The Sun.
London, England, 1870-11-02 00:00:00

THE IRISH CHURCH CONVENTION.

Although the members of the. Irish Church Convention
began their sittings so far back as the 19th ult., very
little progress has been made in the way of passing resolu-
tions for the future guidance of the Convention or of
the General Synod that will be formed for all
ulterior governmental proceedings after the first of
January next. The tardiness with which each regulation
has been decided upon, each law carried by a majority,
arises, firstly, in consequence of the anxiety of the mem-
bers of the Convention to do justice to the Church at
all hazards ; and, secondly, from a diversity of opinion as to
forms and ceremonies which is only to be expected when
large numbers of laymen and clergymen are asked to try
and agree on some fixed modes of observing Christian
practices and expressions in Divine worship. The most
difficult of the questions brought before the convention
was one respecting the liturgy of the Prayer Book. For
three days a debate as to whether a committee should be
appointed to take steps to guard the Prayer Book from
any such alteration, as would sanction " novelties "
and " innovations " of a ritualistic character in the
Church services was prolonged. Happily, at the end of
this period the Duke of Abercorn, who has shewn a deep
interest of tile Disestablished Church since the
passing of the bill, and more especially since the
opening of the present Convention, brought most
of the dissentient parties together by proposing
an amendment on the original motion, by which
offensive words, such as " innovations," might be
expunged. His Grace proposed—and his motion was
carried with some applause—that the committee should
be appointed to consider " whether, without making
any such alterations in the Liturgy or formularies of
the Church as would involve or imply a change in her
doctrines, any measures can be suggested calculated
to check the introduction and spread of novel doctrines
and practices opposed to the spirit of the reformed church;
and, that the result should be reported to the General
Synod of 1870. Even this resolution, though warmly sup-
ported, is said now not to have given anything like satis-
faction generally, and we are told that several clergymen
have withdrawn their names from the Convention in con-
sequence of the manner in which the vote was decided.
A second question resolved upon by the Convention
referred to the appointment of a committee to confer with
representative authorities of the Primitive Methodists
with reference to the amalgamation of that body with the
Irish .Church. The prospect, it was contended, would
serve to make the future Protestant Church of Ireland
more comprehensive and powerful. The resolu-
tion, which was proposed with the concurrence
of the whole bench of Irish Bishops met with little
opposition, and an influential committee with the
Primate of the Irish Church at its head was selected.
The formation of the future ecclesiastical tribunals and
the manner in which the officials forming them should
conduct their duties were questions also decided upon
without much dissention. The final resolution on the
subject ordered that the full court of the General Synod,
who, after the Ist of January next, would be controllers
and executive governors of the Church in Ireland, should
consist of one archbishop and three laymen,the Archbishop of
Armagh and the Archbishop of Dublin taking alternate
sittings in the court. The General Synod, it was
decided, should not have it in their power to name more
than ten, nor less than six lay members of the Church of
Ireland, from whom the lay judges of the chief court
shall be selected, " who shall be, or shall have been judge
of any superior court of equity or common law in Ire-
land, or who shall be, or shall have been, judge of
the Court of Probate, the Landed Estates' Court,
the Court of Bankruptcy and Insolvency, or the
Court of Admiralty, or of an ecclesiastical court in
Ireland, or a Master in Chancery." Minor rules respect-
ing the mode in which decisions of the chief court might
be arrived at, and the character of the subjects that should
be allowed to be brought before such tribunals were also
adopted. Not the least pleasing fact to record in connec-
tion with the Congress is the reception of a letter from his
Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, which was read
before the members. The letter was dated Addington
Park, October 17th, and said :—" We are all most anxious
here that the thorough unity which heretofore bound the
two branches of the Church should be maintained. • You
know my own sentiments as to our duty to come forward
and befriend you with material aid, and as soon as ever
your affairs are sufficiently advanced to let us exactly
understand your future position, I shall be happy, not only
to move myself, but to be followed by all our episcopal
brethren. Those I have consulted in England agree fully in
my view." This week is expected to be the most important
one of the Congress, inasmuch' as the much disputed ques-
tions of commutation and compounding for Church livings,
questions which involve in their consideration the rights
and security of all the present clergy of the still estab-
lished. Church, will be discussed. It has been stated during
the sittings that a sum of £295,430 had already been
subscribed in aid of the Sustentation Fund of the
Church, while a sum of £14,260 had been promised
in annual subscriptions. Within the past two
days the Earl of Egmont has come forward with a
munificent offer of £20,000, and the amount must there-
fore be estimated by this increase. Still, however, there is
every reason to believe that the necessity of parochial
organization, so frequently argued by the Convention,
for the collection of subscriptions at every church
door for the benefit of the funds will only be
too perceptibly experienced in a short time, even
by the most sanguine of the upholders of the
Church. The Convention has had the countenance of

