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May 6, at eleven.

20, at eleven.

June 3, at eleven.

Monday.
Friday...

July 6, at eleven.

10, (end of term) at ten. The examiners have given notice, that the following 11, (Stat. B. D. Comm.) at ten. will be the classical subjects of examination for the degree 24, at eleven. of B.A., in the year 1842:July 4, at eleven,

Demosthenes Adversus Leptinem,
Juvenal Satires X. XIII, XIV.

Proceedings of Societies.

SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING THE EMPLOYMENT OF
ADDITIONAL CURATES IN POPULOUS PLACES.

which it is much to be desired may be followed in other quarters, as it would enable the society, from time to time, to transfer the benefit of their grants from one locality to another, and thus greatly to extend the sphere of their usefulness. If to these twenty-one new grants be added the ninety-one announced in former reports, and still in force, the total number of parishes and districts aided by the society will be 112, and their aggre

The committee are happy to be able to inform the subscribers and friends of this society, that, since a statement was last published, an addition has been made to the society's means of usefulness, which, though very far from commensurate with the field of exertion that still lies before them, holds out an encouraging hope that the benefit resulting from the esta-gate population will amount to 1,956,000. Besides these blishment of the additional curates' fund is becoming more widely known, and that their sedulous adherence to those principles of ecclesiastical order on which the society is based, and the strict impartiality with which its resources have been dispensed, are properly appreciated. In July, 1839, it was stated that the society was pledged for the ensuing year, to the immediate payment of a sum which amounted to within 1001. of its whole annual income, that income being then 6,7007., and the aggregate of grants 6,6007. With two exceptions, all the grants then enumerated are still in force, and renewable, should the cases deserve it, at Easter, and consequently none of the income so appropriated has again become at the disposal of the committee. Nevertheless, by means of an increase in their annual subscriptions, and of the interest arising from their funded property, the society has lately found itself in a condition to make further annual grants to the extent of 1,000l. This sum, therefore, reserving a portion of it to meet some urgent applications, which it was understood had been kept back from an idea that the whole of the society's income was pre-engaged, the committee have lost no time in appropriating. From among the numerous applications which have been transmitted to this office, and many of which have claims almost equally pressing with those of the selected cases, the cominit tee have made grants to the following :

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The committee have next to state, that their offer to the eleven places enumerated in their last report, of a grant for three years, at the end of which period the sum available for those cases will be exhausted, has, in each instance, been thankfully accepted. The acceptance of a grant for so limited a period affords a satisfactory indication of the expectation of the parties, that by the time the society's aid must be withdrawn, its place will have been supplied by local exertions; and it also sets an example

112 annual grants, the committee have lately been
enabled to take steps, under the seventh fundamental
rule of the society, towards the encouragement of endow-
ments. Several applications having been made to them
for grants in aid of endowment, and, feeling the import-
ance of securing (wherever it is possible) a provision of
this permanent character, they have laid down fixed
rules upon the subject, and in conformity thereto have
offered the following sums, viz.: To St. Botolph, Col-
chester, 4007. to meet 8007. raised by the parish. To
Ashby-de-la-Zouch, 500l. to meet 10007. raised by the
parish. To Coates, parish Whittlesey, 500l. to meet an
Such is the account of
endowments of CO7. per annum.
the society's progress during the past year. If it be said
that, compared with the extent of spiritual destitution
which still remains unrelieved, the progress made is in-
considerable, this is freely acknowledged, and few can be
more alive to the fact than the committee, before whose
notice the exigencies of populous districts have been
But, notwithstanding this,
brought in painful detail.
they have thought it wiser, and more satisfactory, only to
make such grants as they have the present means of
paying, and always to confine them to cases in which the
certain and immediate employment of a curate is guaran-
teed. And so long as the provision for a large number of
the ministers of the church is allowed to remain dependent
on private charity alone, the committee will continue to
dispense on these principles, and to the best of their
ability, the fund entrusted to their charge; and they do
not doubt, that, as in the present, so in every succeeding
year, it will be gradually augmented by the pious contri-
butions of the members of the church.

