Polynesian., 1852-02-21
From the London Times, October 22d, 1851.
LORD ABERDEEN ON CHURCH EXTEN.
SION
Aberdeen "Wednesday Oc.

1
| Aberdeen, Wednesday, Oct Is.
Yesterday afternoon public meeting was held
In the County rooms of this city, in furtherance of
a project for raising from 300,00Ol to 400, ,OOOL
towards the building of new churches with view
to their being endowed in connexion with the es-
tablished church of Scotland. The hall was crowd
led by highly respectable audience, and the chair
was occupied by the Earl of Aberdeen There
were also on the platform the Right Hon. Lord
Haddo, the Right Hon. Lord James Hay, Sir John
Forbes, Bart, the Hon. Admiral Gordon NJ. P
the Lord Provost of the city, the Rev. Principal
IDewar, of Marischal College, the Rev. DR.. Robert
son, of Edinburgh, &c.
The Earl of Aberdeen, in opening the proceed
ings, said,-LadiA and gentlemen, as have been
requested to preside at this meeting perhaps it may
be expected that should address to you some OBJ
servatlons explanatory of the objects which have
brought us together. In doing so need not detain
you long, for | am aware shall be followed by
those who are more competent to bring the whole
OF this important matter before yC and to impress
1t, as hope, on your hearts and consciences. The
first question ask myself is, whether this move
ment of the General Assembly of the Church of
Scotland is necessary and called for by the wants
and actual condition of the people. Now without
going into any very minute details, | think the
mention of few facts will convince you that such
is really the case, and that are constrained by
many considerations of duty and interest to give it
our best support | shall not probably be thought
guilty of exaggeration or blinded by national par
tiality if say that Scotland, for long series of
years, has been eminently distinguished among the
nations of Europe for the moral religious, and in
tellectual culture of its people. This has been
generally and indeed universally admitted but can
say that such is the case at the present moment?
| | greatly fear we have no such claim to any such
distinction, and that we are living on our former
reputation. 1t is true that the population of this
country has greatly increased, and that it has
brought great increase of material prosperity and
wealth but grieve to say that the increase of
crime has been greatly beyond the proportion of
the increase of population. find that during the
last 20 years the increase of crime has been six or
seven times in increased ratio to that of the pop
ulation. BY recent calculations made in Glasgow
and Edinburgh, it is found that in those two cities
alone there are not less than 900 of coun-
trymen living without any connexon with any de-
nomination of Christians whatever. Our populous
towns and parishes probably in no very differ
ent condition, and it has been assumed that more
than 500 000of the population of this country are
living without God in the world. This is certainly
prospect that cannot fail to give uneasiness to
every well-wisher of his country. | do not think
that the increase of crime is to be met efectually
by severe laws and punishments the remedy must
| be sought for elsewhere. Again, | may observe,
with respect to the condition of the people, recol-
llect in the course of last session of Parliament,
noble friend of mine made statement in the House
of Lords which, at the time, appeared TO me utterly
incredible. The Duke of Argyll stated that in
Scotland alone the amount of ardent spirits con-
tsumed was 100000 gallons, thereby allowing
more than three gallons for every man, woman, and
child in the kingdom. Doubts being expressed as
to this statement, reference made to official
documents, when it was proved that my noble
friend was perfectly correct. Now, you will see
that, when the necessary deduction is made on ac-
count of those who take part in this consumption,
it leaves such state of ntemperance as, believe,
was never witnessed in any civilized country in the
world. And need not remind you that this de-
grading vice necessarily leads to, and is the fertile
source of outrage, violence, and crime. This state
ofmatters presents prospect which is anything but
satisfactory to well%isileT oI mis- country. But
inns is not the worst it is found that very large
proportion of persons are living without any regard
to religious observances, and not connected with
any religious denomination. This is deplorable,
even now stated the extent to which it exists
but 1t is not the worst; for recently there has been
system of diabocal activity exhibited in the cir
culation of immoral and irreligious publications
among the people, producing not only the mere abb
sence of attention to religious observanees, and
creating indifference to the most sacred TRUTHS but
actually establishing and confirming infidelity and
unbelief. Undoubtedly the cure of these evils is
closely connected with the system of education to
| be established and improved in this country. am
not disposed to say anything further on this sub
lject than this that, without undertaking. the ad-
vantages of secular instruction, if the heart to be
touched, as it must be, the sanctions Of religion
will be found to be indispensable.
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