The Sun.
London, England, 1850-11-04 00:00:00

APPOINTMENTS.
Woormicri, Nov. 2.—Master's Assistant—Robert
Forder, to the Albion, 90, at Devonport.
Clerks—Howard E. L. P. Bailey (IS-16), and H.
11. Gain, to the Albion ; Thomas N. 6tote, to the
Fisgad flag-ship, at Woolwich.
Assistant Engineer (not Assistant Surgeon, as
stated yesterday)—Ralph T. Tector, to the Geyser
steam-sloop.
The Locust steam-sloop is getting ready with all
dispatch at this port, and is expected to be commis-
sioned here for service on the coast of Africa.
SUNDAY, Nov. 3.—The Pluto steam-vessel, of 100-
horse power, Lieutenant-Commander William K.
Jolliffe, arrived at Woolwich from the coast of
Africa, to be paid off at this post. She has been very
successful in the capture of slavers, having taken 10
prizes, and a number of persons were here waiting
her arrival to endeavour to purchase the rights of her
crew's prize money, and put off from the Woolwich
and Charlton piers immediately on her being brought
up at moorings opposite the Dockyard, with the view
of effecting their object, but they were not permitted
to come on board.

[ADVERTISEMENT. I
and C0.,1 Pall-mall, beg to
Messrs. AIMING o.,
oi nf timate to
premises,tlie public
it
that, t ,
becomeiit c o n eigmupene
rc:t
iovf
et hoenr
theme
intgo
dhiasvpensdeetoefrmthine
alvthooloeffeorf
for
rheiimr
immediate
ele
Sale, at
which they
tcon-
siderable reduction of price. Messrs. 11. and Co. offertobotnhae
public the assurance that the Sale thus announced is
Lace,
Embroidery, Their entire Stock, consisting of Silks, Ribbons,
Embroidery, Shawls, Scarves. Cloaks, Mantles, Gloves, and
the 2'echerch6 Selection of Millinery, for all of which their
establishment is so eminently distinguished, will be unre-
servedly subjected to the reduction. The Sale will be con-
tinued for a limited period.
NEW WORK BY MISS KAYANAGII.—It has long
beefinaicoknnporwolceedegdefdrotihnaftenalayleaspteimisa. jority of the best works
of ct
•additional evidence in
favour of the sex, however, is expected to be presently given
by a writer who has already established a high reputation in
compositions of another kind. We allude to Miss Julia Ka-
vanagh, so favourably known as the author of " Woman in
France," and who is about to produce a three-volume
work of fiction, entitled, " Nathalie." It is rumoured, that
in the delineation of character, more especially female cha-
racter, this work will take high ground, and that a story of
singular power may be expected from the hands of this ta-
lented lady.

It having been announced that the Lord Bishop of
London was to charge the Clergy of London, and it
having been expected that the Right Rev. Prelate
would advert, at considerable length, to the recent
creation of a Roman Catholic hierarchy in this
country, and to the disputes which agitate the mem-
bers of the Church of England, a considerable number 1
of clergymen and laymen attended at St. Paul's as
early as ten o'clock on Saturday. At eleven o'clock
the usual morning service was commenced, and after
the service a sermon was preached by the Rev. Mr.
NM-en zie, M.A., Rector of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields.
The Lord Bishop of London then commenced his
charge with a very lengthened review of the Gorham
controversy, and examination of the position in which
the decision of the Privy Council leaves English
Churchmen. After pointing out the insufficiency of
the plea of dissatisfaction with that decision for se-
cession, and the greater strain on individual conscience
which seceders would experience in the indefinite de-
mands on faith made by the Church of Rome, the
Right Rev. Prelate proceeded as follows :
"It is a duty at all times incumbent upon the
members of our Reformed Church, especially upon
her ministers, to abstain from everything which may
seem in any way to countenance the errors of the
Church of Rome, and lead any person to believe that
the difference between us is less than it really is ; to
forbear from imitating its peculiarities,. from recom-
mending its books of devotion, from attending its
service, even through curiosity, in this country at
least; in short, to shun all intercourse with it as a
Church. But this duty presses upon us with peculiar
force at the present time, when that Church is ad.
vancing its pretensions to spiritual dominion amongst
us with an arrogance hitherto unknown.