most of the high ecclesiastical authorities and leading cle-
rical orators in Ireland, and amongst the names of the
noblemen and laymen constantly in attendance at
the meetings have been the following :—The Duke
of Manchester. the Duke of Abercorn, the Earl
of Meath, the Earl of Clanearty, Lord Bandon, Lord
O'Neill, Judge Harrison, ex-Judge Longfield, Sir J.
Napier, Dr. Ball, Q.C., M.P. (assessor), Mr. Bloomfield,
Master Brooke (of the Irish Chancery Court), and many
other distinguished and well-known Irishmen.

Signor Gavazzi is in London and will lecture on
Thursday evening in the Presbyterian Church, Foxley-
road, Kensington, on " The New Dogma of Papal In-
fallibility, and its Startling Consequences." The Signor
will shortly return to Paris.

We are informed that Mr. Streeter, the jeweller,
in conjunction with one or two other gentlemen, have
organised an expedition to the diamond fields of South
Africa; and have secured the services of Mr. T. W.
Tobin, secretary of the Royal Polytechnic Institution.
Glanders still prevail in London and its neigh-
bourhood, and the Veterinarian fears that many persons
who are in possession of glandered horses are content
to run the risk of detection rather than give notice of
the existence of the malady. The malady prevails also in
Wales.

" Hallowe'en" was celebrated on Monday night
throughout Scotland. "Townspeople," says the Glasgow
Citizen, " have pretty well given up the observance of
Hallowe'en, but in the country a good many of the prac-
tices so happily described by Burns are still in force,
though only by way of amusement, on the mystic eve.
This morning the Recorder of London, with the
Sheriffs and some other members of the Corporation, will
proceed in State to the Lord Chancellor's residence,
where the Recorder will introduce to his lordship Alder-
man Thomas Dakin, the Lord Mayor elect, and the Lord
Chancellor will convey to the Lord Mayor her Majesty's
approval of the choice of the citizens.
On Monday the Rev. R. M. Benson (known as
" Father " Benson), incumbent of Cowley, near Oxford,
and Superior of the Monastery in that city, left en route
for Boston, United States, where he intends founding a
monastic establishment similar to the one at Oxford.
The rev. father was accompanied by about thirty mem-
bers of the brotherhood who will aid him in his work is
the New World.
Dean Close has written a letter to a member of
Mr. Baxter Langley's committee at Colchester, in which
he says, " I am exceedingly glad to perceive that you are
opposing Sir H. Storks at Colchester on the ground of his
support of the Contagious Diseases Acts. Sir Henry is
one of the most able, determined, and successful sup-
porters if not, indeed, the originator, of these Acts ; Acts
I
which believe to be the most un-English, un-Christian,
and demoralizing piece of legislation ever shuffled through
the British Parliament. It will be a great calamity if Sir
H. Storks should succeed in getting into Parliament."
THE MIDDLESEX MAGISTRATES.—The committee
of the Howard Association (for the promotiou of the best
methods of the treatment and prevention of crime) have
forwarded the following address to the chairman of the
Middlesex Magistrates :—" To Henry M. Kemshead,
Esq., Chairman of the Middlesex Magistrates.—Sir,—
Permit us, on behalf of the Howard Association, to
tender you our most hearty thanks for the very valuable
service to the community rendered last week by
yourself and your brother magistrates, and aided
especially by the venerable Mr. Henry Pownall
(your able chairman for so many years), in
withdrawing the dancing licenses from some of those
places where the youth of London are so grievously led
astray. Would that all magistrates, everywhere, mfght,
under a deep sense of Christianresponsibility, follow your
praiseworthy example. The subject of the intimate con-
nection of prostitution and moral ruin with the doubly-
licensed casinos for dancing and drinking is one to which
our association has repeatedly urged public attention,
and it is cheering to observe that, at length, the Middle-
sex justices are leading the way in this true work of jus-
tice and protection of the rights (and righteousness) of
the community—a work against which there can be no
real claim of vested "rights" in the eight, at least, of God
and of all good men.

