The Sun.
London, England, 1853-02-22 00:00:00

fidelity the other, we should say it is by calling in
the aid of law to prevent that use of the Sabbath
which those extremes of superstition and irreligion
alike would tolerate. There is now lying before
us an unpretending little volume, the fruit of a
very different spirit*; it consists of 15 Lectures
on the Bible, delivered by the Rev. ALEXANDER
WALLACE, on Sunday afternoons, in the Mecha-
nics' Institute, at Bradford, Yorkshire. We
serve that it is commended by journals of
every description. Our readers may well be-
lieve that a volume which the Weekly Dispatch,
the Christian Times, the (London) Examiner, and
the_ British Banner, the Economist, and Hogg's
Instructor, with a multitude of others, join to
praise, must have some unusual merit. And it has
this great merit, as the Examiner remarks, that
"We cannot imagine anything more free from cant
and pretence, or more likely to recommend itself
to the practical interests, as well as moral intelli-
gence, of the working people." And most truly
may we add with the Dispatch, " that it is a
volume full of genuine and unaffected promptings
for the moral and religious welfare of the people,
that rarely or ever has an eloquence marked with
simplicity, and earnestness, and grace been enlisted
in the same cause for such purposes, and that it
deserves a world-wide circulation." For ourselves,
we were so struck by its almost unique adapt-
edness to the religious wants of working
Men at the present time, that we have made care-
ful inquiry into the facts of the case. They are,
Mr.
We have said, a lesson for all Sabbatarians.
r• -WALLACE was at that time resident at Brad-
f'
~,orcl• An intelligent town Missionary and Mr.
W. having noticed the scepticism very prevalent
among the operatives, and their aversion to the
churches and chapels, instead of getting up meetings
to lay an embargo on the railways, or attempting to
Interfere directly with their Sunday amusements
an... d recreations, betook themselves to the truly
,uhristian method of persuasion. As the opera-.
'lves would not come to the Ministers, the Minis-
ters went to the operatives. And as there was
a distaste for the recognised. places of wor-
,..biP, these excellent men gladly hired the
Alechanica' Institute as neutral ground, and
advertised lectures to be delivered there on a
Sunday afternoon. These were continued from
Jan
ry to May, 1851, with extraordinary and
erved success. The place was crowded. Mr.
"ALLAcz's out-spoken, candid style, and manner
completely gained the confidence of the working
Illen• The attendance of Freethinkers even was
Very numerous, some walking many miles to be
resent. To be brief, the demand was universal
~er the printing of the lectures; large millowners,
Vaermen, magistrates, and even members of
toltiaraent in the district, contributed generously
. supply them at a reduced price to the opera-
tives ; and several thousands were rapidly dis-
,esed. of. Moreover, at the time we are writing,
_''ne plan is still carried on. A series of Lectures
.T Atheism are now in process of delivery by the
'ev• Dr. GODWIN, and the Institute frequently
can not contain the numbers who attend.
dew this, we beg to remind our Sabbatarian
`ealots, is beginning at the right end. It is en-
lightenment versus coercion. Like every right
Tohonest move, it is cordially appreciated. The
..vil Missionary referred to, .and his fellow-Mis-
*lonaries, have already. recognised many gratifying
of entirely altered habits in consequence.
But, better than all, a spirit of heartiness and
awakened
between clergy, masters, and people, is
pkened well worth all the trouble incurred.
misters
why should not the London Clergy, and
Zi:nisters of every denomination do likewise
7117 not proffer their services to meet the my-
:la, cis who shun their places of worship. anywhere
the they please ? Why not, if the people loathe
thne " regular service," give them lectures like
esor the whole time of the meeting not exceed-
ing, an hour, on subjects which they will throng
to
te hear discussed Is there any magic in the formal
11-?," and sermon, or even in the Liturgy, or the
ear: eo.t. nformist singing of prayers ? Can theyin any
on, refit those who will not hear them ? No,
the religious Teachers and their friends must take
abral;eBClLle as they find them. All reformers have
a, —lle so. LUTHER and KNOX, WHITFIELD
ifalitai:"Atty, would have been forgotten ages ago
"Le 37 had limited themselves to the stately and
the formal
services of their Churches. They sought
people, and the people soon sought them.
Scientific lectures are delivered on week days at
the Polytechnic Institution, in the very midst of
all the sights. Why could not lectures, appro-
priate to the day, be delivered at the Crystal
Palace itself, by suitable persons ? We can
hardly conceive an employment more worthy of a
religious teacher than, selecting for his theme the
antiquities of Egypt or Nineveh, or some of the
ka ra,ela of Creation which will be displayed at
t.,
13Ydanhain2. to illustrate their bearing on the
scriptures, or Religion generally, to the crowds
who will throng the People's Palace. Such lectures
~..°lllll like those at Bradford, be hailed as a
finitely
'of friendship and goodwill, and would do
more in the cause of religion and of
good ;social feeling also, than barring the doors of
entertainment in the face of those who will have
et
i somehow. Let the Sabbatarians and their
el.g3' come down from their pride of place, and
hrir conceit of infallibility, and be willing, like
eir Master, to teach the people anywhere and
llVl°vbr, and they also will be " heard gladly.',
them remember that He (whose sanctity some
Ioet°113(c1 appear to wish to surpass), that HE could
end a large Sabbath-day feast at a Pharisee's
e,,
and impart some of his divine lessons
tr. We have not the slightest doubt that,
ve a Crystal Palace been open in his days, He
~
have resorted thither on the Sabbath, and
11,":0 taught the people. Wherever the people
there would He have been.

