The Sun.
London, England, 1840-12-04 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN

Sir—l have just received a letter from our Bishop,
enclosing the Queen's letter in behalf of the National
Society, with strict injunctions to read the ser.ne in my
church, and specially to enforce the object of it upon
my parishioners. These letters are very properly ac-
companied by extracts from applications for aid, and by
a renewed appeal from the pen of the Secretary of the
Society, the Rev. John Sinclair.
But here lies my difficulty. In the extracts and the
renewed appeal, are the most pointed censures of Char-
tism ; and to stop the prevalence of Chartism is adduced
as a most urgent reason why we should support the Na-
tional Society ! Now so it is, that some of my congre-
gation are avowed Chartists, and many more of them
are so in heart most thoroughly and entirely, only they
durst not avow it through fear of their employers ; aye,
and I myself am a thorough and openly avowed Chartist,
firmly believing that it would he far better that the so-
called Church of England should be at once swept from
the face of the earth than that the great principle oi
the People's Charter—a pure principle of equal-handed
justice, namely, a secured voice and vote to every
honest man in the laws by which he is taxed and
governed—should be very much longer with-
held from him. I see the narrow sectarian
views of the National Society, and I abhor them ; and,
as an honest preacher, I must not conceal them from
those whose subscriptions I am to solicit on its behalf.
The National Society regards all Dissenters as nonen-
tities, or as things far worse—things to he guarded
against ! Its prejudices are absolutely ridiculous and fu-
! tile. Only mark and contrast with itself, as it is well known
to you, the substance of one of its extracts from appli-
cations, &c. It is for a population of 23,000. It so-
licits aid for church schools for only 350 children. This
is moderate and well ; and heartily do I hope it will be
well responded to.
Next, it comes out that 500 children are already
educated by Dissenters on that very spot which we find
to have been so neglected by the Church ; and yet we
are to put down, if possible, at any cost to ourselves,
all those who have already so outstripped us in the
Christian race !
I think I know my duty, Mr. Editor, as the way of
duty is usually a very plain path, though sometimes a
thorny and a dangerous one, as to this world. I shall
inevitably set the landlords of my parish against me, and
also their companions, the Archdeacons and the Rural
Dean.
But I will seek to act as in the fear of God. I will
warn my congregation of the narrow sectarian spirit of
the National Society which I am commanded to uphold.
I will lay open and enforce what appears to me to
really good in the Society, and will thus leave the sub-
ject upon their consideration and conscience, giving all
the opportunity to subscribe as every one may be disposed
in his heart ; thus, I think, so far, though compelled to
advocate the Society, I shall escape the iniquity of
advocating it basely in a spirit of sectarian bigotry,
and shall at the same time comply with all that my Ec-
clesiastical commanders cats ehristianiy demand of nie.
Whenever such commanders demand more, we, the
subalterns, of course, must christianly disobey, and
submit to consequences.
Ten years ago 1 suffered a year's imprisonment for
writing, on the part of the poor oppressed workmen,
against those whom I deemed their oppressors ; and,
although no punishment is joyous of itself, I am ready
to suffer again, if needful, for civil and religious liberty.
Admiring your efforts for both, I remain your's, truly,
NO SECTARIAN, THOUGH A
CHURCH MINISTER.

A patent has recently been granted by her Ma-
jesty, for a new Theatre-Royal in Glasgow, to which the
Great Seal of Scotland has already been attached, and
ulterior measures regarding it are in progress. The pa•
tent is granted for twenty-one years from 1840 in favour
of five patentees, who arc offieidly connected with the
city, or county, or any two of them. 'lhree of these gen-
'men have already agreed to accept the trust.—Glasgow
Chronice,