The Sun.
London, England, 1845-09-19 00:00:00

Ilitorning -111n+

,ONDON, FRIDAY. SEPTEMBER 19, 184%

But few days have elapsed since we announced the aposta-
izing of the Rev. Mr. WARD from the Church of England to
he Rornish Church—and, as we yesterday announced,

"rumour is buiy with her 'thousand tongues" in indicating
new desertions from the Protestant fold to the congregation
of Catholicism. We have -no desire to lock the gates upon
those who wish to leave us. Our-wish is, on the contrary, to
open them wide for all intending renegades. We
say thein; "Deparp in peace,, if conscientious convic-
tions call you. Return no more, if conscientious 'convic-
_

tioas •do riot prompt you.” . In the meantime the flock
of the Church is far better without' these erratic stragglers.
Their example can only mislead, their presence can but dis-
quiet those among whom they have been reared. But what
to say to the pastors who have taught thein these habits; or
driven them CO 'this
.` necessity of abandoning their
fellows, we know not. All that is apparent to us is—
that they are, indeed false shepherds, who have be- .
trayed their trust, bar whether only from foolishness, or
with motives and designs more questionable, we will
not take upon ourselves to determine. The new
Puseyite controversy which ' has arisen between the
parishioners of New Shoreham, near Brighton, and their.
vicar, has just been followed by a remonstrance from the
former to.their diocesan, the Bishop of CHICHESTER. The
conduct of the Bishops, who are 'lpro-Puseyites," is, in our
Apprehension, more dangerous and less honest than the con-
duct of ministers who are, Avowedly, Puseyites. The latter
are, at least, intelligible and straightforward in their avowals
of. dectrine and opinions. Even Mr. WARD himself spoke.
out honestly, at least, albeit very ,tardily. He avowed
himself; from' the first, a convert to the Tractarian
dogmas, and proclaimed himself in the sequel a zealous and
determined convert to Popery. This was a very natural
transition, fairly, if. unfortunately, Commenced—openly, if
lamentably, terminated. ' the Bishop of. EXETER adopted a
different course. He twisted and twirled the question of
Puseyite innovations with all the casuistry of which he is so
accomplished a master until it was most difficult to get at
what his own view of it really . was. But though, like CA-
TILINE, unrivalled in tile dangerous art " simulare et
dissitnulare,"—he could not long dissemble his own
nature when stimulated by the opposition and sar-
casm which his coquetting with: the . Scarlet Lady did not
fail to provke. He got exasperated. This was natural enough
in a
,prelate of his easy temper! When exasperated he gave
'full vent tty his prepossessions- for Puseyism on the one hand,
and for theological denunciations on the other. This was
net Only natural, but a'neeasity, of his temperament But
the scolding•• bishop ,did not conclude as Mr. WARD
rdidi ,by making) submission to and throwing himself
linib" the arms 'or ilfenChurch - of- Rome. He bad from
ten to. telve 01(914,p/oil reasons' for every year against,
any such excessive :Sacride to impulse ; and he has
tratireid,N f fox ..awhile at, • any, rate, from the . Pusey
controversy, vanquished and•:tompelled to notify the fact of
his. being reStrainedhfithe superiOr authorities of the Church

