holding as firmly the doctrine of the Apostolical succession. CHURCH UNION SOCIETIES.-Several societies of this description have already been formed in various parts of the kingdom, to advance the work of the Church by promoting the objects of the five Church Societies:1. The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. 2. The Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts. 3. The National Society for Educating the Poor in the Principles of the Church. 4. The Society for Building, Enlarging, and Repairing Churches and Chapels. And 5. The Society for Providing additional Curates in Populous Places. It is not possible for money to be more advantageously spent by Christians desirous of promoting the glory of God, than by giving to these excellent Societies, which are all founded on sound Church principles. An active Church Union Society has been formed in the parish of Barking, Essex, which has collected between four and five hundred pounds in behalf of its objects, much of which would have been lost to the Church. The Hon. and Rev. R. Liddell, a son of Lord Ravensworth, and Vicar of Barking, is one of the secretaries, and the Rev. F. K. Leighton, of Ilford, and the Rev. C. J. Laprimaudaye are the others, and any one of these active and excellent ministers of God will furnish the rules of their Church Union Society to any person who may desire to have them. DR. WOLFF's JOURNAL. To shew the unchristian spirit which the Recorditesthose dissenters within the Church-manifest towards those who perform their duty to God, respect their own solemn vows, and regard the testimony of a good conscience, it is only necessary to say that Dr. Wolff has had returned to him from low and loose churchmen above a hundred copies of his book after they had subscribed for it, and simply because the Rev. Doctor has written like a Clergyman who believes the doctrines of the Church, and regards his ordination Vows. They thus have shewn distinctly enough, that they can break their common engagements with men, as well as the commands of God, and their own solemn oaths. By their conduct, they have not only put Dr. Wolff to the expenses of sending them their books, but also to the expense of their carriage back again to him. Some booksellers too of this description when asked for the book, have told their customers that it is out of print, which they of course knew to be false. Some of these gentry have played the same tricks respecting "The Church Magazine," saying sometimes that there was no such a work, at other times that it was discontinued, and at others, that it was not out, or could not be obtained. We know the names of some of these conscientious gentry, and will print them with all particulars, if they do not mind what they are about, and no other means will cure them of the horrible sin of lying. POPISH FRAUD.-We can mention the name of a town in Wales, and the name of the popish priest who, in that town, lately extorted sixty pounds from a woman on her death-bed on the pretence of saving her soul from purgatory. When her husband who was absent at the time returned, he applied to the Romish impostor for the money, and obtained a part of it, and is trying to get the rest, but we are doubtful of his success. Numerous are the frauds practised upon the ignorant and unwary by these popish leeches, who long to plunder the people of this country, as they did before the Church cast off the pope's usurpation. We would have all these knaves placed on the same footing with fortune-tellers, and such other impostors, and allow them to practise their craft if they could find persons fools enough to believe them, but we would take care that they should not receive a farthing of money from any one, on any pretence whatever. The state ought to do this, and thus protect the ignorant and weak from the impositions and frauds of crafty and designing knaves, whether in the garb of religion, or in that of the gipsies. NULLITY OF CIVIL CONTRACT MARRIAGES. -On Thursday the 25th of June, were married at the Cathedral, Ripon, by the Rev. R. Poole, M.A., Vicar; Thomas Brusbey Davidson, to Ann Handley, both of Ripon. These two persons had been about five months previously married as it is called, at a "Register Office," but as they and their sensible relations had become dissatisfied with the infidel bargain they had entered into, and in which religion and the overruling providence of God are so atheistically despised, they very wisely determined upon having the banns published in the Church, and on being married like Christians after the manner of their forefathers. May a blessing attend their good intentions, and may they find the benefits of an early repentance of their previous inconsiderate and heathenish bargain, which was just as much of a marriage as the bargain of a man for a cow in a market. The man agrees to have the cow for as long as he thinks proper, and those who enter into a civil contract before the Registrar to live together, do so on no more binding terms, for neither the man nor the woman agrees to live with the other for any stipulated length of time, and we contend that they may leave each other whenever they please, without a breach of their "civil contract;" and any one who reads the terms of the contract, must be aware of its not being at all binding. And for our own parts we never consider those persons who have entered into such "contracts," as married. Whether the Clergyman who published