The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-06-18 00:00:00

CLERICAL INTELLIGENCE.

The foundation stone of the new church at Swindon,
Wilts, was laid on Friday.
The parish church of St. Paul's, Derby, (which has
been erected by voluntary subscriptions in memory of the
late Dr. Shirley, Bishop of Sodor and Man, and formerly
Archdeacon of Derby,) being completed, was consecrated
on Wednesday week by the Lord Bishop of Lichfield.
The feeling of the laity in reference to the controversy
now agitating the Church, is strikingly illustrated by the
fact that in Leeds, the very stronghold of a certain phase
of Tractarianism, a high-church paper states that " An
Address to the Bishop of Ripon, from the laity, in con-
demnation of the judgment of thaudicial Committee, has
received 200 signatures."
"THE COMMEMORATION" came off at Oxford, on
Wednesday. During the hour of license which precedes
the entrance into the theatre of the vice-chancellor, heads
of houses, and proctors, the customary effusion of feeling
took place in hearty and enthusiastic cheers for the Queen,
the Duke of Wellington, Lord Brougham, the Archbishop
of Canterbury, the Bishops of Oxford and Exeter, the
Vice-Chancellor, Sir R. H. Inglis, Mr. Gladstone, Lord
Gough, Major Edwardes, &c., and the two last, with
Baron Alderson, Major Rawlinson, and Dr. Paris, the
eminent physician, were created doctors of civil law. The
undergraduates were very noisy, and cheered and hissed
most impartially. There were loud groans for the "Uni-
versity Commission," Lord John. Russell," Sir R. Peel,"
and "Lord Palmerston."

