The Sun.
London, England, 1869-10-09 00:00:00

THE BISHOP OP- OXFORD ON MIDDLE

CLASS EDUCATION.

The Bishop of Oxford addressed a meeting on middle-
chtss education, at the Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool. He spoko
in favour of St. Nicholas's College, Sussex, and said that
it combined English independence of character with Church
oi England raverence. They wanted to see boys not
only clever and well-taught, but they must add the moral
training of the heart and the spiritual training of the soul
in order to make them stand up for what they believed to
be right. He thought that character had taken root in the
schools of St. Nicholas's College. •

THE BISHOP OF GLOUCESTER OF
CHURCH MATTERS.

A conference of the clergy and laity of Gloucester and
Bristol was held on Friday. Besides the leading divines
of the diocese, there were also present Sir G. Ferguson, Sir
George Jenkinson, Mr. S. S. Marling, M.P., and Mr.
S. S. Dickenson, M.P. The Bishop of Gloucester dwelt
earnestly upon the importance of more intimate union be-
tween the clergy and the laity, admitting that the clergy
had somewhat autocratically held aloof, but urging, on the
other hand, that the laity had taken little interest in
Church matters. Changes must be introduced in several
portions of our Church system. First, our Episco-
pate, if episcopacy is to be a reality, must bo
increased as each opportunity presented itself.
They had at that moment two unwieldy sees prac-
tically vacant, and earnestly petitioning that the case
should be promptly dealt with. With such an opportu-
nity before them, were they to miss it, and because Corn-
wall might not have a convenient church for a cathedral, or
Winchester might enjoy a sort of historical position, or
because the question of seats in the House of Lords might
be diffic, It handle, wore they to acquiesce in delusive
postponements? Such knots, if they could not be untied,
must be cut. To let slip such providential opportunities
as the present was simply not to give the Church fair
play, and tacitly to impede the proper development of her
system. Secondly, he believed all alike felt that reforms
were needed in our cathedral establishments; that more
work should be done for the money received; that the
cathedral should be made more and more the mother
church of the diocese ; that the officers should be resident,
and that the whole working and relation should be
not collegiate, but diocesan. Lastly, there was
a special grievance affecting our whole parochial
system, namely this, that the law regarded far too
jealously the beneficial interest of the clergyman, and
with far too much indifference the plain conditions of the
trust. The freehold of the clergyman was only a condi-
tional freehold; he held his endowment on trust, and op
condition that he discharged faithfully weighty duties,
these duties being defined in the terms of his institution,
and by the tenor of his ordination vows. When thew
engagements were not faithfully performed, there was a
breach of trust, and of this the law ought to take effectua)
cognisance. Half of the grievance and abuse of our
present system might be referred to the existing state of
the law. It was not endowment that was in fault;
but the manner in which the beneficial interest in those
endowments was guarded, and the rigid way in which it
was maintained after the trusts on whicn the endowments
were held had been left plainly unfulfilled. How this was
to be remedied it might be very hard to define ; but this
he would presume to say, that no measure of ecclesiastical
discipline ought to receive the sanction of the Legislature
next year that at least does not provide a method for
promptly dealing with cases of disregard of what had
been openly promised, and of neglect of solemnly specified
duties.

Papers were then read on divers branches of Church
reform. The Rev. Canon Powell advocated a more
frequent celebration of the Holy Communion. Lord
Redesdale agreed that the extension of the episcopate was
desirable, and argued that the bishops should have more
direct power. They should also be appointed through
advice given to the Crown rather than that
which is now used—for instance that there should be
three persons nominated at the combined request of the
laity and clergy of each diocese, and that one of them
should be appointed by the Crown. He also spoke of the
great difficulty which existed of depriving the • beneficed
clergy of their livings, even when they were guilty of a
breach of trust, and he urged that greater facility should
be afforded to meet these cases.—A hope was expressed
that the rural deans, in their respective deaneries, would
further discuss the matter of Church organisation.

The body of the murdered man Boyd was interred
on Thursday morning at Colney Hatch Cemetery.

A little boy named M'Cormack, about five years
of age, living with his parents in Newgate Market, was on
Friday burnt to death, through his clothes igniting whilst
standing near the lire.