the banns of marriage on the above occasion, called the woman after the name of her intended husband, or by her own proper name or not, we cannot tell, and shall be glad to be informed, for the case involves a difficulty which several persons have wished to have solved. For our own part we should certainly publish the banns of marriage in the maiden name of the woman, just as though they had not been before the Registrar, as we do not consider the marriages before the Registrar as any marriages at all. If we did, we should be acting very inconsistently, and most absurdly in attempting to marry them over again; for if they were previously married, we should be making them tell several lies in the course of the service, and acting a lie ourselves. This is too horrible to think of, and not considering the dissenting and civil contract marriages to be any marriages at all, we could consistently go through the marriage service of the Church, and marry the parties to each other. Such is our belief, and such would be our conduct, and we do not expect to have either objected to, as we have an undoubted right to " liberty of conscience." LEARNED AND UNLEARNED PREACHERS.A learned Clergyman was accosted in the following manner by an illiterate preacher, who despised education: Sir, you have been to college, I suppose?" "Yes, sir," was the reply. "I am thankful," rejoined the former," that the Lord has opened my mouth to preach without any learning." "A similar event," replied the latter "took place in Balaam's time, but such things are of rare occurrence in the present day." THE ECCLESIASTICAL DUTIES AND REVENUES BILL has been read a third time, and passed. We have combatted its principle throughout, and can now only express our earnest prayer that it may tend, as the Duke of Wellington and a number of the Episcopal bench have expressed their belief it will, to the advantage and more extended influence of the Church. For ourselves we utterly despair of any such success. DISSENTING LIBERALITY.. - At the St. Ives's Petty Sessions, Mr. S. Ulph, one of the committee of the British schools, summoned a little girl for being insolent to him in the school-yard, and for plucking a flower in the ground. The magistrates fined the child 1d. for her naughty behaviour, and 4s. costs.-Cambridge Advertiser. CONVERSIONS TO THE CHURCH. Very many dissenters have come into the Established Church through the ministry of the Rev. Mr. Close, of this town, and several of them are to be confirmed at the ensuing visit of the Bishop. There are 800 candidates in Cheltenham for confirmation.-Cheltenham Chronicle. BISHOPRIC OF WELLINGTON.-It appears by an advertisement of the Church Society for New Zealand, that the Archbishop of Canterbury has given his sanction to the plan of endowing a bishopric by means of voluntary subscriptions at the infant settlement of Wellington, in New Zealand. We regard this as a very important event in Colonial affairs, THE WESLEYANS AGAINST THE CHURCH,~~Petitions signed by 1000 of the Wesleyans of Leicester, protesting against Church-rates and Church extension, were a short time ago presented to the House of Commons, by Mr. Easthope. Perhaps no dissenting congregations in the kingdom are more unanimous in the maintenance of Voluntary Church principles, than those of the Wesleyans in Leicester, and the neighbourhood. There are 1000 members of the body in the circuit, and about 2000 more attending the chapels who are not members of the society; but, as only the males are petitioners, it may be presumed that 1000 signatures to these petitions furnish a unanimous declaration of sentiment on the part of the Leicester Wesleyans. In the present state of parties, it is a fact worthy of observation, that one of the most important of the Wesleyan circuits has committed itself en masse, to the very opposite of those views which a few members of the body would persuade the world are held by the connexion generally. - Manchester Guardian, June 24. AN EXAMPLE FOR PUBLIC COMPANIES.The following is an extract from the printed regulations of the Wilts and Berks Canal Company:"Boats are not allowed to navigate on Sundays, Christmas-days, or Good Fridays, without the consent, in writing, of the company's superintendent, under a penalty of not more than 5., nor less than 1." ENDOWED CHARITIES IN GREAT BRITAIN. -The recent publication of the last division of the report of the Charities Commissioners closes an inquiry which has occupied upwards of twenty years, and cost the country at least 200,000l. It is supposed that the total annual income of endowed charities amounts to nearly 1,500,0001. MUNIFICENT GIFT. -Sir Josh. Radcliffe, Bart., of Rudding Park, has given two acres of land, at Robert Town, Liversedge, for the erection of a Church in that longneglected village. The Rev. W. M. Heald, M. A., Vicar of Birstal, has also contributed very liberally. Great praise is due from the inhabitants (who are principally of the humbler class), to the Rev. Hammond Roberson, of Heald's Hall, and F. R. Jones, Esq., of Huddersfield, for promoting so desirable an object. 7 CONSECRATION OF A NEW CHURCH.