The Sun.
London, England, 1869-06-03 00:00:00

140 150

AnCIIDEACON MA CKEXZIE.

In delivering his charge to the clergy of Nottingham,
Archdeacon Mackenzie made some remarks in reply to
various sermons preached by Dr. Vaughan, vicar of Don-
caster. Ile particularly noticed the expression that "we
aro passing more and more out of a parochial into a
congregational state." The archdeacon considered this
sentiment to run counter to the real slate of things.
He believed that the territorial condition was most progres-
sive, and for the Church to go back to the congregational
form would be a retrogressive step. To revert from the
perfect theory, whereby every parish has its church and
pastor, appeared unsuited to the higher condition of reli-
gious life to which Divine Providence bad brought our land.
The defects which existed did not arise from the system
under which we lived, but from the imperfect way in which
they the parochial authorities carried out that system.

THE ASSEMBLIES OF THE SCOTCH

CHURCIIF,S.

The two General Assemblies have now concluded their
work. In the Established Church Assembly the ministers
have petitioned against the Marriage Affinity Bill,
though not unanimously. Dr. Norman Macleod, in his
closing speech, as Moderator, took up, first, that which
men estimate so differently—the critical spirit of this age.
He thought it rather good than otherwise. He also
noticed the jealousy of all monopolies ; the rapid diffusion
of information, and the important changes following
therefrom ; and the opposition existing among Churches
and their clerical leaders. The Moderator insisted on the
necessity for creeds and scientific investigations. He
next raised discussion of the relation of the
Established Church to other Churches in Scotland.
In regard to the Irish Church, the Moderator did
not think it necessary to detain the Assembly by expres-
sing his own views. Those who were opposed to either
must, he thought, in justice admit that the question was
encompassed with considerable difficulties. While, as
upholders of the established principle, they might be sus-
pected of a partial bias in favour of maintaining the
Church of Ireland, he might safely say that those
who from principle, whether ecclesiastical or political,
ardently desired the destruction of all establishments, were
not without prejudices either. His opinion was that
Voluntary and High Church principles lay at the root of
this revolution ; that all justice might have been done to
the feelings and fair demands of Roman Catholics, and as
many sacrifices made as political justice could demand,
by reform in the Irish Protestant Church ; while he
believed that no reform or sacrifices, however just,
would materially affect the feelings of the Roman Catho-
lics of Ireland towards a Protestant Throne or Church.
He offered the deepest sympathies of the Assembly
with their Episcopalian and Presbyterian brethren in
Ireland in the position in which they were placed. With
respect to themselves, he did not think it necessary so
much to defend endowments as to express gratitude for pos-
sessing them, as it was of immense importance to have
some security for the decent maintenance of the educated
clergy. He admired the efforts of the disestablished
Churches in Scotland ; yet he was not the less convinced
of the importance of endowment along with voluntary
effort. Seat rents were a shameful perversion of the Esta-
blishment principle. In no case whatever could they be
justified ; where legally possib'e they should be
banished from every parish church in Scotland.
But the argument for not subscribing to the
work of an Established Church on the ground
that it was Established ought to be reversed. The
people so supported ought to subscribe generously to all
good work. The meeting of Assembly which had now
closed had given ample evidence in every measure which
it had carried, especially in regard to the Law of
Patronage, of its sincere wish to make the National
Church more and more a means of living good. These
tol:ens strengthened their conviction that the Church was
beginning again with revived strength and energy—
although subdued, purified, humbled—a career of use.

11(85.

In the Free Assembly the members were practically
condemning the Moderator of the other. The report of
the committee on Sabbath Observance, after detailing
various modes of Sabbath desecration they had opposed,
concluded by expressing a regret "that so large a class in
our country devote the day to the purposes of pleasure
aed recreation, while many are easily satisfied with
a very partial attendance in the House of God." hi
moving the approval of the report, Dr. Lumsden, of
Aberdeen, took occasion to condemn Good Words and the
Sunday Magazine. He recently observed in Good Words
(of which Dr. Macleod is editor) an article by a dignitary of
the Church of of England, almost expressly devoted to the
denouncement of the views both of his own Church and of
the Free Church, and pointed against the authority of the
Christian Sabbath and the unalterable obligation of the
moral law. The article, he said, was distinguished by the
ordinary flimsy superficiality which characterised the
writing of that side, and by a greater than ordinary
amount of ignorance. Then there was the Sunday
Magazine. In it there were popular novels not
always of a religious character. That periodical did not
seem to be designed to promote the Gospel of Christ or to
give proper views of Gospel truth, but rather to exhibit
the views of writers in all Christian Churches, side
by side, and upon that ground it claimed support
from the members of Christian Churches of all shades
and all creeds. They had much reason for alarm at these
various means by which from all quarters the authority of
the Sabbath was being undermined. The motion was
agreed to.

TRADE DISPUTES.-ONE THOUSAYD

COLLIERS STRIKING.

The Manchester Exantin:r says Halifax and Wigan have to
be added to the list of towns in which strikes have been
commenced by operatives connected with the building trade.
In both towfls, the hour system, the adoption of which the
master masons insist upon, is the principal question in dis-
pute, and the operative masons, both in Halifax and Wigan,
having refused to work by the hour, a lock-oot has taken
place in each town. In Manchester, the number of brick-
layers on strike, in consequence of the recent dispute, is
stated to be 8.50, but a number had been previously stopped
through the lock-out of the masons.

An extensive strike of colliers has taken place at Little
llulton, near Bolton. Nearly all the men emyloyed
at the collieries there have refused to work at the
reduced scale of payment proposed by the masters, and
about a thousand colliers are unemployed in conse-
quence. The proprietors state that during the last twelve
months the price of coal has been reduced by 2s. I.ld.
per ton, while the reduction of wages is only aid. per ton,
and 2d. per yard "on the straight." They propose to
make a further reduction of 4id. per ton, 4d. per yard,
and 4d. per day in the labourer's wages. The men manifest
a disposition to have the dispute settled by arbitration. The
dispute between the Bristol masons and their employers also
resulted in a strike. About 200 masons have turned out.
Here also the hour system, and certain other rules have
caused the dispute.

THE COMIC PAPERS.

(From the Owe.)

JOKE BY DR. CUMMING.—If the Pope of Rome Ca/110
to England be should be sent to live at Peter-borough.
A member against whom a petition had been brought
devised the following cypher for his wife, on being
advised that telegraphic messages were not always sacred :
—lf the petition seemed likely to be rejected he was to
telegraph the letters M.P. ; if the reverse, U.P.
A witty member of Parliament, on meeting Mr. F.
Walpole, one of the members for North Norfolk, who had
successfully gone through the ordeal of a petition, said to
him, " I congratulate you on having saved your Bacon and
your Lacon simultaneously."

(From Punch.)

THE SHEET ANCHOR OF oIIR LIBERTIES.—The Press.
POPULAR PROTESTANT SONG.—" Charley is my darling."

WILD SPORT AT WORMHOLT-SCRUBBS.—III there any
sport corresponding to tame pigeon shooting? Yes ; and
the Gun Club might as well, now and then, as a substi-
tute for deer-stalking, diversify their accustomed sport
with sheep-shooting.
A GOOD RIDDANCE.—There was joyful news in the
papers last week for wearied and disgusted readers. One
line brought them great relief, after months of bribery,
corruption, intimidation, guzzling, treating, tippling,
fencing, and various other old English sports and pastimes.
It was simply this—" The Last of the Election Petitions."
Blackburn, Willes, and Martin, who ought to be the
best judges of their own feelings, are understood to share
in the general joy at this most welcome announcement.