The Sun.
London, England, 1849-01-20 00:00:00

and the Bishop, mindful of the golden rule, "detur
digniori," conferred it upon the most deserving—
upon one who, by his past services and labours,
had earned for himself the otium cum dignitate during
his future life. The observations which Mr. J. J.
WRIGHT offered thereon in the course of his able and
impressive address, are worthy of the most serious
and attentive consideration. That gentleman has
told us in burning words and eloquent language how
patronage should be bestowed, and of the true duty of
a Christian Bishop. He said :
"It is now, sir, upwards of twenty years since, as ayoung
man, unknown to all, you became curate of this parish,
and here commenced your labours as a minister of the
Gospel—an occupation the most glorious that can oc-
cupy the capacities of the human mind. At that early
period, sir, there was observed in your conduct a gravity
of deportment, a gentleness of spirit, a sincerity of heart,
a Christian meekness, an exemplary diligence, and a
marked piety, that created a growing esteem for your
person and a manifest desire for your ministry. These
personal excellences, combined: with thezealous and un-
wearied manner in which ypsi co-operated with that
excellent Christian minister your pred( cessor, in all his
many works of public usefulness.a.nd active benevolence—
a Christian minister, whose name not only stands asso-
ciated, with the building in which we are now assembled,
but whose name lives imperishably in the grateful re-
collection of the people of Sunderland—induced the in-
habitants, when deprived of his valuable services by his
early and lamented death, to present to the Bishop of
this diocese a memorial, signed by nearly three thou-
sand householders, calling upon his Lordship to present
you to the rectory of Sunderland. The same irresistible
influence of your character that dictated that memorial
impelled the Bishop to accede to that just, though some-
what unusual request, and you became the rector of
this, one of the most important parishes in the diocese
of Durham."

--
After alluding, at considerable length, to the
exemplary conduct of the Rev. Gentleman during the
time that he officiated as rector of Sunderland, and
his subsequent promotion to the more lucrative, but
less laborious, duties of the rectory of Winston, the
eloquent speaker thus continued—
" We rejoice at your preferment, and I am glad also
to be enabled to say, that we rejoice in the appointment
of your successor, as gratifying instances of the righte•
ous distribution of Church patronage. Would to God
that patronage was always so bestowed in just reward to
the hardworhing and deserving clergy. Especially those
who have to sustain their offices in large towns, or in
public acknowledgment of great talents, commanding
eloquence, or ministerial success. Would to God that
such instances were not, as they unfortunately are, too
remarkable for their singularity. And when they do
occur, would to God that they were not confined, as
they generally are, to the smaller livings, where there is
most of the work and least of the pay, but extended to
the richer benefices of the country—which would put
increased means of doing good into the hands of the tried
and well-disposed Christian pastor. If such were the
case happy would it be for the Church, cheering for the
clergy, and delightful for the people. Those who by
the constitution of the Church are entrusted with the
bestowal of the patronage that belongs to it, and who
are responsible to God, to the Church, and to the country
for the proper disposal of it, and who dispense that
patronage from any other motive, or for the attainment
of any other object, I do not hesitate to say are baneful
demolishers of the beautiful fabric of the Church, and
sacrilegious violators of one of the most sacred trusts
that Providence places in the hands of man. We hope,
sir, to live to see the day when a better state of things
will exist, and when the Church thus purified and re-
formed from within can bid defiance to all enemies from
without."

