The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-02-26 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

Sin,—The following letter, excepting the parts within the
parentheses and the postscript, was forwarded to be inserted
in the LePds Intelligeneer. Though a letter of the same
date with mine, sent by Dr. Molesworth against the Church
Pastoral Aid Society, has been twice inserted in that paper,
no room has been found for my communication. I trust that
your sense of justice to a most valuable but calumniated so-
ciety will induce you to admit into your paper the following
remarks.—l am, sir, yours respectfully,

TO THE

ED. EDWARDS

EDITOR OF THE LEEDS INTELLIGENCER,

SlR,—With the Rev. W. Sinclair I fully sympathise in
" the deepest reluctance to quit the retired and unobtrusive
round of pastoral duties," &c., as expressed by him in your .
paper of Saturday last. And he—a resident clergyman in
the parish of Leeds—deemed it proper to apologise for offer-
ing, through the medium of the Leeds Intelligencer, his just
remarks on the proceedings of the meeting at the Music-
hall, in your town, on Monday the Ist instant, much more
ought I to feel that an apology is due from me, for venturing
to intrude on the notice of the readers of the Intelligencer,
any observations in addition to those of Mr. Sinclair—seeing
that I am unconnected with the parish of Leeds, or the dio-
cese in which that parish is situated. But since others than
those ecclesiastically connected with Leeds or the diocese of
Ripon officiated at that meeting, I may, I trust, be excused
for presuming to offer the following remarks.
It is to a part of the proceedings at the meeting in ques-
tion, that I advert—the attack made, and, as it appears to
me, gratuitously and unjustly made, on the CHURCH Pasto-
ral Aid Society ; and that under cover of meeting to advo-
cate and aid " the Society for the employment of additional
Curates in populous Places."
It occurs to me that the objections, as far as I am ac-
quainted with the objections to the Pastoral Aid Society, as
urged by its opponents, may be brought within a narrow
limit, and met on the ground so vauntingly occupied by the
objectors themselves. _

1. It is objected to the Pastoral Aid Society that it em-
ploys, or rather pays, lay persons, who are engaged as reli-
gious instructors, though by the appointment and under the
direction of the clergy of the parishes in which the lay agents
are employed.
The truly venerable and extensively useful " Society for
the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts" employs
and pays lay persons as catechists, who are religious instruc-
tors in our colonial parishes and dioceses. The National
Society also sanctions, and in some instances pays, national
schoolmasters and schoolmistresses who are but lay persons,
and are religious instructors in our parishes. The lay cate-
chists in our colonies, and the national schoolmasters and
schoolmistresses in our parishes, are not more by the ap-
pointment and under the control and direction of the clergy
in the respective parishes, than the lay agents paid by the
Pastoral Aid Society ; and if the objection to the lay agency
of the latter society be valid, why is it not equally valid in
the case of the two other societies? (is it replied that the
laymen paid by the Pastoral Aid Society are under no epis-
copal jurisdiction, I reply that they are as much under epis-
copal jurisdiction as the national schoolmasters and school-
mistresses in any parish (Leeds or Rochdale to wit), unless
the latter are licensed by the bishops of the dioceses respec-
tively. And are they so licensed, according to the 64th
'canon ? What episcopal authority or sanction had the Vicar
of Rochdale or Canon Parkinson to attend a public religious
meeting in the diocese of Ripon? Is it replied that the Vicar
of Leeds had invited them ? The Vicar of Leeds, without
the sanction of his Bishop, cannot strictly authorise any
clergyman out of the diocese to officiate in ANY CHURCH
at Leeds, much less authorise and sanction strange clergy-
men, or any clergymen, to officiate at a religious meeting,
such as that held in the Music-hall—an unconsecrated, un-
licensed building.)
2. It is objected to the Church Pastoral Aid Society, that
it presumes to decide whether the recommendation of such
a clergyman as is to be paid by the society, be satisfactory or
not to the society ; and this decision is committed not to
laymen, but to clrFgvmcn.

