The Sun.
London, England, 1853-09-10 00:00:00

THE A aCHBT7IIOP OF cANTERBURY ON

CoNVOCATION.

On Wednesday and Thursday the Lord Primate
met the parochial clergy resident in the vicinity of
Ashford and Sittingbourne, and in his charge made
Ithe following observations on the revival of the ac-
tive functions of Convocation—a, subject which had
recently given occasion for much discussion and
controversy, and in which his Grace had the mis-
' fortune to differ from many whose opinions were
worthy of all due consideration. His Grace's prin-
cipal objection to active Convocation was, that it
was not a step to promote the great interests of the
ministry, the establishment of personal religion
among the people, or the advancement of religion
generally throughout the land—nay, he would go
further, and express a belief that it was more
likely to impede than to assist the progress of re-
ligion. He ought not, however, to express an
opinion contrary to the expectation of many of his
clergy without assigning the grounds of that opi-
nion. It was not, he trusted, unduly biassed by a
natural distaste for popular assemblies, and the
debates that attended them ; still less was it in-
fluenced by the temptation to exercise the autho-
rity vested in his office, and established by ancient
usage. But, circumstanced as he was, it was his
duty to examine the arguments on both sides of the
question with care and impartiality, and his Grace's
opinion was, that the dangers on the one side were
far greater than the advantages, if there were
any, on the other. Their personal duty, as
ministers of the church, was already laid down for
them in the service by which they were ordained
to that important work. The office and charge to
which they were called was to be messengers,
watchmen, and stewards of the Lord—to feed and
provide for the Lord's family—to seek for Christ's
sheep that were dispersed abroad, and his children
who were in the midst of this naughty world, that
they might be saved through Christ for ever. That
such duty might be effectually discharged, a special
locality was assigned to every clergyman, in which
he was to fulfil his office as a messenger, watch-
man, and steward—where he was to proclaim the
Word of Truth as the Ambassador of God to all
within his reach—where he was to watch as one
who was to give an account of the souls entrusted
to his care ;where he was to dispense to every one,
as a faithful steward, instruction,
warning,
en-
couragement, consolation, as thecase required.
e dNow he was unable to perceive how anycleer --
man's efficiency or success in the various d
ments of his parochial duty could be promotedg by
the deliberations of an assembly constituted as
Convocation was constituted, or even according to
any constitution which might be devised for a
similar body. If it was to have the proper nature
of Convocation it must represent every part of the
country, although for a similar reason it might
perform the office of taxation. The members
would be brought together from districts remote,
having, indeed, alike, the same corrupt nature
to deal with in their respective neighbourhoods,
but each varying from the other with regard to
the circumstances by which it was to be in-
fluenced, or the dangers to which it was exposed.
He knew not what suggestions they could promote
or advise and offer which would be generally ap-
plicable or beneficial, so as to give any pastor of a
parish the assistance he needed. Could they
imagine any great benefit to be derived from the
assembling together of the clergy of a particular
neighbourhood to discuss their difficulties and com-
pare the several plans of usefulness ? But such
meetings had no resemblance to general Convoca-
tion, neither was one large assembly suited to a
work that might be usefully accomplished by 500
small assemblies. It had been said, and plausibly
too, that there were general subjects with respect
to the church and the state of national religion
which properly belonged to synodical control. At
first sight there appeared much reason in such a
view of the subject, and education was among the
various matters represented as capable of advanta-
geous discussion. However, upon looking to the
case more narrowly, they would find it suited for
consultation and co-operation, but for the consul-
tation of those who were placed in similar circum-
stances, not of those who had nothing in common
except the same desire that the rising generation
should be brought up in the fear of God. What-
ever, in a practical view, could be effected by the
general body was already done by the National
Society. What the National Society was too
prudent to undertake was the subject for a diocese
and not for a province, and so it had happily
been made. Within the last 20 years diocesan
boards of education had been established in most
dioceses ; different dioceses had framed their own
arrangements with avariety of plans, and all directed
to a uniformity of purpose. No single scheme, if it
could have been applied at all, would have answered
the object or fulfilled the purpose so successfully as
the arrangement each diocese made for itself. * * *
Another important subject, in which the clergy
