The Sun.
London, England, 1822-08-30 00:00:00

RESIDENTIARY CLERGY, &c.

The BiAhop of LONDON'S Visitation Charge to
his Clergy; as it refers to the alteration of an Act,
on which so many prosecutions were instituted
by a Mr. Wracter, and as it speaks of the be-
neficresulting from such a change, may be deem-
ed interesting :
". At our last periodical Meeting," says his Lordship, f'-sf
had to call your attention to the alterations which had been . •
made by the wisdom of Parliament in that part of the Statute
Law of the realm, which relates to the Residence of n.e.
Clergy, and the Maintenance of Stipendiary Curettes. .711.+'
'Act, which consolidated and amended the several laws whrelt"
• ,•
'had been passed at different times on this important branch-
of ecclesiastical discipline, has now be©n in action' about..''i
five, years, and has been found by experience produCtive. ""
of material benyit, whilst the 'temporary alarm, excited. by
some of of its enactments has proved altogether groundless.--
This, I conceive, is the true test of every legislative
mea-
sure. The fitness of laws is not to be estimated by Mere in.:. I
spection of the letter, without constant regard as well to the
nature and end, as to the general condition and temper,.ot'
the society which they are designed to regulate. This ob-
servation, of singular use in appreciating our great constitu-
tional laws, and our criminal and civil code, may be applied
with equal propriety to this particular law, designed to, imnroVe
and facilitate the administration of Church discipline: t!OrAi
dered abstractedly from practice, it may perhaps appear fettity .
the powers, which it'places in the bands of the Bishop, may be
thought insufficient in some respects, and excessive in others.
Yet I doubt whether a nearer approach to theoretic parfeciii
would be attended with corresponding advantages in point o .
fact. Many causes concur, on the one hand, to restrain the
Diocesan from the arbitrary use of his authority, and, on the
other, to dispose the Clergy to obedience ; and thus the f,;'reat.
ends of all government are tacitly obtained by a compro.:
mese, with no less effect, I believe, and with greater conve.
nience to the parties concerned, than by exact precision in -
the framing of laws, and rigid strictness in their execution.-- .
The most important duties of a Clergyman, the effective And..
adequate discharge of his pastoral functions, can never be en-
forced by compulsion. Their efficiency depends on the ternper
and manner in which they are performed ; and they derive-
their force, as well as their grace, from that liberal spirit of
piety, which takes the direction of its movements from the
rules of law, and the measure of its exertions from a conscien-.
tious sense of duty.
" Of the general prevalence of this disposition among the--
Clergy of this Diocese, I was satisfied by the result of the very
particular inquiries which, when first I was called to the see, I
was under the necessity of making, in consequence of the vexa-
lima proceedings against many incumbents, who, by inatten-
tion to legal formalities, had become subject to heavy penalties;
and the opinion which, on that occasion, I formed on the report
of others, has since been confirmed by my own experience.
The recollection of that period will, however, suggest to In-
cumbents not legally residing on their benefices, the extreme im-
portance of complying in every particular with the requisitions.
of the Statute, which at that time was most carefully framed,
with a view both to their personal security and to the interests
of their spiritual charge. The slightest irregularity in these
matters may expose them to ruinous penalties-; nor can I allow
that, in such a case, they would have much reason to complain.
Attention to forms is so essential to the preservation of discip-
line,
that it may fairly be made the condition of an indulgence
granted by the Legislature."
On the subject of catechising, and of the ancient
mode of proceeding towards godfathers, god,
mothers, efc,, the Bishop of LONDON, remarks--,
" The general disuse into which this practice has fallen, L
consider as calamitous to the interests of piety in the highest de-
gree, not only by removing one of the strongest excitements to
the parents to teach, and to the children to learn, the doctrine,'
and laws of their Christian profession, but still more by its fatal
effect in frustrating the purpose, which it was the principal ob-
ject of the ordinances relating to these points to attain. If at
the age when the mind is susceptible of the strongest impres-
sions, the young are regularly brought into personal intercourse
with their Minister, and accustomed to receive their instrue- •
tions from his lips, they will naturally imbibe a respect
for his person, and a reverence to the sacred character of ,
his office, which will prove the strongest of barriers against
immorality and vice, as well as dissent and infidelity.—
They will regard with deep veneration the 'truths which
they have received upon his authority, end will feel, what
reasoning can hardly, make clear to the ignorhnt, the danger
no less of guilt than of error, in deserting 'the appointed
guide of their youth for intrusive and unknown teachers.—
The discontinuance of this salutary practice: imputable,
neither to the neglect of the Beclesiastical GoVerpors—for they
have constantly remonstrated against it—nor 'to the indol-
ence of the parochial Clergy ; but was' a concession most-re•
luctantly yielded to the fastidious impatience of their con,
gregations. •
" I am not so fondly attached to ancient usages, however,
beneficial in themselves, as to press the crude and hasty revival
of a method of teaching, which, at least in its ordinary form,
has proved, on experience, unsuitable to the habits anti feelings
of modern times. To ensure success to the experiment, must'
judgment would be requisite in preparing the way by the pre-
vious removal of objections, and improving the practice itself
by such modifications as would render it popular as well
as useful. But I feel it my duty
,to say, that if we would
give an effectual check to the alarming diffusion of impious
principles among the lower ranks, and secure their adhe-
rence to the Establishment, tee must act in this respect on
the views of the; Church, in substance, if not in fbrm. The
instruction which' was formerly given by this simple method
in our Churches, is now more expeditiously, and, as far as re-
gards the mere communcation of knowledge, more effectually
taught in the National Schools. I have seen with unmixed
satisfattion the gr iwth of these excellent institutions, and, I
think, have already observed the commencement of those bene-
ficial effects, which, for obvious reasons, are less distinctly per-
ceptible
at present flan we justly expect them to become at a
future season. But amidst their numerous excellencies, I cone
cider as one of t/teir chief, I may say the greatest of all their
advantages, the opportunity which they give to the Clergy in
populous places, of becoming known to the rising generation in
the character of Pastors, invested by lawful authority with the
charge of their spiritual interests, and having a right to their
attention and obedience. And I will not conceal my opinion,
that if by any fatality (which I am far from anticipating.), the
parochial Clergy should become so indifferent to their interests
and duties, as to resign the superintendence and controul of
establishments of this kind, the result would be injurious to
the efficiency of the schools."
[The Bishop of LONDON adds, that such indifference would
be fatal to the best interests of the Church, and the cause of
Christisnity.l