--On Wednesday, July 22d, the New Church, at Barking Side, near Great Ilford, Essex, was solemnly dedicated to God, by the Lord Bishop of London, who preached an admirable sermon on the occasion. A considerable number of the Clergy and respectable laity of the neighbourhood were present, and the collection, quite unexpectedly, amounted to the very large sum of 2501. Great praise is due to the Rev. Mr. Leighton, Incumbent of Ilford, for the exertions he has made to secure the blessings of Divine worship in this distant part of the parish. The Rev. Mr. Budgen, who has been sometime Mr. Leighton's curate, is to be the Incumbent. CONFIRMATIONS.-Our excellent Diocesan having concluded his confirmations in the newly-acquired portion of his diocese, has, we rejoice to say, returned to the Episcopal palace in excellent health. The numbers confirmed by his Lordship are as follow:At Birmingham, 1453; Solihull, 399; Leamington, 695; Southam, 579; Rugby, 600; Coleshill, 633; Coventry, 843; Nuneaton, 546; Polesworth, 145; Sutton Coldfield, 240; being more by many hundreds than were confirmed at the same places three years ago. The orderly demeanour of the children was universally such as to meet with his Lordship's approbation; and to the Clergy we observed, that he repeatedly expressed his warmest thanks for their unwearied exertions in preparing their little flock for a participation in this holy rite. The conduct of the churchwardens of the different parishes on this occasion was above all praise.-Worcester Journal. a gay and lively scene. On that day, the worthy and highly-esteemed Rector, the Rev. F. Litchfield, invited every individual without exception, to spend the evening at the rectory. The proceedings commenced at three o'clock in the afternoon, when the children sat down to tea, in the barn fitted up for the purpose. The women of the parish followed; and at seven o'clock all the labourers belonging to the parish, or working in it,with several others, were treated to a plentiful hot supper of baked meat and puddings. The intervals between the meals were filled up with amusements of various kinds. At eight o'clock every one received a cup of gooseberry-fool, fruit, and a piece of cake. The farmers and tradesmen, with their families and friends, were also regaled, throughout the evening, with wine, fruit, and cake, and the whole passed off with mutual gratification and kindly feelings which will not soon be forgotten. An excellent band from Middleton Cheney attended, and enlivened the company with the charms of music. THE NO-POPERY TEETOTALLERS. This new title has emanated from the Bradford Observer and its correspondent, and has been applied to the Rev. Messrs. Morgan, Bull, and Bardsley, who have very properly refused to fraternise with Father Matthew and his men, and who seem to be fully con. vinced that, in advocating the cause of total abstinence, they will be more comfortable, useful, and respectable, by confining themselves to the co-operation of Churchmen. The dissenters are of course very indignant at their secession, and as usual are blowing hot and cold, abusing and coaxing at the same time.-Leeds Intelligencér. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. The design of "E. K." is very ingenious and amusing, but the poetry will not do. "B. S. L." has been received, and we shall always be glad to receive any such communications; and he has our thanks for his kind wishes and offers of assistance. He may give us his address. Before we can give an opinion on " A. G. E.'s" poetry we must see it, but it is not improbable that room might be found for it. We will write a private note in reply to the communications bearing the Royston and the Yarmouth postmarks; and also to "An Incumbent of Twenty Years' Standing;" and to "J. D." of Sunderland, if they will give us their names. The "Psalter," pointed for chanting, noticed in our last number, has the Te Deum and the other Church Hymns at the end of the Psalms, and is thus rendered complete. Expecting to find them at the beginning we overlooked them at the time, although we had previously seen them at the end of the neat little volume. That "C. D.'s" wishes have not been complied with, is not the fault of the Editor so much as of him of whom he writes. "A Subscriber, at Halifax," tells us that on Whit-Monday, Archdeacon Musgrave, the vicar, committed "a most flagrant act of disobedience" in omitting to act according to the order for Morning Prayer, in a Service held in his Church that morning, when a Sermon was preached before the "Odd Fellows." This is so serious a charge against the venerable Archdeacon, whose duty it is not only not to violate his own solemn ordination vows, or oaths, but also to see that it is not done by the Clergy of his Archdeaconry, that we cannot believe it for a moment, and shall be glad to give an authentic contradiction. The paper on the "Church Pastoral Aid Society" in our next. "A Sincere Churchman" should have looked sharply before he wrote, and he would have saved himself the trouble, as the circulation of Tracts, containing the misrepresentations and falsehoods of the Dissenters, is only objected to, and not the circulation of sound Church Tracts, which cannot be circulated too abundantly. "A Norfolk Curate's" letter has come to hand, and shall receive a private answer, if he will send us his name in confidence, as we particularly wish. The suggestion of " Admirer" is under consideration, and will probably be adopted ere long. "Delta's" letter on Church Building at Birmingham, shall have a place if we can find room. "The Rev. C. A. M." may send us the Sermon he mentions, and then we will either insert it in our pages or return it. We have no objection to give a sermon in every alternate number, or oftener. |