The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-27 00:00:00

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LONDON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1844,

The Charge of the Bishop of WORCESTER which
he delivered on Monday last to the candidates for
ordination at their final examination, is a document
which it is impossible to peruse without the most un-
feigned satisfaction, breathing, as it does in every sen-
tence, a spirit of the sincerest piety, and sedulously
keeping within the pale of judgment and common
sense. The Right Reverend Prelate is strenuously
opposed to the sayings and doings of the Tractarian
heretics, which, he is persuaded, are calculated to
alienate the affections of the clergy from the laity,
and thus to inflict a deadly blow on the Church, which
necessarily depends, not only for its usefulness, but
for its very security, on its power to retain unim-
paired its hold on the affections of the people.
Alluding to the state of the Establishment previously
to the publication of the notorious Oxford Tracts, the
Bishop remarks that it is scarcely possible to point
out a period when the prosperity and efficiency of
the Church were more signally conspicuous. An in-
creased degree of zeal, he says, and a more entire de-
votion to their sacred functions were manifest among
the clergy ; and not only did the most perfect har-
mony exist between them and the laity, but the lat-
ter evinced their sincere reverence for the spi-
ritual and temporal interests of the Establish-
ment by contributing in a most munificent,
unhesitating, and ungrudging spirit to the
erection of new churches and the endowment
of various religious institutions. " Divine service,"
adds the Bishop, " was performed in strict accordance
with the general directions of the Rubric ; schools
were multiplied ; the great truths of the everlasting
Gospel were more distinctly and generally preached;
and such was the impression gradually made on
those who had separated from us, by such in-
creased zeal and activity, on the part of our
clergy, that in several dioceses, not only Dissenting
ministers, but whole congregations of Dissenters
joined our communion." Such was the con-
dition of the Church immediately previous to the
issuing of the mischievous Oxford Tracts. But such
is its condition no longer. The Tractarian schisma-
tics have succeeded in scattering far and wide the
seeds of dissension, and in throwing not a few of the
laity into the arms of Disient, who—but for the pre-
valence of such heresy among many of the clergy—
would never have dreamed of quitting the church of
their forefathers. But the dawn of a more auspicious
day is at hand. The clouds are slowly breaking
away in the East, and we trust, ere long, that the full,
undimmed meridian sun of peace and prosperity will
again shine on the Establishment. Tractarianism—not-
withstanding the exertions in its favour made by Doctor
Putia.poyrs, and the trimming evasive conduct of
CHARLES JAMES LONDON, who would be a Tractarian
if he dared—is manifestly verging to its decline. It has
been too cunning for its own interests. It has be-
trayed the cloven foot too soon. In a word, it has
overshot its mark ; and the consequence is, that all
the more prudent ministers of the Church and the
laity have begun to take the alarm, and to speak out
in bold, indignant disapproval of the heresy. The
Bishop of WORCESTER'S Charge is the last,
but not the least effective, blow that has
been inflicted on it, and we trust it will be
speedily followed up by other Church dignitaries.
Doctor PEPYS is decidedly hostile to the innovations
recommended by Doctor PHILLPOTTS in his Pastoral
Letter ; and in reference to the surplice question,
which has of late created such a ferment throughout
the diocese of Exeter, he justly observes that what
is in itself insignificant acquires itnpertance when it
s considered as the badge of a party, and when on
this account it becomes a stumbling-block and an
offence to others. On this ground, the Right Rev.
Prelate advises his clergy to continue the practice
which has so long prevailed, of preaching in their
academical habit, even though by so doing they de-
viate from the precise directions of the Rubric. His
Lordship then proceeds to give his reasons for this
advice, which, to our thinking, are perfectly conclu-
sive and unanswerable. But it is scarcely neces-
sary to enlarge further on the subject of the
surplice, for Dr. PHILLPOTTS—as our readers
are aware—has already withdrawn his ordinance
on the question. But seven brief days since,
and who more firm or dogmatic than he was
in insisting on the promptest and fullest obedience
being paid to his sovereign will and pleasure in this
respect. Now, he himself is the first to acknowledge—
indirectly, indeed, for it is hardly to be expected that
lie would directly condemn himself—that he may
have been a little too precipitate ; and graciously per-
mits his clergy, in deference to public opi-
nion, to abandon the wear of the ob-
noxious surplice during the sermon ! Having
confessedly been rash in issuing this particular
order, should not the ghostly Bishop suspect that he
may have been equally rash in.issuing his other rubrical
ordinances, and doubt the wisdom and the policy of
his persisting in their enforcement ? We suspect that
it will not be very long ere he finds himself compelled
to retract the majority, if not the varole, of the pre-
posterous injunctions as regards obsolete usages—
obsolete, because worthless—contained in his " Pas
toral Letter!"

Madrid papers, of the 19th and 20th, have arrived.
On the 19th the Chamber of Deputies passed the first
article of the Bill relative to the conversion of the
claims of the contractistas into Three per Cent. Stock
by a majority of 132 against 9. That article was to
the following effect :
" The House approves the conversion into titles of the
Consolidated Three per Cent. Debt of the credits and
claims accruing from contracts, of advances of funds,
'treasury bills, inscriptions of the Floating Debt, cen-
tralized, and of bills on the Treasury of the Havannah,
also proceeding from contracts, in the terms and ac-
cording to the rate fixed in the royal decrees of the 26th
of June, 13th of September, and 9th of October, in the
present year."
An amendment had been moved by the Marquis
DE MONTEVIRGEN and three other Deputies to the
second article, tending to establish the claims to in-
demnity of the lay-owners of tithes, who had been
deprived of their rights by the suppression of that
tax. The Minister of Finance admitted the justice of
the demand, but observed, that it would be the object
of a special project of law, which he intended to pre-
sent to the Chamber in the course of the session. On
this assurance M. DE MONTEVIRGEN consented to
withdraw the amendment; but those who had signed
it with him insisting on its being put from the chair,
it was lost by only one voice, 52 voting against it, and
51 in its favour.

The Bill passed on the 20th. In the Senate the
debate on the " Reform Bill" commenced, but nothing
of any consequence occurred in the course of the
debate. The settlement of the question respecting an
hereditary peerage is the one looked forward to with
any interest.

A letter from Victoria states that General Jau-
REGUY, celebrated as "El Pastor," has just died in
that town. He was one of the most celebrated of
those guerilla chiefs whose perils and adventures