The Sun.
London, England, 1825-01-26 00:00:00

FOR THE SUN.

Ma. EDITOn—As a constant reader of your
Paper, permit me to observe, that some of the articles fur-
nished by your correspondents of late have been incorrect, and
in my view of them, at least, a little out of place. I shall sin-
gle out three, upon each of which I beg to offer a few remarks,
trusting to your candour for their insertion. The fires to which
I allude, is an article on " Church Discipline," which appear-
ed in your Journal of Dec. 20th. The writer of that article,
in offering his gratuitous advice to the Governors of the Church,
begins with suggesting, that " The modern system of per-
mitting Psalms and Hymns to be sung in the Established
Churches, which are not allowed by law, are likely to be pro-
ductive of much mischief," &c. Now, I so far agree with
him, as to think that the ancient Church Melodies are vastly
superior to most modern compositions ; but I maintain that itl
is no transgression of the law to introduce Psalms or Hymns
of any kind to be sung in the Church, at the discretion of the
Minister, provided they be sound in doctrine ; and I am of
opinion that a Clergymen will, by a judicious selection of
Psalms and Hymns from the best authors, consult the edifica-
tion of his congregation, and contribute much to the improve-
ment of Psalmody. As to the law of the case, there is in
fact no positive law upon the subject, that lam aware of, for
metrical singing was not contemplated by the compilers of our
Liturgy ; and it is, I think, much to be lamented, that in
those Churches which have the benefit of organs, a more pro-
per use is not made of them, by chaunting those parts of the ser-
vice which are appointed to be sung, and which might easily he
done to plain chaunta, and omitting light airs and voluntaries.
With regard to the Old and New Version of the Psalms, there
is no positive law enjoining the use of them, but only permis-
sion given to use them ; and the same permission was given
by Queen Elizabeth in her injunctions to the Clergy, for the
singing of an Hymn, or such like song, to the praise of Al-
mighty God, before and after Divine Service, &c. As to the
merits of the Old and New Versions, the Old is decidedly the
best, according to the opinion of so good a judge as Bishop
Beveridge, who wrote against the New, as soon as it came
out, and recommended the Old to be continued in his diocese.
1 shall not trouble you with any further remarks upon this
subject, but proceed to the second article to which I allude,
which appeared in your Paper of the nth December, and is
entitled, " The Church defended against the Calumnies of the
• Etude' French paper." This writer launches out into abuse
against the Methodists as bigots, ignorant, unable to explain
texts, &c., and how is this proved ? Why, by a silly story,
copied, it appears, from the French papers, of a Methodist
Minister in Ireland, being unable to explain to a criminal
whom he visited, the article in the Creed concerning our Sa-
viour's descending into hell : but whether this story be true or
not there is no proof. Now, Sir, I hare no wish to defend
Methodist Ministers; they may, if they think it worth while,
defend themselves ; but I do not like to see any body of men
professing religion, abused and treated with scurrility, instead
of argument and reasoning ; and I am quite sure that the
Church can never be defended by such methods. If your Cor-
respondent has any thing to say against the Methodists, or any
others, the press is open to him to enter the lists with them in
the way of argument, and this is a much more manly way of
attacking them than by loading them- with allissive epithets,
which the lowest occupant of Billingsgate may do as well as
he. But I have another charge against him, and that is, his
light, flippant, and profane allusions to Scripture ; as when
he speaks of a glazier, who has lately shone " through a glass
darkly ;" and the wit is as wretched as the allusion is impro-
per; for the words alluded to (1 Cor. 13, 11) do not signify
seeing through a glass window, but (aa' g5-07r7,0u ay
asistwaxli,) through, or by means of, a mirror,' in an
enignsa, or enigmatical manner, a thing with which a
glazier, as such, can have nothing to do. I might go
on to notice a great deal more in the same strain as, " heaven-
born Evangelicals, inward light, Evangelicals, and mystifier,,
even in our Church," &c. &c. but 1 trust, I have said enough
to chew that this self-constituted defender of the Church is not
using the best weapons in her defence; and 1 will add, that
should a sensible foreigner who is liable to be misled by mis-
t representation respecting our Church, seriously read your cor-
respondents letter as a defence, it would be, in my opinion, at
least, far more likely to confirm his prejudices than to remove
them. In short, Sir, I believe no man who has proper views
of the dignity of the Church would think the misrepresenta-
tions of the Etude worthy of a serious answer, but would be dis-
posed to allow a great deal to the imperfect means of informa-
tion which a foreigner might have, and the peculiar prejudice
which a Roman Catholic would naturally entertain respecting a
Protestant Church : an allowance, which I presume, cannot be
made for the invectives which this self-appointed Defender
of the Church has so liberally dealt out in his Apologia.
The last thing I beg leave to notice, is an assertion made in
your Paper in very few words, and without any reference to
prove it, that " the Civil Law prohibits first cousins from inter-
marrying, but the Canon Law prohibits both :" that is, both
first and second cousins. Surely, Sir, an assertion like this,
which if believed, would raise scruples and create great uneasi-
ness in the minds of many conscientious persons, ought to be
substantiated by clear and unequivocal testimony, or not to ap-
pear in print at all. But, Sir, the assertion is incorrect that
there is no law, at least no existing law, if ever there was one
at all, to prevent either first or second, or any cousins, from in-
termarrying may be easily proved by referring to the Table of
forbidden marriages in the Prayer Book. In that Table, which
is the rule of conduct for the solemnization of marriage, as re-
lating to degrees of consanguinity, there is no prohibition of
cousins either first or second ; and there is certainly none what-
ever in the word of God. And I cannot but look upon such an
assertion as that which I am now contradicting, as of vesirnis-
chievous tendency, for it goes upon the absurd, not to say hypo-
critical pretence, of greater sanctity in contracting marriage
than the All wise, and All holy Creator has seen fit to enjoin'
The law of prohibitions goes no farther than to the third degree
of consanguinity; first cousins are in the fourth, second cou-
sins still farther removed, and therefore, both may rest assured
that there is no bar to their intermarrying, if they be so dispos-
ed, either in the law of God, or of this realm. 1 shall now, Sir,
conclude with a piece of advice to your Three Correspondents
whose writings have drawn forth the above remarks, which,
perhaps, they may do well to follow ; namely, not to write any
more upon Ecclesiastical matters, at least, till they better un-
derstand them, but to remember that very useful proverb, " Ne
sutor ultra crepidem."

I am, Sir, your's, &c.

FINAL CONT►tACT FOR LOTTER' CS.-Yester-
day the Gentlemen who usually bid for the State
Lotteries waited on the CHANCELLOR of the
EXCHEQUER, agreeably to public notice, and
engaged to take all the remaining Tickets at an
advanced price : this Contract concludes the Na-
tional Lotteries, which have existed in this
country as a branch of tl►e Public Revenue for
One Hundred and Fifty Years.

ifUST Arrived from Peru, the ALPACA, or
CAMBIA'S PACO.—Two of these rare, curious, and
surpassingly beautiful Animals, the only ones in England, not
having been exhibited these fifteen years, are now to be seen
at the Royal Menagerie, Exeter Change. Their extreme
elegance of form and amazing; docility is the admiration of the
numerous Visitors that daily throng this noble Exhibition
they are caressed and fondled like a petted lap-dog.