MONETARY REPORTS.-YESTERDAY.

There have been no bullion operations at the Bank to-
day.

As regards the Exchanges, bills on Vienna have been
request, but the rates generally have been without any
material change.

The following is from the Liverpool Journal of Commerce,
of the 31st ultimo :—A meeting of creditors of Jose
Laurie was held in the Law Association Rooms, to-day.
The debtor carried on business as an iron manufacturer,
under the title of the Seacombe Forge, Rivet, and Bolt
Company. His unsecured debts are £19,909,
and those fully secured, £8,981, with other
liabilities, £1,500. The assets consist of—
Stock in trade, £3,000; book debts, £937; tools
and implements of trade, £2,909 ; and plant, £9,575. No
acceptable proposal was made by the debtor to the meet-
ing, and it was resolved, after some discussion, that the
estate should be wound-up under liquidation, Mr. Bolland
being the trustee, with a committee of inspection
empowered to carry on the works till an advantageous,
sale could be effected, and to give the debtor his dis-
charge if satisfied with his conduct.
The following is from the Manchester Examiner :—At
a meeting of the creditors of Messrs. Joseph Eller and
Co., merchants, Major-street, held at the offices of
Messrs. Sale, Shipmen, Leddon, and Co., solicitors, to-
day, it was resolved to liquidate by arrangement, and Mr.
Thomas Halliday, accountant, was appointed trustee.
An adjourned meeting of the creditors of Messrs. Jully,
Sou, &c., Hynburn Mill, Oakenshaw, was held at the
Royal Hotel, to-day, when the previous resolutions to
wind-up under liquidation were legally passed. Mr. C.
R. Trevor, accountant was appointed trustee with a com-
mittee of creditors as inspectors. It was also resolved
that the debtors' discharge should take effect forthwith.
This being one of the days for the closing of the transfer
books at the Bank, the Stock Exchange has been dossed
according to custom. In the discount market a moderate
amount of animation has been perceptible. Capital has
been less freely offered, and three months' paper has been
charged 28 to 21 per cent.

The City of Brooklyn, from New York, has brought
£50,362 in specie.
The Bank of England have given notice that on the 2nd
of December. Consols New Five per Cents., New Three-
and-a-half per Cents., New Two-and-a-half per Cents.
Annuities, for terms of years, and India Five per Cents.

will be transferable without the dividend due on the sth
of January next; also that the transfer books of East
Indian Stock will shut on Thursday, the Bth of December,
and open on Friday, the 6th of January.
It is understood that a company is in course formation,
under respectable and experienced management, for esta-
blishing a powerful line of steamers from London to the
Cape, Algoa Bay, and Port Natal. The capital is to be
£200,000 in shares of £2O. Applications are to be made to
Messrs. N. Griffiths, Tate, and Co.
The traffic return of the London, Brighton, and South
Coast Railway for the week ending October 29th shews a
decrease of £715 ; and that of the South Eastern a decrease
of £2,397. The Demerara line in the fortnight ending
October 1 achieved an increase of 972 dollars.

FOREIGN EXCHANGES.—Antwerp, three months' date,
25 40 ; Paris, short date, nominal ; ditto, three months,
date, 25 80 ; Marseilles, ditto, 25 50 ; Leghorn, Genoa,
Naples, and Palermo, ditto, 26 75 ; Amsterdam, short
date, 11181 ; ditto, three months' date, and Rotterdam,
ditto, 12 0 ; Hamburg, ditto, 13 10/ ; Frankfort-on-the
Maine, ditto, 120} ; Vienna and Trieste, ditto, 12 55 ;
St. Petersburgh, ditto, 30; Madrid and Cadiz, ditto, 49;
Lisbon, 90 days' date, and Oporto, ditto, 52k.