Star.
London, England, 1824-09-27 00:00:00

ALBION CII.4PEL.-3111. FLETCHER.

Yesterday the subscribers to the Albion Presbyterian
Chapel, in Moorfields, having expected a visit from cer-
tain messengers of the Synod, with ►espect to the avowed
determination of Mr. Fletcher to preach at the Albion
Chapel, notwithstanding his suspension from the sacred
office, a vast crowd of the frequenter s of that place of
worship assembled. On Monday last, Mr. Fletcher re-
ceived official intelligence from Scotland, that he was
suspended from the performance of the duties of the
Presbyter ian Church, in consequence of what took place
on the occasion of his acquaintance with Miss Dick, on
whose part an action was brought against him ;Or a
breach of promise of marriage. The authorities in
London received at the same time directions to take
possession of the pulpit and appoint to fill it some
worthy member of the Kirk, until the final arrange-
ment should be made by the Synod.
Mr. Fletcher has dared to dispute the power of the
Synod, and conceives it to be a mockery of religion to
pursue its Ministers to destruction, without an undeni-
able testimony of moral guilt, and therefore resolved,
with the approbation of the supporters of the chapel,
to take no notice of the formal condemnation. With
this feeling he went, accompanied by several of the
subscribers, to the chapel, in order to resist any attempt
to dispossess them. Immediately before the hour for
the commencement of service arrived, some of the El-
ders of Miles's-lane Meeting-house knocked at the
vestry door, and demanded that the pulpit should be
resigned to them, producing at the same time the
written authority of the Synod. Mr. Fletcher's friends
said they certainly would not acknowledge the power
of that body, in their case; as they had built the chapel
for their own accommodation, and were in the habit of
filling the pulpit with Ministers whose moral conduct
and abilities weulril stand the test of public examina-
tion, and who were responsible to none but those who
appointed them.
The chapel was crowded to excess during the per-
formance of the service. Mr. Fletcher; upon going into
the pulpit, said he observed that many strangers had
assembled—some, perhaps, from mere curiosity, to wit-
ness the conduct of a Minister of the Gospel under such
peculiar circumstances, and others from the interest so
naturally arising out of the fact of the suspension; but
the question was, whether he was to bow to human au-
thority, dictating what was against his conscience, or to
attend to the voice of GOD, which enjoined him an ad-
herence to the doctrines he had been accustomed to
preach, and a persistency in promulgating them ? He
had decided for the latter; and, in obedience to the will
of HEAVEN, would continue.to address those around him.

Tuesday, a meeting of the Church Missionary Society
was held at the Saloon, in Patrick-street, Cork ; the Dean
of Cork in the Chair. The Cork Constitution states, that
a Mr. Dwyer, Editor of the Cork Mercantile Chronicle,
attempted to address the meeting, but was prevented,
on the ground of his not being a Member of the So-
ciety; be insisted, however, on his right to speak—but
the Chairman persisted in declining to hear him. A
scene of outrageous noise, violence, and anarchy en-
sued, according to the Co'nstitution, which was only
terminated by the appearance of the Sheriffs and a posse
of Constables, who dispersed the crowd. The Cork
Chronicle, however, denies this, and states, that the mob
went home quietly on the termination of the meeting,
and that oae rf the Sheriffs was not present.
The Co potation of London have, with a commend-
able view to the public convenience, taken many oppor-
tunities of widening different parts of the City. Much,
however, in this respect, remains to be done, and upon
a larger scale, probably, than their funds will admit of.

S.

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