and necessity should be cast forth as the objects of precarious bounty! This might be succeeded by gradually infusing into the foundations already existing for the temporal relief of both men and women more of a religious character; e. g. by establishing the daily service, encouraging works of piety and charity, &c.; and as the endowments of these charities should increase (to which end the pious contributions of the Christian community should be encouraged,*) by extending the foundations, when practicable, to associates of a higher order, and giving them the more decided form of places of pious retirement. By this time the revival would be sufficiently tested to admit of new establishments being formed where they might be required. It may be worth mentioning, at a time when so much attention is being drawn towards the revival of the choral service of the Church, how admirable an opportunity would be afforded in the chapels attached to such institutions of both creating a taste for, and bringing into practice the ancient and catholic mode of "praising God in the great congregation." [It has been thought worth while to append to this article the following revised impression of a paper which appeared some time since in the "Church Intelligencer," and which has been privately distributed.] "Revival of Monastic and Conventual Institutions on a Plan adapted to the Exigencies of the Reformed Catholic Church in England. "Quid aliud fuere Monasteria quam officinæ virtutum, abstinentiæ, jejunii, patientiæ laborum."-D. Ambros. Lib. x. Ep. 82. "A Monastery is a school of christian penitence. It is a little community, having its own officers, in which each has his own post marked out, and in which all are engaged in labours of love; whilst from its silence and peace the soul has leisure for contemplation."-British Critic, No. LX. Article, Port Royal. "To speak seriously and without passion, what can the ill be.... to have places set apart, whither men, either by nature, time, or otherwise unfit for the world, may retire themselves in religious company, may think on heaven and good learning."-Sir Roger Twysden, Beginners of Monastic Life, p. 31. "Something like Monasteries for women would be a glorious design; and might be so set on foot as to be the honour of a QUEEN ON THE THrone.” -Bishop Burnet. "It is a question which must long have presented itself as a subject of anxious thought to reflecting Christians,In what way the general interests of the Church, and the christian education of her people, may be best promoted; and by what means a remedy may be best provided for many of the evils-social, domestic, and personal-arising out of the present disordered state of our civil and ecclesiastical relations?' "The solution of this question which has occurred to many minds, and which seems to be increasingly gaining ground, is, that the wants alluded to would be most effectually met and supplied by the REVIVAL OF MONASTIC AND CONVENTUAL INSTITUTIONS in a form suited to the genius, character, and exigencies of * In reference to this point the writer desires to record his admiration of Lord John Manners' late christian and patriotic endeavour to obtain a relaxation of the statutes of Mortmain; an object which we trust that right-minded young nobleman will not be discouraged from pursuing, by the ill-success of his first attempt. the Church in England, whereby her devotional, practical, and educational system might be carried out, and an asylum might be opened for persons of both sexes, who, from deliberate choice, or under the pressure of various trials, might be desirous of permanent or occasional retirement from the world, and opportunity of quietude and devotion. "Perhaps the best model for such establishments (mutatis mutandis) would be the Monastery of Port Royal des Champs, as described by Mrs. Schimmelpenninck, in her edifying Memoirs of Port Royal.' "The OBJECTS of such Institutions would be "1. To widen and deepen the legitimate influence of the Church, by exhibiting a model of her system, as fully carried out, and reduced to actual practice. "2. To promote and conduct christian education upon Church principles. "3. To afford a retreat for the contemplative, the bereaved, the destitute, and the embarrassed. "4. To cherish a spirit of devotion, charity, humility, and obedience. "5. To give better opportunities of acquiring self-knowledge, and exercising penitence. 