The Sun.
London, England, 1841-07-19 00:00:00

THE POOR MAN'S CHURCH.

That the State Church in this country is maintained
for political rather than spiritual purposes, the strong
attachment to it, cherished and evinced by the aristo-
cratic section of society, might be taken as sufficient
argument.
An exclusive class—a class lifted far above the great
bulk of society—claiming a right to all political power,
and making the various interests of the many subservient
to their own—could not, it is eVldent, long maintain its
standing in this country without possessing a firm hold
upon every grade of society beileath it. This the State
Church enables the aristocracy to secure. It is to them
an extensively ramified system of nerves distributed
over the whole body politic, by which their volitions may
be communicated to the various muscles. Through it
they can make their influence felt with the utmost ease
at the very extremities of the social system. They have
but to will, and instantly there is put in motion an appa-
ratus which brings that will to bear upon all orders
throughout the empire.
We examine the structure of a machine—we see the
relation of part to part—we observe how aptly certain
contrivances secure certain movements—and how the
combination of the whole uniformly produces one great
result—and we pronounce without hesitation upon the
design of the machine. If, then, we find every arrange-
ment in a State Church ill-adapted to answer a spiritual
purpose, but fitt€d with special nicety to maintain the
ascendancy of a party—if, in point of fact, it. impedes
rather than promotes religion, and is found invariably
prompt to advance the interests of the aristocracy, be
those interests based on right or on injustice—what rea-
son is there for dealing with it as a sacred institution
instead of treating it, as in truth it is, as a political en-
gine, having for its object the perpetuation of exclusive
privilege and power ? _

Fifteen thoUsand clergy trained in the most exclusive
spirit at universities where subserviency to rank is not
only taught but practised—receiving, each his appoint-
ment to a living, from the hands of a' land-owning pa-
tron, or what is much to the same purpose, from those of
a Bishop or the Crown-L
-looking to the same source for
future preferment—dependent, for intercourse with aris-
tocratic society, upon the good will of the neighbouring
squire—sympathising with all the sectional feelings of
the order, as being themselves members of a privileged
class—wielding, to appearance, the dreadful sanctions of
religion—almoners, usually, of parochial funds and the
great man's bounty—conduits, through which may flow,
to bowing tradesmen the custom of the rich—having ac-
cess to every house, able to assume an air of authority,
and, in virtue of their office, to work upon religious
fears and affections—fifteen thousand clergy thus depen-
dent on the one hand, and powerful on the other—to the
tiristociacy pledged servants, to their own flocks su-
preme dictators—stationed at convenient intervals over
the length and breadth of the land, and thus coming in
contact with society at all points—could mechanism
more fatal to religion, or more serviceable to the inte-
rests of the upper class, be framed and put together ?
All the movements of this tremendous engine are
under the complete control of the class for whoso ad-
vantage it exists. The appointment of bishops, to whom
is intrusted the superintendence of this well-organised
corps, who dispense no small portion of its patronage,
and whose requests, in consequence, have all the force of
law, is vested in the Crown, that is, in the Ministry for
the time being. That they are selected for their spiritual
aptitude for the office, none will pretend. Their elevation
is in 11103 t instances owing to their connection with, or
their former subserviency to, the aristocracy. They
thereupon become members of " the order." They
breathe exclusive atmosphere. They are thoroughly
imbued with the aristocratic spirit. Is any inroad upon
sectional privileges threatened ?—they have but to nod
the head, to give the well-understood sign, and on the
instant, tenants, tradesmen, parish officers, paupers,
small gentlemen who occasionally dine at the squire's.
matrons who tremble for religion, and young ladies who
are looking up to respectable connexions, send forth a
cry of disapprobation, and send up a shoal of petitions,
at which the boldest statesman may be excused for stand-
ing apalled.
We beg our readers to look at this State Church, first
as a means of religious instruction, and afterwards as an
instrument of political power. In the former case all is
perplexed, anomalous, suicidal—intbe latter, everything
is well arranged, easily managed, certain of accomplish-
ing the end. It is upheld by the aristocracy—it is sub-
servient to their designs—it shields and secures their in-
terest. It is a political organ brought to bear against
the liberties of the people. It is no more a sacred in-
stitution than the House of Lords. It becomes every
lover of his country, as well as every Christian, to de-
nounce it. No man can be regarded as a sound-hearted
patriot who advocates the continuance of a State Church.
—Nonconformist.

