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rally that I believe the church room provided by the State during the last ten years is nearly 200,000 of the additional sittings, but more correct information will be obtained from the Annual Reports of the Church Building Commissioners, the last of which either is laid or will be in a day or two laid on the table of your House.

Is your Lordship aware what proportion such increase of church room bears to the increased population of the country?-No, I cannot; it is very easily ascertained.

It being perfectly clear, however, that the population has within the last ten years increased greatly more than 200,000, and to the extent probably of ten times that amount, the increase provided by the State for the people bears a very inadequate proportion to the parts of such people?—The increase of accommodation provided by means of the parliamentary grant, I conceive did not sufficiently supply the wants of the then existing population; I consider that little or no provision has been made for the wants of the population which has arisen between the two last censuses; provision, I mean, in that way.

In what other way has provision been made for the accommodation of the people, for the purpose of religious worship, within the period which the question has referred to ?-Very considerable exertions have been made within the last ten years, in the way of public subscription, parochial rates, legacies, &c., towards enlarging existing churches, and building new chapels, to which results the Society for promoting the Building and Enlargement of Churches and Chapels has mainly contributed.

Can your Lordship state what proportion the aggregate of such increase bears to the population for the benefit of which it was intended?-A much more considerable proportion than in the other case.

Can your Lordship state from your own experience, either as a private clergyman or as a bishop of the two most populous dioceses in the kingdom, what has been the effect of the inadequacy of church room upon the moral character of the people in any part of such diocese ?-Perhaps the evil effect of a want of church room may be most correctly estimated by the good effects which have resulted from the erection of new churches; as far as my own inquiries have extended, the erection of a new church in a populous neighbourhood, and the consequent provision made for the education of the children of the poor, has always, and that rapidly too, improved the moral complexion of the whole vicinity; the attention of the people has been forcibly directed to the observance of the Lord's-day; they have had the business of religion brought home to their doors, and enforced upon them not only by the public duties of the Sabbath, but by the personal inquiries and conversation of their minister; they have learned to take a pride in their own church, and in considering themselves members of a congregation, inhabitants of a certain district, objects of interest, and comparatively of importance. I could mention a church in my own neighbourhood, near London, which was erected in a spot which was formerly remarkable for noisy and riotous conduct on the Lord's-day; the character of the place is entirely changed, the church fills, and the very persons who strongly opposed the erection of the church, have since subscribed liberally for its decoration.

Will your Lordship state generally to the Committee in what way the existing religious accommodation for the people of this country has been provided? The parish churches were built either by the munificence of individual lords of manors, who wished to provide for the religious instruction, or for the participation in religious offices by their tenantry, or by the monasteries, and in some cases by the contributions of the inhabitants of a certain district.

Without venturing to assume that the clergy do not often from their pulpits explain to their flock the nature of the duties proper for the Lord'sday, is it not your opinion that it would be very desirable that that subject should constantly be brought before the mind?—I have no reason to suppose that the clergy do not, from time to time, inculcate the due observance of the Lord's-day on their congregations; on the contrary, I take it for granted that they do. But I would not recommend constant recurrence to this topic, because I am afraid that the people would by degrees be led to place the essence of religion in the observance of stated forms.

Nevertheless, your Lordship is of opinion that without a due observance of the Lord's-day, a clergyman can have no sufficient opportunity of inculcating religion?-I cannot state, in terms which would do justice to my own feelings, my opinion as to the importance of the Lord's-day, both as an institution of mercy and of spiritual improvement: and I am quite sure that those persons who are brought to consider that day as given not only for a day of rest but of religious improvement, soon come to take a pleasure in the right employment of that day, which is a much more effectual as well as a much purer recreation than any thing which is commonly termed amusement.

Does not your Lordship think that the observance of the Lord's-day would perhaps be more effectually inculcated on the flock by conversation at other times, than by actual sermons from pulpits?—I hold that mere sermons from the pulpit (I am now speaking with reference to the lower classes of society) will seldom effectually inculcate any religious duty, if the clergyman does not follow up his instructions by private conversations, explanatory of those difficulties which may have occurred to them.

The Committee understand your Lordship to say, that you effected the removal of those nuisances at Chesterford by private intercourse with your parishioners, and not by public interference, as well as by public ministry? -I do not mean to say I did not preach on the subject.

Do you not suppose that if the higher classes concurred with the clergy and with the magistrates in acting by admonition and not by legal means, that that would be sufficient to procure among the lower classes a general due observance of the Sabbath?—I have no doubt, except as to the towns. I do not think the higher classes have their legitimate influence there, as they have, or may have, in the country, where, if they could go hand in hand with the clergy, I have no doubt it would be so.