" It has been thought sufficient by all former Popes,
since the time of the Reformation, to provide for the
spiritual care of their. adherents in this country by
the appointment of Vicars-Apostolic, exercising, in-
deed, episcopal authority over them, not as Bishops of
any English. See, but deriving their titles from some
imaginary diocese, in partibus infidelium. The as-
sertion now first made of the Pope's right to erect
Episcopal Sees in this country appears to me to be
not only an intentional insult to the Episcopate and
clergy of England, but a daring, though powerless,
invasion of the supremacy of the Crown. The Act
of Parliament which restored that supremacy provides
that, ' No foreign prince, person, prelate, state, or
potentate, Spiritual or temporal, shall use, enjoy, or
exercise any manner of power, jurisdiction, supe-
riority, authority, pre-eminence, or privilege, spiritual
or ecclesiastical, within this realm ;' and although,
while the law in this respect remains unchanged, the
pretended erection of a Bishop's See in England, by
the Pope's authority, can have no legal effect, it is
manifestly the assertion, on his part, of a right to do
that which the laws of England have forbidden. I
cannot, therefore, but regard it as a measure against
which not only the Church, but the Government of
this country, is bound emphatically to protest. It is
evident that the Bishop and Court of Rome entertain
very sanguine hopes of the conversion of this country,
and of its return to the bosom of their Church. The
sad falling away of some, who seemed to be the most
devotedly attached to the Church of England, has
awakened expectations not unnatural, indeed, but
destined to certain disappointment.
" I believe that the very boldness of the preten-
sions now put forth by the Bishop of Rome and his
agents will prevent their success. They may dazzle
and confound a few weak minds, or captivate some ar-
dent imaginations, but they will be instinctively re-
pelled by the common sense and right feeling of the
people at large. Popery, as demanding an entire pros-
tration of men's intellect before an authority which
attempts to substantiate its claims, not by proofs, but
by gratuitous and inconsistent assertions, cannot long
retain its hold upon the mind of a well educated
people, embued with a knowledge of Holy Scripture.
Its fundamental principle is, that men are not to exa
mine, but to believe ; and at the present moment, by
the re-assertion of superstitions which the more
learned writers of the Roman Church have long ago
exploded, and by the revival of legends suited only to
an age of the grossest ignorance, it seems to be push-
ing that principle to its very utmost length, as though
its maxim were, that the more incredible a doctrine or
history may seem, the more merit there is in believ-
ing it. And this fearful contempt and defiance of com-
mon sense has its effect upon some uninformed and
humble minds, overpowering them by the very
audacity of its pretensions, while the authority
which displays it offers to relieve them from all the
trouble and anxiety of a search after truth, assuring
them that it is at once their duty and their happiness
not to inquire, but to believe. But the Church of
Rome employs different agencies and instruments to
different classes of men. For those whose education
and habits of mind require something like argument
and evidence, she has' her subtle dialecticians and
persuasive orators, who do not fetter themselves with
a very strict adherence to the canon of doctrine laid
down by the Council of Trent, but insinuate, if they
do not expressly teach, various modifications of it,
adapted to remove what they term the prejudices of
their Protestant hearers, especially of those who are
members of the Church of England. You will
readily understand me to allude to the Oratorians, as
they are called, and I name them principally for the
sake of expressing my earnest hope that none of you
will give the least countenance to their proceedings,
nor run the risk of impairing the strength of your
own convictions, and of weakening your attachment
to the Church of which you are members, by attend-
ing any of their services, or listening to their
lectures.
