The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-11-05 00:00:00

UNIVERSITY 4- CLERICAL AETIrs.

OXFORD, Our. 30.—Ttsla day Om grrtticuncrs
were elected Fellows of University CoDeL e :—On the
Foundation of William of Durham—Mr. Wiliam
ley, M.A., Michel Fellow of Queen's. On the Founda-
tion of Sir Simon Bennet—Mr. George Grafi ;itie Bradley,
8.A., Scholar of University.
PREFERMENT'S AND APPOTNTM ENTS.--ReV. E. Dodd.
B. D., to the vicarage of St. Giles:s, with St. Peter's p.er-
petual curacy, Cambridge.—Rev. A. R. Pennington, to
the incumbency of the chapelry district of St. James,
Walthamstow, Essex.—Rev. H. Blayds, M.A , vicar of
Southstoke, Somerset, the prebend or canonry of Wcd_
more.—Rev. J. Bradford, to the vicarage of Pinhoc, va-
cant by the cession of the Rev. J. James.-Rev. J. Haigh,
8.A., incumbent of St. Thomas's church, t rookes, York-
shire, to the incumbency of St. Paul's church, Iludders-
field.—The Rev. Henry Lowther, of Dis:ingtcn, to the
living of Aikton, Cumberland. —Rev. H. Roberts, M.A.,
to the curacy of St, Botolph's, Colchester, natant by the
resignation of the Rev. E. S. Bull.—Rev. W. Sabine, to
the curacy of Mylor and Mabe.—Rev. D. Wheeler, to
the ministry of the new district of St. Paul's, Worcester.
—Rev. J. Trevit, curate of Hordon-on-the-Hill, to the
vicarage of the same place, vacant by the death of the
Rev. T. Lane.—Rev. J. Richardson, 8.A., assistant-cu-
rate of Haslingden, in the parish of Whalley,tothe newly-
endowed district of Musbury, in the parish of Bury, Lan.
cashire.—Rev. W. Thompson, M.A., to the rectory and
parish church of Gathcombe, Isle of Wight, vacant by the
death of the Rev. H. Worsley.—Rev. Mr. Neale, recently
curate of Potterne, near Devizes, to the chaplaincy of the
house of correction at Horsley, Gloucester.—Rev. J. C.
Gregory, to the curacy of Bradford, Wilts.—Rev D.
Lewis, M.A., master of the grammar school, Rhayador,
to the curacy of Darowen, Montgomeryshire.—Rev. J.
B. Meadows. M.A.. to the evening lectureship and cu-
racy of St. James, Clerkenwell.—Rev. J. ti emery, M.A.,
t the deanery of the Island of Jersev.—Rev J. Rushton,
8.A., to the perpetual curacy of Brackenfield, Derbyshire.
OBSERVANCE OF THE RITUAL—With respect to SOUCC
usages which are supposed to owe their origin to the
efforts of this school, it is much to be desired that more
correct notions might prevail, especially among the laity.
Whatever may have been the object of the success of
those writers of whom we speak in directing attention to
such matters, yet the advocates of rubrical observances
ore more frequently found in the persons of those who
have no sympathy with their doctrinal peculiarities.
.!t

. .
is necessary that the laity should be made aware of this
fact; the same time, I must caution the clergy that
they continually bear in mind that the edification of God's
people is the object of all their ministration, and that
they will sacrifice the end to the means if they offend
their congregations needlessly upon immaterial points. I
do not say that the interests of religion would not be ad-
vanced if the performance of our ritual were brought
back to what it really was; on the contrary, I believe the
reverse would be the fact; but I do say that ministers
take an inadequate view of their duty, if by adhering
too strictly to the rubric they thus sever the affections of
their people and alienate them from them. Let them ex-
plain its nature and uses to their flocks, and so win their
minds towards them. From the time that I entered the
diocese, I have been consulted by individuals among you
on these matters, and they will remember that it has been
in this spirit I have ever thought it my duty to advise.—
Recent Charge of the Bishop of Chester.

DAILY SERVICE.-Another accusation basbeen brought
against the clergy, as if they were violating a solemn en-
gagement, inasmuch as they do not "say the moming and
evening prayer in the church or chapel where they minis-
ter, or cause a bell to be tolled, that the people may come
to hear God's word, and to pray with them." There is every
reason to believe that this injunction, though found in the
preface to the Book of Common Prayer, was never in any
age generally observed in our church. Neither can there
be any justice in reproaching the clergy of the present day,
because they follow tLe practice of their predecessors, and
do not commence a service which is neither " accus-
tomed," nor enforced upon them by the authority to
which deference would be due. Granting, however, that
the clergyman is bound to these daily services, can he
advantageously introduce them ? And here we may justly
say concerning our people, " 0 that there were such an
heart in them, such a spirit of piety throughout the land,
as prepared them for these services, and allowed the
clergy to give themselves more entirely to the worship of
the sanctuary! It would be well, also, if the temporal
circumstances of the people were such as would make
them able, even if they were willing, to devote themselves
more constantly to " the word of God and to prayer."
But the fact. we know, is otherwise. The situation of our
churches, often remote from the population; the length
of our services; the degree of labour which is required of
every man in this crowded country, in order that he may
maintain his place in whatever position lie fills, whether
high or low : these causes render it absolutely impossible
that any except a most inconsiderable proportion of our
people, even if they felt as David felt concerning "the
courts of the Lord's house," should be able to attend the
morning or afternoon prayer on week-days. This is not
a matter we can doubt about : it has been experienced
recently wherever the practice hes been tried : it has been
long experienced in all cathedral towns, where, unhappily,
it does not appear, as some have supposed, that the appe-
tite will grow with the opportunity. Such being the case,
I cannot think it the duty of the minister to commence
tthhaet, prbaecigtnice of daily prayers. But it is very desirable
relieved from this labour, he should invite his
people to such services as rnahy can attend • that in towns
especially, on one, or two, or even three evenings' in the
week, his church should be open to maintain the impres-
sion which is made upon the Lord's-day.—Charye of the
Bishop of Chester.