The Sun.
London, England, 1869-11-23 00:00:00

THE MISSION SERVICES IN LONDON.

The "Mission," or High Church Revival, as it is called,
has made no little stir. The Times has a long article on
the subject, more than two columns. Pointing out that
the movement is only " taking a leaf out of the Dissenters'
book," and remarking that the sermons preached are much
the same as those given by the eminent preachers among
the Nonconformists, the leading journal tells how the
services arose out of a wish on the part of the clergy to
touch the hearts of, and win over to the ser-
vice of religion, the masses who are now indifferent.
"When wo remember that each of the clergymen
has been, and still is, engaged in preaching at least once
a day on a spiritual subject, at greater or less length, and
with the most impassioned language and gesture, for 12
consecutive days, while some have preached three times
daily, there can be no reason for thinking that the clergy
have not shewn themselves active and energetic, or that
they are other than heartily and sincerely in earnest in
their work." Tho arrangements for the twelve days'
course vary very much in different parishes, but they have
one general feature—namely, extra services and " celebra-
tions" in the early part of the day, in some cases as early
as six in the morning, for the purpose of intercession on
behalf of sinners and for invoking God's special blessing
upon each day's work, while the " Mission Sermons,"
" Conferences," "Instructions," "Bible Classes," and
"Crusades" are arranged as parts of the evening programme.
St. Alban's Church, Holborn, is taken as a type. " It is not
a small church, but at the Mission Services in the evening
it is always full—often full to overflowing; and even at
some of the morning services there are as many as a hun-
dred persons, including a large sprinkling of men in their
working clothes and women with babies in their arms.
Indeed, so crowded have been the congregations that it
has been found necessary to have at the same time a ser-
vice of a more popular and elementary character in a
schoolroom in an adjoining court, where Sisters of Mercy
and other charitable ladies come night after night, leading
by the hand the friendless outcasts and the "roughs"
of the surrounding courts, which, as the usual Parliamen-
tary phrase goes, they have diligently "whipped up" for
the purpose. In this low, stifling school-room is set up a
picture of the Crucifixion, and its walls are adorned
with other religious emblems. The clergyman here talks
to the persons present about God, about Death, Judgment,
Heaven, and Hell, about Sin and Repentance, and such
subjects, with the outspoken boldness of a Paul, an
Ignatius, or a Spurgeon, not mincing matters or using
honeyed words. They are told that before they can love God
they must hate and leave off sin, and confess it too ; that
they must give up drunkenness and thieving and the
sins of the flesh ; that if they don't repent of such things
they will go to hell. This plain speech is interspersed
with friendly and chatty remarks, and such as a rigid
High Churchman of the old school would think almost
profane; but it brings tears into the eyes of men as well
as women; it melts stubborn hearts, and touches those
who could have been touched by nothing less plait
and homely. Then the clergyman or a Sister
of Mercy speaks to them individually and tel
them of mercy and forgiveness of the worst of
sinners through the Saviour who hung upot the
cross. Then both clergy and people sing a popular
hymn, "Jesus, lover of my soul," or " Rock of ages cleft
for me," or " 0 bountiful salvation," and while the rest
of tho congregation depart, a few stay behind to receive
words of counsel and advice from the attendant clergy.
At the end of each separate service one of the clergy
remains in the schoolroom, the church, or the sacristy,
to give spiritual advice to each separate penitent, and, if
necessary, to hear his confession. There is no disguise
upon the subject, and, be it right or wrong, be
it in harmony with the theory of the English
Church or not, there can be no doubt in the
minds of those who have attended these Mission
services that confession is no longer a moot point or a
matter of discussion. but part and parcel of the religious
"revival," and differing only in a very slight degree from
the practice of the Roman Catholic Chinch. It must not,
however, the Times adds, by any means be supposed that
what we have said is applicable to the Church of Si,.
Alban's, Holborn, alone. We have merely chosen thi:
church as the type of many others, and also because
it has gathered within its walls during the last few
days more of the lower orders than most of the East, on
',account of its position in the midst of dense, crowded, and
'filthy courts, and, therefore, those who minister within
it have had to contend with the greatest difficulties."
The Times describes the services at several other churches,
and closes :—" It is obvious to remark that it is too early
to speak with confidence as to the actual success which
has been achieved by this mission ; but we may state that
such of the clergy as we have been able to consult are well
satisfied with the work thus far.

On Sunday about 1,000 persons visited the monu-
ment erected in Glasnovin Cemetery, Dublin, to Allan,
Lark:n, and 0 Brien, the three men executed at Manchester
for being concerned in the release of Colonel Kelley and
Captain Deasey, the Fenian leaders.
Mrs. Tidwell, the benefactress of Kean, taught
him to act, tying him to the bedpost while a mere infant,
and making him repeat after her the speeches of Hamlet
till the words were fixed in his memory! Her training
all seems to have tended to naturalness of speech and
action. Before repeating the passage, " Alas, poor
Yorick!" she bade the little fellow remember her uncle
who had lost a leg, and repeat " Alas, poor uncle !" till he
had wrought himself up to the proper pitch of sympathetic
pity.
SLAUGHTER OF GAME.—Lord Dalhousie held
battues on his estate at Panmure on two days last week.
The party consisted of Lord Dalhousie, the Duke of
Atholc, Sir T. Moncreiffe, Major and Captain Young,
Major Ramsay, Colonel Guthrie, the Hon. C. Carnegie,
M.P., Mr. L. Carnegie, Mr. I'. Chalmers, Captain Carnegie,
and Captain Pearoth. The Dundee Advertiser says :—" The
grounds shot over the first day were Carlogie and Pittevie
-covers and East Deer Park. There were 945 head of game
killed—there being 224 pheasants. On the second day
there were 522 pheasants killed, and a total of 1,202
head."

Yv
....
CONSERVATISM AMONG THE FREE KIRKERS.—
The Free Church congregations will tolerate no change on
the old forms of divine service. At Wick, Mr. Goodlad,
the precentor in the first Free Church of that town,
hook it on himself to depart from the ancient
custom of reading out each line for the con-
gregation to sing after him. He found that he
was obliged solemnly to give utterance to such
detached thoughts as "Be silent, but speak out ;" or. " I
like an owl in desert am ;" sentiments which are illus-
trated by the context, and perhaps shed light on it in
turn. He, therefore, had the audacity to read verse by
verso, in order to make an approximation to the textual
sense. He has, however, been doomed by a decree of the
Minister and his session to road the verses in future, line
by line, regardless of any paradoxes, or facts of zoology.
DISCOVERY OF A ROMAN ALTAR 1700 YEARS OLD
IN )VEARDAI.E.—There has been some excitement amongst
lovers of antiquarian lore in Weardale, owing to a Roman
altar of great antiquity being found at the village of East-
gate. For some time this stone has been partly exprred
to view on the bank of Rcokhope Burn, a tributary of the
Wear, and having been dislodged the other day it turned
out on examination to be of great antiquity. It bears the
following inscription, in addition to which are two fishes
with birds' heads and other sculpture work

n.
.E. . °
SILVAN()
AVERLIVS
QVIRINVS
P.RQ.FQ

the purport of which reads : Dedicated to Siivanus (a
heathen god) by Aurelius, Emperor of Rome. The stone
is of millstone grit. It was found by Robert Herring, on
Villktibtk*Pitliairtisikffullgang, $9/111eIrb