The Sun.
London, England, 1866-02-02 00:00:00

Proposed Revision of the Prayer-Book.

- A„n
Yesterday afternoon a deputation waited "1"O
Earl Russell, at his official residence in Mawr-tint"n.
-
street, for the purpose of submitting to him a rai
morial from the president, council, and members 0
the Association for Promoting a Revision of the
Prayer-book, and for securing purity and simplicity
in the public worship of the Church of Euglau
There were present Lord Ebury, the Marquis °f
Westmeath, Lord Falkland, Lord Thomas Cecil, the
Hon. and Rev. E. V. Bligh, the Rev. Dr. Jac 0'
head master of Christ's Hospital; the Rev. C.
Stoddart, B.D. ; the Rev. Peter Jones, M.A., curate
of St. Clement Danes; the Rev. Prebendary Bur"
gess, the Rev. Dr. Fry, and between 50 and
gentlemen.
Lord Ebury introduced the deputation, and the
Rev. R. Bingham, M.A., incumbent of Queens'
borough, read the following memorial :
"That your memorialists venture to suggest that the,
disorders which are now prevalent in many parishes call
loudly for the interference of her Majesty's Government,
with a view to the removal of the occasions of contention,
and they humbly think that the most successful agency for
the purpose would be found in a Royal commission, cc'tvf
stituted as was that which had to consider the terms
clerical subscription, and which in a short space of thil.e,
suggested a satisfactory remedy for a crying evil. To th.l:
new commission, in the opinion of your memorialists, shonT
be referred, not only the lectionary and the rubrics, bu
also the canons and constitutions and occasional services
for action being now inevitable it would be a cause for r;
Bret should the force of it become expanded upon nain.or
subjects, such as vestments or candlesticks, or souse peeulles
systems of ritual and ministration, while passing by mattij.
more essential to the peace and stability of the Chlatetv
That a few verbal alterations, or the omission of 3 'Le
phrases in the occasional services, which would in no Wais
contravene any article of our faith, would, your memoriali' t
confidently affirm, decrease very much the immense aineuz's
of non-conformity now existent in this realm as NOII ;„.
,
give case to the consciences within the Church's P 3,,
That your memorialists would further draw attention v"0
the fact that several members of the right rev. bench 113+ of
admitted the necessity of amendment, at least in resPee' d,
the lectionary, the burial service, and the rubrics ; aur
therefore, they venture to suggest how opportune the F.€ 130
sent moment is for the interposition of Government,
they earnestly entreat your lordship to advise her eieS, •
to appoint another Royal commission for the af°reci
purposes, in order that in clue time the report may be 1s
before before Parliament."
The Earl RUSSELL said he was happy to reccinvae
the deputation, and to hear what had to be said
n,.,-e,
the question. But he must say, in the next 1117,,i
that he had not had any opportunity of consup—b:
any persons or any of his colleagues upon the sub..
jestbish op
; noofr
Canterbury
heb
abouteenabl itet. H
o speeakwotouldthrbe ftieco
therefore that it struck him that there `vas
ere
more difficulty in entertaining this subject than t“-b
w -
was in issuing the commission on the terms of stliv
scription, the resolutions of which had been so ise
devised and so happily adopted. Those alteratioue
,
had given to all parties in the Church greater To.
dom, relieving persons from objections by which tfore
formerly suppos.d they were bound, and there
sup'
every person, whatever his opinions might be, s, rof
posing he came within the range of the Chitral 1L
England, was satisfied. But when they came t°,
nn 310
him for alterations in the Liturgy he was boa
say that he was not prepared to give any opinienero
it. It must be obvious that if this concession. w
granted there was another party in the Church 'l7 tit
would ask for and expect alterations in a differe...,
direction, and who would ask for some alteration IL:,
the Articles, so as to make them more in accordantr
with their own opinions. He should deprecate ado
disruption in the Church of England, and Nvoulu:
his best to counteract any tendency in that direetlal
Until he had an opportunity of laying the inerOhrop
before the Cabinet, and consulting the Archbis' tho
of Canterbury and the bishops, he must decline
express any opinion on the subject.
The deputation then retired.

CITY OFFICES to
COMPANY.—The foundation s.-11:
of the great City offices now in course of erection
for this company was laid yesterday in the presence of s..
members of the board and the directors, by Edward Ighaen
terman, Esq., one of the directors. This building, ber
finished, will add another commercial palace to the °Till
already completed in the City. The stone laid was ();,i'l of
granite bases, and to support the columns on each s'-eucl
Fortlaoin
the entrance doors it was bedded on a block of
ostfone, in which was formed a cavity to contain thef coo
Company,
the present reign, the prospectus and papers
&c., over which was placed the followinfo°B
scription, engraved upon a plate of strong lead i"..„ v4,nceS
first stone of this building was erected by the City —te
Company (Limited), and extending from Bieb°Psglst
street Within to Old Broad-street, was laid on„ thavir.
February, in the year of our Redemption, 1866. c.reet
Masterman, in laying the stone, stated that he felt 120-ok-
pleasure in assisting on the occasion, as he was We' ;id to
ing at it in its commercial aspect, it would not only
soy
the architectural grandeur of the City, but consider, by
increase the funds of the shareholders. 110
calling for a cheer to the success of the City Offices Cc)
Fro Fr-deric
m pang, which was heartily responded to. Messrs. the
John and Horace Francis are the architects, toe ure
building is entrusted. Among the Company Prelit sere
r•
the following gentlemen:—Mr. Edward Mastermau,
Alderman Dakin, Mr. James Levick, Ur. Charley s Ellis,
Wes'
r
Mr. Joseph Dakin, Mr. John Chapman, Mr. Edwar .-
ton, Mr. W. C. Winterbottom, Mr. John Noye Frederick °y
J
Masten:ban, Mr. Walter Hughes, sea., Mr.
Francis, Mr. Horace Francis, Mr. J. F. Dolma