The Sun.
London, England, 1869-10-29 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 29, 1869.

Mr. J, G. Talbot, M.P. (a nephew by marriage to Mr. Glad-
stone), and by Mr. R. N. Fowler, M.P. Dean Mansel will
probably be chosen president. I may add that there is a
general impression that the present agitation will greatly
expedite a rupture in the Church and disestablishment.
This result is set forth in a very able article in last night's
Guardian, the author of which is, I hear, Mr. Malcolm
Mac Coll.

The consecration of Dr. Moberly has taken place to-
day at the Abbey. The consecrating bishops were the
Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Bishops of Oxford and
London. Old Wykehamists numbered in large force, despite
the bitter cold of this premature winter into which we have
suddenly leapt. Dr. Temple's will be the next consecration.
It is a little singular that two new bishops in succession
should have been head-masters of our great public schools,
Dr. Moberly, of Winchester, and Dr. Temple, of Rugby.
The see of Winchester will be declared vacant on Novem-
ber 6, and Bishop Wilberforce hopes to hold his Advent
ordination in his new see. The new Conservative Church
paper, the Church Herald, announced yesterday that
Bishop Gilbert had resigned the see of Chichester, and that
Mr. Liddon had been nominated his successor. This state-
ment I have reason to know is untrue.

There is a very unpleasant report to the effect that the
Queen will not open the Holborn Valley Viaduct. The
rumour reaches me in three separate ways ; but I can-
not undertake to guarantee its accuracy. It is said
that the Home Secretary and the Chief Com-
missioner fear a Fenian demonstration. The
Daily Telegraph alludes to this somewhat cau-
tiously in its first leader, but does not say that the pro-
posed ceremonial will be deferred. The sudden postpone-
ment of the great review in Hyde Park two years ago for
the same reason gives probability to the present rumour.
The truth is Fenianism is much more predominant in
London even now than is generally supposed. Hopeless
though its efforts have been, disastrous as they have proved
to the most daring of the ringleaders, the Brotherhood
are by no means extinct, and are quite ready to use every
opportunity of working mischief that offers. On the other
hand, preparations for the ceremonial are still being con-
tinued to-day on the Viaduct. Should the ceremony of
the 6th not come off, Lord Mayor Lawrence will lose
his baronetcy, not a little to his disgust.
Miss Sandford, a daughter of Sir F. Sandford, of the
Colonial Office, and niece of Archdeacon Sandford, has set
on foot an admirable scheme. She has started a National
Hospital for Incurables, which is to be situated at Cowley,
near Oxford, the rector of which parish, Mr. Benson, is her
personal friend. She has the greatest possible sympathy
among medical men, who have set an example that
might with advantage be followed by the, clergy.
She needs £50,000. Of this amount Mr: Wing-
field has promised £l,OOO, the Marquis of Bute
£2OO, the Duke of Northumberland £lOO. She herself
has canvassed most energetically; she has called
London bankers and merchants, and has found theth quitl
amenable to reason. The first meeting of the committee
was held on Monday at Dr. Andrew Clarke's, and a work-
ing sub-committee was appointed.
The Press Association, which was started some months
ago to supply the country newspapers with telegraphic
news after the present telegraph companies have ceased to
exist, has received large accessions to its subscribers, and
now includes all the most important papers in the

kingdom. It is preparing a tariff of charges, which
will probably be issued this week. The association will
be quite ready to commence business on the night of
December 31, but I am told that it is not improbable that
the Government will not be ready to work the telegraphs

katuai Uommissiontrs nom their nsticss want of
energy. And it is time. We all know that the
Commissioners are mostly men of much work, and
that their time is ire-occupied. But even this is
no reason for a committee taking forty sit-
tings to revise the lectionary. We are as-
sured, however, tlat the Bishop of Oxford and
the Bishops of St. David's, Gloucester, and Chester,
together with the tiree deans, Stanley, Goodwin, and
Jeremie ; Canon Ryne Smith and the Rev. W. G.
Humphry—all of whom ought to be well acquainted
with the list of Scripture to be read in Church—con-
sulted together two score of times to arrive at these
conclusions :—The essons from the Apocrypha, on
Saints' days—now anounting to twenty-six—should be
reduced to four; a Rcond series of lessons for even-
song on Sundays should be selected, so that in holding
three services there should be no repetition, and somo
alteration should be made in the chapters read. The
report is circulated privately, but not made really
public. The Archbidiop of Canterbury wishes to have
the Commissioners' work finished before Christmas.

lle has (the Record states) addressed a letter to all
its members, calling on them to make special exer-
tions, and to meet together in November, sitting de
die in diem till they have concluded their labours.

THE BISHOP OF MANCHESTER ON LAY
CO-OPERATION.

There can be • no doubt of the Bishop of Man-
chester's anxiety to give the laity their " rights " in
the Church. He speaks plainly and concisely
enough. The members of the Irish Church who
are endeavouring to plan out some way of giving the
clergy all the real power, while the laity hold a sem-
blance of it, have not the slightest tithe of his
sympathy. He referred to the subject in a
abort speech at Manchester on Wednesday.
The occasion was the opening service of a missionary.
exhibition. He " strongly" upheld the absolute neces-
sity of the laity having a large share in the govern-
ment of the Church, and added, " I would have
nothing to do with any miserable shuffling scheme of
keeping doctrine to the clergy and discipline to the
laity, but I would, with a large and open spirit, trust
and invite full and free discussion in every way that
could possibly be."
THE SULTAN AND THE SUEZ CANAL.

The Post announces " that the Sultan, although it
would have given him great pleasure to receive his impe-
rial and royal guests again, has, for various reasons,
and especially having regard to the expenditure in-
volved, decided on not being present at the opening
of the Suez Canal." The Khedive of Egypt is the
Eastern personage most intimately connected with
the construction of this great work; but the Sultan
is the Khedive's liege-lord, and if the former were
present at the opening, he would act as master of the
ceremonies. But no doubt the Khedive has hinted
that if his superior officiates ho must pay the bill,
and hence the Sultan's decision.