W. J. RODBER, Secretary. 4, St. Martin's place, April, 1840.

INCORPORATED SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING THE EN

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At a meeting of the committee held the 16th of March, the archbishop of Canterbury in the chair, among other business transacted, grants were voted towards building a ch. at Coundon, par. of St. Andrew, Auckland, Durham; at Dukinfield, par. of Stockport, Chester; at Horsehay, par. of Dawley, Salop; at Twickenham, Midd. ; rebuilding chap. at West Butterwick, par. of Owston, Lincoln; enlarging by rebuilding chapel at Winsby, par. of Bradford, Wilts; increasing the accommod. in the church at Urchfont, Wilts; enlarging the church at Whilnethan, Suffolk; repairing the chap. at Birkenshaw, York; enlarging the ch. at Sowerby, York; rebuilding the ch. at Raskelf, York; rebuilding church at Rawmarsh, York; rebuilding the belfry of the church at Llanmarewic, Montgomery.

SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATION

IN FOREIGN PARTS.

OF

THE GOSPEL

A ta meeting convened by the Lord Mayor, on the requisition of more than four hundred merchants, bankers, and traders, of the city of London (and held at the Mansion House on Wednesday, April 8), for the pur pose of enabling the Society for the Propagation of th

Gospel to supply the lamentable deficiency in the provision now made for divine worship and religious instruction in the colonies, the right honourable the Lord Mayor in the chair. The following resolutions were carried unanimously:

Resolution I.-Moved by the archbishop of Canterbury; seconded by Thomas Wilson, Esq.-"That it is the bounden duty of the English nation, in gratitude to Almighty God for its manifold spiritual privileges, and the great extent of her commerce, to use every means in its power to spread the knowledge of the gospel throughout the world, and especially in countries peopled from its own shores, or forming a part of the British Empire." Resolution II.-Moved by the bishop of London; seconded by John Labouchere, Esq.-"That the want of an adequate public provision for the worship of God and the religious instruction of the people in the colonies and dependencies of the crown imposes the strongest obligation upon individuals to take measures for the supply of this lamentable deficiency."

seconded by chief justice Robinson." That the merchants, bankers, traders, and other inhabitants of the city of London, from their intimate connection with the British colonies, are called upon to promote their spiritual welfare by contributing towards the execution of the society's designs."

Resolution V.-Moved by Charles J. Manning, Esq.; seconded by Henry Hoare, Esq.-"That a committee be formed in the city for the purpose of carrying the foregoing resolutions into effect; and that sub-committees be named for each ward or parish, with a view of obtaining for the society a regular and permanent support among all classes of the inhabitants."

Resolution VI.-Moved by the bishop of Llandaff'; seconded by the bishop of Bangor." That the thanks of the meeting be given to the right honourable the Lord Mayor, for his ready and courteous compliance with the prayer of the requisitionists, in granting to them the use of the Egyptian Hall, for presiding upon this occasion, and for the able and dignified manner in which he has filled the chair."

Upwards of 1000l. were contributed at the close of the meeting. In accordance with the fifth resolution it is proposed to form district committees in the several parishes; and with a view to make the objects of the society more generally known in the city, an office will be opened in one of the great thoroughfares, where a clerk will be in attendance to communicate information and to

Resolution III.-Moved by the bishop of Nova Scotia ; seconded by Mr. sheriff Evans." That the long-continued and increasing efforts of the Society for the propagation of the Gospel to provide churches and clergymen for the colonies, and to maintain missionaries in heathen lands, entitles it to the approbation and support of all who pray for the extension of Christ's kingdom upon earth." Resolution IV.-Moved by archdeacon Wilberforce; receive subscriptions.

EXETER.

Biocesan Intelligence.

5. That no new pensions be granted to the present schoolmasters, but that their salaries be continued for half a year after the cessation of their connection with the society."

It was agreed that this report be considered at the next general meeting.

LONDON.

