The Sun.
London, England, 1847-09-30 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

THE JESUIT AT CAMBRIDGE. By Sir George
Stephen. 7 tco Vols.
however conscientious the motive which inspired
these volumes, and however excellent the object for
which they were written, we cannot think they are
calculated to produce any beneficial results. For
ourselves, we do not look upon them with very fa-
vourable sentiments, for we cannot consider a ficti-
tious tale (we can scarcely call it a novel) a proper
vehicle for a religious dissertation. There are reli-
gious novels, it is true, which cannot be too much
admired or too much commended—namely, those
which breathe the spirit of religion, instead of di-
lating upon the form—those which, by force of ex-
ample, inculcate a lesson of morality, instead of, by
force of argument, demonstrating a doctrine of theology.
Fiction may go hand in hand with Truth, "pour orner
ses attraits et non pour les cocker." In the pages of a
novel Virtue may appear arrayed with all the beau-
ties which fancy can picture, or eloquence can ex-
press, and Vice, on the contrary, may be shown in its
native hideousness—such religious lessons may with
advantage be conveyed in a romance, and such ro-
mances are ever welcome. But it is otherwise with
doctrinal matters. Let us have the "religious"
novel, if it may be termed so, but noi
the theological noel. Of this latter class
is certainly this work of Sir George Stephen's,
and consequently, without at all entering into the
subject-matter of the work, we must briefly express
our disapprobation of its character. Subjects such as
those of which it treats should either be left entirely
alone, or only be entered into with a calm and serious
attention. Can discussions about the apostolic suc-
cession or transubstantiation be properly introduced
in the chapters of a work which, if not exactly
a novel, is so nearly one as to contain
heroes and heroines whose love affairs are
supposed to excite the reader's interest and divide his
attention with more serious matters? If Sir George
Stephen be desirous of effecting some improvement in
the universities, or if he be anxious to defend the Pro-
testant religion, or if he wishes only to write an inte-
resting tale, we would advise him for the future to
devote separate works to those separate objects, and
not, as in this instance, by uniting them, let the one
counteract the other.

CHURCH RATES.
A vestry meeting of the parishioners of St. George
the-Martyr was held yesterday for the election of
overseers, the reception of the accounts of the paro-
chial officers, and to consider the propriety of grant-
ing► a rate for the repair of the church. The Rev. J.
Horton, rector, took the chair, but the vestry room
being crowded, the meeting adjourned to the body
of the church. The following gentlemen were re-
turned to serve as overseers :—.Mr. John Showier,
Mr. Moses Salmon, Mr. Henry North, Mr. William
Clinton. Mr. Palmer, rector's warden, after an in-
troductory statement. alluded to the subject of the
rate required for repairing the church. He said that
an estimate had been obtained by his predecessor for
the work to be done, and that it amounted to 1,500/.
The matter required grave consideration. He pro-
posed to ask 1,000/., the amount required for the
ordinary parochial expenses, which would be covered
by a rate of twopence-halfpenny , and also an ad-
ditional rate to a similar amount, the largest allowed
under another Act of Parliament, for repairing the
church. He concluded by moving that a sum of sd.
in the pound be assessed as the rate for this year.
The motion having been seconded, Mr. Hearn ob-
served that it was evident from the manner and lan-

guage of Mr. Palmer that he did not expect success
on this occasion. The time had arrived when corn-

pulsory payments in matters of religion ought to be
at an end.—(Cheers.) These coercive assessments
would complete the separation of the Church from
the State, and estrange the feelings of the poor from
its communion. The Rector said, " Mr. Hearn, that
is not the question"—(Cries of " It is the question.")
Mr. Hearn said that it was a question affecting not
only the just rights of the inhabitants of that extensive
parish, but of the community at large.—(Hear, hear.)
The present average attendance at the parish church
was about 500 or 600, one-third of whom were not
rate-payers, and were 3,500 rate payers to be taxed
for the convenience of three hundred? Should they
who dissented from the communion of the Church of
England be compelled to pay towards these repairs ?
Was it not sufficient that they kept their own chapels,
and places of worship in repair ? Those who fre—
quented the parish church should do the same. He:
concluded by moving an amendment to the effect-,
..13.
that the extraordinary rate proposed to be assessed
for the beautifying and repairing the church be d'o-
allowed. The amendment was seconded. A long
discussion ensued, in the course of which various rr,te -
payers expressed their determination not to submi t -to
the imposition of the extra rate. The amend met it
eing put from the chair, was carried by an over-
whelming majority. A rate of 2id. in the pow 4d no
passed for the ordinary expenses.