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

RECONSTRUCTION OF THE IRISH CHURCH.

At Belfast the Bishop of Down and Connor
has presided over the first of the Diocesan Synods
now being convened to prepare for the work
of Irish Church reorganisation. The prelate urged
upon the meeting the necessity of sheaving -the
Churches of England and the Colonies what was the
form of ritual and government which they intended
to adopt for the disestablished body. If the latter
would co-operate with the former, there must be a
clear understandingas to the doctrines it would foster.
Rethought the very first resolution they oughtto adopt
should be to the effect " that the doctrine, ritual, and
government of the Church of England, as contained
in the Thirty-nine Articles, be adopted- and accepted
by the Irish Church as her form of worship and
Church policy." In addition the Bishop suggested
that an aggregate committee be appointed, for
the purpose of considering and reporting to the
Synod the various matters connected with the reor-
ganisation of the Church. This was done, the chosen
committee numbering forty-one lay and forty-one
clerical members.

ARCIIDEACON DENISON ON CIIDILCII CONGRESSES.

Archdeacon Denison has not yet mcestered his
despair. Either the disestablishment of the Irish
Church has opened his eyes, or be now sees nothing
but evil where he might see good; for he still holds
that the Church is going all wrong, and refuses to
behold any way out of the present difficulties.
" The Church of England is sick (says the
Archdeacon in the Telegraph), :Ind there
seems to be no cure for her illness. She
is afflicted by all kinds of obstinate diseases—want
of charity, disputings, heresies, divisions—and what
can heal her ?" The Archdeacon formerly believed
in Church congresses as a medicine calculated to
give greater charity to the members. Ile believes
in them no longer. The correspondence between
Dr. M‘Neile and Mr. Espin anent the Liverpool Con-
gress has sbewn him that his expectations are not to be
fulfilled; and so hegives Church congresses up for ever.
" The Dean's demand," he writes, " is a monstrou3
demand. The position of the committee is a pitiable
position. I see, besides, that Congresses are things
tilled up to the brim with unreality. This was spe-
cially evidenced last year by the programme of the
Dublin Congress ; awl this year the evidence is
strengthened by the programme of the propose)
Liverpool Congress. For these reasons I think that
it would save a great deal of time, trouble, mist
expense, pr•ducing no profit, if the Liverpool Con-
gress were given up, and Church Oongresses allowed
to die quietly."

I:I.f.E.I.MENT OF MIL TMILY.

Mr. Kirby, one of the provisional liquidators of
the Albert Assurance Company, has kindly spared
the policy-holders a great deal of trouble. A memo-
randum issued by Mr. Price, his colleague, expresses
Mr. Kirby's wish to retire from his post. An appli-
cation for permission to do so has been made
to the Vice-Chancellor. Ono difficulty in the
way of a satisfactory settlement is thus removed. The
policy-holders will save the time which they were in
the habit of devoting to the denunciation of the
appointment of an interested party as a liquidator,
and will be able to confine their attention to the
work of actual setttlement. Nothing could be done
whilst the late manager's son stood in the way.
m Whetherpaly,s affairsl(3r:llip.bryoper would have administered the
coproperly or not, it was impossible
company's
for the victims to place confidence in him.
This announcement is not the only piece
of gratifying news contained in Mr. Price's
memorandum. The proposed scheme of reconstruc-
tion which has met with such scant favour is
defended; but it is admitted that the plan is open
to modification, and even that it may be thrown
over altogether. The writers—Mr. Price and the
solicitors—have come to the conclusion that, judging
by the letters they receive and the meetings which
are held, the mode of settlement most favoured by
the policy-holders is that of getting some responsible
office to take over the policies and assets on the most
favourable terms that can be obtained. The feeling
of the policy-holders is decidedly against any
mere division amongst creditors. Mr. Price and
his coadjutors doubt whether any office will con-
sent to take such a business. But in deference to
the wishes of .the shareholders, they are preparing
to open negotiations in the most likely quarters.
Moreover, they recommend the formation of a com-
mittee, composed, " f possible, of men of experience
in the business of life assurance, to give their counsel
and assistance in a matter of such grave importance."
Altogether, the memorandum must be regarded as
an equitable and promising document.