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proofs are wanting to render its true nature clear, I will advert to one single circumstance, which, I think, alone must afford sufficient evidence.

"Of all the artifices of the Romish system, the most powerfully efficacious for maintaining the iron despotism with which she ruled the consciences of men, the prolific source of the most monstrous of her abuses, the true working of the mystery of iniquity has ever been found in the maintenance of what is termed auricular confession,' coupled essentially with the power of the priest to give absolution.

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"Now, (I speak not from loose reports. but from the testimony of facts, which have been brought to my knowledge,) attempts have been made recently, in this place, by ministers of the established church, to enforce this very practice on those under their influence."

This is a grave accusation, delivered by an eminent professor in the face of the heads of houses and of the whole university. It is such a charge as demands, in our opinion, the immediate investigation of the Bishop of Oxford. If unfounded, this preacher should be gravely admonished not to deal in such false and dangerous accusations against his brethren. If it can be substantiated, the accuser and the accused should be confronted with each other, and if it can be brought home to any clergyman resident officially in his lordship's diocese, we hesitate not to assert, that however high in station, or irreproachable in character, such a clerk should be forthwith suspended from his spiritual functions, with an intimation that for a second offence he would be at once and for ever deprived of the power of exercising his clerical duties in the diocese of Oxford.

We have noticed this circumstance in the hope that some proper notice may be taken by the ordinary of it;-as we deem it right to draw the attention of the university and the public to this most important fact. It is too plain that we have now arrived at the crisis which has been so long expected. Either the cause of the Reformation and the doctrines of our reformers are to be upheld, or we are to be silently passed over to the rites and ceremonies of popery. The case in question is the " argumentum crucis" by which it must be decided. If the puseyites are at liberty to introduce the rite of auricular confession, they may also introduce any rite or ceremony of the papists; and if a protestant bishop, either from fear or favour, declines to investigate a charge thus publicly brought by an eminent professor before the whole university, there is a virtual end and abolition of the power and superintendence of the episcopal bench.

We say

that this is the real truth and bearing of the

case; and that silence will be viewed by the puseyites as equivalent to an official connivance in their popish propensities.

DIOCESE OF RIPON.-Within the last four years and a half, forty new churches and chapels have been completed in this diocese, a large number of them having received aid from the Ripon Diocesan Churchbuilding Association. Seven churches have been wholly rebuilt, and seventeen are in different stages of progress towards completion, making a total of sixty-four new places of worship, besides thirty schoolrooms licensed within that time for the like purpose.

LICHFIELD.-Chantrey's monument to Bishop Ryder has been erected in Lichfield Cathedral. The Bishop is represented in the attitude of devotion, with his knees supported on a fauld-stool, and his hands gently inclined forward, as in prayer. The likeness is not a striking one, owing to the want of any accurate portrait from which to work, but generally the statue is much admired.

ARREST OF THE APOSTOLIC VICAR-GENERAL, AT BOMBAY.-The arrest of the Apostolic Vicar-General, at Bombay, has caused great agitation. Cardinal Capaccini, it is said, will go shortly to London, and will, no doubt, immediately obtain the liberation of the Vicar. The Cardinal, if he visits London, will, no doubt, do so in a private, not official capacity, there being in existence an act of parliament, strictly prohibiting official intercourse with the papal court.

THE REFORMATION.-On the 31st of October, the 300th anniversary of the festival of the Reformation was celebrated at Wittemberg. In the evening a number of the most respectable persons in the town formed themselves into a procession, and walked to the statue of the great reformer, Martin Luther, where they sang a hymn.

The Queen has been pleased to grant to the Rev. William Whewell, B. D., the place of Master of Trinity College, in the University of Cambridge, void by the resignation of Dr. Christopher Wordsworth.

The Rev. Joseph Betton has been appointed incumbent minister of Beresford episcopal chapel, Walworth.

THE BISHOPRIC OF JERUSALEM.

