The Sun.
London, England, 1869-10-08 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

The Times observes that the evidence taken at the
coroner's inquest on the victims of the Wood-green murder
revealed a most extraordinary story, and, if the depositions
of the first day had not been neutralised by the testimony
obtained on the second, we might almost have imagined
that one of the most frightful tragedies of our time had
been perpetrated under a mistake. About the guilt or the
motives of the prisoner it was impossible at any time to
affect uncertainty, but it is a fact, nevertheless, that all the
evidence up to Tuesday evening went to shew that the
crime might really have originated in error. No doubt
could bo thought to rest on the motives of the prisoner.
He made no secret of his feelings, but spoke of himself se
one who had been wronged and had avenged the wrong'
He looked upod Maria Death as his lawful wife, and
called. her by that name—" That's the • fruit of raking
another man's wife," said he to a woman svhe
saw him in the very act of killing Boyd. it°
now the remarkable point of the story is that his impres'
sions in this respect were actually contravened by the
whole of the evidence on the first day of the inquiry. 1-713
to the close of the first day's proceedings no evidence of
concert was forthcoming, and the coroner adjourned the
inquiry expressly for the purpose of seeing what further
testimony could be obtained. The next morning, however.
entirely changed the aspect of the case. It was clearly
proved that Boyd and Maria Death had been in conk
pany during the greater part, if not the whole, of the
time they passed in town. They had gono t°
three public-houses together, as the landlords °I
these taverns came forward to testify, and they re'
turned the worse for liquor. The account, too, whieb
had been given by the deceased woman of her journal
was found to be untrue, for she brought no pared
home with her, and appeared to have made no purchases.
Moreover, it was alleged that she had returned from tory
in Boyd's company once before, and that Henson's threate
on that occasion caused the terror which she exhibited on
Monday. In short, there is no longer room for doubting
that Henson's suspicions were well-founded; but that the
woman under such circumstances should have received so
good a character is certainly most remarkable, and speaks
little for the discernment of the witnesses. It remains t_°
be seen whether the full sentence of the law can be carried
n 7
out against the prisoner, considering the very aggravate'

nature of the provocation which he received.
The Standard thinks it is a striking proof of the bushier*
like temper of the Church Congress that its earliest sib.
tines should be occupied with two questions of pleb
practical interest and importance as the supply and training
of the clergy and popular recreation. The first of these ig
constantly brought before the world in bishops' chargel
and ordinary statistics. There is a lack of candidates for
the ministry, and the standard of general culture
which it is possible to extract from them is by
no means so high as it was. In 1853 there were u"'"
persons admitted to holy orders. In 1862 the iltanl34,if
had sunk to 489, and although it had increased to 6"
last year, the total is still below that of fifteen years ha°l4
without taking into account the increase of the population
in the interim. Two causes seem to have operated in 'Bird
couraging young men from entering into the service of the
Church.. In spite of Radical objurations the clerical po"
fession is shamefully underpaid, and to those who 11101° nl.°
special facilities for advancing their prospects the revitir",
are few and comparatively insignificant. Wo do not P,u.n.
out of sight the higher motives which influence those '"'"
seek to bear the Church's commission ; but it is well that 0.
world which hungers after practicality should understand
that there is no profession which offers fewer worl
inducements than the ministry of the Church °
England. Industry, ability, and perseverance
win splendid prizes in other professions or in °in,:
mercial pursuits ; but the man who enters upon t'
ministry with no more influential recominenclatil
is very likely to end his days a curate. Possibly the
truth of the case was best hit off by the Dean of
when ho said that the English clergy are the best educate t
of any in the general sense of the word, but the No r°
educated of any as regards theology. The case pro and CO"
was well summed up by Mr. Beresford Hope. It would u;
a very great misfortune, ho said, if tbo education of tb
clergy were cut off from the universities and relegated m
theological colleges ; but it would be an equal misfortune
it were supposed that the universities and private studlit
were enough without the supplementary training vill°
tho theological colleges now afford.
The Telegraph thinks that in appointing Dr. Temple
the see of Exeter, the Prime Minister has done en ac
which the great public that looks less to theologioanlrs
tems than to men will pronounce to be as judicious as itlo
bold. Such is the suspicion or hostility with which ,/ji
Head-master of Rugby is viewed by a small but influentin;
class of Churchmen, that none but a powerful On
would would dare to give him a place in the ranks of the Oise-
pate. On the other hand, even by men who do not shadhis religious creed, he will be regarded as specially 6: to
guide the Church through the troubled watcr3
which she has plunged. But :t would be futile to 111 0
the fact that Dr. Temple's elevation will provoke th
bitterest criticism from an influential section of the clorgl
To set one of the most Liberal divines of the Vogllsof
Church in the place which was recently filled by Henry al
Exeter is certainly a bold art. Between the theelogied,
and political position of Dr. Phillpotts on the one haiCb
and of Dr. Temple on the other, there is an abyss '4l
19
nothing can bridge. Mr. Bright once reminded his Ileareo
that, after all, the Christians of England bad a con'
lob
standing ground. That is the fact which the Pigiwg
people will bear in mind when they hear of Dr. Ternop
promotion. They have welcomed the transint,ily
of Dr. Wilberforce to the great See of Sin 0,
chester, not because he is a High Chnit
but because he is a very able, a very el°q-,,tie
and a very energetic prelate. In like manner they
too
gladly greet the appointment of Dr. Temple, not hn°,l3by
he is a Broad Churchman, but because he is cinall6: the
his ability, learning, and energy to be a leader ore
Church in a troubled time. It is essential to her welfare
hey
that all her great parties should be represented "riot
bishops, so that the episcopacy may stand above eneltaopir
divisions ; and that end is signally attained by the aPPOI-
- of so distinguished a High Churchman as pry
berforce, and so distinguished a Broad Churchman 1.-