Scilly Islands.-At the General Meeting of the Board of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, in April, the following statement respecting the spiritual instruction of the islanders was made:-"The standing committee beg to report to the board, that they find it necessary to bring under consideration the state of the society's mission in the Scilly Islands. The board is aware that for a long period the society has main- Instructions to be Observed by the Rural Deans in the tained two clergymen as missionaries in the islands Diocese.-1. The rural dean is diligently to inquire, and of St. Martin, St. Agnes, Tresco, and Bryhar, and has give true information to the archdeacon, to be by him paid the salaries of the schoolmasters in those islands. made known to the bishop, of all matters concerning the But the Scilly Islands having recently been declared, clergy, churchwardens, and other officers of the church, by an order in council, issued under the authority of par- which it may be necessary, or useful, that the ordinary liament, to be under the jurisdiction of the bishop of should know. 2. Upon being made acquainted with the Exeter, it has been notified to the society, that the two avoidance of any benefice within his district, he is to clergymen heretofore employed by the society in those make a return thereof to the bishop, through the archislands cannot be recognised as missionaries by the deacon, in order that due inquiry may be made into the bishop, and that they cannot be allowed to officiate in the state of the vacant benefice, and sequestration be issued islands, except as assistant curates to the chaplain of the out of the Ecclesiastical Court. 3. He is, likewise, once lord proprietor. The management of the schools has in every year, previously to the archdeacon's visitation, also lately been taken in hand by the lord proprietor, who and at other times when he shall be required, to inspect has shown great anxiety to provide for the education of the churches and chapels within his district, with their the islanders. The character of the society's connection with chancels and churchyards, and the books, ornaments, and these islands having thus undergone a complete change, utensils thereto belonging; as also the houses, buildings, and it never having been the practice of the society to sup- and glebes, belonging to the incumbents; and to make a port or maintain parochial clergymen in any diocese, the return thereof to the archdeacon at his next visitation, standing committee think it necessary that measures noting all alterations, additions, decays, and dilapidations should be taken to make some provision for the spiritual in the premises. 4. He is also to inspect all parochial benefit of the islands, and then to bring the society's pre- and national schools within his district, and to make a sent connection with them to a close. The standing particular report yearly on the education of the poor, as committee therefore beg to recommend that the follow-connected with the established church; and to obtain ing resolutions, which they have agreed to after a full from time to time such information respecting parochial consideration of the subject, be adopted by the board :- matters as shall be required of him; and to make returns 1. That a pecuniary grant be made by the society on thereof to the archdeacon, to be by him transmitted to behalf of the Scilly Islands, by way of endowment; the the bishop. 5. He shall likewise be ready to advise and interest to be applied towards the support of clergymen assist the churchwardens within his district, in framing who may be hereafter appointed to serve the churches in their presentments of all such things as are amiss within the islands of St. Martin, St. Agnes, Tresco, and Bryhar; their respective parishes, and are by law presentable. 6. and that for this purpose a trust be created, and placed He is also to call the clergy of his district together, whenin the hands of the lord bishop of Exeter, the archdeacon ever the bishop or archdeacon shall appoint; and take of Cornwall, and the lord proprietor of the Scilly Islands, care to disperse such orders as shall be sent to him for for the time being. 2. That the proposed endowment that purpose. 7. He is to inspect, at his annual visitafund be three thousand pounds. 3. That a pension for tion, and at any other time when he may see occasion, the life of 751. per annum each be granted to the Rev. James licences of all stipendiary and assistant curates officiating Lane, and the Rev. George Woodley, the late mission- within his district; and to give immediate notice to the aries of the society. 4. That the pensions already granted bishop of any, who shall officiate as curates without to schoolmasters who have retired on account of age and being duly licensed. infirmity be continued to them during their lifetime.

N. B. The archdeacons will make a yearly report to

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society, and her majesty's commissioners, will furnish grants; and there is no doubt a large sum will be subscribed by the wealthy inhabitants and large firms in the parish. The parishes of Christchurch, Blackfriars-road, and Bermondsey, are to be furnished with an additional church each, and schools, which are much wanting.Times.

Camberwell.-The Rev. Sir E. B. Smyth, Bt., of Hill Hall, Essex, has contributed 3,000l. for the erection and endowment of a new church in the parish of Camberwell.

WORCESTER.

Rev. E. Burn.-A monument has been placed in St. Mary's Church, Birmingham, to the memory of the Rev. E. Burn, M.A., the late minister. The tablet is of white marble, and bears an appropriate inscription, in which testimony is borne to his faithful discharge of ministerial duty for fifty-two years. Under the inscription is a profile in bas-relief.