The Prussian States Gazette of the 17th inst. publishes an exposition of the motives which induced his majesty the king of Prussia to open negotiations with the British government for the establishment of a Protestant Bishopric in Palestine. The following is a circular which M. Eichhorn, Minister of Religious Worship, addressed for this

purpose to each of the Regencies of the kingdom :

"His Majesty the King has taken advantage of his participation in the preservation of peace in the East, to procure for the future a protection for the evangelical church in Turkey similar to that enjoyed by the Greek and Latin churches in that country. As this affair is connected with the most important political rights, to the privation of which evangelical Christians were heretofore exposed by the violent and arbitrary conduct of the local authorities, the advantage which his Majesty has endeavoured to obtain for them by his influence is so much the greater; as, setting aside scientific interests, and the advancement of religion, which inspires a superior ardour, the progress of commerce will hereafter attract a greater number amongst them to create important establishments. In consequence of those considerations, the King has not hesitated to consult with Great Britain, to make considerable sacrifices out of his private fortune, in order to secure for ever for the German evangelical church, which is the mother of all the evangelical confessions which exist, a position in the country where Christianity was produced, in harmony with her dignity and her greatness, beside the Latin and Greek churches.

"A church will be speedily built at Jerusalem for the German Protestants. It will be opened for their worship according to their confession and their liturgy. But to secure this object, an hospital must be constructed for evangelical travellers of small fortune, that scientific or religious pursuits may attract to Jerusalem. It will be necessary, likewise, to found a school. It is not necessary to explain the intimate relation which exists between these institutions and the influence of religion. His Majesty has in consequence commanded that, for the completion of this object, a general collection shall be made in the evangelical churches throughout the Prussian monarchy. The Regency is invited to take the necessary measures to effect this collection. They will send me the sums collected. The Royal Consistory shall receive a private circular announcing the Sunday fixed for this collection, and will appoint the clergymen who are to preside at it.

"EICHHORN,

The Minister of Public Worship."

THE ARCHBISHOP OF COLOGNE agrees to resign his diocesan authority to a coadjutor, in the person of the bishop of Spires, on condition of the reformation of the whole of the cathedral chapter, which showed insubordination to the papal will, and of the theological family at the University of Bonne,

whence the obnoxious doctrines of Kermes were propagated as the creed of enlightened catholics.

INCORPORATED SOCIETY FOR BUILDING CHURCHES AND CHAPELS.-The managing committee have had their second meeting for this session. It was very fully attended. The Lord Bishop of London was in the chair; and amongst the members present were the Venerable Archdeacon Pott, the Rev. Drs. D'Oyly, H. H. Norris, J. Lonsdale, and Benjamin Harrison; N. Connop, jun., J. P. Salt, S. F. Wood, and Benjamin Harrison, Esqrs. After the preliminary business was disposed of, grants were voted towards rebuilding a chapel at Haracott, in the parish of Tavistock, Devon; building a church at Richpool, in the parish of Bedminster, Somerset; building a chapel of ease at Redhill, in the parish of Wrington, Somerset; building a chapel at St. John's, in the parish of St. Helen's, Isle of Wight; building a church at Turnham-green, in the parish of Chiswick, Middlesex; rebuilding the church at Old Swinford, Worcestershire; rebuilding the church at Heavitree, Devon; rebuilding the church at St. Andrew's the Great, Cambridge; rebuilding the church at Trusthorp, Lincolnshire; erecting a new north transept to the church at Tremuschion, Flintshire; re-pewing the church at Llangadwallader, Denbigh; building a north transept to and re-pewing the church at Ansty, Wilts; building a gallery and repewing the church at Willingole Doe, Essex; erecting a gallery in the church at Chilleston, Derby; enlarging the church at West Felton, Salop; re-pewing the church at Tettershall, Stafford; enlarging (by rebuilding) the church at Abergwile, Carmarthenshire; repewing the body of St. James's church, in the city of Newark; enlarging the church at Petersham, Surrey: amounting to eighteen grants, nine of which are either for building new churches or rebuilding old ones.

FRANKLIN'S LIFE.-Mr. M'Neile, at Liverpool, has delivered a lecture on the Life and Character of Franklin, at the request of several American gentlemen. The lecture room was crowded. The pro- . ceeds were intended for the Printers' Pension Society. The Rev. Lecturer has been requested to publish his address, which was a highly interesting one. We have only room for one anecdote illustrative of Franklin's rules of early rising. I will tell you a circumstance that occurred lately in this town. A journeyman house painter, who had long entertained infidel sentiments, and was addicted to corresponding bad practices, was employed in his trade upon a house nearly opposite to mine. From his elevated position, he saw over my blind into my study, and he observed me at my work. The next

morning, at an early hour, he saw the same. This attracted his attention; and the third morning he came still earlier, but I was before him. He ascertained who I was, and kept watching me over the blind every morning while his job opposite to me lasted. In the mean time, as I learned afterwards, he began to reason with himself, saying, "This gentleman must be in earnest, however, right or wrong;" and he said, moreover, "the result of all this reading and writing so early, morning after morning, must, I should think, be worth hearing. I will go and hear what he has to say.' Accordingly he came to my church. He heard me describe the aching anxieties of the human soul, not to be satisfied with any created thing, but aching still, and longing for repose until it found it in the bosom of the living God. He heard me describe the way

