The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-02-07

OuuECn are named IN the royal charters
of that distant day. 81. alsO, that of
Gloucester, founded A, d. $50, and the
names OF tweDty-nine private henefsc
'ors are recorded in a charter OF confir-
nation by King Stephen in the year
ll3S, And so we might string a long
'ist OF private endowments To the Ma
tiOnal Churches through the centuries,
down to the recently created bishoprics
Of Liverpool, Newcastle, Southwell and
Truro, during the past eight years, en-
dowed chiefly by private subscriptions,
aided by grants from a few Of the richtr
sees. Though the Church gained i'm
mensely by favors, right or wrong, Of
Henry VIII, the fact remains that it's
principal work to day is done by the tr' Q
personal efforts and benefactions OF its
own people. The total moneys received
from the State by the Church Of Eng
land have been the grants made by Par.
llment in aid Of Queen Anne's BNunty,
being $5,500,000 from 1909 to 1920. In
1878 81 SOC, 900 were granted by Pdrli-
ment for new churches IN populous
places. These two sums comprise all
the grants for which the Church HIS
had to thank Parliment or the State.
MoDEREN GIFTS TO THE CHURCH.
A parliamentary report was presented
in 1876 showing what had been spent
upon buildings and restoring churches in
the "a years from 1910 to 1874 Expendi
tnres under 50, 900 per church were not
counted, The total amount came TO
1922, 800, 900, exclusive of what was
spent on the cathedrals. or this total
it was ascertained that fully $ll5OOO,-
900 we're given in cash by voluntary
donors, not reckoning gifts in the shape
Of lands, building, invested funds, or
money for p1rsonages. There is no
doubt that many such gifts were made
in addition. From 1874 to 1884 the vol
untary contributions for church build
ings and restoring, excluding cathedarl@,
have amounted to over S5S OOO, 600
From 1910 to 1884 the cathedrals have
had nearly IS 500, 900 spent on them.
mostly from private sources. Besides
these shold he recknned many large sums
in aid of burial ground, etc. A very re-
liable estimates places The total of bene
factions given to the National Church
bv free will of the people during the
last A years at $226, 500,0 900, indicating
yearly average Of over So 100000.
PROGRESS oE THE CHURCH,
Church extensions is still being vrgor-
ou-ly pushed forward, In 1886 and 1887
the expenditure exceeded five million
dollars. During tho past thirteen years
special fund for founding six new
English bishoprics has brought in more
than So 800, 000 and the Church is ceas-
ing to complain of the dearth of young
men in her pulpts More than ten thou
sands have been admitted as deacons in
the past fourteens years. the yearly aver
age having risen from 600 10 800 Con-
hrmations up to 1888 averaged 1856 600 n
year, since when they have steadily in
creased up to 214000. And as showing
that the drift OF all these moneys into
the Church's hands has in no way de-
creased the liberality of her people in
directions of general beneficence, we
may recur to the statistics or London
Hospital Sunday with which we started
The total collected on the first Hospital
Sunday, in 1878. was $4,000. This
amount has steadily grown until in 1887
it, was 1854, 900, and of these totals, each
year, the National Church has contribu-
ted nearly fourfod of the total contribu
ted by all of the other religious denOm-
nations put together.
THE CHURCH's PULPIT.
Space forbids more than the bripfest
refer ence to one Of the most interesting
features of the Church's work. Its
hold on the people is growing stronger
every year by the development OF really
great preachers in its pulpits This was
not the case twenty years ago, The
Church then Rlumbered and its congre.
cations dozed. Now the crowds are
found around church pulpits. Cannon
Liddon, Cannon Knox-Little, who re
Gently preached a week of middle advent
sermons in Trinity Church New
York; Canon Body, the Bishop of Peter
borough; the Bishop Of Derry, the Bish
op of Truro, Archdearon Farrar, these
and some of their fellows rarely preach
to congregations of fewer than two tn
five thousands. Church life il vigorous
all around. Missions are always being
set in motion IN the thiCky populated
parts; parish agencies, religious and
charitable. are ceaseless in their pious
efforts. The services are more hearty
and attractive, and the good fellowship
of the clergy with the people more
marked than ever before. II an English
Rip Van Wrinkle were t. revisit his
haunts of thirty years ago he lit rally
would not recognize the sleepy parish
church of his youth in the Furnishing
activities that now radiate from its
heart, and the signs are that the Old Ma
tional Church will do more as the years
roll by to m Ike Engltnd better and hap
pier than she has done at any period IN
her noble hIst,ry.-Mda and Express