The Sun.
London, England, 1869-03-17 00:00:00

LAY AGENCY.

Pn Tuesday evening a conference was held at the Pim-
lico Rooms, Warwick-street, Eccleston-square, for the
purpose of enabling the lay helpers in the diocese of
London to take measures for making better provision for
the south-western districts of the metropolis. The especial
object proposed for consideration was "The organisation
under the bishop of voluntary lay agency in the work of
the Church."

The Bishop of London took the chair at eight o'clock,
and was supported by Mr. J. G. Talbot, M.P., Sir T.
Waller, Archdeacon Jennings, Canon Conway, Preben-
dary Marshall, the Rev. B. Belcher, Mr. J. A. Shaw
Stewart, Mr. Spottiswoode, Major Gleig, the Rev. J.
Oakley, the Rev. C. W. Page, and other gentlemen.
The Bishop of LONDON, in opening the proceedings,
_aid the object of the conference was to enable people who
were interested in the matter to exchange their views on
the subject. _ _ _

Mr. J. M. CLABON, solicitor, of Great George-street,
!hen read a short paper. He was of opinion that in
every parish there should be a mission-house, which
should be near to every poor man's house, and to which
his family might resort. At present it was awe 1-
ascertained fact that three-fourths of the inhabitants
of this metropolis never entered any church or chapel at
cll. The average population of each parish was 8,000,
and if one lourth of these were regarded as Nonconfor-
mists, that would leave 6,000 to every incumbent ; and if
there happened to be a curate in the parish, that woulc.
leave 3,000 to each of them. He denounced the pew
system. To provide additional teachers, he thought that
fit persons might he set apart by a semi-ordination, by a
special service which would not bind them as the clergy
were. Mr. Clabon deprecated extremes of any kind in
parish churches. Everything, he believed, would depend
upon the intimate union of clergy and laity throughout
the country.

The Rev. Canon CONWAY expressed his opinion that the
Church of England was in an unhealthy state because the
great principle of lay agency was neglected. The Church
had lost the poor because no proper agency had been pro-
vided for them. For the last 20 years the Church of
England had had the education of the children patty much
altogether in her own hands; and yet no more adults came
to church now than came at the commencement of that
period. Sufficient care was not taken of the children in
church, and the consequence was that as soon as children
were free from the engagements of school they ceased to
go to church.

Mr. J. G. TALBOT, M.P., assured the bishop that it was
not the clergy alone who desired the extension of the
Church in London, for the laity were becoming more and
more alive to the dangers which surrounded them. He
was strongly of opinion that the difficulties which existed
could be met by the clergy alone, and that the evil must
go on increasing unless the laity generally came to theit
aid. He thought that on looking to the Roman Catholics
on the one hand, and the Protestant Dissenters on the
other, they must confess with shame that they had both
secured a system of organisation of which the Church of
England was not in possession.
Mr. E. A. FITzRoY was anxious that the poor should be
induced to go to church. In that case there would be no
occasion for lay preachers.

The Rev. A. J. D'OnsEy said that there were 150 or 206
clergymen in the diocese who had nothing to do on
Sundays, and who would gladly give help if they were
asked.

The Rev. J. OAKLEY suggested that all names of lay
helpers at present engaged in the diocese should be sent in.
so that there might be a thorough organisation. Thera
were two , Nonconformist chapels in London in which
£lO,OOO a year was collected in the offertory for external
purposes. Nothing like that had been obtained in any
churches belonging to the Church of England.
The Bishop of LONDON, in closing the meeting. expresee.,
the deep satisfaction he felt in seeing so much interest in
lay agency. Sixteen years ago he was acquainted with the
agency which at that time existed in London, and ‘1 AS
delighted to find that it had so greatly increased, owing, he
believed, to the great exertions of his predecessor in the
see of London. To a great extent the duties of laity and
clergy in the work of the Church were nearly identical,
and the solemn questions at the judgment in reference to
Christian charity would be put to laity and clergy alike.
He could not understand any clergyman refusing lay
help ; indeed, it was the duty of the clergy to solicit
parochial assistance from the laity. His lordship passed
a high eifogium on real sisters of mercy, ladies who,
although they might not have worn the dress, had been
engaged actively in the visitation of the poor. He was
glad to find that men also were now feeling their respon-
sibilities, and were urging others to assist them in the
work. Many clergymen had 8,000 or 10,000 people in
their parishes to attend to, nod it was impossible for
them to discharge their duties with anything like success
unless they obtained the co-operation of the faithful
. laity. He did not think that for ordinary work carried on
by the laity any actual commission need be given, but to
those who had any high work to perform, such as conduct-
ing services, there ought to be some direct sanction. In
such cases he would issue a commission to perform such
duties .3 the clergy might rap.;,, /IF tbsui. He thought,
too, that such commission ought to be accompanied by
some simple service in the church.

Her Royal Highness the Princess Louise
.honoured Miss Garrett, of Upper Berkeley-street,
with a visit a few days since. Her Royal Highness made
some inquiries respecting the prospects of medical educa-
tion for women in this country, and expressed much sym-
pathy with Miss Garrett's wish to see the medical profes-
sion completely opened to women.

DEATH OP A MILITARY VETERAN.—TllO
W. E. Cochrane, a son of the ninth Earl of Dundonald,
has just died. Ile was born in 1781. He entered the
rith (King's) Hussars in 1801, with which regiment he
was present as major at Sahagnn, in Sir John Moore's
expedition in 1808, for which he received a medal. He
also received a clasp for Vittoria, where he commanded
the Duke of Wellington's 1 o,ly Lnard. Ile is succeeded I,y
his only son, W Lilia it Marshall Cochrane, major Ist Lanark
Militia, and lieutenant colonel 2nd Administrative Batta
lion 2nd Surrey Rifle Volunteers. •

THE SMOKE NUISANCE.—The Corporation of
Bradford are attempting to check the smoke nuisance ir•
the neighbourhood of that town, and on Tuesday the
Bowling Iron Company were summoned for having
allowed dense smoke to be vomited from the chimneys at
their extensive works. There are twelve chimneys at the
works, from furnaces under boilers used for generating
steam to drive steam-engines, and it was for the nuisance
caused by these, and not from the furnaces themselves, that
the information was laid. Ihe magistrates made an order
fox Ilwaillatomout 91 the 414. Race iW sic month& • .

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