
the Royal George, which be trusted would be kept in
the City Museum, as a retuombr. wee of that swful vi
sitation with
.which it pleased ths.e' Almirarrlaty to afflict
this country;
Ordered to be put in. the Libr.ry.
After some unimportant busipe3g had been trans
acted, the Court adjourned.
_1$11,41•11 -11.1111611