His

in which a God of holiness can admit a sinner to such repose-the way in which a sinner may enjoy that holy communion. heart was touched; the secret cause of his infidelity was detected; it was not a want of evidence in the revelation of God, but a want of willingness in man to be conformed to the character of God. Before a rising willingness to be holy, all the scepticism of his intellect disappeared; and instead of a sullen infidel, he is, I have reason to hope, a happy, cheerful Christian.

DR. HOWLEY will be the first primate in England who has crowned and married the reigning sovereign, and afterwards baptized the heir apparent to the throne.

THE LUCKY LIVING.-The vicarage of Sutton on the Forest, near York, in the presentation of his Grace the Archbishop, has gained this appellation from the very extraordinary fact, that there are no less than eight successive vicars now alive, every one of whom is a dignitary of the church. These fortunate individuals are Dr. Webber, dean of Ripon; Hon. E. Rice, dean of Gloucester; the Rev. Archdeacon Harcourt; the Bishop of St. Asaph; Hon. G. Pellew, dean of Norwich; Hon. H. Howard, dean of Lichfield; the Rev. H. Dixon, canon of York and Ripon; and the present incumbent, the Rev. S. Creyke, recently appointed to a canonry at York.

CLERICAL SPORTING DINNER. The sporting friends of the Rev. John Russell have given him a dinner, at the Golden Lion, Barnstaple, on which occasion they presented him with a picture, executed by Mr. Loder, of Bath, representing the rev. gentleman mounted on his favourite hunter, and surrounded with his dogs. The likenesses are said to be faithful, particularly of the horse; and the execution of the painting is highly creditable to this rising artist. The picture was presented to Mr. Russell by

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THE CLERGY AND DISSENTERS OF EXETER.—We have to record a painful instance of the intolerant spirit which animates the clergy. There is a school established in this city, called the Episcopal Charity School. It was founded by Bishop Blackall, and is supported by voluntary subscriptions and endowments. Into this school a few children of dissenters have, from time to time, intruded. The sight of the unbaptized brats was offensive to the pious eyes of the rev. perpetual curate of St. Sidwell's; and that meek and humble descendant of the apostles appears determined to abate the nuisance. Notice was, therefore, issued for a general meeting; and at this meeting, the question of admitting unbaptized children was opened, but adjourned, in consequence of the non-attendance of the lay members. The motion proposed was, "That no child shall, for the future, be admitted to any of these schools, who has not been baptized according to the ritual of the church of England." A great number of clergymen were present, and only three laymen. Mr. Tripp, and his brother parsons, were in the habit of roaring out for the open Bible; and our Right Rev. and respected Diocesan was one of the chief leaders of these very sincere friends of" Bible education." Since then, we have seen the Bishop himself turn his back upon his old banner, and, casting aside the " open Bible" flag, we have seen him insisting-as we now see the rev. perpetual insisting that the catechism shall be the test of orthodoxy, and previous baptism the sign of qualification. What a pretty exhibition our Very Rev. Dean made in the discussion! "The dissenters ought to provide education for themselves, if they wanted it." Who have swallowed up the funds which were provided by our forefathers for education and aid to the poor? Why, this very dean and his order, who, rioting in the spoils of the Reformation, sit in their seats of learned and luxurious leisure, laughing in their sleeves at the delusions of a Protestant Reformation, which had so long beguiled the people into a belief that they had a right to think for themselves in spiritual matters. The intolerance to which we refer, was most strongly rebuked by Mr. Cooper, whose frank avowal that he owed every thing in life mainly to the education he had received at the school, and that he himself had not been baptized till after he had left the school, was honourable to humanity.

