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

,
village and attenDiviae service at the church to-
day. Brampfor lies on the right bank of the Exe,
about three miles above the city of Exeter. The
parish is five miles long and two wide. It occupies a
aeueiderable 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 like a fair, and the proprietors of
the two rival inns of the place, which are of the
ordinary rustic inn character, must have felt well
content that differences of opinion have not ceased.
The village is not only pleasantly situated, but exceed-
ingly healthy. Mr. Gorham's immediate predecessor,
the Rev. John Mudge, held the living for nearly 48
years, having been appointed in 1790. His predecessor
held the living fur 52 years, making acentury 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
high honours at the University, having been Second
Wrangler,
and is deeply read in divinity. He came
up in the early part of the past week to make arrange-
ments for settling his family at the rectory. Whilst
doing this he received the ordinary official circular
from the Bishop, which directs the clergy to prepare
for confirmation those of their young parishioners 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 clear
and distinet, 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.
gentleman proceeded to make the declaration pre-
scribed in respect to the Book of Common Prayer, as
follows :—" 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 entitled The Book of Common
Prayer, and Administration of the Sacraments, and
other 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 are to be said or sung in churches ;
and the Form or Manner of making, ordaining, and
consecrating of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons.' " He
then read the certificate of Sir Herbert Jenner Fast,
setting forth the authority under which that learned
judge 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 Liturgy of the Church of England, in
accordance with the 13th and 14th of Charles 11., the
Act of William and Mary in respect to the oaths of
supremacy, and the Act of Union. This fact 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 psalm, 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. I, part of the 21st verse—" Receive
with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to
save your souls." The sermon referred theiChristian
to the Scriptures for 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 bad been so
long engaged, save in the commencement a passing
reference to his " peculiar circumstances" in addressing
his flock for the first time, which made this text so
suitable to begin with ; but he might be considered
as attacking the dogmas which he opposes by the
strenuous way in which he asserted what be con-
sidered the claims of the Scriptures. He concluded
by adverting in the slightest possible manner to the
extraordinary circumstances under which his minis-
tration among them htd commenced, 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-
count of their stewardship, and when their hearers
would have also to account for their opportunities.
He adjured them so to live and act as that, by God's
grace, there should be no fear for the end.
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 said
that he has nothing to apprehend from the critical
disposition of 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.

,

RIOT AT THE MORMON CHAPEL,
SPALDING.
On Sunday afternoon a great disturbance was
caused in the neighbourhood of Double-street, Her-
ring-lane, and Broad -street, by the proceedings of the
Mormons, or Latter-day Saints.
As we announced some time back, these people
have opened a room (attached to the Crane Inn, for-
merly used as a dancing-roam), as a place of worship.
Having announced at the close of their sere ices that
the " elder," by whom they were conduced, would
readily answer any questions which might be put to
him, several parties, on the Sunday afternoon and
evening previous, went and questioned the " elder,'
so as quite to dumfound that worthy. In order to
prevent the repetition of an occurrence so likely to
deter others from joining, and so calculated even to
shake the faith of some of the elect themselves in their
system of belief, a council of war was held, and it was
determined to prevent the admission of any, save the
elect, or those introduced by them. Unaware of this,
great numbers presented themselves at the doors on
Sunday afternoon last, but were denied admittance
by a " saint" placed outside. One gentleman, upon
being so denied, politely inquired of the individual
if he were placed there as a specimen of the inside
lot, at the same time expressing an opinion, that if that
were the case, admission among such a scurvy crew
would be by no means desirable. The " saint" cer-
tainly bore the taunts with which he was assailed by
the assembled mob with exemplary patience, but when
a great addition to their numbers caused them to grow
bolder, and threats of storming the fortress were in-
dulged in, he thought it prudent to retire within.
Soon a party led the way to the attack ; the door was
torn open, but here an unexpected obstacle presented
itself in the shape of a huge, burly fellow, armed with
a rolling-pin, who completely blocked up the "strait
and narrow" staircase leading to the Mormon elysium.
The mob, however, were not to be thus baulked ; a
desperate onslaught was made; and about 30 of the
assailants made their entrée into the place. The
superintendent of police then arrived, and, after quiet-
ing the mob outside (which was very large), entered
the chapel. Several of the right sort were then ad-
mitted, but the mob were determined that, as they
could not get in, no one else should, and for some time
barricaded the door effectually, preventing all ingress
or egress. Notwithstanding the uproar, the " saints"
endeavoured to proceed with their service, but even
while singing the sound was at times completely over-
powered by the yells and cries of the mob and the scuffling
upon the staircase. After peace was partially re-
stored, the elder commenced a harangue, in which he
stated his belief that every person in the town of
Spalding. was undoubtedly doomed to everlasting
damnation, save and except himself and a chosen few,
who had their salvation entirely in their own hands,
with power to save just whom they might feel disposed.
At first be began in a hesitating strain, but warmed
as he got more into the subject, tossing his arms
about wildly, shaking his head, stamping his feet, and
raving frantically, till he quite foamed at the mouth,
and at last, from sheer exhaustion, he sat down.
Upon this a respectable looking young man stepped
forth, politely requesting to be allowed to put a few
questions to the maniac—a request which, after some
consideration, was agreed to. Several straightforward
questions were then proposed, but the " elder," in-
stead of quietly answering, commenced a denuncia-
tion of the sinfulness of those assembled. Not in the
least daunted, the questioner manfully kept his
ground, and the Mormons, not being prepared to an-
swer, and seeing it impossible to put him down, raised
a cry of " Turn him out." This was easier said than
done ; part sided with the Mormons, and part
against them, and a general fight ensued, bonnets
were broken, coats torn, and hats smashed. The
mob outside, hearing the row within, made a rush,
and another section gained admittance. The ques-
tioner got his coat slit up the back by a Mori:clan,
who, iu return, was rather roughly handled. The
police, after a time, again restored quiet. A hymn
was then sung, and the meeting separated.
In the evening a second meeting was held, and a
large mob collected in front of the place, but owing
to the precautionary measures which had been taker;
no disturbance of any consequence took place.
Application, it is reported, is about to be made to
the magistrates to license the room for public wor