FLOCGING.—A fellow underwent the ceremony
of a public flogging, this morning, for stealing a
sieve of Peas. He was whipped from Rus'sell-
street to the church, the scene of his depreda-
tion. He denoted by the noise he made that be
was a man of feeling, but though the she at-
tracted numerous spectators, they appeared to be
too callous for sympathy.
CAMBRIDGE, AUG. 29.—0 n the 20th inst. S. E. Coach,
Esq. was chosen. Mayor of the borough of Huntingdon for the
Year ensling, upon which occasion he gave an elegant and
sumptuous dinner to a numerous party of his friends. After
the cloth was drawn, Mr. C. addressed the company in a neat
and animated speech relative to the office to which had
been elected, which was received with repeated marks of
applause. The afternoon was spent in a more than usual 'cot-
vivial manner, being enlivened by the favourite songs of Mr.
Gurner and Mr. Butler of the Theatre, who were politely in-
vited to the dinner.—On the 22d inst. at a Corporate Assembly
at Bury, P. J. Case, Esq. was elected Chief Magistrate of that
Borough for the year ensuing : and Sir T. G. Cullum •Bart.
0. R. Oakes, Esq. C. Blomfield, Esq. J. Borton, Esq. T.
Cocksedge, Esq. and .1. Thompson, Esq, Assistant Justices.

'l'll E MARKETS.

CORN EXCHANGE, Atm. 30.

Having had no frish arrivals of Wheat since Wednesday,
our Market has been scarce of fine samples, in consequence of
which there has been a greater demand, and the prices are from
Is. to 2s. per quarter higher than last market day, but :the in_
ferior qualities are heavy sale ; good Barley obtains Is. higher
in price; in all other artizles there is no alteration.