MOVEMENT IN THE CHURCH.—Arrangements have been
made for holding a great public meeting of the clergy and
laity of the Church of England on the 27th instant, for
the adoption of certain resolutions with reference to the
late decision of the judicial committee in the case of
" Gorham v. the Bishop of Exeter," and the consequen-
ces arising therefrom. The meeting is looked forward
to with much interest by what is generally termed the
High Church Party, the principal men connected with
which will be present to take part in the proceedings.
The promoters are anxious to secure the countenance and
support of all who feel that a tacit acquiescence by the
Church of England in the recent decision of the Privy
Council would be an "unspeakable" misery. An address
to the Throne will be submitted to the meeting, setting
forth the Church's rights as to spiritual freedom, remind-
ing her Majesty of the declaration prefixed to the Articles
of Religion, and praying therefore the royal license that
convocation may be summoned for the express pur-
pose of vindicating or authoritatively declaring the
doctrine of the Church of England on Holy Baptism.
There will also be submitted a memorial to the episco-
pate of the two provinces, including the colonial bishops,
as being technically in the province of Canterbury, and
an address to the bishops of Scotland expressive of
thankfulness and confidence. The day is to open with
the celebration of the most solemn ecclesiastical offices
in several London churches, and those who purpose taking
part in the meeting will be invited to attend service either
at Westminster Abbey or St. Paul's Cathedral. Many of
the highest ecclesiastical dignitaries have expressed ap-
proval of the proposed course of proceeding, and have
intimated their intention of being present at the meet-
ing.—Times.
THE BISHOP OF CHESTER ON THE CHURCH.—At
the last ordination at Chester, our excellent Bishop ad.
dressed the usual sermon, specially to the gentlemen
admitted into holy orders. Ile concluded as follows :
" As my last word of exhortation, let me pray you to
have peace one with another. The Scripture was the in-
fallible standard of Divine truth ; but such is the infirmity
of the human mind, that men frequently differ in the
interpretation. Hence arises the diversity of sects into
the Christian world is unhappily divided. In order to
secure unity within itself, our own Church exhibits a sys-
tematic form of doctrine in its articles and its liturgy :
but even here difference of opinion cannot be absolutely
and entirely prevented. In the wide range of theological
controversy, there were some points where the Church ,
had wisely and reverently refrained from determining
what the Scripture itself did not seem plainly to have
determined. The language of the Church, like that of
Scripture, is therefore liable to difference of interpre-
tation ; and has in point of fact, been differently inter-
preted by men of whose sincerity, piety, and earnest desire
to arrive at the truth, only one opinion could be enter-
tained. Such difference of opinion existed in former
times; such differences of opinion prevail now; and he
could not but think that the present disagreements ccn-
sisted in words rather than things ; in ambiguity of
phraseology rather than in the substance of faith. But
while one could not help regretting that these differences
did exist, there was yet comfort in the cheering indications
which they had that God's blessing still rested on the
Church. Its ministers were zealous in the discharge of
their sacred duties, and the people were showing an in-
creased attachment to its communion. God grant that
such may long—may ever continue to be the case. He
earnestly prayed that God would be graciously pleased to
compose all disagreements ; to allay all agitations ; to
incline all hearts to humility, and modesty, and charity,
and mutual forbearance • that so they might labour
together in kindness and brotherly love; and continue
" to hold the faith, in the unity of the Spirit, in the bond
of peace, and in righteousness of life."
LARGE PARISHES.—The parliamentary commissioners
appointed " to inquire into the practicability and mode
of sub-dividing into distinct and independent parishes,
for all ecclesiastical purposes, all the densely peopled
parishes in England and 'Wales, in such manner that the
population of each, except in particular cases, shall not
exceed 4,000 souls," have probably rather overstepped
their proper duties ; they have issued a report containing
a proposal for the sale of the church patronage of the
Chancellor, and for the augmentation thereby of the
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quiries, that the number of parishes of large populations
clearly requiring a new church or churches to be built,
and a new parish or parishes to be constituted, is at least
six hundred, the average cost of each church being esti-
mated at £3,506. The total outlay for building would be,
in round numbers, £2,000,000, of which perhaps one-half
would come from local and voluntary sources. Whence
is the other £1,000,000 to come ? The Lord Chancellor
has 77; benefices in his gift, having an annual value
£200,000. Of these the value of 330 is under £2OO per
annum each, six of them being of less annual value than
£5O. The commissioners propose, in the first place, to
sell the advowsons of these small livings, and to apply the
purchase money to the purpose of raising them to £2OO
a year. And they propose, in the next place, to raise the
£1,000,000 spoken of above, by selling so many more of
the crown livings as may suffice for that purpose, leaving
the patronage of the rest still with the Lord Chancellor.
The endowment of the new churches is referred to Lord
Harrowby's commission on church leases. A plan of this
sort is sure to provoke difference of opinion. The Times
denounces it in toto, and calls it robbery to take away his
immense patronage from a Lord Chancellor who spends
all the day in court and all the evening in the Ilouse of
Lords. The Morning Chronicle thinks the patronage
can be worth nothing except for jobbing purposes, and
says, " it seems a waste of words to comment on the
undesirableness of leaving seven hundred benefices to the
disposal of the minister of the day." The Morning Herald
and the Standard give the scheme their entire approba-
tion, and think it will work well for the church.

