The Sun.
London, England, 1859-01-01 00:00:00

THE ARMY.

In order to afford intellectual amusement and
recreation for the troops belonging to the various
branches of the service, quartered at Chatham, a
number of the officers belonging to that garrison
are interesting themselves in establishing a large
reading-room and lecture-hall, for the exclusive use
of the young soldiers. The project has received
the approval of the authorities at the Horse
Guards, and there is little doubt that in a short
time a commodious building will be erected at
Chatham, under the auspices of the War Depart-
ment, for the purposes contemplated.
A subscription has been set on foot among the
officers belonging to Chatham Garrison, for the
homeless poor in the metropolis.
The third (Major Sedley's) company of Royal
Engineers have been inspected at Chatham, and on
Monday morning will leave Brompton Barracks
for Portsmouth, where they will embark on board
the Himalaya for Gibraltar.

DISMISSAL OF THE CHAPLAIN OF ST.
PANC.RAS WORKHOUSE.

A general meeting of the clergy of the Rural
Deanery of St. Pancras, convened by the Rev.
Thoinas Dale, M.A., vicar, was held on Thursday
afternoon, in the Registration-room of St. Pancras
Church, New-road, for the purpose of considering
the recent proceedings which have taken place in
reference to the dismissal of the Rev. Thomas Pugh
froni the chaplaincy of St. Pancras Workhouse.
The Rev. Thomas Dale, M.A., Rural Dean, occu-
pied the chair, and there were present—the Rev. T.
F. Stooks, secretary to the chapter, and 23 others of
the 'parochial clergy, to whom the meeting was
confined, it being contrary to practice to permit any
other persons to be present.
The Rev. CHAIRMAN having explained the objects
of the meeting, and the subject of the dismissal of
the Rev. Thomas Pugh from his office having been
discUssed, the following resolutions were adopted :
" 1. That, in visiting a member of his congre-
gation who had in writing fully acknowledged his
sin and professed his repentance, at the earnest
entreaty of such penitent, and for the sole purpose
of affording him spiritual consolation, the chaplain
of the workhouse (having at the time no knowledge
of the offence committed, except from the confes-
sion of the delinquent himself,) only discharged a
duty incumbent on every faithful minister of the
Church of England."
" 2. That in refusing to give up the address of
the delinquent to any person or persons not legally
empowered to demand it ; the knowlege of such
address having been obtained from a third party
under the promise of the strictest secrecy, and when
so obtained having been used exclusively for spiri-
tual purposes, the chaplain appears to this meeting
to have acted in accordance with the character of
a clergyman and a gentleman.
" 3. That without questioning the right of the
vestry of St. Pancras to dismiss their own offi-
cer, nceording to the terms of an existing agree-
ment, on any grounds which may to such vestry
appear sufficient, and without expressing any
opinion as to the proceedings subsequently taken' ,
this chapter, considering that the refusal to give up
the delinquent's address is specified on the minutes
of the vestry of December 8, 1858 (on which day
Mr. Pugh was dismissed), as the cause of his sum-
mary ejection from the chaplaincy, and consequent
deprivation of his means of livelihood, regard him
as entitled to the sympathy and support of all true
nd earnest members of the Church of England,
and recommends that a subscription be forthwith
commenced as a compensation for the loss he has
sustained."

Several subscriptions were announced, and the
proceedings terminated.

THE OLD YEAR AND THE NEW.

Several clergymen of- the Church of England,
being incumbents of chttrches in the metropolis,
held-midnight services last night, for the purpose
of enabling their congregations to observo with
solemnity the departure of the old and the coming
in of the new year. At St. Michael's Church, Bur-
leigh-street, Strand, the incumbent of which is the
Rev. A. G. Edouart, whose name is well known in
connection with the Exeter-hall services, there was
a service commencing at half-past 10 o'clock, and
ti Holy Communion was administered towards
the approach cit midnight. At St. Mary's, Soho,
and West-street Chapel, St. Giles's, there were ser-
vices at 11 o'clock. At St. Mark's Church, Mary-
lebone, there waft a midnight service, and a sermon
by the Rev. J. M. Bellew, the minister. A similar
service was held'at St. Paul's, Bermondsey/ by the
Rev.' W. Duncan Long, the minister; and in many
other churches in connection with the establish-
ment. The night was observed with great solem-
nity in all the Wesleyan chapels of the metropolis
without exception. tis entitled " watch-night,"
from the circumstance
of the societylnstance that ever since the founda-
tionavassemb le by, John Wesley, the ministers
in the midst of 411 their chapels and have watched
old year. :ir devotions the departure of the
Amongstrecognised
the other religious denomina-
tions no
of the t'sotein of
but in many "watching" prevails,
chapels special services were
or Independent
held. The Bishop of
London has set on foot speeeial services for the new
year, which will commence at St
Step-
ney, St. Giles's-in-the-Fields, and. Dunstan's,
Monday evening next. Sonic of othertl churches on
of the metropolitan clergy have accepted
most eminent
ship's invitation to preach, and the Ztsehda his lord-
will preach at St. Giles's on Friday. 'ill) himself
the Westminster Abbey and the' I::xeter°-
Talcrmw
vices are to be revived, and a new series, by ser"
1) -
ulsenting Ministers, will be commenced at St. James's
hall, will be continued until the 20th of March.el's
The Dean of Westminster (Dr. French) will preach
the opening sermon at Westminster Abby to-
morrow evening, and that at St. Paul's • will be
preached by the Rev. J. Hampden Gurney, M.A.,
one of the prebendaries of the Cathedral, and rector
of St. Mary's, Bryanstone-square. „