Temple.
The Herald, in referring to the discussion on P°l;aiillt
aamusements at Liverpool, joins Mr. Clarke in elleetin
cafes
Christianmiserablemay
wear withoutand tearcommitting
ofthe
love of music, concurs with him also in believing t'a
through the excessive use of ardent liqpuors. Still's
the Rev. J. C. Chambers, it thinks that, so far from "'ot
multiplied our means of pleasure, they are inaultel/A Pee'
aoosrille; ;101Pd'aaeotP"rtiiii
than formerly. The ancient pagan rulers ordere—tosPeed
tacks for the people. That system we hope slever,h- 100
return, because it was an engine of tyranny. Istev.e"—ote ore
if we are opening more theatres, and stimulating, filet
gaslight gaiety, is not a part of this due to tu,o
that we are suffering our common playgrotlaa
be enclosed, Hampstead-heath to be invaded, 131)013
Forest to be cut up, and are refusing, against all sense old
justice, to keep our museums and galleries open f6lo°
leisure of the working classes in the evening ? It le "joina
-
to tell a multitude that its enjoyments aro door rod
unless we point the way to others. True, a great (OA
exhibitions, performances, and follies of the dal a' wit,
graceful, although, perhaps, to a majority of these $Ol/
nessing them, going with innocent minds, haradeee'rfectli
humanity will be amused, and Mr. Chambers Was Pecbolp°
right when, quoting turton's " Anatomy of gelan, boeig
he shewed that when that writer finished his billett'ea to
the people of England were much more aeelietni: t be
open-air diversions than they are now. It ea
be
all club or mechanic-institute life ; there iOllOll 0 for
way excursions for towns people, harvest beuirae ore i
rustics, dramas and concerts, and entertaining 11°0000
and although we scarcely sympathise with Are it is e
Denison in advocating cricket matches on
ec sun d 8
oell,
healthy sign that so many clergymen are urging ono
the purification, but the extension of the arosseet s; rot
the poor. The rich can make them for thesnee"b Pt
the poor the facilities, if not the materials, Mas
t 030014
vided, both by preserving our forests, heatwilhs, enr op tlia
and parks, and by a public opinion which l j‘eroiff
stage and the music platform clear from xaeit
This country used to be " meriie England, inn,
never be so again in the same sense ; but the
loft
Rum of popular recreation need not therefore be
of sight. hes bee
'.Cho Daily News declares that the note a pow° tots
sounded with laudable persistency of late from all I:fr ss
Europe. We are not now referring to the a°o;the'
Peace at Lausanne, because the illustrious chairrea!ass
assembly declared that the universal peace whicu
eP 3
0)10
1 S
date from the inauguration of the Universa 1:1 00 sed
would in all probability have to pass throng ,t cool
Sea of a final and universal war before
attain the Promised Land of universal libertY,seit:c AO.
and fraternity. But from the most oPPeelio, 0.00
unexpected quarters, from Paris, from 13
e' r, tb:
from Vienna, from statesmen on their travs4o, on,a,
baths, and on their return home, from rnonarc.be„:„tio
monarchs in good health, a perfect chorus of olv:`,l—aboe.bet;
shake hands all round has reassured the timide,`:ed
e
the most unscrupulous alarmists. For this 13,,0nx, `:4
of things we know not whom we ought. to ziorrog
Emperor Napoleon's prostration, Count Bisinarc..
all Per'
exhaustion, Count Beust's ten days' tour, have
_soon,
the
conduced in some degree to the general paeY' nt of ).41
far as the national will and the public sentipe
coo Ai:,
great Europoan communities aro concerneest_Patioos
liberty are the watchwords of the time. TN:) 001
learning to understand their own and each
too well to permit themselves to be mad..
the
the victim el Etlaitio4.4ll4 iptyjne.