SCOTTISH EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

New Chapel, Portsoy, Banffshire.-The foundation, stone of a new episcopal church was laid here, in the presence of a large concourse of persons, assembled to witness the solemnity, March 11. After an address and appropriate prayer, by the Rev. A. Cooper, A. D. Abercromby, Esq., then proceeded, in due masonic form, to lay the foundation stone of the sacred edifice, and to fix it in its place, by striking it with the mallet. The dedicatory prayer was then offered up, and the ceremony was closed with the solemn blessing of the church. It is › contemplated to build an episcopal chapel at Dnmferline. The earl of Elgin has subscribed 1007. towards it, and six other gentlemen 50%. each. In Edinburgh our churches are crowded, and if the increase progress in the same ratio, new churches must be built.-Correspondent of Oxford Herald.-[That episcopacy is greatly on the increase in Scotland, there can be no question. It is ad

BOMBAY.

mitted by members of the established church, as well as by dissenters. The late meetings on the subject of nonintrusion, and those held in opposition to them, must have an effect not very advantageous to the establishment; while the ultra views of the voluntaries must deter all men joining them who have any wish to see the state feeling itself responsible for the Christian instruction of the people.]—En.

EDINBURGH.

The annual confirmation was held in St. John's Chapel, Prince's Street, on Thursday the 9th April, by the right reverend M. Russell, LL. D., bishop of Glasgow, in the absence of the primus from indisposition, when 155 persons were confirmed; this number, besides 12 at private confirmations held by the primus throughout the year, is much larger than usual. After the confirmation a very excellent and appropriate address was delivered by the bishop.

COLONIAL CHURCH.

Jan. 13.-C. Sandys appointed chap. to force stationed at Sukkur in Upper Scinde. G. Piggot rejoins his station on Colaba.

CALCUTTA.

Dec. 13.-H. Pratt, appointed chaplain at Nusseerabad; M. J. Jennings at Kurnaul; R. Eteson, at Cawnpore. Dec. 20.-A. Hammond, chaplain at Allahabad; A. B. Spry, chaplain at Gazeepore; C. Garbet, chaplain at →Cawnpore.

New Cathedral.-A meeting was held at Lambeth Palace, March 9, 1840, the archbp. of Canterbury in the chair, when, a statement having been made, from which it appeared that it had been determined to erect at Calcutta a church which should be the metropolitan church of British India; that a site had been granted for it by the government; that the whole cost of the edifice and endowment was estimated at 60,0007.; and that of this sum the lord bishop of Calcutta had munificently contributed 10,000l., and promised 10,0001. more towards the endow

ment; the Honourable East India Company had granted 15,000l. and two additional chaplains; the British resi dents at Calcutta had subscribed upwards of 6,000l.; the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 5,000l.; and that the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel had offered to provide an endowment for one of the four prebends; the following resolutions were unanimously adopted:

"That this meeting greatly approves of the intended work, and earnestly recommends it to the support of the =friends of the church of England.

"That, in order to raise the necessary fund, a subscrip

tion be now entered into."

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our circle of missions around Calcutta, after an absence now of four months, and a journey of 16 or 1700 miles. Mr. Bowyer is himself doing well. He is laborious; his schools are increasing, and fresh villages are soliciting his aid. Barripore and Janjera are, however, the most Professor Malan visited them before he sailed for Madras fruitful and encouraging scenes of our Calcutta missions. and Suez last month, and his opinion is the more valuable because he had previously been down to Kishnaghur where several thousand enquirers and converts have, under the Church Missionary Society, been receiving in a greater or less degree, the Christian doctrine. As professor Malan may possibly forget the particulars he communicated to me by letter, perhaps the society will allow me to state them: should the professor repeat the account heart was happy; I felt delightfully surprised at Barrion his arrival at home you will not be displeased. pore and Tallygunge; I spent a Sunday with Mr. Driberg, and accompanied him to Magratias and Sulprea, at both of which villages I preached to the natives it Bengalee. I was thankful in my heart to God that I was privileged to witness such number of devout, sincere, and tried Christians, so simple, so ignorant of the world, and yet, as far as man can judge from probation, so truly under the influence of the Holy Ghost. I preached also at Sojhaberea and at Janjera to about 200 natives; it is the service I catechised them. I must say I was denow their harvest time, they could not all attend. After An old woman, lighted and surprised at their answers. among others, blind with age, whom I asked, if, in the midst of her troubles, she thought of God, answered, I know nothing else, do not ask me more.' So to that Ah, sir, I trust in my Saviour with all confidence; but poor ignorant and unknown soul the love of her Saviour is sufficient. It was a lesson to me which I shall not soon forget I hope. I was anxious to witness with my own eyes the state of things in our missions. Now really, when we consider that in these two missionary c.rcuits alone, there are about 1800 Christians, not of yester

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day, but most of them tried and approved; and that these encouraging results are the fruit of the college, is not to complain being ungrateful to God? From what I have seen at Kishnaghur and Barripore, I decidedly think Barripore and Tallygunge the most interesting; the work is of older standing and more mature." Such testimony the venerable society will, I am sure, appreciate highly. It is to me most cheering, as confirming all I have reported for five or six years concerning these missions, in my various communications.