It is impossible not to coincide to the fullest extent
with these admirable observations. They recal for•
cibly to our minds a somewhat similar tribute o
affectionate respect and admiration, but which was
unfortunately bestowed on a very different occasion•
In the month of June, 1847, a deputation waited
upon the Rev. Dr. EMERTON, of Hanwell, to present
him with a magnificent piece of plate, and (still
more acceptable) the silver trowel used by the
late respected rector, Dr. WALMSLEY, in laying the
foundation-stone of the new church. These valuable
gifts were offered as acknowledgments of the advan-
tages which the parish of Hanwell had derived from
Dr. EMERTON'S ministry during the twelve years he
acted as curate thereof. It was not, however, on his
promotion to a more valuable preferment, or on re-
ceiving the rewards due to his unceasing and impor-
tant labours, that Dr. EMERTON was thus honoured.
Far, very far, different indeed were the circum-
stances. From the hour of his appointment as curate
of the parish there was observed in his conduct a
"gravity of deportment, gentleness of spirit, sincerity
of heart, Christian meekness, exemplary diligence,
and marked piety, that created a growing esteem for
his person, and a marked desire for his ministry." In
these important respects there was no distinction
between the cases. In like manner, his name stood
associated with the sacred edifice in which the words of
life were uttered to the congregation, and which
edifice would not have been erected but for the un-
wearied exertions and disinterested liberality of Dr.
EMERTON, who, an humble curate, with a salary of
1001. per annum, contributed a sum double that which
was obtained from the diocesan, notwithstanding the
princely revenues of his see. And yet from that
church was Dr. EMERTON ejected, and left without
church preferment or the cure of souls, after twelve
years of services, such as those to which we have al-
luded, and which obtained the unanimous approbation
of his parishioners and of all those with whom he was
brought into communication during the course of his
ministry—nay, that of the very Bishop himself, who,
a few short weeks before he evicted Dr. EMERTON
from his curacy, and deprived him of his
humble pittance—a pittance far too small
for an educated gentleman—used these re-
markable words—" being assured that you will
discharge your duty as zealously and faithfully as
you have done in the assistant curacy of Hanwell,"
thus indicating how fully he participated in the feel-
ings of the parishioners ; and yet one day after the
burial of the deceased rector, that very Bishop ten-
dered the living to the eldest son of a Baronet, a
gentleman of large fortune and considerable influence,
to whom the pecuniary emoluments of the office
could be a matter of little moment, and thus severed
the connexion that had so long and so happily existed
between the zealous and faithful assistant-curate and
his grateful and affectionate congregation.
What we have above stated would alone be suffi-
cient to excite a feeling of deep disappointment and
concern in the public mind, to induce every well-
wisher of the Church to deplore that such pre-
eminent claims should be thus cavalierly and
summarily di3posed of; but there is another
circumstance that should not be lost sight of, that
materially enhances the painful character of the
transaction. Some years previously the perpetual
curacy of the parish of New Brentford became vacant.
It was in the gift of Dr. WALMSLEY, the rector of
Hanwell, who, with a due appreciation of the in-
valuable services of his curate, placed the patronage
at the disposal of Dr. EMERTON, who might have
presented himself thereto. The Bishop, however,
interposed, and raised sundry objections and difficul-
ties. The result was that Dr. EMERTON surrendered
his patronage into the hands of his Lordship, and
allowed him to nominate three persons, one of whom
was to be selected. This disinterested conduct might
surely have had some effect on a generous mind.
For four years the emoluments of 3001. per annum
were enjoyed by the Bishop's nominee, while Dr
EMERTON, who might, had he pleased, have taken it•
for himself, continued his labour of love for the humble
stipend of 1001. a year.
Most heartily do we commend the perusal of Mr.
WRIGHT'S admirable speech to the Right Rev. Pre-
late ; we trust that he will read, mark, and inwardly
digest its contents, and that he may on future occa-
sions distribute his patronage with greater discretion ;
that he may not again inflict " a heavy blow and
great discouragement " on the Church by law estab-
lished, or do an act which has been well described in
an address to Dr. EMERTON as a "disappointment
worthy of public comment and reproach, calculated to
bring the church discipline into question, and ulti-
mately to call for Legislative interference on the
subject."

There is one consolation, and one only, to be derived
from the Bishop's conduct. By not obtaining the pre-
ferment, Dr. EMERTOR has been enabled to concen-
trate all his energies for the benefit of the pupils of
the Hanwell. Collegiate School, of which he is the
efficient Principal, a circumstance of paramount
importance to the rising generation and to the
parents and guardians of those confided to his charge.

It is always gratifying to find that the shareholders
of a public company entertain a proper sense of the
services of those who have by their consummate
skill, untiring zeal, unwearied activity, and unerring
judgment, succeeded in creating a valuable property
for the benefit of such shareholders, and therefore it
is that we have read with great interest the account
of the proceedings at a pnblic dinner given by
the shareholders in the Richmond Railway,
last evening, to WILLIAM CLIA.DWICR, Esq., at the