" But while we are looking to the dangers which
impend over us in one quarter, let us not close our
eyes to those which threaten us from another. A na-
tural principle of antagonism in the human mind makes
it probable that some, who fly off from Popery, will
traverse the entire diameter of the rational sphere, and
be landed on the antipodes of infidelity. I would
desire you to consider whether some of those persons
who are disgusted with the departures now too com-
mon from the soberness and simplicity of our devo-
tional offices, and with the exaggerated notions which
are insisted on as to the authority of the priestly
office, are not too likely to take refuge, not in Low
Church doctrine, as the term is commonly understood,
but in the boundless expanse of latitudinarianism—a
sea without a shore, and with no pole-star to guide
those who embark on it but the uncertain light of
human reason. I cannot but think that we have
more to apprehend from that theology of Germany
than that of Rome; from that which deifies human
reason than from that which seeks to blind or stifle
it ; from a school which labours to reconcile Christi-
anity with its own philosophy, by stripping the
Gospel of all its characteristic features, and reducing
it to the level of human systems, than from a Church
which rejects and condemns even the soundest con-
clusions of true philosophy when they are at variance
with the determinations of its own presumed infalli-
bility. The theology, if it deserves the name, to
which I allude has been grafted upon, or grown out
of, the idealism of the German philosophers. It has
exhibited symptoms of decline in its native soil ; but
I fear it is beginning to lay hold on the more practi-
cal mind of this country, and from it, in my judg-
ment, more danger is to be apprehended than from
the attempt to revive worn out superstitions, and to
shackle the understandings and consciences of men
with fetters which were broken end thrown off at the
Reformation. Moral evidence, historical testimony,
inspiration, miracle, all that is objective in Chris-
tianity, is swept away by the writers of this school, its
glory defaced, its living waters deprived of all their
healing virtues by distillation in the alembic of
rationalism.
"Now, I fear that there are many persons who
think that they may safely go to a certain length with
these bold adventurers in theology, without following
them into all their extravagant speculations; for in-
stance, that they may deny the inspiration of Holy
Scripture, as the Church understands it, without call-
ing in question the evidences—that is, the historical
evidences of Christianity; that they may believe that
Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and yet cast off what
they term a superstitious reverence for the text of
the Bible. But Ido not believe it to be possible for
any one thus to undervalue and weaken the authority
of the apostles and prophets, and so to undermine the
foundations of his belief, without impairing the sound-
ness of the superstructure, and diluting his faith in
Jesus Christ as his chief corner-stone. To deny the
inspiration of Scripture is one step towards the rejec-
tion of the Gospel as a revelation from God.
"Against this fatal heresy I would earnestly cau-
tion my younger brethren, as being one from which,
in the present state of the human mind, we have much
more to fear than from the encroachments of Popery.
Rationalism, as its name implies, referring everything
to man's unaided reason as the ultimate test of
truth, flatters the pride of his nature, which is
revolted by the humbling but consolatory doc-
trines of the Gospel. Popery offends and disgusts
the understanding by inventions opposed alike to com-
mon sense and to the plain letter of Holy Scripture.
Toe latter aims at the complete subjugation of the
intellect to the authority of the self-constituted Vicar
of Christ ; the former asserts the supremacy and in-
fallibility of reason. It is manifest that this is the
most likely to find favour with a trained and scientific
generation, while the former can rest its hope of gene-

ral acceptance only on the ground of an uninquiring
ignorance. The true safeguard and preservative from
both extremes is to be found in the general diffusion
of sound scriptural knowledge, by means of educa-
tion—in a sedulous inculcation of the doctrines of our
Reformed Church, as drawn from the inspired word
of God, and in a firm adherence to the Creeds, and
Liturgy, and Articles.
And what is the lesson which the actual condi-
tion of our own Church is calculated to teach us ?