Bishops of Montreal and Toronto.-Lord J. Russell, in answer to questions put by Mr. Pakington, in the house of commons, March 30, stated, that the bishop of Toronto received, as archdeacon of York, 3007.; as rector of Toronto, 5331.; as principal of King's College, 2501.; making a total of 1,0831. Archdeacon Strachan was appointed bishop of Toronto in January, 1839, on his own offer to accept the office without any addition to his then emoluments. In the discussions which took place on the archdeacon's proposal that Upper Canada should be erected into a separate see, Lord Glenelg consulted the archbishop of Canterbury, with whom the measure was arranged, and it was distinctly laid down that in assenting to the proposal the government could not pledge itself to any extent to provide a salary for the office. When the bishop was lately in this country, he requested him (Lord J. Russell) to notify to the governor, that till some satisfactory arrangement could be made for the support of the see, he (the bishop) would be content to remain with his present income. He was told in answer, that there remained nothing to state to the lieutenant-governor on that point, that officer being in possession of all the correspondence which passed at the time the bishopric was created; but, to remove any misapprehension of the terms of that arrangement, it was added, that Lord J. Russell conceived that the agreement to accept the office without any addition to the emoluments received as archdeacon, did not imply that the emoluments so received were guaranteed by the government. The following was the income of the bishop of Montreal -He received as bishop of Montreal, 1,0007.; as archdeacon of Quebec, 5001; as rector of ditto, 4007.; for house rent, 907.; making a total of 1,9907. There was at present before

the treasury an arrangement proposed by the bishop for the consolidation of the items of which his income was composed. The intention was to fix the bishop's salary at 1,7501. there being assigned to the bishop's curate who would fill the office of rector of Quebec, a salary of 250l., being the stipend which the bishop at present allowed him.

MADRAS.

The Madras diocesan secretary of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, has sent home a gratifying report of the progress of religion and education in that diocese. The following are extracts:

"Three missionaries, young, active, and zealous, are occupying the scenes of former missionary exertion, Tinnevelly, where, till recently, only one was employed. Entirely new stations have been formed at Madura, Dindigul, and Combaconum, while the circle has been greatly extended in the neighbourhood both of Tanjore and Trichinopoly. Attempts have been made, not without expense, to establish separate missions at Pulicat, thirty miles to the northward; and, closer under our eye, at the old seat of Romanism, St. Thomé; while the operations under the Vepery mission have been extended to various villages in a space stretching thirty miles westward.

"The station at Vellore has been again supplied with a missionary in the recently ordained deacon, the Rev. F. H. A. Schmitz.

"On the feast of Epiphany the Rev. Messrs. Kohlhof and Heyne were admitted to priest's orders, and cate chists Godfrey and Abishaganaden to deacon's orders. Mr. Godfrey is to be placed at Trichinopoly, which station, I regret to add, will, for the present, be under his sole charge, it having pleased God to remove from this world the Rev. D. Schreyvogel; he departed this life on the 16th Jan. 1840, at Pondicherry, at the age of sixtythree.

"Since the return of the bishop, Mr. M'Leod, from Bishop's College, has been admitted on the list of the society's catechists; he bids fair to be a valuable acquistion, and purposes offering himself for holy orders i about twelve months."

Miscellaneous.

Address from the Bishop of Chichester to the Rural Deans in his Diocese. My Reverend Brethren, When you were assembled with me in the beginning of the last month, I read to you the outline of a scheme intended for the improvement and extension of your office in the service of our common Master and Lord. On that occasion your attention was chiefly directed to the Board of Education, which at a public meeting at Brighton has since been happily placed under the charge of the Diocesan Association: but other particulars were then briefly noticed as coming within the scope of my intentions; and I now submit the whole plan to you in a more formal shape, in the hope that with the benefit of your judgment and experience it may grow hereafter into one uniform and regular system of decanal administration throughout the diocese, which can scarcely fail of affording essential aid to the bishop in the discharge of his duty, and, by the blessing of God, may be the means of diffusing more widely the graces of Christian union and benevolence amongst the members of our church.