Then presuming that to be the case; presuming that these different authorities went hand in hand, your Lordship would consider legislative enforcement only necessary in large towns?—The assumption is too strong. If such enactments are not wanted in the country, they would be inoperative as to the country, and therefore they would be no grievance ; besides which, it is difficult to make a distinction in any legislative measures of this sort between town and country, it not being easy to define precisely where town ends and country begins.

Is your Lordship aware that the magistrates in Staffordshire issued a species of admonitions and regulations on the Lord's-day, with good effect? -I am not aware of that.

Suppose the observance of the Lord's-day could be obtained by this general spirit of admonition and example among the higher classes, would it not be much better to obtain it by those means than by any legislative enforcement?-Certainly. I hold it desirable to effect any change if we can by any other means, for as we have the power in our own hands, I think we ought not to do that by coercive measures which we can effect in any other way.

Do you conceive any good could be done by the example of the upper

classes alone, without the assistance of legislation?—I am afraid not to any sufficient extent; and I may be permitted to add, that I think this good would result from a legislative measure on the subject; that it would be the deliberate expression of a Christian legislature of their opinion as to the benefit which follows from a due observance of the Sabbath-day: and I think that that deliberate expression on the part of the legislature would have so great a weight with the people, that it would in many cases obviate the necessity of carrying the penal part of any such enactment into execution.

And that, in point of fact, such a legislative enactment would in itself record the opinion of what is called the upper classes?—It would be an expression of their opinion as to what all classes ought to do; and I cannot help adding, in conclusion, that it would impose upon the legislators themselves an additional obligation to the observance of the Sabbath.

Your Lordship has observed that the Sunday preaching would be of comparatively little good, unless it is accompanied with week-day instruction; although that week-day instruction can be obtained in places thinly peopled, is it not a fact that it is in vain to look for such weekly instruction in the dense population of a great city?—Yes, beyond a certain point.

Then you are of opinion that the benefit of legislation would not arise so much from the penalties exacted, as from the parliamentary declaration it would be to the lower classes?—That would be one great effect, and prevent the necessity of enforcing any penal enactments; but there are classes of persons who are only to be dealt with by stronger measures of prevention.

Do you not think that in those rural parishes which are not subject to such things as Chesterford, the Sabbath is generally observed ?—It was, till the beer-houses were opened, but has not been since. I beg to state I make that answer after the most careful inquiry. I have lately traversed the whole of the county of Essex, and have had conversations with the clergymen there, and they all with one voice bear testimony to the evil effects of beer-houses in that particular direction, as tending, in a great and fearful degree, to the desecration of the Lord's-day.

Then your Lordship is clearly of opinion that the existence of penalties would assist the clergymen and magistrates in enforcing the observance of the Lord's-day?-Certainly.

Your Lordship is also of opinion that the law, as it now exists, is inadequate? Yes, I am.

Does your Lordship think that public opinion would support stricter enactments relating to the prevention of Sunday trading?-1 have no doubt of it.

And with relation also to the closing of public-houses on that day for the purposes of tippling?—I have no doubt of it whatever.

Is your Lordship of opinion, that, inasmuch as the vast increase in the consumption of spirituous liquors, which public-houses supply, must take a great part of the wages of the labourer from the purchase of other articles of consumption, all other classes of tradesmen are interested in supporting a measure which has for its object the better regulation of public-houses on the Lord's-day and the prevention of tippling on that day?—I have no doubt of it, in an economical point of view; I mean, I have no doubt with respect to the political economy of the question. I think that the gain which would be effected by closing shops and public-houses on the Lord'sday would be very great, and I think also that public opinion would be in favour of the measure.

cess.

AMERICAN DIVINES: THE REV. DR. JOHNSON.

(Continued from p. 776).

MR. Johnson had resided at Stratford for a number of years, in the discharge of his parochial duties; but the church there had increased but little, because, says his biographer, "all possible care had been taken to prevent its growth, and as he did not make it his business to proselyte the Dissenters." But in the neighbouring towns, where he sometimes officiated, many families conformed. He often preached at Newtown, with peculiar sucAt that time Mr. Beach, afterwards well known by his many defences of the doctrine and government of the Church of England, was the Congregational minister of the place; and was in high estimation not only there, but among the Dissenters in Stratford, for his learning and piety. After a while this gentleman began to doubt of the validity of the ordination he had received. For a considerable time he endeavoured to get over He therefore declared his scruples; but, in the end, he found it impossible. his conformity to the Church of England, and many of his people conformed with him; on which he came over to this country for holy orders, and was appointed their minister. This event put many on thinking, and had no small effect upon the Dissenters at Stratford; and several persons in a short time came over to the Episcopal Church; among others, Mr Seabury, the father of the late Bishop Seabury. In the year 1736, when an inquiry was made into the number of Episcopal families in the whole colony, they were found to be no fewer than seven hundred. "This increase,” says Dr. Chandler, was partly occasioned by the Dissenters themselves; who, in their zeal, carried their charges of Popery against the church, and their other misrepresentations, to an extravagant length; which made it necessary for the members of the church, in their own defence, to procure books that had been written in its vindication, and many of the more candid and inquisitive Dissenters, being persuaded to read them, were surprised to find in what manner things had been misrepresented to them." What were the grounds of the charge of Popery is not stated; one, however, we know was the very language employed in this extract in the exclusive use of the word church. In this country we say the Church of England, the Church of Rome, the Episcopal Church, and so forth; but an American Episcopalian considers this a dereliction of principle and a weapon for the use of Dissent.

