The Sun.
London, England, 1835-01-24 00:00:00

of rea 1 Church Reform can leave a Bishopric of Chester, for
example ; and others that might be named, so inadequately
provided for, as they are, and so overloaded with duty. The
practice of supplying to inadequate Bishoprics the means
of decent support, by grants of commendams, is attended
with many inconveniences ; it renders the Bishops, in ap-
pearance, though commonly in appearance only, less indepen-
dent than he ought to be before the country ; it protects the
anomalous existence of bishoprics, so unequally provided for,
and it withdraws so much from the income distributable
amongst the subordinate clergy. Respect being had still to
existing interests, we believe that it is intended to provide
against the possible grant of commendams hereafter—an indi-
rect, but an extremely valuable consequence of the proposed
equalisation of duties, and the corresponding adjustment of in-
come amongst Bishops, will be both an apparent and a real
addition to the independence of the Right Reverend order.
Amongst bishoprics equally provided for, as respects in-
come, or if not certainly equalised by the balance of income
and labour, the hope of translation can have little influence.
We have thus laid before our readers an outline, which we be-
lieve to be a faithful one, of the Ministerial plan of Church
Reform ; and we recommend it to the most serious considera-
tion of every churchman. We might remind the members of
the Church that this plan is the alternative of some measure of
church mutilation, or church robbery, sure to be pro-
posed by the Destructive faction. But we do not like
to put the recommendation of it upon a footing so un-
,vortliy. We believe that if the Church were perfectly secure
from external danger, a better plan of rendering the Establish-
ment efficient and popular could not be devised. The plan,
doubtless, exacts some sacrifices ; but sacrifices are always ne-
cessary where an increase of labour, and of labourers, too, is
called for without any increase of resources ; and we are to
reflect that though now, perhaps, the popular feeling would
not permit a liberal addition to the funds of the Church, every
sacrifice made, every reform effected, will operate, by so much,
a change in the popular feeling ; because it will enhance the
attachment and increase the number of the Church's friends.
Let us try what can be accomplished by arrangement and re-
form, to make the most of the property of the Church, for the
spiritual benefit of its members ; and if something shall still
be found wanting, to complete the scheme of full religious in-
struction after such exertion, we may be sure that the appeal
for assistanco will be made to a much more satisfied, a much
more friendly people—to a people comprehending a great
many more affectionate members of the Church. In short, let
the Church set the example, respecting all existing interests,
of calmly but boldly inquiring what can be done by the means
of the Church itself to increase the means of religious worship ;
to encourage residence ; to provide sufficient rewards for those
who devote themselves to spiritual labours : and then, if aught
is wanting, let the Church confidently appeal to the Legisla-
ture, in the name of religion, and for the sake of every interest,
social or sacred, temporal or eternal, to supply the deficiency.—
Evening Tory Paper.

MEETING OF THE MIDDLESEX