The Sun.
London, England, 1870-02-04 00:00:00

NETBOPOLITAN GOSSIP—Feb. 3.

The statement made a few days ago that the Broad
Church party in London have originated a movement foi
effecting important changes in the English Church is
correct. The matter has not yet gone farther than sug-
gestion, but it is probable that the clergymen who aro .
acting in it, will, before long, be able to embody their
ideas in a practical shape. Among the subjects
which it is proposed to include aro Church govern-
ment, Ritual, and Education. The reformers would
subdivide the larger dioceses, abolish the forms
of election and confirmation of bishops, promote a better
diocesan organisation, and encourage the bishops to hold
communication with the bishops and leading members of
other Churches. They would establish parochial Church
Councils, have parochial boundaries revised by a royal
commission, obtain some provision for enforcing the repair
or authorising the disuse of Church fabrics, and increase
the Church patronage in public hands. They ask, also, if
boards of patronage ought not to be established; if there
ought. not to be an appeal against undesirable
appointments, and how the scandal of the sale
of livings can best be abated. They would
abolish clerical subscrii,tion, remove all obstacles
to the renunciaton of holy orders, and lay upon a public
prosecutor the duty of proceeding against clerical offenders.
They would place the Athanasian Creed, without a rubric,
at the end of the Prayer-book, allow persons not in Angli-
can orders to preach, subject to the inhibition of the
ordinary, revise the services by Royal Commission, substi-
tute " accept " for " believe " in the question and the
answer relating to the canonical Scriptures in the ordina-
tion of deasons ; and they suggest that some arrangement
might be made for extempore prayer in the regular services.
They would, while retaining theological instruction, open
Church schools and colleges to all persons, permitting
those who desired it to exempt themselves from such
instruction ; and they would have grants of money
and other public advantages given to all schools
and colleges, whether denominational or secular.
They would like to see the ' English Bible
revised by a Royal Commission, the Cathedrals made
centres of the higher church studies, and a graded educa-
tion, with exhibitions, established, so that the poor might
be elevated to clerical functions. By reforms such as these
the reformers believe that the Church would strengthen
its title to be called both Catholic and National—Catholic
as acknowledging in common with all Christendom the
one divine Head of Manhood, as professing loyalty to the
Apostolic teaching, and as seeking to hold communication
with other branches of the Church. National as acknow-
ledging the supremacy, and cherishing the unity of the
nation, as receiving its Bishops and many other ecclesias-
tics from the Crown, as admitting the people locally to a
share in its management, and as having its disputes
determined in the public courts of law. This programme,
I should add, is subject to revision.

Whatever may come of this movement, one thing, I
think, is certain; the reading of the Athanasian Creed
will not be much longer enforced upon the English
Church. For the last fortnight English bishops and clergy-
men all over the kingdom have been holding out the right
hand of fellowship to an Archbishop of the
Greek Church, whose members are by the above
creed consigned to eternal damnation. EN en
clerical Conservatism cannot much longer retain such
a practical absurdity as that, and I am not surprised
to find in the Times of to-day that a memorial has been
presented to the Archbishop of Canterbury, signed by both
clergymen and laymen, praying that the reading of the
Creed may be made optional, or atleast that the damnatory
clauses may be omitted, since they now prevent men from
conforming to the English Church, who conform to
what is substantially the same church in the United
States. Among the memorialists are men of all parties—
Dean Champneys, Dean Stanley, several canons, and the
Hon. Mr. Lyttleton. There is little doubt but that the
Archbishop sincerely sympathises with this memorial.
There is trouble in store for Mr. Cardwell. He will
have to give an account of the new changes effected by the
control department. So far as they have yet gone they
seem to have produced only increased salaries for the
officials, and increased red-tape for the public. There is
great dissatisfaction, except among the few gentlemen who
ha-re profited in pocket by the alteration. Soros of these
dined together a few evenings ago to rejoice over the fact
that their salaries had been doubled. How far the dis-
charged employes at 'Woolwich rejoice with them that
rejoice is another matter.