CONSECRATION OF ST. BARNABAS CRURCH AND COL-
LEGE, PIMLICO.—On Tuesday one of the most remarkable
churches ever erected in the metropolis was consecrated
by the Bishop of London, in the presence of the Bishops
of Oxford, Salisbury, and Brechin, Archdeacons Thorpe,
Manning, and Anderson, the Rev. Dr. Pusey, the Rev.
W. Sewell, the Rev. J. Keble, and upwards of 200 other
clergymen connected with what is usually termed the
High Church party, all of whom appeared in full canoni-
cals, and presented a very imposing appearance. There
were also present the Earl of Carlisle, Earl Nelson, Lord
Campden, Lord Fielding, Lord Castlereagh, Sir John
Harrington, Bart., Lord John Manners, M.P., Mr. J. B.
Hope, M.P., Mr. Branston, M.P., and other noblemen
and gentlemen. The new church and college of St. Bar-
nabas are situate in that part of Pimlico which abuts upon
Chelsea, and have long been looked upon with much in-
terest. The internal decorations of 'he church are of the
most superb description, the chancel being in appearance
not unlike that of the Roman Catholic Cathedral in St.
George's-fields. Under the eastern part of the chancel is
a crypt of a very curious construction. The windows of
the church are of an elaborate character, and have been
filled with stained glass at an expense of many hundred
pounds. The altar, the font, the vessels, the illuminated
office books, for the service of the altar, the vestments,
the corona lucis on the altar, the eagle of brass, together
with many costly ornaments, are the gifts of private indi-
viduals. The first stone of the college was laid on St.
Barnabas Day, 1846, by the Marquis of Westminster, who
gave the site both for the church and college. It is in-
tended to educate choristers and other youths in the
college, and to establish a body of sisters of mercy for
parochial visiting. The church is intended to be entirely
free, without pews or paid seats. Full choral service was
performed by the Rev. T. Helmore and the boys of her
Majesty's Chapel Royal, after which a sermon was preached
by the Bishop of London. The consecration services
were continued during the week, the sermons being
preached by the Bishop of Oxford, Dr. Pusey, Archdeacon
Manning, the Rev. W. Sewell, and the Rev. F. Bennett.
It is understood that Mr. A. J. B. Hope, M.P. has been
one of the principal contributors towards the new church
and college of St. Barnabas.
WHAT MR. NEWMAN IS Now TEACHING.—A cor-
respondent of the Church and State Gazette gives the
following as a specimen of what " Father" Newman is
now teaching, as a priest of Rome. ",It will be a source of
exceeding regret to the present writer should he uncon-
sciously exaggerate Mr. Newman's doctrine upon this sub-
ject ; but his full conviction before the Searcher of Hearts
is this—that never has there been ranted forth, in any
conventicle here or abroad, more rabid and ruthless
antinomianism than Father Newman enunciated in the
Oratory on Thursday, the 7th of June last. The writer
may safely appeal to all truthful witnesses there present
whether or no this accusation is justified. Not only did
Father Newman picture " a filthy. old woman, careless of
truth," and, as far as human judgment could decide,
utterly degraded as a member of society ; and then at
once exalt her into hypothetical saintship by virtue of
contrition before the priest," in contrast with other
women of faultless reputation and fair conduct. This
would be injurious in its tendency and tone; but the
lecturer transcended all this. In order to vindicate his
Church's apathy towards us (totidem verbis), although a
man " had lived in continuous adultery, committed mur-
der," and as it were wallowed in all conceivable impurity
and crime, yet by one faint movement of his will toward
God, in confession and before the priest, by virtue of ab-
solution, THAT MAN was as moral, " clean," and spiritu-
ally white before Heaven's throne as if he had never
sinned or fallen !—nay more, the antinomian enthusiasm
of the lecturer did not pause even here; he concluded in
a climax of moralanalysis, which seemed to say, a priest-
absolved adulterer and murderer is a much nobler speci-
men of man than one whose life had been unstained by
fearful crime, apart from the justifying machinery of a
Romish confessional ! But, perhaps the reader may an-

ticipate 'Father Newman was at last content with such a
rhetorical apology for crime and criminals. By no
metals !—he actually took his audience in pictorial
'idea to a disgusting -public execution-scene; described
in glowing pathos the intense eagerness of all Italian
crowds to hear whether or no the criminal had repented
and confessed ; and, when the attendant priest at last
announced the sudden conversion of the criminal in his
cell, just before his being brought forth for execution, he
informed us—such is the piety of a Romish crowd, as
contrasted with an English mob—a shout of spiritual
triumph was heard to ascend from the assembled multi-
tude. Had this, too, been all, something might be said,
perchance, to mitigate the antinomian effect of the entire
narrative; but (as before) Mr. Newman was determined
to canonise the criminal at once ; and so he dared to
tell the audience that, as with baptised infants, so with
executed criminals, it was almost a subject of spiritual
gratitude to think " they were taken from the evil to
come." ! ! I protest, before heaven, such lectures as
these are not simply heretical in doctrine, but positive
violations of common morals, as to their tone and influ-
ence."