Vir:44eleh,
Edinburgh eand. e W
onorking Classes." By Andrew
the
Ldon : Hamilton and Co.

v. SPECIE
AND BULLION IN THE BANK
wasoP EisNsuGeLdA,NfDr.o—m.
paper v.',eSterday a Parliamentary p
"gieb. it ' ears that on the sth of Januaraymtohuentsepdectioe
2401 bullion in the Bank of Eng land _
0 ' 21,664/., the largest amount knoouwanwfoarsla7l,osnsg7,tsi4mlel..
n.hth,) 4th ofJanuary, 1852, the am
REFRESHMENT
...,:‘, SHMENT
.Rooms IN THU HOUSE oFCorMeDispOeNeSt..
esterday, a Parliamentary paper was issued
respect-
The the refreshment rooms oofvetdh,e
aHndoutsheeoefoniCommitmteorri.
eo_e Purveyor has been roenmthe
ground floor be reserved
foinl?aend that the rooms
be convenience of strangers.
th©
C° °Li)"Rreport printed. '"Ill E --Yesterday,ANCHISEMENTS.was
P3Phold Commissioners'
The
:°tornissioners expect many enfranchisements under the
4.e,* het to compel enfranchisements. It appears n
r, °I 1841 to 1852 inclusive the enfranchisements -°blrtiutation were 446, of which 16
toll •
heglate, and 134 lay. iSceleinriecnatls, and
ticA.TH OP LADY COU. TTS TROTTER.—Her
the Hon.
i ° 'lied at Paris on Friday,
one of the Scotch
teecancler Gordon Lord Rockville,
was daughter o
vi,..°lls of Session, son of William, Lord Aberdeen, and
t Trotter, Bart.,
Mrs.in
187; karried to the late Sir C
James'2 Tier ladyship had issueu
t Lindeay Mrs. Gibbs C. An
Ladyntess
41%k_i b era. arl e, and' Miss Susan .
..eTwroftdtotraueuyrrb.sudpsaL'
rueugt!lidot ea
previous Countess
her
,oeraarle arrived in Paris a /
s'ruise.
a inenelL.Dittne BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION.—This morning
,hi tmg
pensions
of the friends and subscribers to this ulna-
s," . . y, \V lc was
eharit li. h founded for granting
rofgliatig relief to aged and decayed
Bishopsgat.e-
614'°68i°n, Was held in the London Tavern,
ners upon its
members of that
tweet' for the purpose of electing 5
th_uds and other business • Mr. Geopreguesißird, the trea-
4-ter i- J., .
tiet.a„,,, u the chair. The i•eport, which was
and
atscitiations
4 ,bory, stated that the amount of subscriptions
highly sa-
for the year ending the 24th
kul°lllted to 8891. 18s. 6d., and the directorsjune 1852,11 ad
their
ill'cil pleasure in stating that they had added
names of
eled stock, the total amount standing in the
•1 t.rostees, being 3,2501. The ball recently held at
a 11118,8
Rooms under the able management of mr
4;8_4311 Bird, had been most successful. The report
lit‘:.r e.aaling attention to the establishment of a branch
lervletY at Brighton, -the results of which had roved
P con-
gra, tifYing, concluded by expressing a
the
'Welfare "Pe that all who are interested.
anti, re uf this charity will not only continume their
air.% hut will use their utmost endeavours to obtahi
itiet tional subscriptions and donations, in order that.t e
be 4‘easilig demands on the funds of the institution might
4t
t.et, am
L still further extended. The balance in hand
The le
'ailkers at the present time amounts to 4501.
h, blairtnan, in opening the proceedings, stated that
u,14:0. been
by Mr. Peto, M.P. who was
ori thilclablY absent, to take the chair. They had met
two f 4 °CeaS/On to elect five pensioners, three male and
that
aetTale, from a list of sixteen candidates, and he hoped
telax ins° inalay would be disappointed they would not
stiDi thieir endeavours to increase the funds.
l'bow4 114
,4111) SEATING. —lt ought to be generally
kali o'i anu especially at the present season, that any
Which aY on his hands and knees safely traverse ice
feet. w,,,..°11h1 not nearly bear his weight when on his
----,4andeaci. Guardian.