The measures I have ventured to recommend are distinctly set forth in the suggestions appended to this letter, and the substance of them may be comprised in a few words, viz., that you should convoke respectively, according to ancient usage, once at least, every quarter, the members of your rural chapters, namely, the clergy resident in your several deaneries, and consult with them respecting the best method of carrying on the great work of the ministry within your districts, and of promoting every where the interests of Christian faith and charity, under the sanction of the church; and further that, after every quarterly meeting, you should report to the arch deacon, for the information of the bishop, all such results of your deliberations and inquiries as may appear to you important for him to know.

It may seem perhaps at first sight that, in urging upon

you this proposal, I am seeking to increase a task always without emolument, and already burdensome enough: but this, I trust, will not be the case. The burden wi be lighter by being shared with others; and when I consider how great a good the scheme is capable of produc ing, how favourable the time, and what obvious facilitis you possess in your established position and relations to the diocese for its accomplishment, I should be unjust to my own feelings, as well as to my experience, if I were in express any doubt of your willingness and readiness for the task.

But scruples of another kind may arise in your minds; and lest you should be apprehensive that I am inviting you to engage in matters beside or beyond your duty, and with questionable authority, I shall beg your attention to one or two remarks which may serve to set your minds at rest upon these points; preinising only that it is not as courts for contentious jurisdiction as of old, nor yet zi synods for theological inquiry and debate, that I am seeking to revive the rural chapters, but, as brotherly councils} for mutual information and encouragement, with a view to a more enlightened discharge of the known and estab lished duties in which we are severally engaged.

It appears from very accurate researches which have been made into the past and present history of rura deaneries, that they had their origin in very ancient times. and were at first instituted for the assistance of the ordinary in his important and onerous duties; that the chapters, consisting of the clergy in each deanery, met oner quarter, and sometimes oftener, with the consent of th archdeacon, and under the presidency of the rural dears, for the dispatch of ecclesiastical business, partly judical and partly ministerial; but that, having lost by degrees their jurisdiction and authority, they have now generaly sunk into decay; that the offiee itself of rural dean, where continued (for it is not in all places so), has fallen

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in order that its energies may be brought to bear with undivided force upon the body of the church, and not only upon the church, but also upon those who have wandered or have been led astray from it. It is a painful fact, that the clergy of our establishment, though labour

each other and consult less together for the common interest of the ministry, than any other in the whole world. The fault, however, is not so much a defect of disposition for union, as the absence of all occasions and opportunities of cultivating it: they have no general meetings excepting at visitations, when they come together to hear, and not to communicate with each other; and, were it not for the decided advantages and superiorities which they possess in many respects, and above all in the scriptural and apostolical character of their order, there would be great reason to apprehend that they might sometimes fail in their conflicts with other sects, who understand so well the advantage of concerted and united efforts, and are always found to apply them skilfully in their opposition to the church.

in dignity and influence, and that the rural chapters or councils have generally passed into desuetude and almost into oblivion. They have never been extinct however, nor have they been put down by any law or authority; the decanal divisions for the most part remain-the consulting members are still at their posts-the rural deansing earnestly, each in his own field of duty, know less of themselves, in this diocese at least, are in office--and all are ready to come forth into harmonious and active operation at the call of the same authority, and whenever the same or like services shall be required at their hands. Now this is precisely the state of things which the church presents to you at the present day. New burdens have been thrown upon the see by the legislature, and the bishop earnestly invites you to afford him that aid and information which you alone can give, and without which his own labours would attain but imperfectly their end. Your own duties in your several cures are every day becoming more difficult and more important, and in no way can you derive so much benefit, in the discharge of them, as from that interchange of counsel, experience, and assistance, to which this revival of the rural chapters would necessarily lead. And as for those noble institutions which piety and charity have dedicated in this Christian land to the discountenance of immorality and vice, the welfare of the church, and the extension of Christ's kingdom throughout the world, I can imagine no better instruments for making known their labours and exciting a general interest in their behalf, than district councils of intelligent and watchful ministers, conveniently disposed throughout the diocese, and having the whole compass of it within the scope of their observation and influence.