Now, if the objection to a body or committee of clergy-
men such as the Pastoral Aid Society employs as its com-
mittee, to judge of the propriety of the appointment of a
candidate for a curacy, be valid ; it must be at least equally
valid against a lay patron, or lay trustees (as at Leeds) of a
church living, who judge and determine on the fitness of a
clerical candidate for that living : and yet such an exercise of
judgment in the latter case is never denounced or objected
to, as being unecclesiastical, or as invading the " episcopal
authority." And they who, for the sake of obtaining a
curacy, would disdain to submit their recommendation to
the examination and decision of a body of clergymen, such
as the Church Pastoral Aid Committee, would not probably
hesitate, for the sake of obtaining a church living, to submit
their recommendation or qualification to be judged and de-
cided by a single layman, or several laymen, as trustees and
patrons—e. q., the lay trustees as patrons of Leeds vicarage,
or the lay trustees of the Haberdashers' Company's chap-
laincy. To possess a legal right or authority to present any
clergyman to a living by a lay patron or patrons, is a distinct
thing from examining and deciding on the fitness of such a
clergyman for that living : and it is against this latter prero-
gative as exercised by the Pastoral Aid Clerical Committee,
that the objection of the opponents of this society is directed ;
though, without any objection' the same prerogative is exer-
cised by lay patrons of church livings.
To assert that in the late rejection of Mr. Briarley Brown
the " CHURCH Pastoral Aid Society" interfered with ep.
pal authority or judgment, exhibits some degree of ignorance
or bad faith. For, in this case, the Lord Bishop of Chester
in countersigning the testimonium, previously signed on
behalf of Mr. Briarley Brown by the clergymen in the Ches-
ter diocese, did not recommend Mr. Brown, or express any
opinion as to his qualification, but simply testified that the
clergy who had signed the testimonium, were such clergymen
in his lordship's diocese as they had subscribed themselves to
be. This, and no more, is the object of every episcopal
countersignature to the testimonium on behalf of a candidate
either for holy orders, or for a curacy. What then becomes
of the objection, that in this or any similar case, the society
supersedes the " authority" or " judgment of the bishops ?"
(Would Dr. Hook or Dr. Molesworth give a title to a can-
didate for holy orders, or a curacy to an ordained clergyman,
on the simple testimonium signed by three clergymen and
countersigned by the bishop, without a prior enquiry and de-
cision as to the fitness of the candidate? And have these
antecedent enquiries and decision any more episcopal authority
than the antecedent enquiry and decision made by the Pastoral
Aid Society ? The veto exercised by the society supersedes
no " episcopal authority ;" interferes with no " episcopal
judgment ;" it is a salutary veto to guard the funds of a
charitable institution from being appropriated to pay and
support such persons as would cause damage to the church
by withdrawing from its ministry.)
3. It is objected to the CHURCH Pastoral Aid Society that
it is not ecclesiastically constituted ; and, therefore, is not a
church society. What in the view of the objectors may le-
gitimately constitute a " clArch society," being, as far as I
am aware, undefined by the objectors themselves, renders an
answer to their objection somewhat more difficult.
They will scarcely maintain, I suppose, that the united
concurrence or patronage of the Archbishops, Bishops, and
Clergy of the Church of Christ in this realm, will be sufficient
to constitute legitimately a CHURCH Society ; since, as it
appears to me, the whole clerical body of the three orders
have no authority (apart from royal authority) to make or
direct to be made, public collections of money in the respec-
tive parishes, in aid of any societies, even when those societies
are incorporated by royal authority ; or, according to the
twelfth canon, to ' make rules, orders, or constitutions in
causes ecclesiastical without the king's authority." Are all
the " five societies," so strenuously advocated by the oppo-
nents of the CHURCH Pastoral Aid Society, constituted by
the required authority, any more than the CHURCH Pastoral
Aid Society, or the CHURCH Missionary Society? If not,
what becomes of the ground of objection to " the Pastoral
Aid Society, that it is not a Church Society."
And here I may, I hope,
be permitted to express my igno-
rance of the " ecclesiastical authority" (or " episcopal autho-
rity") by which such a meeting for religious purposes and
worship* as that which was convened and held at the Music
Hall, at Leeds, on the Ist of February. It was not autho-
rized by the rules or canons of the church, or by any statute
of the realm, but rather comes under the prohibition both of
the twelfth canon, and of the penal statute of 52d Geo. 111,
c. 155. It would seem somewhat more candid and consistent
to abstain from charging the Church Pastoral Aid Society
with ecclesiastical irregularity, at a meeting not very regularly
convened and conducted, if the above-mentioned canon or
statute have any meaning and application to such a meeting.
1 forbear
commenting on the extreme modesty with which
individual clergymen indirectly, but publicly, impugn the
conduct of their respective and excellent diocesans, for sup-
porting the Pastoral Aid Society. (But I would just enquire
whether such indirect attacks on the bishops made by pres-
byters at public meetings and printed pamphlets, are calcu-
lated to support " episcopal authority," or to produce respect
for the episcopal office? If the clerical supporters, and I
have the honour to be one of the supporters of the Church
Pastoral Aid Society, are ecclesiastically irregular in support-
ing that society, it is the province of their ecclesiastical su-
periors to correct them : to the directions and authority of
thoge superiors, officially given, they will, I doubt not, yield
obedience ; while they may hesitate to recognize authority,
or yield to the opinions, of two presbyters—the vicar of Leeds,
and the vicar of Rochdale.)
My hope and prayer is, that all impediments may be
* " Prayers having been offered."—Leeds Intelligenter,
p. 7, Feb. Wt.

