The Sun.
London, England, 1830-10-18 00:00:00

CHURCH REFORM.

At a meeting of the friends of Church Reform,
held at Mr. J. Lister's, Half Moon Inn, Gateshead,
and by adjournment in Mr. Kenmit's Long Room,
on Tuesday, the 12th day of October, 1830, the
following resolutions were unanimously agreed to :-
Ist. Resolved,—That the thanks of this meeting be
given to Cuthbert Rippon, Esq., of Stanhope Cottle, for
his exposure of the shameful case of a plurality of valuable
livings having been bestowed on Dr. Phillpotts; and also
for the energetic manner in which he has shown the ne-
cessity for an immediate reform of the church as by law
established, in a letter of the 20th of September, addressed
to Sir Robert Peel; which letter comprises sentiments of
true patriotion and manly feeling.
2d. That this meeting considers a reform of the church
establishment necessary to promote the happiness of the
people. ft therefore becomes the duty of every English-
man to give publicity to his opinions on all subjects which
are calculated 'to induce the people to use all constitutional
means for the accomplishment of this olject, and recom-
mends them to petition our rulers on the subject, and to
express their sentiments, in language calculated to awaken
in their minds a sense of the duty they owe to the people,
from whom all national power and greatness spring.
Stl. That these resolutions, and a statement of the liv-
imp held by pluralists in the diocese of 1)UU114111 ; together
with a copy of Mr. Rippon's Jetta, be printed ; and that
a subscription be entered into, firr the purpose of circu-
lrtityr them through the principal towns of tie counties of
Durham and Northumberland.

4th. That a Committee, composed of five persons, be
now formed, with power to add to their number, fur the
purpose of carrying the above resolutions into effect.

A list of some of the pluralists in the diocese of
Durham, as handed to the Chairman previous to the

meeting :

Dr. Jciikinson, Bishop of St. David's, and Dean of Durham.
Sumner, Bishop of Chester, and a l'rebendary of Durham.
Gray, Bishop of Bristol, and a Prebendary of Durham.
Prosser, Archdeacon of Durham, Prebendary of Durham.
and Rector of Easington.
Darnell, a Prebendary of Durham, and Rector of Norhain
Northumberland.

Gilley, a Prebendary of Durham, and perpetual Curate of St
Nlargaret's.
Townsend, a Prebendary of Durham, and Vicar of Northal.
!Mon.

Thorp, a Prebendary of Durham, and Rector of Rpm.
IlesleY. a Prebendary of Durham, and Rector of Bishop.
Wearmouth, Vicar of Chelsea, Confessor to the Household, and
Chaplain In Ordinary at Hampton Court.
tiaestbrd, a Prebendary of Durham, Prebendary of Landau;
and Professor of Divinity at Oxtbrd.
George, a Minor Canon, Rector of Aye Wit, keeps a Curate,
plat is himself Curate of St. 'Margaret's, Durham.
Lightfoot, vicar of Ponteland, his another living in the South
where ho resides, and leaves Ponteland to the care of his Curate.
Phillpotts, Rector of Stanhope, Dean pf Cheater,—Query, is
he Bishop of Exeter
Ripley, Chester-le-street, lives in the South, keeps two Cu-
rates. _ _ _

Bird, Rector of Warden, Vicar of Cholierton, and Rector of
High Wayland, In Yorkshire.
Rain, Rector of St. Mary the Less in Durham, and Rector of
Sheldon,Northumberland.
hurlow, Rector of Hougliton.le.Spring, Vicar of Stamford.
ham. and a Prebendary of Norwich.
Allgood, Rector of Ingram, and Vicar of Felton.
Harrison, Vicar of Lastingham, and Perpetual Curate of
Blanchland.

Proctor has Alnwiek under his care, but Is also responsible
for Leabury, and Longhoughton.
Singleton, Archdeacon of Northumberland, Ilectorotliawick,
Rector of Elsdon, and Prebendary of Worcester.—ln Ireland with
the Lard Lieutenant.

Hodgson holds Jarrow and Heworth, but is likewise Vicar
of Kirkwhelpington, where he resides.
Clayton is Master of St. Mary's Hospital in Newcastle, but is
Curate of Work.

T. 11. Yorke is Vicar of Illshop-Illiddleham, Durham, but is
also Vicar of a Church lu the City of York.
Close is perpetual Curate of flunstanworth, but officiates at
a Chapel Ilexhainahlre.
_ _

Verrot Is Rector of Grindon, Durham, and is a Chaplain to
Greenwich Hospital.—He lives at Greenwich.
Richardson is Rector of Braneepeth, and also Rector of Wit.
ton Gilbert.