always took the lead, was the extension of the
means of grace in near proportion to the increase
of the population. Looking at that question from
a distance, it did appear to be the very question for
Convocation ; but looking at it closely and prac-
tically, it appeared to be a question for every dis-
trict, or, at least, every diocese. What was the
evil to be remedied ? A parish had become too
large for its single church and minister. What they
required, then, was funds to build additional
churches and support additional clergymen. Wore
there any powers of Convocation to call forth such
funds ? Here, again, they might learn from expe-
rience that the society, which had been incorpo-
rated for the express purpose of increasing the
accommodation, had been in active operation nearly
40 years, and very great were the benefits it had
conferred. After the supply of wants at home,
and even simultaneously with them, there was
another great object every Christian had at heart,
and what the clergy were justly expected to be
first in promoting—the propagation of the Gospel,
both in the foreign dependencies and among the
heathen now become their fellow-subjects in num-
bers frightful to contemplate. He had observed that
mention had been made of that subject also as one
which Convocation might properly take in hand.
But here again, he mightjustly ask, what could Con-
vocation effect ? The work could only be done in union
and co-operation, and so far it appeared to be a proper
work for Convocation, and it would have been well
if Convocation had undertaken it 140 years ago ;
but as things were, the work was already in other
hands. The Society for Propagating the Gospel
and Promoting Christian Knowledge had been en-
gaged in it for 150 years. Would any one who
was the least acquainted with the machinery of
that great society propose that it should be inter-
fered with, or believe it could be advantageously
placed under the direction of a body like Convo-
cation, or indeed of any body except that approved
by the subscribers and contributors to the funds ?
Supposing the church as a body should undertake
it, and supposing it was represented by members
of Convocation, where would they begin ? Exactly
where the societies had begun which were at the
present time engaged in circulating the Scriptures
—distributing religious books—in supporting mis-
sionaries —in establishing churches, with their
bishops and pastors, in different parts of the world.
* * Convocation, if ever led to interfere with
these societies, certainly could not contribute to
their prosperity—it would probably throw them
into confusion. And here he might fairly put it to
the clergy, whether in the exercise of their office they
had ever found any hindrance from the state of abey-
ance in which Convocation had long been placed,
or could have been assisted in their duties—those
duties of a great and weighty nature—if its func-
tions had continued in operation ? If the ecclesias-
tical parliament held its sittings as regularly as the
civil parliament, could it aid them in repairing or
building churches—in founding or supporting
schools—in erecting parsonage houses ? Still fur-
ther, could it promote that which was more impor-
tant—could it enable them to bring one additional
soul to serious and vital religion ? Private inter-
course of the clergy with their neighbours might be
beneficial to all purposes that related to the public
and general measures which concerned the interests
of religion. It was natural that those members of
the church, both lay and clerical, whose stations in
their respective neighbourhoods gave them influ-
ence, should meet and take counsel together at such
meetings as were not unfrequently held as particu-
lar occasions called for them, an against such
.
meetings there was neither moralnor political
objection. But his Grace deprecated
the revival
of active or legislative Convocation, and
he
depre-
cated it as unprofitable for the reasons he had
stated.

HACKNEY CABS.—It is worthy of being impressed
upon the attention of the public, that the new Act for
regulating hackney carriages within the metropolitan
police district requires the drivers of such carriages to
give the hirer thereof, at the time of hiring, a ticket on
which shall be printed in legible letters the words
" Hackney carriage," and the number of the Stamp-
office plate fixed upon such carriage, in legible figures.
The use of such tickets is obvious from the other words
printed thereon—viz., reference in case of complaint, or
for recovery of property left in the carriage. The com-
missioners of police cannot assist persons to recover such
property unless they take this ticket to the police-office
in Scotland-yard ; and if the driver shall not have de-
posited the property at the police-station, the ticket will
enable the police to trace him, which they cannot be
expected to do without the aid which the ticket affords.
All persons hiring a hackney carriage should, therefore,
demand the ticket before they get in, as, on arriving at
railways, places of amusement, &c., they may easily for-
get to ask for one, or may neglect to take it, even If
offered by the driver.