The Sun.
London, England, 1854-07-06 00:00:00

TO THE EDITORS OF THE NEWSPAPER PRESS.

Gentlemen,—l think most men now feel the necessity of
shortening our Sunday morning Church service, if such
could be judiciously done. The combination of three dis-
tinct services has naturally caused needless repetitions and
a length of service which, in many instances, actually
hinders the practical usefulness of the Church.
I would proceed, indeed, with the utmost caution,
avoiding, on the other hand, the introduction of novelties,
and, on the other, the omission of the more marked pecu-
liarities. The service I would retain almost in its present
form, neither ignoring the Litany, with its simple but sub-
lime petitions, nor leaviog mit the pre-Communion service,
with its Collect, Ten Conneinandments, and appropriate
Epistle and Gospel.
In the plan appended to my letter to the Archbishops
and Bishops of the Church, I have stri,Aly endeavoured
to carry out these vie e. The Sunday Morning Service
remains, in its prominent features, almoat the same;
yet the slight modifications Introduced render the ser-
vice shc.rter by some twenty or twenty-five minutes,
The Collect for the day is only used, the Occa-
sional Prayers aro interwoven with the Litany tints
" That it may please Thee to endue the Lords of the
Council and all the nobility [during the Session of
Parliament], and especially the High Court of Par-
liament at this time assembled, with grace, wisdom, and
understanding," ono creed only is recited, the Lord's
Prayer less frequently repeated, and in places where they
do not chant the " Venite" is omitted.

You will observe that on other days, with the exception
of Wednesdays and Fridays, the customary rubric is fol-
lowed almost without alteration; and that scarcely any
change is made in the evening service.
I have also suggested that on Sacrament Sundays the
complete Communion Service only should bo used without
Morning Prayers and Litany, the sermon following the
Nicene Creed, the minister then returning to the table and
commencing the Offertory. In agricultural parishes, espe-
cially where people generally have a long distance to walk
to church, and where the second service is usually in the
afternoon, the adoption of such a plan would, I am per-
suaded, quickly be followed by increased attendance in
the number of communicants. _ . .

Much, very much, depends on the public press to bring
about a wise and prudent modification. Let the subject
be calmly discussed, let party strifes be forgotten, let men
earnestly ask direction and wisdom from above, and, with
God's help and blessing, the desired object would soon be
attained, and, once attained, would tend materially to fill
our churches with the labouring classes, and to remove
many obstacles of whioh good and pious Dissenters some-
times justly complain.—l remain, gentlemen, yours most
obediently, JOHN W. LESTIO3,
Incumbent of Ashton Hayes, near Chester.

June 29.

THE WAR WITH RUSSIA.—MEETING IN ST. PANCRAS.
—Last night a public meeting was held at the Vestry-
hall, King's-road, Camden-town—convened by requisi-
tion—on the present war with Russia. Mr. Cudden,
after some delay, took the chair, and stated that Lord
Dudley Stuart and Sir B. Hall had been invited to
attend. The former excused himself as ho had a pre-
vious engagement, and Sir B. Hall was absent through
indisposition. Mr. Urquhart addressed a meeting of
about 400 persons for two hours, and denounced the
a
d
war as unnecessary, rash, and inconsiderate. 1
already in one year cost 10 millions, and the people su
mitted to it like sheep led to the slaughter. There could
be little to expect, when the bon. member Ye for Mar 1 -
D utch
bone brought forward his motion on the Russo-Dutch
Loan, but that there would be another count
in out, and
thus the people of England were cajoled.
8 It was pal-
pable that the people of England 15 4 were as stupid
as they were in 1806. Major Rolland moved, and Mr.
Ross seconded, resolutions to the effect that all treaties
being abrogated by the fact of the war, the continuance
of the payment of the Russo-Dutch Loan is a treason-
able offence, to be visited by impeachment, and con-
demnatory of the whole of the arrangements with re-
spect to Greece and the Ottoman empire, the schemes
of Russia having been adopted in all their movements.
A petition to Parliament and an address to the Queen
were also agreed to.
ENGLISH MEDICAL STAFF FOR THE TURKISH ARMY.
—We are able to state positively that the Sultan has
determined to obtain a staff of English and French
medical officers for his troops. The Turkish ambassador
has entered into communication with our Government
on the subject, and the advice of the Director-General
of the Army and Ordinance Medical Departments has
been requested as to the formation 'of the staff. —=
Modica/ Times and Gazette.