speedily removed, that now seem to prevent the union of
both societies, and of lall kindred societies within the pale of
Christ's Apostolical Church in this realm. But such meet-
ings as that held at Leeds on the Ist instant, are not calcu-
lated to effect such a union.—l am, sir, yours truly, __ _

EDWARD EDWA.RDE.

115'exham, 11th Feb., 1841
POSTSCRIPT.
To the above objections an implied charge is added, that
the Church Pastoral Aid Society is not CATHOLIC. It is
quite as much so as its junior sister—" The Society for the
employment of additional Curates," unless this latter society
comprises the Universal Church of Christ. But if by the
alleged uncatholicity be meant that the Pastoral Aid Society
does not pay men for substituting the puerilities and absur-
dities of the Romish Catholic Church, for the Holy Scrip-
tures, and the scriptural doctrines of the Church of Christ
as established in this realm—to the charge, the society will,
I trust, be able to plead guilty. Or if by uncatholicity it he
meant that the Pastoral Aid Society has, in making or with-
holding its grants, a regard to the value of the livingf as well
as to the population—to this charge also the society will plead
guilty. I know that an application was some time ago made
to the Church Pastoral Aid Society for a grant in part of pay-
ment to a lay reader in a parish containing a population of
eleven thousand souls. But a grant was refused, because
the incumbent received £6OO a year from his living, though,
out of that sum, he paid a liberal stipend to his curate, and
diligently shared all the duties with his curate adhering to
his parochial duties.
But, " the Society for employment of additional Curates"
is somewhat more liberal, though perhaps not more just, than
the " Pastoral Aid Society ": for, the former, I perceive, by
a resolution passed at the 'Music Hall meeting, maintains six
curates in the parish of Leeds ; though the income of the in-
cumbent is £1,300 a-year from the living, to provide for the
religious instruction of his parishioners ; and though there
are many other churches built and endowed in the parish, by
the munificence of individuals. No doubt, under even these
circumstances, the vicar of Leeds feels himself justified in

receiving, and the committee of the " Society for the em-
ployment of additional Curates " feel justified in appropria-
ting, for such a purpose, part of the fund of a charitable in-
stitution—though a fund partly formed by the contributions
of clergymen who are scarcely able to provide for their own
families.

To all the foregoing remarks it may be replied, that to
prove that one society is wrong, does not prove that the other
is right. True. But it may remind the objectors of the old
adage that " they who live in glass houses should be careful
how they throw stones "; or of the more appropriate admo-
nition of our blessed Saviour,--Mat. vii. 3-5.

In reference to the lay agency paid for, but the agents nei-
ther appointed nor directed, by the " Pastoral Aid Society,"
lam not prepared to condemn or to justify the payment for
lay agency : though in doing this, the society does no more
than what is done by other approved church societies. But
I am inclined to think that if the grants appropriated to nay
lay persons, were devoted to employ regularly ordained cler-
gymen—more good •vould be promoted, and an impediment
would be removed, which impediment has prevented many
excellent, conscientious men clerical and lay—supporting the
" Pastoral Aid Society," a society of incalculable value.
I am, sir, late incumbent of Marsden, in the diocese of
Ripon, ED. EDWARDS.
Wrexham, Feb. 22, 1841.

t "The stipends of the 270 incumbents assisted by the so-
ciety e. Pastoral Aid Society) average only £263 a year—
one half of the cases having no glebe or parsonage houses."—

Rm.'. B. Marsden at t

Pneeting at Bradford,