Star.
London, England, 1825-10-22 00:00:00

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'possibility of Hailing cantWates sct qualified, in stiffi-
cient numbers to perform the ordinary Service of the
Altar. And if it were not for the great increase
of dissenting places of worship, the flock, in many
instances would, ere now, have been entirely with.
out a shepherd. Yet England had not then made
the same advances in populatitm, in intelligence,
or in that thirst which prevails for religious in-
struction ; mach less were the multitude of Chapels
and Churches of the Establishment, erected by the exer-
tions of individuals and the munificence of Parliament
in recent days, at all in' contemplation ;—least of all,
had a hostile Church then taken the field, as at present,
in such close array against this its pawerful but over-
secure rival, the gates of whose citadel it is silently ap-
proaching, preceded by abundance of sappers and
miners from other quarters. Is this then, a time to have
an inefficient garrison, by rejecting all volunteers below
a given standard ?
We say nothing of the apparent injustice of refusing
'the services of young men of exemplary morals and
good education, who, from predilection for the sscted
office, are willing to labour in the ministry, although
without the advantages of such rank and fortune as
would have enabled them to obtain a degree at either
of our very costly Universities. We think, however,
that there are many parents unable to expend 3001.
a year in the education of their sons) and yer, that a consi-
derable number of the latter may, possibly, be strongly
attached, from choice, to the faith of their fathers ; be
of sound piety, of irreproachable life and conversation,
and above all, of competent learning, although, per-
haps derived from other sources than Oxford or
Cambridge.

But we will reason the matter as a mere question
of fact, capable almost of demonstration, and assert at
once, that unless the intolerable charges of a University
education are greatly reduced, Osford and Cambridge
together, cannot supply the Church with graduates. Not
one fifth part of the benefices of England and Wales,
as appears by Papers laid before Parliament, exceed
in value 5001. a-year. How, then, are those of lesser
value, and curacies, to be served by persons of no other
private fortune than as they are rich in piety and talent,
it the expense of .a qualification is to cost the candidate
for orders from 1,5001. to 2,0001. ?—All are not en-
thusiasts; but on the contrary, much the largest and
better portion of those who enter the ministry, are
sober-minded and reflecting men, who know that he,
who labours at the altar must live by its gifts ;—and,
with the deepest veneration for the Universities, we
know not that the ordinary course of education there
is pre-eminently favourable to humility, and a contempt
fir the good things of this world.
There are probably, in the empire, no less than 30,000
individuals in holy orders, either actually engaged in
clerical functions, or, collaterally, in the no less useful
employment of public and private tuition. The ordi-
nary event of death among such a numerous body will
occasion vacancies to the extent of 1,200 every year.
Now, we doubt exceedingly whether Oxford and Cam-
bridge can annually supply so many as 1,200 Graduates,l
who shall be willing to encounter the more laborious:
and less profitable avocations in the Ministry. If,
however, we are mistaken, most certain it is that such a
number, though admitted to ordination, will not c'.n-
tinue efficient members of the Church in the humbler
departments. There must be, therefore, under those
restrictions: there is already, and long has been, a deft.
ciency of Established Clergymen, as we shall demon-
strate from an incontestible fact, little creditable, we
must confess to our country in general, or to those
more particularly appointed to watch over and disse-
minate religious instruction.
The Navy of England, during the greater part of
the last war, comprehended a force of one hundred
and forty thousand men. It never was possible to
procure so many as thirty Clergymen to serve at
sea at any one time.—Yet we had more than'
three hundred line-of•battle ships and frigates afloat,
in each of which there was good accommodation
for a Chaplain, and in far the greater number of
which, the presence of such a person would have been
gratefully acceptable, both to Officers and crews.—
There are five barracks or head quarters for the Ma-
rines, containing always, in time of war, as many thou-
sand men, some returning from, some preparing to
encounter active service afloat—there never was a
Chaplain of Marines appointed since the institution of
the Corps.
About fifteen years ago, the Admiralty made great
exertions to encourage Clergymen to enter the Navy.—
The pay of a Chaplain was £l6O a-year. If he con-
sented to accept, in addition, the office of Schoolmaster
to the young Gentlemen, his emolument rose so as to be
from 2001. to 3001. per annum. If be served only three
years, he might retire, at his own option, on half•pay
for lire. Eight years service entitled him to a yearly
retirement of 911.55. (proportionate fur a lesser period)
with an increase of Z. Ss. for each additional year's ser-
vice, until his half-pay should rise to 1821. 10s. per ann.
AU preferment in the gift of the Admiralty on shore,
was, moreover, exclusively reserved for naval Chaplains.
An Act of Parliament was obtained for this express
object, dividing the wealthy Rectory of Simonburn, on
the estate of Greenwich Hospital, into four or five com-
fortable benefices; and possibly other livings also, may
be in their Lordships'patronage. At any rate, there are
in addition, ten good chaplaincies of dock-yards and hos-
pitals. But all this encouragement totally failed. At
the present moment there are only fifty-sis names on the
list of Chaplains, nineteen of whom only had ever
merited retirement of any description—five are unem-
ployed—ten are officiating in harbour, and only twenty-
two at sea ; while there are at the same time seven