The Sun.
London, England, 1869-05-27 00:00:00

THE CHURCH CONFERENCE AT
SHEFFIELD.

The Church Conference began its sittings in Sheffield, on
Monday, under the presidency of the Archbishop of York,
who had called it. Ms Grace said his object was "that
Church people, both clerical and lay, having the interests of
the Church of England at heart, might meet together in
some place, and by mutual interchange of opinions, freely
expressed, but expressed in love, advise one another, stimu-
late one another, even perhaps admonish one another."
Convocation was not a fair representation of the Church
of England. The Cathedral clergy were too prominent,
and the laity did not appear at all, and he thought there
had been a groat fault or a great mistake in times past that
the clergy had taken so little counsel with their lay brethren,
to whom after all they must look for help and assistance,
who are the army if they are to le called the officers, and
who have a real and a substantial place in the Church, and
are in every way ministers because they are the servants cif
God and of Christ. His grace then explained the programme
of the conference, and called upon Archdeacon Jones, of
York, who opened the discussion with a paper on " the in-
sufficient supply of properly qualified clergy."
The Archdeacon said it was true that fewer graduates of
distinguished ability offered themselves for the ministry.
The Church as a profession now presented less temptation
to those who looked forward to prominent positions from
Interest as well as ability. Subsequently at the evening
sitting Mr. Dunn, another speaker, suggested that a lesson
should be taken from the Wesleyan Methodists' manner of
perpetually increasing the number of their ministers.
He also hoped that the day was not far distant when any
man who, from conscientious convictions or changes
of opinion, found himself in the wrong place as a
minister of the Church of England, would be permitted to
withdraw instead of being tied by law to remain in the
priesthood. Mr. B. Wake held that one cause of their weak-
noes was to be found in not utilising the pecuniary resources
of the Church. His plan would bo to "bring into one dish"
all the endowments, and having ascertained the wants of
each locality, distribute the funds accordingly. Mr.
Foljambe, M.P., avowed that some imminent change in
the position and coustitution of the Established Church
was not only not to be deprecated, but rather
to be invited by all who not merely cling to
the letter of bygone institutions, but wish to see the spirit
of them carried forward in the only way possible under pre-
sent circumstances, and the usefulness and efficiency of the
Church developed in the fullest manner. The same speaker
frankly expressed his desire to see the Church surrender
her political position, put an end to political patronage, and
abolish what ho consldered to be the greatest scandal that
'ex 11'11 lin any Chi's' rtn Church—u hat he could not but
call the " infamous" practice of trafficking in the cure
of souls, or receiving money for the sale of advowsons.
The archbishop, speaking on the same subject, advised his
hearers not to attach too much importance to passing poli-
tical events in connection*:fh eelieinuatmattere. They had.
tliu a:sawn/Jur; Lust, a stronglife was walling up in the Church
of England which would not easily die. They might put
their fears on one side and go about their business, not in-
deed sure that the Church as an Establishment shall endure,
but quite sure that whether iii endured: or not, the Church
of Christ founded upon a rock would endure as long as the
world lasted.
Mr. John Wild, a working man, read a paper on the influ-
ence of the Church among the working classes, which at-
tracted a good deal of attention. He thought the Church
lost influence from the divisions of the clergy, which the
working classes were not slow to perceive. Lord Wham-
cliffe said nothing did so much harm to the Church of Eng-
land among the working c'asses as the pew system. The
services and sermons were too long, especially for the poor.
He also recommended the weekly offertory.
Other speakers of various ranks and classes followed, and
the Conference adjourned till Tuesday.

The lVcstern Mail states that is is now quite cont,
mon to see the postmen in the neighbourhood of Cheltenham
going their rounds upon velocipedes.
Two men, William Hull and Richard William, re-
siding- at Darlaston, were engaged at an iron blast furnace on
Saturday, when a "tuyere" burst and burnt them horribl!
from bead to foot. They died within a few hours.

The Suez Canal Company, according to a rumour
which has reached the Globe by telegraph, has concluded •
convention with the E. yptian Government by which addi-
tional pecuniary assistance, to the amount of £800,030, to
assured to the undertaking.

With reference to the failure of a certain nobleman,
mentioned by our London correspondent, the Western Daily
Press states that his losses, which arise partly from backing
bills for two other noblemen, exceed £400,000. One claim
alone, on judgments, amounts to .£ ,000. His lordship has
gene abroad.
Her Royal Highness Princess Helena Augusta
Victoria, Princess Christian, celebrated the twenty-third
anniversary of her birthday on Tuesday. The usual peals were
amt forth from the Royal churches in London, and rejoic-
ings on a more extended scale have taken place at Windsor
and rrogmore.

At Castleford, on Monday, was held the first of a
ieries of meetings, under the auspices of the Yorkshire
Church A-:oz.at'( n, in opposition to the Irish Church Bill.
The Rev. W. T. M. Sylvester, rector of the parish, presided.
Resolutions were passed and speeches delivered strongly
condemning the bill and urging its rejection.

On Monday Sir Robert Clifton, M.P. for Notting-
ham, was stated to be better. The fever from which the
hon. baronet is suffering has assumed more of the typhoid
character than was at first suspected. He is now progress-
ing favourably under the medical superintendence of Mr.
Jos ph Thompson and Dr. Murchison, of London.
The vicarage of Stowmarket is to be sold by auction
on the Bth of June. It is described as .being situate in a
healthy, picturesque, and most enjoyable district, sur-
rounded by good society, and within two hours by rail of
the metropolis. The gross value of the tithes and glebe
amount to about 4:140 :per annum, and the present in-
cumbent is forty-sir nest birthday. The vicar has
also the right of presentation to Trinity Church, in the
adjoining village of Stowupland. It is in private patronage,
The rectory of Solihull, Warwickshire, is to be sold by auc-
tion in Juiy. It is described as being worth £1,523 a year,
present patron, according to tho "Clergy List," is
and the
the Bev. Archcr Clive, M.A., chancellor of the vhisci, and
prebendary of Hereford Cathedral.
The international Cricket Match, which com-
monced on the IGth ult. et San 'Francisco, between tho
Victoria Club, of Victoria, British Columbia, and the C-li-
fornia Club, of San Francisco, was ultimately won by t
to
Americaue. The first day's score was:—Califeiria, 8 ;
Victoria, 116. Second day—California, 77 ; Victoria, SO.
Total—California, 157 ; Victoria, 14G.
Me:VILLE and Co., Belfast, are the largest
holders of Whisky in the world. Their Old Irish Whisky is re -
commetelO'liy the medical- profession in preference to f conch
Brandy: : Supplied iu casks gull 'c it,eT4 Or home use, or export's:,
tion. Quotations on application to Meets. D;et-ille seri C.
Ballast. cc 4, Beeedottbuiltings,Strand, Loadoe,
Tutistannt.