The Sun.
London, England, 1833-01-26 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNAI S

In noticing yesterday Dr. Arnold's pamphlet
on Church Reform, and in stating that, with
many sound and enlightened observations, it
contained a plan of Reform which we think im-
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Doctor, being unable to call back the stray
sheep of dissent into the existing ecclesiastical
fold, would enlarge the fold so as to include thn
whole Christian flock, and allow them to feed on
a common pasture. In this project he is, of
course, met with objections, arising from a
difference of creed, a difference of ritual, a dif-
ference of church government, and a difference
of church discipline. The Socinian or Arian,
who has fewer tenets of faith than the 39
articles of the Church of England—the Pres-
byterian or the Independent, who has no liturgy
—and the more numerous sects who dislike
prelacy—could not be supposed to form a very
harmonious union with an establishment which
has hitherto despised their religious scruples,
and even, till lately, refused their admission to
all the civil privileges of the state. Without
some understanding on this point, it would be
vain to expect that there could be any cordial
union, or that the common league of the secta-
rians against the alleged intolerance of their
harsh stepmother, who ejected them from the
secular part of their inheritance, should be
broken. Even though, in the language of
Paley (we believe), they should "agree to differ,"
and conform only in a declaration of the very
few principles common to all, we do not see
that anything would be gained by such a result
beyond making a kind of ecclesiastical Noah's
ark, in which, as in the ark of old, all living
varieties of creed and worship should enter with-
out changing the nature, character, or habits of
any. If such be the object that is meant to be
attained, it is already attained in France, where
the pastors of all religions, even including Jewish
rabbis, are paid by the state ; or in the United
States of North America, where none of them
are paid at all. The following very curious Ras-
sage from the interesting and instructive work of
Mr. Stuart, lately published, entitled " Three
Years in North America" (to which we hope
soon to call the attention of our readers), shows
the latitudinarianism of our trans-Atlantic bre-
thren ; but surely their example will not
form the beau ideal for an ecclesiastical esta,
blishment advocated by a clergyman of the
Church of England. The scene described is in
the state of New York:—
" The horses and carriages were tied up in great sheds
near the church doors during the time of service. 'D ere
as nothing remarkable in the first part of the service.
The day was hot, and the precentor, as usual, in the centre
of the front gallery, opposite to the minister, officiated not
only without a gown, but without a coat on his back.
There was some sort of instrumental muaic—hautboys and
bassoons, I think—against which there are, as we hear. no
prejudices in this country. The clergyman, a very unaf-
fected, sincere-looking person, delivered a plain, sensible
discourae, in which he introduced the names of Dr.
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terms as these My friends, the sacrament of th- Lord's
Supper is to be dispensed here this evening. This is
a free church, open to 104—Presbyterians, Methodis,sa
Baptists, and other denominations of Christians. This
is according to our belief. All are invited; the risk is
theirs.' Such liberality is, we find on inquiry, not un-
usual among the clergymen and congregations of different
sects, with the exception, in general, of Unitarians. I
observe an example, not of recent date, recorded in Ho-
sack's " Life of Clinton," already referred to; and as it re-
lates to the great father of the United States, and is of
unquestionable authority, resting on the testimony of a
clergyman to whom Dr. Jones related the facts, I think it
of sufficient interest for insertion. While the American
army, under the command of Wasbin.4tan, lay encamped
in the environs of Morristown, New Jersey, it occurred
that the service of the communion (then observed semi-
annually only) was to he administered in the Presbyterian
church of that village. In a morning of the previous
wiek the General, after his accustomed inspection of the
camp, visited the house of the Rev. Dr. Jones, then pastor
of that church, and, after the usual preliminaries thus
accosted him Doctor, I understand that the Lord's
Supper is to be celebrated with you next Sunday. I would
learn, if it accords with the canons of your church to ad-
mit communicants of another denomination ?' The Doc-
tor rejoined, ' Most certainly. Ours is not the Presby-
terian table, Genera!, but the Lord's table; and
we hence give the Lord's invitation to all his followers, of
whatever name.' The General replied, lam glad of it;
that is as it ought to be; but, as I was not quite Imre of
the fact, I thought I would ascertain it from yourself, as
I propose to join with you on that occasion. Though a
member of the Church of England, I have no exclusive
partialities.' The Doctor re-assured him of a cordial
welcome, and the General was found seated with the com-
municants the next Sabbath.'

" During my residence in the United States subsequent
to this period, I was frequently witness to tt:e good under-
standing which generally, though doutitl-ss not universally,
prevails among c'ergymen professing diff,rent opinions on
church forms, and doctrinal points, in this country; and
I occasionally observed notices in the newspapers to the
same purport. The two following I have preserved :
' The corner-stone of a new Baptist church was laid at
Savannah, in Georgia, and the ceremonial services were
performed by the clergymen of the Alethodist, German
Lutheran, Pseshyterian, Episcopal, and Baptist Churches.
The sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered in
tie Rev. Mr. Poses church (Presbyterian church at
Washington), and, as usual, all members of other churches
in regular standing were invited to unite with the mem-
bers of that church, in testifying their faith in, and love
to, their Lord and Saviour. The invited guests assembled
around the table, and it co happened that Mr. Grundy, a
senator from Teneese, and two Cherokee Indians were
seated side by side.'"
That the project of Dr. Arnold does not
much differ from the practice of the Americans,
except that the whole English Church, including
all varieties of Christians, is to form a state
establishment, and to be directed by a central
government, will be evident from the slightest
perusal of the latter part of his pamphlet. " The
problem," he says truly, " is to unite in one
church different opinions, and different rites and
ceremonies." From this union he shows after-
wards that no sectarians need be excluded, ex-
cept Roman Catholics, Unitarians, and Quakers;
hut even they may be at last brought in. " The
Quakers, Roman Catholics, and Unitarians,"
says he, "appear to offer great difficulty, and un-
doubtedly so long as these sects preserve exactly
their present character, it would seem impractica-
ble to comprehend them in any national Christian
Church ; but (he adds) the harshest and most
offensive part of the peculiarities of every sect
has always arisen from the opposition of their
antagonists. If, then, instead of devising forms
so positive and controversial as to excite mis-
trust of their accuracy, we were to make our
language general and comprehensive, it is pro-
bable that those who differ from us would soon
begin to consider the subject in a illfferent tem-
per." The Rev. Doctor, therefore, though
orthodox no doubt himself, declares fOr a creed
of very few articles ; and, so far from inventing
tests to detect latent errors, would use a formula
so comprehensive as to cover all existing he-
resies. Having thus disposed of creeds and
confessions in a way that they shall form no bar
to Christian unity, our Rev. R,:former h :ds
greater difficulty in dealing with ditiele,ices
the forms of public worship and in the nature of
Church government. But he justly observes,
that in proposing alterations " in this part of our