The Sun.
London, England, 1831-10-25 00:00:00

to extinguish the episcopal baronies, like other
branches of the feudal system that have been abo-
lished, if it be found necessary, as many think it is,
for the prosperity of the Church, that Christ;an
Prelates should no longer be feudal Lords. For
ourselves, we think it better that the mitre should
lose its political splendour than that the Church
should be deprived of its moral authority.—Morn-
ing Herald.

The great. Edinburgh meeting, of which we gave
a report yesterday from The Sun, has,—coupled with
the numerous other attestations of the indign.rtion
and disappointment which have resulted from the
rejection of the Reform Bill,—produced, as we learn
from all quarters, its proper and just effect; and
those who formerly doubted whether the people were
in earnest in calling for Reform, are now said to have
learned, since its perusal, a somewhat greater degree
of reverence for popular feeling. That reverence,
we think, will not be diminished by the abridged
accounts which we are enahlel to give of some
other meetings of a similar complexion which have
been held in the North, and which will be found else-
where. They all, indeed, breathe the same spirit; and,
but for the difference of individual character, and the
consequent difference of expression, it might almos
be supposed that the speakers in Edinburgh had
transported themselves to Ayr, and those at Ayr
again to Kilmarnock. The great Cheshire meeting

takes place this day—another, and also a county
meeting, is fixed for Thursday, and notices of many
others are before us—yet the Tories say that there
is a re-action of public opinion, and appeal to the
results of a few rotten county and borough elections
as the proofs ! Why do they not furnish the more
direct and satisfactory proofs of borough and county
meetings in their 1-ivour, and against the Reform
Bill ?—Morning Advertiser,

We regret to learn from all quarters that along
with the blow which the Bishops have dealt to the
security of the Church of England as a national
establishment, one of a similar nature, hut on a
smaller scale, is now impending on an individual
Church, which we had once hoped to have recog-
nized as the continued and prosperous representa-
tive here of a more sober establishment in the North
—we mean the Scotch Church, of which the Rev.
Mr. Irving is the pastor. In this Church, the•sub-
lime simplicity of whose service differs not from
that of the mother Church, it is strongly rumoured
—nay, we may say confirmed beyond a doubt—
that different persons belonging to the Church have
lately been laying claim to the prmternatural gift of
speaking in " unknown tongues," and that they have
given evidence in the face of the congregation of
such being the fact—nay, also, that the Rev, rend
Clergyman himself has not been slow to give ear to
their pretensions, or rather, that be believes these
persons to be moved in their exhibitions by the Di-
vine Power. The former fact would not as-
tonish us ; for every age has given birth
to religious pretenders, who have noised
their day in the busy ear of the time, and been
ranked by posterity as religious impostors; but that
Mr. Irving should give ear to such things, is to us
truly astonishing. He is well versed in every science
and matter of learning connected with his sacred
profession—and we are, beside,, assured that he is
a sound logician. How then can he bring himself
to believe, if he really does believe, that the mere
fact of speaking in an " unknown tongue"—or, to
speak more plainly, of giving utterance to sounds
which are incomprehensible—and being incompre-
liensib!e, can be of no use to mankind—is an evi-
dence of a divine commission P In the times of the
Apostles, " gifts" were common; but they were
given for a special purpose—they were conferred as
attestations of the Divine power with which the
parties possessing them were invested,and more espe-
cially as evidences of the truth of what they preached
and taught. These " gifts" were then necessary, for
superinducing belief in those whose minds were
closed against less palpable arguments; and they did
in numerous instances produce this effect: because
while those who possessed the gifts spoke in tongues
which it was known that they had never had an
opportunity of acquiring, these " tongues!' were,
on the other hand, known and understood by teen
of different netions. But what sort of " tongues'?
are those which are said to be now epoken By
whom are they understood except by the parties
speaking them ? What use do they serve ? What
need is there for them ? 'Were there not " false
spirits" in the times of the Apostles, and did not
,lie Apostles find it necessary to caution the early
Christians " to try the spirits, lest they should be
deceived ?" We treat the mater, perhaps, too seri.
ously ; and assuredly it is not one of which the
discussion is very suitable to the columns of a news-
paper; but a regard for the welfare of the Church
of which we have been speaking, and for the repu-
tation of the Rev. Gentleman who is its pa9toy,