Such are the grounds upon which you are now requested to revive your rural chapters, and to call your brother clergy periodically around you; and when you read in your commission that you are authorized and required to report to the bishop all such matters as may be important for him to know, and reflect further upon the many growing spiritual interests which come under this description, you cannot doubt for a moment either respecting the authority of your meetings, or the benefits which all parties may derive from them.

Other advantages there are, likely, indeed almost certain, to grow out of these re-unions, on which I need only glance, namely, the promotion of social intercourse and comfort amongst persons engaged in the same high calling, aiming at the same ends, and encompassed with the same dangers and temptations; the communication and diffusion of tried improvements in the pastoral and ministerial care; the mutual assistance and encouragements in congenial studies; the wider exercise and influence of superior minds in the prosecution of what is good; and, more than all, perhaps, a clearer insight into the moral state and condition of the people in every district, and a more uniform and systematic application of the means calculated to improve them. But there is one other benefit respecting which I cannot be silent, and which, without appearing eminently in any portion, promises to prevail throughout the scheme, giving grace and brightness to the whole, namely, a strong tendency to a more perfect union of counsels and of action amongst the different members of our ministry, supplying in some measure a want in the English church, unknown to its early history, and almost peculiar to it now; I mean that of periodical assemblies and synods, and of the co-operation which they are calculated to produce. I am not indeed prepared to say that our ancient system of convocations could be revived with advantage in the present temper of the public mind, or would in fact be the best remedy for the evils under which we labour, but sure I am that there never was a moment in the history of our church when the advantage of brotherly counsels amongst its ministers was more necessary. No one can be insensible to the difficulties which surround our establishment at the present moment, and few will deny that there is sufficient learning and piety amongst her ministers to cope with and overcome them; of zeal too there is abundance, and of discoursers and contemplative students not a few. What, however, is most wanting is a more cordial union and a more perfect understanding amongst the members of the ministry,

Nor is it only the loss of union and collective strength which is the effect of our isolated labours and sectional speculations. The clergy are sometimes associated in each other's minds with some opinions of little consequence on which they differ, or with some local and conflicting interests by which they have been disturbed, rather than with those great and healing principles and truths which lie tranquilly in the bosoms of the great body of them, to be called forth only in moments of confidence and affection; the consequence is, that when they do meet on ordi→ nary occasions, they either shrink involuntarily from each other, or are occupied with matters calculated to repel rather than conciliate; and thus estimable men, well entitled to each other's regards come together only to separate, without any advancement of Christian fellowship, and without any commerce of gifts and graces with each other; and the church suffers in the want of confidence and co-operation which follows. Now there is strong reason to believe that the councils recommended in our plan would have a tendency the reverse of all this the matter for discussion would be provided beforehand, and entirely calculated for edification and peace; matter too of so high a nature, and involving such deep Christian interests, as must make all petty griefs and differences shrink into nothing, and yet so practicable, and so limited, and so well defined, as to give little occasion for speculation or debate, and none for the engendering of strife; the only contest amongst the members would be, which should stand foremost in furthering the great interests on which all would be intent: they would enter upon their counsels each in his best frame of mind, and→→ their hearts having been raised by prayer and praise offered up in unison to God, and then warmed towards each other by the consciousness that they had been labouring together in his service-they would separate with sentiments of mutual good will, and would depart each to his own place, impressed with a deeper sense of his obligation towards the church as a body, and better prepared for the duties and services of his own charge. May God grant that this spirit of concord-the precious ointment which ran down from the head of our great High Priest to the skirts of his garment-be one fruit of your counsels, and then I am certain you would need no further recommendation, nor any higher reward.

Under this hope, my reverend brethren, I willingly leave this proposal to your care, commending you heartily to the grace of God, which alone can give you patience and perseverance for the work, and crown all our labours with success: for, though I am convinced that this measure, or one of like tendency and effect, is requisite for the church at the present day, in order that it may pass in safety through the difficulties which surround it, as well as profit worthily by the high station which it holds and the great advantages it enjoys, I am not sanguine enough to believe that in any case the scheme will produce at once all the good of which it is capable, or that in all cases it will advance with the same steadiness and equal steps: I know too well the obstacles to which all must be liable, and how differently you must be circumstanced in your several districts with respect to the means you possess, and to the aids you may hope to find: suffi

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