The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-11 00:00:00

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LONDON, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1844.

We :(iliote the following significant communica-
tion frOM'Exeter, which appears in the columns of
monaitop Contemporary :—" Considerable sensa-
tion wsierereated in this city on Sunday last by cer-
tain rubrical adoptions in the performance of Divine
worship at all the parish churches, according to the
instructions issued by the Bishop of EXETER. The
rst was at St. Sidwell's Church, where the ceremony
of christening was performed in the middle of the
service. In every one of the parish churches the
sermon was preached in a surplice instead of a gown,
and several of the congregations were so offended by
this innovation, that they quitted the church the filo-
meni 'they saw the minister, so attired, enter the pul-
pit. 2tt is said that the churching of women will in
futurt be performed in the middle of the Sunday
morning service, and a very strong feeling exists as
to the indelicacy and impropriety of such a practice."
such are among the first-fruits of the Bishop of
EXETNIC'S late Pastoral Letter to the clergy of his
diocese. Though a minister of the gospel of peace,
he has contrived to scatter the seeds of discord far
and wide throughout his see, and to put its clergy-
end its laity in a position of direct antagonism to-
wards each other, the extent of whose evil conse-
quince no one can at present foresee. Already have
the!- parishes of St. Lawrence, St. John, and St.
George, Exeter, sounded the tocsin of alarm, and
warmly remonstrated against the alterations in Di-
yinel-service proposed by their diocesan, adding,
that` these alterations are the revival of practices
hiOh Wing universally fallen into desuetude by the
o)rrunon consent of the Bishops and the laity at large,
have been pressed upon the latter by only a small i
minority in the Church ; and they deem it not merely
inexpedient but unjust, that the majority of the clergy
and laity should be compelled to bend to the example
of this crotchety minority. The flame of discontent
once lighted in Exeter will not be confined to that
episcopal city, but will be sure to spread like wild-
firei-and in a short time we may expect to see the
whole diocese a prey to dissensions, heart-burnings,
and jealousies of the most harassing and unchristian
ohdrltcter. And will not other sees, too, catch the in-
fectiOn ? Assuredly they will, and not a zealous
Tractarian minister in England, but will be encou-
rated by the sanction of the Bishop of EXETER, to
persist in' the revival of absurd, obsolete usages. 'This
?ash, officious Prelate is, we suspect, little aware of
c
iwature of the epposition he is raising up against
bil4kzelf, Not only will he have the common sense of
the•male portion of his flock arrayed in vigorous hos-
tsTaiy,to his decrees, but if it bereezall?:e has sanctioned true that, among
ether ridiculous, exploded uPag
the churching of women publicly in the middle
E•AV a the giinday morning service, he will have
ill the
,y
their fe les also of his diocese in arms against
"4:7- iln ; and' stly so, for we cannot imagine any-
tiling moro' ffensive to their sense of propriety
g exposed during the ceremony of
Sban
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