his.dwn Fletgy. But we are sorry to be compelled to infer
frcorthuerylalilttez of Mr.Chuichwarden CLAYTON to the
Bishop of Clitcups.m.u,..whic.b.:we yesterday published, that
ale tee Of that -ancient filled ,by a determined fol.;
lower of HENRY of EXETER. The former, with all the bland
amiabi]ity'Of'.th'e latter, 'seeliis to have taken offence with
ihe'paristiOners of New shoreliant for addressing their re-
spectful xemonstrancesTio 'him against the introduction by
their new .vicar, a. Mr. WHEELER, of the Tractarian
school's' -innovations of ceremonial and ritual. The
case of Mr. WHEELER'S Puseyism was so flagrant, that
the Right. yeVereild Prelatd'ciiiild' hot but rebuke him. But.
to compensate the vicar, hii Lordship has thought proper to
vapulate his querulous congregation, by significantly quoting
to theni certain passages in condemnation of "strife and
vain glory." The parishioners, through their churchwarden,
very reasonably assume that this gentle hint is intended for
themselves—a caustic rebuke for having presumed to im-
peach either the discretion or the orthodoxy of their pastor.
This letter, with the signature of the churchwarden, is most
honourable to them as Christians and Protestants.
As pole-
mical controversialists it reflects upon them signal credit. They
express their sentiments with a moderation and a firmness, a
felicity of expression and a vigour of illustration that are
worthy of TAYLOR or BAXTER, the racy JORTIN or the acute
BUTLER. Having so recently printed Mr. CLAYTON'S epistle
to the Bishop, we do not here more in detail refer to it; but
it deserves to be long remembered as a model of the temper,
tone, and even the language, of which certain right
reverend correspondents might study with advantage.
But we cannot abstain from asking what it is that
this infatuated affection for the distasteful Popish re-
rivals (we will, for the sake of the argument, call
them by no harsher name) proposes to accomplish ?
Is it the introduction of forms which they conceive to be es-
sentials ? The answer is, that the Protestant laity of this
country regard them as theatrical and empty mummeries
Do the Puseyites change their ground, and urge that those
forms are in themselves indifferent, but proper to the due and
decorous celebration of Divine worship ? will they persist
in upholding them when they find that the observance of
these forms disgusts the frequenters and assistants at that
worship itself? Are they mad enough to cling to a prescribed
pantomime of religious action, which has no more reference
to the holy and imperishable, the spiritual and intellectual
truths of Christianity than the old dramatic "mysteries"
and pageants of the Roman Church in this country in
the dark and middle ages ;—to cling to outward
ceremonials like those of the irretrievable and
guilty cost of making vacant the Protestant temple itself ?
Of withdrawing, for the sake of their human inventions, the
true worshippers of the living GoD and the REDEEMER from
the simple altars at which they were received into the Chris-
tian community, of which their fathers, for many past gene-
rations, had also been members ? In sober truth, the guilt
of all this pertinacious wilfulness, exemplified in the mis-
chiefs it has already worked, and is so fatally calculated still
to produce, in the defection of Protestant Christians from the
pure faith and unpolluted worship of their ancestors, is one of
the most grave offences against the cause of Divine Truth
which the history of heresies has recorded for centuries past.

Accounts from Switzerland state that the deliberations of
the Grand Council of Berne had been brought to a conclusion.
On the 12th instant M. NEUHAUS summed up the proceedings
in a speech of two hours duration. The proposition of the
Executive Council was at last adopted dy a large majority, it
being voted by 138 to 42, that the Grand Council approved
of the principles developed in the report, or, in other words,
approves of the policy of the majority of the Executive Coun-
cil, which has begn.prot?sted.against by the minority.

The intelligence' broiight `by the Dutch mail is important, -
and exhibits in a striking light the paternal character of the
Government. A scarcity of provisions is apprehended in
Holland from the failure of the potato crop and the cold, late
harvest, and the KING, resolved:to provide in time against such
a calamity, has, therefore, issued a royal decree reducing the
.import_duties on flour, rice, beans, potatoes, and other neces-
sary articles of food. , This Order in Council, which copies'
into operation immediately, announces that measures will be
minimum dutylaw noo f
proposed in the ensuing session of the States General for the
purpose of continuing till June,deltB46,
ortitoheed m
by i,
wheat duty, barley, &c., as
Dec. 29, 1845. We have no wish to raise unnecessary alarm,
but the almost universal failure of the potato crop in this
country as well as the continent, and the present unfa-
vourable weather, and the doubtful quality of the new crops
cannot fail to have their etTects on prices. Holland is within
a few hours sail of England, high prices in that country of
course must be felt here, and the question arises—will our
Government imitate the good example and issue an Order of
Council in time to guard against the danger ?

Madrid journals of the 10th have been received. They are
occupied chiefly with the proceedings of the court-martial,
the excitement caused by the conduct of the authorities in
regard ,to the late outbreak, and absurd rumours of an inva-
sion, from General ESPARTERO. Some of them state that
English gold bad been plentifully distributed among the in-
surgents, as well as the soldiers, and one of them (the Es-
panol) publishes a report that the ex-REGENT is about to
leave England in a vessel-of-war, wich is to be followed by a
steamer, carrying 25,600 stand of arms. " This news," says
that journal; is communicated to us from Lisbon, and is
considered authentic."
The Gazette states the real cause of the dissatisfaction
eoitect b 7 the new tax in these words;--" From the bad