Menaced by dangers of opposite kinds—on this side
superstition and spiritual tyranny ; on that side
rationalism, with infidelity and pantheism in its train
—are we not bound to put away from us, as far us
our duty to the truth will permit, all dissensions and
controversies between ourselves, to rally round the
vital truths of the Gospel, and to study with much
self-inquiry and earnest prayers to realise our
Saviour's precept—' Have salt in yourselves, and
peace one with another.' Whatever defects we may
believe to exist in the constitution of our Church, as
viewed in connexion with the civil polity of this
country, let us devote our energies more resolutely
than we yet have done to the fulfilment of
our own individual duties as ministers, of
that Church, each in his proper sphere of
action ; and we shall find in the more rapid growth of
true religion, in the extension of the Church's boun-
daries, in the daily in-gathering of those who are to
be saved, and in the moral and social improvement of I
the people at large, abundant evidence of our belong-
ing to a true Church. Let us rally as dutiful sons
round our spiritual mother in the time of her distress
and perplexity; repair the breaches of our Zion as
effectually as God may permit us to repair them, and
possess ourselves in patience and prayer, till, in His
own good time, He shall see fit to perfect the work.
There are still other topics which seem to require
some notice from me, but I can only touch von
them very briefly.
" The question of establishing Sisterhoods of Mercy
in our Reformed Church is one respecting which
opinions are greatly divided. That such institutions
may he productive, under due regulation, of much
good, cannot, I think, be doubted. Tney are, in
fact, originally Protestant institutions. Eighty years
before the formation of Sisterhoods of Mercy in the
Church of Rome by Vincent de Paulo, the Protestant
Sisterhood of Sedan and the ladies of Rochelle set the
example of those associations for pious and charitable
objects. That it is possible to conduct them in ac-
cordance with Protestant principles is proved by the
institution of deaconesses established in Paris
1841, and carried on with continually increasing sue,
eess under the truly paternal care and wise discre-
tion of M. Vermeil, Pastor of the Reformed Church
of Paris.
" This institution has from the first been carefully
guarded from the errors and abuses of the Church of
Rome. It has associated together Christian women,
constrained by the love of Christ, and desirous of
being permitted to do his work more effectually than
would be done by their detached and isolated efforts.
But it has held out to them no inducement nor facili-
ties to desert the duties laid upon them by their
domestic relations. No vow of celibacy nor engage..
ments binding their consciences—no violation of the
liberty wherewith Christ has made us free; the
character of the establishment is not that of n
monastic community, but of a great Christian family.
If any sisterhoods can be formed in this country an.
swering to this description, I should hail their insti-
tution as calculated to increase the efficiency of our
Church, and to strengthen it against the machina-
tions of Rome. But I strongly deprecate the esta-
blishment of any religious or charitable society o
females which shall have almost every peculiarity of a
nunnery but the name. I fear that this is the case
with some which have been already formed. I have
reason to believe that, in more than one instance,
young women have been encouraged or permitted to
enrol themselves as Sisters of Mercy or Charity,
against the earnest wish of their nearest relations, and
to neglect one clearly prescribed duty for the sake of
undertaking another, which is certainly not of
positive obligation.
" The question of national education is one which,
on this occasion, I must pass by with a simple re-
mark. After all the discussions which have taken
place with regard to the intentions of the Govern.
mont, and the duty and claims of the Church, I am
persuaded that, if the education of the people at large
be taken out of the hands of the Clergy, it will be
mainly their own fault. They stand on a vantage
ground from which, if they are vigilant and active, i 1
will hardly be possible to dislodge them. But they
must take care that the education which they offer is
one which deserves the name, one adapted to the pre-
sent state of human knowledge and of human society,
On this subject I retain the opinion which I stated in
my Charge of 1834. It was, therefore, with great
pleasure that I gave my sanction to a plan suggested
by some of the London Clergy, and carried into effect
by themselves, with the assistance of several lay mew
hers of the hurch, of giving evening lectures on
different branches of literature, art, and science, to
the young men of London, with a view to their im
provement, moral, intellectual, and spiritual; affected
as they are by the peculiar temptations of a greai
city, the modern practice of early closing, and the
advancing spread of knowledge, the benevolent efforts
of the committee have been crowned with a large
measure of success. They have now commenced the
first term of the third year with 48 classes in 17 dif.
ferent parishes, and numbering about 800 students,
most of them clerks or shopmen in commercial houses.
some Scripture readers, and some national school-
masters. It is scarcely possible to estimate too highly
the good which this measure is calculated to produce.