THE REV. MR. SIBTHORP.-A correspondent of the Morning Post, who styles himself an "M. A. of Oxford," gives the following account of this gentleman :--" Sir, The following particulars I have the best reason for knowing to be correct: Mr. Sibthorp was educated at Magdalene College, Oxford; but was always in his youth strongly inclined to Romanist opinions, if not actually a Romanist. Whilst at Oxford, he absented himself on one occasion without notice, for a considerable period of time, from his College, to the great uneasiness of his friends. For some time his retreat could not be discovered; but at last he was found residing with a Romanist priest, I believe in Yorkshire, who, it appeared, was previously in correspondence with him, and was then employed in instructing him in the peculiar tenets of that church. With difficulty he was induced to return to Oxford, the tutors having promised to overlook his offence. He subsequently took orders, and adopted the extreme opinions of the Low Church school; so much so, as to preach in barns and outhouses, and the open air, till he was inhibited from exercising his ministry both in the diocese of Lincoln and in Yorkshire. This, however, did not disqualify him in the opinion of that party of religionists from becoming the preacher at the well known proprietary chapel of St. John's, Bedford-row. About this time he fell into a most extraordinary state of mind, and was subject to singular delusions bordering on insanity. It was at one period a subject of consultation among his friends, whether he should not be put under medical and legal restraint; but a friend, who knew his peculiar disposition, was induced to take him under his care, and, in the course of two or three years, he became pretty well restored. Subsequently he purchased the chapel at Ryde, and commenced there again with evangelical views, of the unsoundness of which, however, he speedily became convinced. He gradually subsided into a religious profession, peculiarly his own, which combined ultra-churchism with all the narrowness of mind of the school he had quitted. It is not improbable that a return of his former delusions may have occasioned the change-for conversion I cannot call it which we have recently heard of. It is certain that, up to the very latest period, none of his friends were aware of his intentions, and always repudiated, with indignation, the accusation that he was verging towards Romanism. His absence was accounted for by the fact, that he had gone to inspect a living which was offered for his acceptance by his College. Let us hope that this cloud may pass away from him; and that the Romanist new church at Birmingham may yet be disappointed of its expectant pastor.'

LIBEL ON THE CHURCH.-A provincial paper has ventured on the rash assertion, that the "evangelical party " had been accused at Ryde of having entered into a mercenary engagement for the purchase of the Rev. Mr. Sibthorp's chapel. No such accusation was ever made, or the slightest notion entertained of such a thing by any of the inhabitants of that town.

SUDDEN DEATH OF ARCHDEACON HUTCHINS." In the midst of life we are in death!" The whole town (Hobart Town) was shocked at learning that the Venerable the Archdeacon Hutchins was no more! This lamented clergyman dined on the preceding evening with his Excellency the Governor, and soon after ten o'clock quitted the Government House in his usual excellent health and spirits. He rose at his ordinary hour, about seven in the morning, and, while in the act of dressing, fell to the ground, and almost instantly expired.

EPISCOPAL CONVENTION IN NEW YORK. -Nothing has occurred in the ecclesiastical line since the grand array of papal bishops in Baltimore, to vie with the display recently made by those of the protestant episcopal church in this city, for an imposing exhibition of the pomps and vanities of the world. An episcopalian, writing to a western paper, gives a brilliant delineation of some of the scenes which occurred. It appears that on the celebration of the eucharist, nineteen or twenty bishops, robed in all the dignity of their official vestments, marched up the aisle, and, according to their degrees of dignity, ranged themselves on each side of the altar. The service then proceeded, with all the parade which it could possibly receive. Indeed, the whole aspect of the convention has been distinguished by a most definite exhibition of the inflated and Anti-Christian notions of Oxonian episcopacy. We give thanks to that kind Providence which gave us a puritan ancestry, and delivered us from an original connexion with such an unscriptural regime. That such fantastic displays and assumptions should be sanctioned by the sober evangelical church, is not to be supposed; but, among the theatre-going, fashionable, and frivolous public, it bids fair to be popular.

DEPLORABLE POVERTY.-The rector of West Hackney has offered his parishioners the benefit of an evening service on Sunday, if they will furnish the means of lighting the church. There is no church rate to meet this expense, and it is understood, that out of a congregation of 1,000 persons, many of them till now supposed to be wealthy, a candle fund cannot be raised.

