The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-01-19 00:00:00

use one part on one
the neat.

ive believed I was recording a plain
matter of fact, or, on the sudden, after a life of honour, of

(so far as man can know) unsullied integrity, in a single mo-
ment, and without any assignable motive, have penned an
atrocious falsehood, the prelude to a life of intended decep-

tion, which could at any moment—which was certain the day
the inspector of prisons arrived, to be detected ; and all the
fruits of an honourable life be then blasted at one fell swoop.
You must belieie all this if you think that I designedly made
a false entry; if without evil design—but under an erroneous
impression—you will not ascribe guilt to me on this charge.
Now for the facts of the case. I called on the Bishop of
Chester, in Rodney-street, and explained to him fully the
nature of my congregation, its mixed quality as it regarded
religious opinions, the provisions the law had made for the

week-day prayers. 1 presented to him a copy of the prayers
already selected by me for daily use—and published at your
order. • I brought before him the evils of a long service in
chapel ; explaining the rules and regulations as to movements
of the body ; and asked his permission to divide the Sunday
morning service into parts, on account of its extreme length ;
his reply was, if there be any place where such a change can
be allowable, it is your prison. You have my free permis-
sion to do what you think will be.best for the real welfare of
the prisoners; I will not interfere with you; you know

more of a

ison than I do; you

my permission as far

I am perfectly confident that the bishop, who will of course
see this statement, will acknowledge that it is perfectly true.
I am aware that the bishop, by letter, states his belief that
he only assented to the change on the week days.
Now remember, the compiled service of the week-days is

expressly sanctioned by law. I could not have asked him
for leave to do that which was already in my power—which
I had already done with your sanction..

My conversation with him must have been on the Sunday
morning service alone, as my journal states; for you will

tion, as it is called, ever took plac'e in the
Simply in that of the morning, which in
we all know, of three distinct parts, used

afternoon service
reality consists, E

in the universities at separate time

This will however have to be settled between the bishop

Did I believe that I h

his pertnission. That must
. Allow me to read the fol-

ave been my solemn conviction

lowing entries, in proof, from my journal, which you know
is a book open to the inspection of all officers of the prison,
of all magistrates of the government inspector.
" February 13, 1838.--,ew selection of prayers in use this
morning."

27, 1838

Chester
lajney, I t

3.-Left early to meet the Bishop of
it. Having licensed me to the chap-
:e as to the Sunday Church Services,
ight most judiciously be shortened,
of persons under my pastoral charge.

which I.

With his

I determined to divide the morning sZr-

vices_into two parts ; to use on.part on one Sunday, aid the

R.ead the Litany and Communion

Services with the Psalms

" March 13, 1838.—Explained fully to the magistrates
assembled this day, the nature of the Sunday duties, as per-
formed by me in the prison, was gratified to hear ji-om the
town-clerk that all was done in accordance with the acts of
ibject, and that the committee was satis-.

parliament on the

tied with my plans."
" March 25, 1838.—Litany and Communion. Services with
Psalms."

Extract from quarterly report, 16th April, 1838.—" On,
Sundays the usual services of the Church of England, and
two sermons have been regularly delivered. The morning
prayers have, however, been divided into two parts ; the
common service being used on one Sunday, the Litany and
Communion Services on the following, by which separation
the time has been reduced to one hour and a half, and the
attention of the auditory more fully commanded."
The first four paragraphs of this report explaining the
2S performed, and the extra duty amongst the
debtors, will, 1 think, be deemed very important by the
justices.

whole service

2,1839

—The

Litany and Communion Services

" May 13, 1838