CORONER'S INQUEST.—On Saturday an in-
quest was held at the Prince of Wales, Brixton-hill,
before Mr. Carter, Coroner for Surrey, and a respectable
Jury, on view of the body of George Bristow, a fine lad,
ten years old, who was struck dead bylightning, in Acre-
lane, Brixton, ou Thursday evening last, during the se-
vere storm, under the following very dreadful and melan-
choly circumstances ;—Prederie James Mitchell, appren-
tice to Mr. Frickelton, chemist and druggist. of Acre-
lane, Brixton, deposed that between seven and eight
o'clock on Thursday evening last, he was going up Acre-
lane, towards Brixton, when he saw the deceased in the
road coming towards him ; at the same moment a very
severe flash of lightning took place, followed by a peal of
thunder ; it was raining very hard at the time the flash
of lightning happened ; witness saw the little boy stag-
ger and fall upon his face ; witness ran towards Him ; he
was quite motionless, and apparently dead ; his face was
very much disfigured and blackened ; a number of per-
sons came to the spot, although the lane is rather retired,
a policeman came up, and a stretcher was procured, on
which the deceased was laid, and conveyed o%lr.
Frickelton's house. Doctor Key was then sent for, who
pronounced the deceased quite dead. By the Coroner.—
I have no doubt the lightning killed the deceased, when
he fell ; his clothes were very much scorched and torn ;
one of his shoes was burnt to pieces. Sereral of the
Jury resident on the spot spoke to the violence of the
storm ; the lightning was very severe. Mr. Frickelton,
said, that the shocking occurrence happened only about
sixty yards from his shop ; the flash of lightning which
destroyed the poor boy was tremendous. It destroyed
a number of panes of glass in his shop. The neighbour-
hood had suffered much from its effects. Other witnesses
were examined, but their testimonies were not so satis-
factory as Mitchell's, as they only came up afterwards.
Doctor Key said, he had no doubt the lad's death was
occasioned by the electric fluid, produced by the light-
ning. Verdict—" Accidental Death." The father of
he lad is a builder, living at Clapham.
DR. lIA N COCK, THE TRAVELLER.—It iS
with the greatest concern we learn that this individual,
so distinguished ill the literary and scientific world, is
now in a state of the utmost distress, overpowered by
sickness, and incapable of assisting himself and his nume-
rous family. lie has claims on the kindness and com-
miseration of the good and the learned, and we sincerely
hope that the hand of benevolence may be extended to-
wards him. We believe the Fellows of the Royal
Medico-Botanical Society have assisted him as far as
hey are enabled to do.

CHURCH RATE AT ROCHDALE.—A vestry
was held at the parish church on Thursday morning, Dr.
Molesworth in the chair, when Mr. Roby read over an
estimate of monies said to be wanting for the support of
that " venerable fabric," amounting to no less a sum than
695/. ; when Mr. Abraham Brierley, one of the church-
wardens, moved that a rate of a penny in the pound be
granted ; and this motion was seconded by Mr. John
Scholefield.— The body of the church was crowded with
rate-payers, who received the proposition with manifest
disgust; and Mr. Barton and Mr. John Bright addressed
them in opposition to the rate with great effect, and were
loudly applauded. Mr. Barton concluded with an,
h_amend-
ment, which Mr. Bright seconded, to the effectcal' led "that no
rate be laid ;" and on a show of hands being:tv _
There'
it was carried by an overwhelming majority.--There
payers.—Manchester Paper.
Nnvieorteioonn,loyu at booru
at
na
atslsoezieunbllzend:fhsoeldoloupthfoliouir:antohd.e: oorprarteia!
—On Friday a very'
shocking P'
between six and
pened in Blackman'
street,
Two gentlemen, named
ttowotheoimr re-
sidenceni
seven o'clock in
SHOCKING OCCURRkEnN:EnnAdNfDataLI oacssciodernLt IhFapE.
power to avoid a col-
was not in their
buses racing. It .
was overturned by one of the om-
nibuses, when‘'%.
era
. they Proceeding encounteredin a
gig
col-
lision, and the chaise
Bartlett
aatnj3d
ri Rudd,xto iit
Ain Bartlett both gentlemen were precipitated into the
road. and fell on his head, and was taken up is
and they were both taken to the house of Mr. Evans, a
insensible state. Mr. Rudd was dreadfully injured,
dered them. 1 i. ,
M . Bartlett expired ol Saturday morning
surgeon, residing on the spot, and every assistance ren.
from the injuries he had received. !Ir. Rudd lies with-
o any hope of recovery. After the collision both oin.
nibuses drove on at a furious rate.
lianibuses'
WEST RIDING ELECTION.—That the West
Riding of Yorkshire has disgraced itself by casting off
its tried friend and servant, L'brd Morpeth, in the late
contest, no further proof need be adduced than that many
who voted for the Tory candidates are dissatisfied with
the result, wish they. had voted differently, and fbel
regret amidst their triumph. Some, it may be feared,
lest, having grasped at too much, they may the sooner
lose the whole : others, it is certain, through deep and
sincere respect for the statesman-like abilities of Lord
Morpeth, feel that justice has not been done hinv'and ,
that on no trivial grounds should he have been discarded;
The intense interest manifested during the delivery of
his Lordship's.Lpeech on the day of declaration, evinced
the esteem in which ho was held even by many of the
opposite party, and the 0 fervid" prayer with which he
concluded his address, gave rise to emotions not often
experienced on such occasions,—Leeds Mercury.
ST. SWITHIN.—Up to noon on Thursday, the
haicboholtasd
five
anniversary of the watery Saint, scarcely a tear fell in,
this neighbourhood, but about two dclock in the after-
noon a sharp thunder shower,,deset,e
repeated w
for about half an hour, and was
o'clock. Very copiou.s, showers fell after sun-set also,
Probably the patrons of the Saint will, .therefore, be
on the look-out for rain every day during the next 40
days, an expectation, we trust, not to be realised, seeing
that the growing crops of corn, 8.x., stand so much in
need of sunshine,---Leeds Mercury.
SUDDEN DEATH.—Yesterday afternoon, a few
minutes before five o'clock, Lieute Colonel Guiding, residing
at No. 73, Regent' s-q u a d riAai nretm,
es
xtßrt
oienngeget Regent-street,
at- sTtsrhue
le:
gt
de,
eoensiu,udi
ned
de
jn
eel
rrnycaoColonel
fellil
e- 1
on the foot-pavement, to Jermyn-street, the corner of R
street, and momently expired. He was immediately carried
into
street, where every endeavour to bleed him was used, but
without effect,
lifeteffreeCtilleanseeof
tvlissirq.it
wit betwegn sixty and seventy years of sp.