An elderly lady, of good position, left home on
Tuesday last to go on an errand to Kew, and has not since
been heard of. It is known that she left the Waterloo-
read station. A description of the missing lady has been
issued.

On Thursday the body of Mr. William Steven-
son, son of Mr. J. Stevenson, iroufounder, &c., of Preston,
was found on the sands at Lytham. It is suspected that h•
had committed suicide, and that some love affair with which
he had been mixed up may have contributed to what has
taken place.

The Rev. Mr. Dombrain applied to the Norwich
Commissioners on Friday for permission to call witnesses
to show that he was not intoxicated on the election day as
alleged. The Commissioners declined to accede to the
application, but expressed an opinion that the imputation
was groundless.

At the Birkenhead revision objection was taken
to a voter that he was in receipt of parish relief. The
Liberal agent argued that the man was simply working for
the guardians, that ho received remuneration only for the
work he rorfoinied— breakipg stones, or what not. The
barrister sustained the claim.

On Thursday afternoon a fatal accident occurred at
the Swaithe Main Colliery, near Barnsley, by which a
packer, named Joseph Peckett, residing at Worsbrodale, war
shockingly mutilated. The poor fellow was at work when
a fall of stone Lock place from the roof, and, in addition to
fracturing his back, mutilated his head in a shockingmanner.

Letters are appearing in the Dublin papers in re-
ference to the anticipated "Fenian procession" on Sunday
next. It is spoken of as a " projected display of the strength
of the Fenian organization," to " intimidate the loyal inha-
bitants and the Government," and a deputation to the in-
spectors-in-chief of the city police to protest against it is
suggested.

The number of lunatics in the West Riding has for
some years past been increasing at the rate of 200 a year,
and, in order to provide the requisite accommodation, a com-
modious asylum is now being erected at Wadsloy, near
Sheffield. The magistrates have determined to make some
considerable additions to the asylum at Wakefield, and, at a
special sessions, £3,950 was granted for that purpose.

The " Reciprocity Association" has published its
programme. Its main object is to "establish free trade upon
a real and fair basis of reciprocity." The present stagna-
tion of trade, the unremunerative employment of capital, and
the sufferings of the poor arise, it is affirmed, to a consider-
able extent, from the restriction or exclusion of British pro-
ducts from foreign markets through oppressive tariffs.

An experiment is about to be tried at Bradford, in
the way of providing a substitute for the public-house. It
is proposed to erect a large building, in which all sorts of
amusements will be provided, together with library and
reading room. No intoxicating drinks rill be allowed on
the premises. The capital required is £l,OOO. £BOO of this
sum have been taken up by working men themselves.—
Builder.

A case of gross inhumanity came before the
magistrates at Ashton-under-Lyne on Thursday. A man
named Duckworth, employed at a neighbouring colliery,
was charged with brutally assaulting a little boy
six years old. The boy was playing with some companions,
when Duckworth caught hold of him and put him on some
hot cinders. Tho boy was severely burned, notwithstand-
ing which, the magistrates only inflicted a fine of 10s. and
costs.

The Emperor Napoleon is said to be greatly con-
cerned at the impression that has been produced in France
by the decree adjourning the Convocation of the French
Parliament. Ire has hitherto not "paid much attention to
the various journals regularly sent to him, but since
the promulgation of the Senatus-Consulturn, ho per•
uses them with unflagging interest. Ire pays par.
ticular attention to the provincial press, because hi!
partisans aro chiefly to bo found iu the departments. IN
learns by this inspection that Liberalism now pervades the
most loyal provincial papers.

THE CONDEMNED CONVICT AT DEVONPOIIT.
Taylor, the murderer of Corporal Skullin, at Devonport
will, in all probability, be executed on Monday morning
next at eight o'clock. The unfortunate man is apparent])
prepared to meet his doom with firmness. He is mes'
attentive to his religious adviser, and appears to be very
penitent for the crime which he has committed, and algc
to bo very quiet in his mind. There is not the slight&
chance of a reprieve, nor are any efforts being made tc
obtain one, as it is considered necessary for the efficioni
discipline of the army that in all such cases the sentence a
death should not be interfered with. The execution will
in accordance with the new Act, be strictly private, th(
only persons besides officials admitted being the represen
tatives of the press. A black flag will lothoiated on tb
Drison at.tb9 time.--7.7.Vestern AfornOV ;Yews.