Tho naval gun-carriage invented by Captain Robert
Scott has been introduced throughout the service, and is
answering admirably. Only half the number of men that
were formerly required to work a gun are now needed. In
fact, guns which could not be worked at all on the broad-
side system are now perfectly manageable, and it takes
only sixteen men to work an 13-ton gun. The
success of this carriage has induced foreign
Governments to press for its adoption into their respective
services; and the Government at Berlin lately asked our
own to manufacture some carriages for the Prussian navy,
a request which, however, was not granted. At the
present time two monster guns are being prepared, in
order to test the merits of the Woolwich and the Whit-
worth system. Our War Office offered Sir Joseph Whit-
worth a trial with a 30-ten gun, but he would accept
nothing less than 35 tons ; and that is to be the size. Sir
William Armstrong is no longer competing, having enough
work on hand in supplying foreign countries. Major
Palliser has been placed by that wonderful body, the
Ordnance Select Committee, upon a committee which is
investigating the merits of his own shot.
So far the new cab regulations have been a complete
failure. There were a few flags visible at first, but these
seem to have disappeared, and the streets are fuller of
" crawlers" than ever. It is clear that Mr. Bruce will
have to revise his amended regulations; at present they
suit neither the public nor the cabmen. Meanwhile a
company has been established on the same principles
as the London General Omnibus Company, with the in-
tention of running vehicles of a superior class—
some of them hansoms, some " growlers." The intention
is to start such a number that they will be able to hold
their own against any amount of "nursing." For this pur-
pose tenders have been invited from tile London coach-
builders. To supply so large a number as is contemplated
in so short a time will require all the resources of Lone
Acre.

The English Mayors have had a pleasant time at Brus-
sels, which it is to be hoped compensated for the very un-
pleasant passage across the channel. The Brussels station
was most gaily decorated, and there was a great concourse
of persons gathered to witness the worshipful visitors.
Perhaps there was some disappointment felt when it
was seen that they did not wear the gorgeous robes
which the Continental mind has learnt to associate with
civic dignity. The mayors arrived at six on Monday even-
ing, and the burgomaster of Brussels addressed them in a
neat English speech. Mr. Gourley, M.P. for Sunderland,
replied in the same language, and then the visitors were

conducted to their hotel, where apartments had been pre-
pared for them. On Tuesday morning the mayors set out
for the Ducal Palace (the Royal Palace being under repair),
and traversed streets gay with Belgian and British flays.
'nd crowded with people who were on this occasion
delighted with the sight of a multitude of costumes—
civic, volunteer, clerical, and military. At noon the King
wearing the uniform of a General and the Order of the,
Garter, entered with the Queen, who wore black velvet and
Brussels lace. Mr. Gourley and Captain Mercier made
speeches, and the King replied in English; and then the
beautiful casket was presented to his M-tjesty, together
with the illuminated address. Several of the London

papers have sent over special correspondents. The Daily
Telegraph is represented by Mr. Le Sage (formerly of the
Western Morning News), the Standard by Mr. Horace St.
John, and the Daily News by Mr. Holdsworth.
The French Government has just made an arrangement
which is worth the consideration of our own. Recently
one of the Gardes de Paris fell down the stone staircase of
the Palais-de-Justice. He was taken up insensible, and
surgical aid was sent for. But it was so long in coming
that it seemed as if the unfortunate man would die before
it arrived. It has now been determined to attach a medical
man to the Palais, and he will be at the service of all
persons frequenting it, judges, council, jurymen, suitors,
and officials. Perhaps Mr. Lowe will consider the arrange-
m- it worth considering for our own law-courts when they
are built.

There is rather a good story told of M. Prevost-Paradol,
the well known writer in the Journal des Dobai; and the
author of some very able letters on France which appeared
in the Times a little while ago. One of the Paris papers
announced that he was on the point of being nominated
Ambaskador to England, which country he has lately been
visiting. On reading the announcement M. Paradol re-
marked, "Please let it be understood that I have not paid
for this."

Never at any previous time was there so much interest
felt 'n science as there is noay. Women as well as men
hav3 now such opportunitie3 of studying science as they
never bad beore. The lecture classes are almost past
counting, and the lecturers are men of the highest attain-
ments. For instance, taking the Royal Institution pro-
gramme for the season, I find lectures by Professors Tyndall,
jia-cley, Odling, Ruskin, Sylvester, Rolieston, Humphrey,
Max Killer, Blackie, Grant, Seeley, Roscoe, Dr. Carpenter,
Mr. E. J. Reed, Mr. Norman Lockyer, Dr. Masters, Mr.
Barlow, Mr. Kingdon Clifford, Captain Wilson, of the
.Sinaitic Survey, and Mr. R. Scott, of the Meteorological
Department of the Board of Trade. Then
,there are lec-
tures at St. George's Hall, Queen's College, Harley-street,
and the South Kensington Museum, for ladies; and lectures
at the School of Mines, Jermyn-street, for the upper
classes and for working men. These last are
thronized to . over/MAL, and in
__thejnaelva in4tly