The Sun.
London, England, 1850-09-17 00:00:00

_7~

village an ttended Divine service at the church to-
day. ampford lies on the righrbank of the Eke,
aboth three miles above the city of Exeter: The
parish is five miles lcrig and two wide. It occupies a
considerable portion of the valley of the Ex, and
takes in the bold and romantic hills which stretch
towards Craton. The road to Brampford was
thronged with parties proceeding thither. The village
itself was crowded 1:11e a fair, and the proprietors of
the two rival inns of the place, which are cf tho
ordinary rustic inn character, must have felt well
content that differences of opinion have not ceased.
The vi'lage is not only pleasantly situated, but exceed-
ingly healthy. Mr. Gerham's immediate predecessor,
the Rev. John Mudge, held the living for nearly 48
years, having been appointed in 1790. His predecessor
held the living for 52 years, making a century between
the two divines, and no two vicars ever passed a
hundred years in a more pleasant abode. Mr. Gor-
ham himself has a wiry and vigorous frame; indeed,
a man compounded of stuff less stern might have
been worried out of existence by the long and trying
conflict in which he has had to engage. He took
the readptst week
i n
lldivinity.e rteoctmakeory.
He
honours at the University, having been Second
1N
in
ran gtilieer,e
aarlllyd
parisde
t oefp l
ments for settling his family up a
!liter a,cnial gin, e' e-
a t
t
doing this he received the ordinary official circular
from the Bishop, which directs the clergy to prepare
for confirmation those of their ycungperishioners who
have not undergone that right. Mr. Gorham assem-
bled them at the rectory-house on the evenings of
Tuesday and Friday, and there gave them such in-
struction as he deemed fitting, taking especial care, it
is understood, that they should not adopt the view
which the Bishop holds on the sacrament of baptism.
The church was crowded this morning. Mr. Gor-
ham did not preach, but read the 39 Articles, and
added his unfeigned assent and consent to the same, in
accordance with the statute. The afternoon service
commenced at three o'clock, and as it was generally
known (it having been stated in the Western Times)
that he would then preach his first sermon, a very
large concourse assembled. Exeter contributed a
considerable number, and all the surrounding villages
added their full proportion. Some parties came from a
considerable distance. The little church was crammed
—the pews were all packed full, and the aisles
and every corner where standing room could be ob-
tained were occupied by an orderly and attentive con-
gregation. Mr. Gorham read prayers. His voice is dear
and distinct, and his emphatic style of reading might
be imitated with advantage in many of the Devonshire
Churches. At the conclusion of the prayers the rev.
gentlemau proceeded to make the declaration pre-
scribed in respect to the Book of Common Prayer, as
fLllows :—" I, George Cornelius Gorham, bachelor of
(
divinity,-do hereby declared my unfeigned assent and
consent to all and everything contained and prescribed
in and by the book entitic-d ' The Book of Common
Prayer, and Administration of the Sacraments, and
ether Rites and Ceremonies of the Church according
to the use of the United Church of England and Ire-
land; together with the Psalter or Psalms of David,
pointed as they arc to be said or sung in churches;
and the Fnrm or Manner of making, ordaining, and
consecrating of Bishops, Priests, end Deacons.' " He
they read the certificate of Sir Herbert Jenner Fuse,
setting forth the authority under which that learned
jedge had acted in the case, and stating that Mr.
Gorham had on the 6th of August personally appeared
before him and subscribed the declaration of con-
formity to the L'turgy of the Church of England, in
accordance with the 13:h and 14th of Charles If., the
Act of William and Mary in respect to the oaths of
supremacy, and the Act of Union. This foot was
witnessed by " 'William Townsend, Registrar of the
Arches' Court." Mr. Gorham added, that he should
feel obliged if the two churchwardens and one or two
of the principal parishioners would be good enough,
at the conclusion of the service, to witness the ap-
pointed form of his having declared his assent and
consent to the Articles and Liturgy of the Church.
These formalities being concluded, the rev, gentle-
man gave out the palm, and when it had been sung
proceeded to deliver his sermon. It was an energetic
discourse. The text was in the General Epistle of
St. James, chap. 1, part of the 21st verse—" Receive
with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to
save your souls." Tne sermon referred theLChristian
to the Scriptures fur the foundation of his belief, and
charged him to consult them in the spirit of prayer,
humbly and meekly. There was no direct allusion to
the conflict in which the rev. gentleman had been so
long engaged, save in the commencement a passing
reference to his " peculiar circumstances" in addressing
his fleck for :he first time, which made this text so
seitable to begin with ; but he might be considered
as attacking the dogmas which he opposes by the
strenuous way in which he asserted what he con-
sdercd the claims of the Scriptures. He concluded
by adverting in the slightest possible manner to the
extraordinary circumstances under which his minis-
tration errung them h, d 1 omm-nced, marked, as it had
been, by manifest and providential interposition. He
besought his parishioners to let a connexion so begun
continue in harmony and advance in love. He was
their appointed minister, and the time was hastening
on when God's ministers would have to give an ac-
litittirol, their stewardship, and when their hearers
4nuld.laiswalso to account, for their opportunities.
Ile -adjured them so to live and act as that, by God's
grace, there should be no fear for the eed.
The congregation then departed in a quiet and ..
peaceable manner. The parishioners appear to receive
Mr. Gorham in a very friendly spirit, and it is raid '':-'
that he has nothing to apprehend from the critical
disposition cf the churchwardens, who are plain men,
not at all disposed for abstruse polemics. The 'Squire
(Mr. Furdson) and his family were among the con-
gregation.