Its moral and social effect is to be calculated, not
merely by the improved tastes and habits of the stet
dents themselves, but by the influence which they will
exercise upon those around them, their fellow clerks
and shopmen, their families and their acquaintances.
" One other subject remains to be noticed before
conclude. The great Exhibition of Works of Art am)
Industry, which has been announced for the year
1851, will cause an unprecedented ieflux of strangers
into this metropolis from all parts of the world, but
especially from the continent of Europe. It is for
others to consider in what manner that vast multitude
is to be provided with lodgings and the conveniencem
of life. It is merely a duty incumbent upon tho
ministers of the Gospel to devise, if possible, some
mode of furnishing them with the means of wor
shipping God, and of profiting by the opportunities of
the Christian Sabbath. Let us not welcome them to
this great emporium of the world's commerce as
though we looked only to the gratification of our na-
tional pride, or to mutual improvement in the arts
which minister to the enjoyment of this present life,
and take no thought of the spiritual relation which
subsists between all mankind as children ef God,
whom he desires to be saved through Jesus
Let us not incur the guilt of Hezekiah, who displayed
to the Chaldean messengers the house of his precious
things, the ;diver and the gold, and the spices and the
precious ointment, and all the house of his armour,
and all that was found in his treasures; bat forgot, as
it seems, to set before them the glory of the true Gorl
and the beauty of holiness in his law, and in his wor-
ship, and the history of his wonderful works. Wf.
Christ.
should endeavour to provide fur them the means of
common worship, and to distribute amongst those who
may be willing to receive it, the Bible,
and, where it
wo a
may be done, the Book of Common Prayer, trans
fated into the language of their respective couutries
gain
" In conclusion, Reverend Brethren, I
suggest to you, that the most likely nietho.d of heal
ing the wounds inflicted upon the Church uy ourin-
testine divisions—of softening the asperity of feeling
which religious controversy is so apt to engender—
and of bringing us by degrees to a common uhdere
standing upon questions of eital importance—is for
ho-
nestly to fulfil the duty laid by the Church upon all
every one of us, in his proper sphere of action,
ministers. See that you never cease your
labour,
lieth in you, according to your bounden duty, to
your care, and diligence, until you have.done. all that
bring all that are or shall be committed to your charge
unto that agreement in the knowledge and faith of
God, and that ripeness and perfectness of age in'
Christ, that there be no room left among you either
fbourtetebeink
oeinthreligion, r oyr
cfl man were to direct all hisoerr
gviyciousness of life. I cannot
energies and endeavours to the task of feeding the Loa?
family with the wholesome food provided for them in
the Bible and the Church, to the instruction of the
ignorant and the conversion of the sinful with earnest
prayer—the study of God's word, and a devout and
punctual observance of the Church's rule, confining
his efforts, except in special cases, to the field of la.
hour which has been assigned to him, he would dr,
more to tranquillise and strengthen the Church than he
could effect by stepping out of his allotted station to
enlist himself in the ranks of angry polemics under
other banners than those of the Church her..
self unfolded by the authorised standard-
bearers. There are three promises which you
have all made before God, and in the face of his
Church. The first— Will you be ready, with all
erro-
neous and strange doctrines contrary to God's word?'
my helper. The second—
faithful diligence, to banish and drive away all I
Rill, the Lord being
lieth in you, quietness, peace, and love, among all
Will you maintain end set forward, as much es
Christian people, and especially among those that are
and shall he committed to your charge ?'
do, the Lord being my helper.' The third—' Wilt
obey your Ordinary,
you reverently and 4 I will so
other chief