Gordon is perpetual Curate of the town or Darlington, bu
fires at Lichfield.

Huntlr is lteetor of \Walton, In Narthninberlanel, and also
'Minister of a Church n►ar liarrowgato in Yorkshire.
Messenger is perpetual Curate of Ntoebanks, and also I)erpe.
tual Curate of Horton the one in the east, the other in the west
of the County. •

Copy of a letter written by Cuthbert Rippon,
Esq., addressed to Sir Robert Peel, on Doctor Phill-
potts being appointed Bishop of Exeter, and still
holding the Rectorship of Stanhope, which is a
Living of itself worth 40001. per annum :

Without preface of courtly compliment, in alio-
I..gy fur addressing you, I declare the wrongs of twelve
thousand inhabitant. of this parish.
The Rectory of Stanhope is appended to the Bishopric
of Exeter, to eke nut by its tythe of four thousand pounds
a year, the revenues of that See.
I speak to your understanding. I bring to your notice
naked truths, rational meanings, ungarbed from the die-
cuises of ancient custom or worldly usage. The day has
arrived when humbug can no longer be defended on the
plea of its antiquity.
Tythe is a valuable consideration given in exchange for
spiritual
assistance. If the price be received, 'the ad-
vantage withheld, the party is guilty of religious mind-
Hog. The Parson is the servant of the p paid for
the performance of certain duties, which in equity he is
bound to fulfil. If he neglects or refuses, the contract
between the parties is at an end. The appointment of a
hireling substitute, without the approbation of the parish,
is imposition and fraud-:—it is the well-paid Physician re-
ceiving his fees, and giving up his patients to the care of
an apothecary. '
What justification can be offered for this shameless con.
cubinage of duties ? IVbrit plea of worldly expediency
can warrant this scandalous prostitution of the service of
God, this despotic outrage on the rights of man ? Has
mortal the power of übiquity ? Can he at the same time
dischlrge his duties in Devonshire and Durham ? Could
no prebendal stall, no holy sinecure, make up the weight
of priestly wealth ? Could nothing less than the inte-
rests of twelve thousand people satisfy the cravings of
micro) gluttony ?
Religion becomes a trade —its ministers, money seeking
men---its chiefs a political presbytery—Power sets up its
puppet, commands its consecration, vests it in lawn, crowns
it with a Mitre, and by forgery of language calls it
" Father in God." But it is a mopsey of mortal make.
God will not accept it—man will not respect it; human
reason detects the juggle, and smiles with contempt on the
worldly conjurer.
The day of farce is gone ; the mist of delusion is cleared
away. Men judge of others by their lives and actions.
Priests must be, or seem to be, really solicitous for the
worship of God, the salvation and happiness of men, they
must evince a sincerity of heart, a singleness of purpose
unmixed with schemes of worldly profit—they must offer
some fair pretence fur their support, by assiduous attention,
and unremitting devotion to their duties, or they cannot
long enjoy the protection of the people.
A change is at haw,. All men must meet it by wiles
lingness or compulsion. Reason will examine into the
utility of our Church Establishment, to find some excuse
for submitting to its continuance—its ministers must be
servants of God, not lords among men, they must dis-
charge their sacerdotal functions without mischievous med-
dling in temporal affairs—in a word they must he what at
present they are not. Then, and not till then, can the
favour of God and the affection of 1113 e, he secured unto
them. I have the honour to be, Sir,

_ -
Your most obedient hu►nble Servt.
CUTHBERT RIPPON.
St.mhops Castle, Sept. 20, 1t420.

MAJESTY ha signified his intention of
honouritsg Drury-tale The4tre with 1d presence on the
28th inst.

The invitations to dinner given by his MA*
perry, excepting those of a formal character, are generally
viva voce, and in words to this effivt, " If you are not
better engaged dine with Me to.day !"
A naval expedition, under Captain FITZGLA-
,Etict, is in preparation. Its object is to examine cum-
oleo), the whole of the Eastern Archipellgo, where
►nany openings are expected to be found for beneficial
commerce. It goes first to New South Wales, and will
reedy about the beginning of the year.
'it is rumoured that KEAN has concluded an
mgitgement with the Drury-lane urunager.•.SarrdayPaprr.
We hear that the equipages or citA it Les :it:.
including the beautiful coronation carriage, will *Witty be
sold by auction,—,pad, raver.