NEW CHURCHES IN WESTMINSTER.-A memorial has been presented to the Court of Common Council, and ordered to be laid on the table, from the clergy of St. Margaret,

St. Margaret amounts by the census of this year to 30,477, while the accommodation in its only church is limited to 1,400 sittings, 1,200 of which are appropriated, leaving 200 only free for the poor. That this large parish is to be immediately divided for spiritual purposes into districts, and that no less than three churches are in contemplation. That it is a common mistake to suppose the parish of St. Margaret to be a rich one, for, owing to the great increase of parliamentary business, a large portion of the houses in its principal streets are occupied as offices (public and agency), displacing many of the former more wealthy parishioners. Under these circumstances, the memorialists pray the council to take the spiritual destitution of this large parish into consideration, and aid the efforts now making to provide accommodation for the poorer inhabitants by a vote of money.

We learn that the Rev. G. F. Bates, late vicar of West Malling, whose death is announced in our obituary this day, besides legacies to numerous relatives, and to some private friends, and each of his servants, has bequeathed 500l. three per cent. consols to St. David's College, Lampeter, South Wales; 500l. of the same stock to the Metropolitan Church Building Fund; 250l. stock to the Church Missionary Society; 2001. stock to the Prayer-book and Homily Society; 5007. for the use of a school in West Malling, founded by a Mr. Tresse; and the interest in perpetuity of 2501. consols to each of the parishes of West Malling and South Mimms (of which latter place he was also vicar), to be laid out in the purchase of coals and distributed among the poor of those parishes.

LEEDS.-The St. George's new school, opposite St. George's church, Leeds, has just been opened. Three years ago this densely populated district was wholly destitute of any such institution. Since then, by the exertions of the present incumbent, the Rev. W. Sinclair, 4,000l. and upwards have been raised, and two large schools built, in which more than 800 children are now educated in the principles of the established church.

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PUSEYISM.-The bishop of Calcutta, in an ordination sermon, most correctly depicts the inevitable influence of any considerable extension of puseyism in India. "I am full of fear," says he, every thing is at stake. There seems something judicial in the rapid spread of the opinions. If they should come over here, and pervade the teaching of our chaplains, the views and proceedings of our missionaries, our friendly relations with other bodies of Christians, and our position amongst the Hindoos and Mahometans, Ichabod (i.e., the glory is departed) may be inscribed on

our church in India. All real advances in the conversion of the heathen will stop. Our scattered Christian flocks will miss the sound and wholesome nourishment for their souls. Our converts will quickly dwindle away to a nominal profession. Our native catechists and missionaries will be bewildered. A scheme which substitutes itself, and form, and authority of office, for weight of doctrine and activity of love, will be eagerly imbibed. The spirituality of our missions will be gone. And nothing in the world is so graceless, as the eminent Gérické once observed, as a mission without the spirit of Christ." Having such views, his lordship is determined to do all in his power to avert the danger, both by faithful preaching, and by careful examination of new candidates for the ministry, and of the native catechists. All true Christians will have reason to rejoice in his success. But we fear there is much actual disease beyond his reach. The bishop's sermon above referred to will be published, we understand, shortly, when we shall give further extracts from so important a document.

SUFFOLK.-A meeting was held at the assembly room, Halesworth, Suffolk, on Monday evening, the 29th Nov., for the purpose of forming an auxiliary to the London society for the due observance of the Lord's day, the Rev. J. C. Badeley, the rector, in the chair. The attendance was very numerous, and the greatest interest was evinced in the proceedings. The meeting was addressed by Andrew Johnstone, Esq., the Revs. Dr. Roberts, Holmes, Reeve, Smith, and the Rev. John Baylee, clerical secretary to the parent society. Two sermons on the obligation of the sabbath were preached by the last-named gentleman in the parish church on the preceding Sunday.

The case of Mastin v. Escott, for refusing to bury a child baptized by a dissenting minister, is now in process before a judicial committee of the privy council, on an appeal from the court of arches.

The "Tracts for the Times" have been republished in the United States, and are circulated under the recommendation of bishop Onderdonk.

The Rev. Dr. Warneford has given 1,000l. to promote the education of the poor in the diocese of Gloucester.

The annual dinner of the Bath church of England lay association was numerously attended.

SCIENCE, LITERATURE, ART, &c.-The Emperor of Russia has presented to the University of Cambridge a copy of a work by professor Postels and Dr. Ruprecht, "On the Maritime Plants of the Northern Coasts of the Pacific Ocean." This splendid volume stating that the population of the parish of

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