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"But what, a few years after," adds Dr. Chandler, "more effectually contributed to the increase of the church in Connecticut, was a strange, wild enthusiasm, introduced by Mr. Whitfield, and propagated by his followers throughout the country. At the first appearing of this adventurer, who was in the orders of the Church of England, and still wore the garb of her clergy, although he had violated her laws, as well as his own oath of canonical obedience, and put her authority at defiance, he was received with all the marks of high approbation and applause by the Dissenting ministers in general. Some of them undoubtedly looked upon him as an extraordinary person, raised up by Providence, like John the Baptist, and coming in the spirit and power of Elias, to rouse sinners from their spiritual slumber, and to bring men to seriousness of life, and the practice of piety; and, indeed, there is reason to believe that his preaching was attended with good effects in several instances. But there were others of them who seemed to court him, because they considered him rather in the light of an instrument by which the church in Connecticut might be crushed This it was hoped in her infancy, or at least her growth much retarded. might be effected by his bitter revilings of her bishops and clergy. But CHRIST. OBSERV. App.

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after a while many of his abettors were convinced of their mistake, and saw reason to repent of the countenance they had shewn him. Instead of subverting, or even so much as shaking, the Church of England, he nearly occasioned the utter dissolution of their own churches."

roar.

From Mr. Whitfield himself, Dr. Chandler goes on to his followers. "Soon after passing through the country, several preachers undertook to be Whitfields too. They endeavoured to proceed in his manner, imitating his voice, his theatrical action, his vociferation; they disregarded all the rules of ecclesiastical order, and strolled about from place to place, as he had done. It was not long before these were followed by a numerous train of ignorant lay-exhorters, uttering the most horrid expressions concerning God and religion, and proclaiming in the most affecting tones, and with the greatest violence and extravagance of gesture, the terrors of hell and damnation, in order to bring men to conversion. In several instances, by thus exciting the emotions of terror, they actually frightened persons out of the use of their reason. Their night meetings in particular, at some of which Mr. Johnson was present in disguise, exhibited the wildest scenes of confusion and upAt some of those assemblies, a number of persons might be seen sighing, groaning, dreadfully screeching, and wringing their hands, or smiting their breasts; the preacher, or exhorter, all the while tormenting them like a fiend, as the only way to bring them to Christ; while others, who had lately been converted in this manner, were in the greatest ecstasies and raptures, triumphantly singing anthems and hallelujahs. Of these, some would fall into trances; in which they conversed familiarly with Christ and his angels, and saw who were to be saved, and who damned; and not a few of them would fall to censuring and reviling, as Pharisees and the vilest hypocrites, those who were not converted in this way. These transactions at length threw the whole country into the greatest confusion, and were productive of divisions and separations without end. Many of the wisest, both ministers and people, foresaw the mischief that threatened, when it was too late to prevent it. Enthusiasm, like faction, is utterly ungovernable; and it is not in the power of the ablest conductors to say to either of them, Hitherto shalt thou go, and no farther. In the larger towns altar was raised against altar, and new meeting-houses were erected in opposition to the old ones. Many pulpits resounded with declamations against the wickedness of schism; many pamphlets were published to prove its sinfulness; and the government thought it necessary openly to discountenance it. But every attempt to restrain it proved to be an addition to its force, and was like throwing in oil to stop the fury of a conflagration. In short, the religious constitution of Connecticut was convulsed, and the symptoms of its surviving were very unpromising. Amidst these confusions, large numbers of cool and considerate people, finding no rest among the Dissenters, betook themselves to the church, as the only ark of safety. At Stratford in particular, many of the principal families conformed; so that the church, which was built in 1723, was not sufficiently large to contain them. They proceeded, therefore, to erect a new one, which was much larger, and on a more elegant plan than the former."

We have copied these and some former passages, as connected with the life of Dr. Johnson; but we need not say that they afford abundant room for comment. There appears to us a spirit of party exaggeration throughout the detail, not by any means calculated to serve the cause either of piety or Episcopacy. Whitfield was not over-tame himself, and some of his preachers were abundantly wild; and mournful was the spectacle of strife and schism which ensued; but we are bound, as honest men, to add, that much of the "enthusiasm was but an irregular effort to counteract the apathy which had too long prevailed in the Episcopal Protestant Church;

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