6. To promote simplicity and godly sincerity in the intercourse of life. "7. To revive plainness and self-denial in diet, dress, furniture, personal attendance, &c. "8. To form habits of retirement, silence, and recollection. THE MEANS. "1. A system of community, by which the superabundance of the wealthier might be made available to the support of the poorer members. 2. Daily public Devotion, and frequent Communion, agreeably to the order of the Church. "3. Strict observance of the Festivals, Fasts, &c., prescribed by the Book of Common Prayer. "4. A RULE for dress, diet, furniture, recreations, &c. "5. Appointed times for silence, and subjects for meditation. "6. Corporal and spiritual works of mercy. "7. Exercises of penitence and obedience. "8. Bodily and mental labour-particularly in educating the young, composing works to meet the necessities of the Church, working for the poor, and assisting in the various duties of the establishment. THE CONSTITUTION. "No Vows, but a solemn declaration and engagement of obedience to the Superior, and of compliance with the RULE of the Institution during residence. VISITATION-monthly by the Parochial Minister, quarterly by the Rural Dean, half-yearly by the Archdeacon, yearly by the Bishop. "SUPERIOR-to be appointed by the Bishop, and removeable at his pleasure; to appoint his or her subordinate, subject to the Bishop's approval. Other details may be easily supplied. "It is hoped, and earnestly requested, that the friends of primitive piety, order, and simplicity, into whose hands this paper may fall, will direct their thoughts and endeavours towards expanding these hints, and devising some method of bringing them to a practical issue. To such it will be obvious that the design must not be desecrated by the interference of schemes of worldly gain, in the shape of Joint Stock companies, Proprietary Shares, &c. It must be the offspring of Love to GoD and love to man-the free-will offering of penitent gratitude, or open-handed charity to GoD, and to HIS CUURCH." [For the argument in favour of the revival of such institutions in great towns, the reader is referred to the article "on Bishops' Fellows," in a former Number of the CHRISTIAN REMEMBRANCER.] Of Oxford.-J. E. Carter, B.A. Exet.; J. G. Faithfull, B.A. Exet.; M. K. S. Frith, B.A. Exet.; J. Peacock, B.A. Linc.; R. G. Walls, B.A. Bras.; J. J. Wilkinson, B.A. Queen's. Of Cambridge.-R. W. Bacon, M.A. Fell. of King's; J. C. Chase, B.A. Queen's; H. Dupuis, M.A. Fell. of King's; R. W. Essington, B.A. Fell. of King's; E. Walker, M. A. Fell. of King's; R. Williams, B. A. Fell. of King's. Of Dublin.-J. S. Gibney, B.A., G. H. Moller, B.A., A. H. Alcock, B.A. Trin. By the LORD BISHOP OF CARLISLE, at Carlisle, on Sunday, Sept. 24. DEACON. Of Cambridge.-A. Salkeld, B.A. St. Peter's. PRIESTS. Of Oxford.-E. J. Chapman, B.A. Wad. Of Cambridge.-C. Parker, B.A. Emm.; J. Hallifax, B.A. Corp. Chris. Of Durham.-J. B. Wightwick, Licentiate of Theology, Univ. of St. Bees.-W. Frankling. By the LORD BISHOP OF GLOUCESTER AND BRISTOL, on Sunday, Sept. 24, at Gloucester. DEACONS. Of Oxford.-T. Beale, B.A. Bras.; W. Wiggin, B.A. Exet. Of Cambridge.-J. L. Longmire, B.A. Linc.; R. A. Suckling, B.A. Caius; C. Wardroper, B.A. Trin.; T. J. Robinson, Queen's (. d. Bp. of Worcester.) PRIESTS. Of Oxford.-G. Burder, M.A. Magd. H.; H. Formby, M.A. Bras. By the LORD BISHOP OF LLANDAFF, on Sunday, Oct. 1, at Llandaff. DEACONS. Of Lampeler.-J. Griffiths, E. Leigh, O. T. H. Phillips, W. G. Davies, St. David's. PRIESTS. Of Oxford. -J. M. Leir, B.A.; R. N. D. Brown, St. Alb. H. Of Lampeter.-L. C. Lewis, Lit. Cowbridge; W. C. Bowen, St. David's; W. Jenkins, Lit. Cowbridge; T. Lewis, Lit. Cowbridge. Of Dublin.-G. T. Watson, B.A. Trin.; J. Morgan, B.A. Trin. (l. d. Bp. of Limerick.) By the ARCHBISHOP OF DUBLIN, at Dublin, on Sunday, Sept. 24. DEACONS. Of Dublin.-T. R. W. Cradock, M.A., J. H. Armstrong, B.A., J. Drury, B.A., R. H. Heritage, B.A., C. Seaver; and on 1. d., T. Reddy, B.A., T. L Stack, B.A., J. North, B.A., P. H. Schoales, B.A., R. Conolly, M.A., J. C. Hudson, B.A., M. Burke, M.A., J. C. Walker, M.A., A. M'Cape, B.A.; all of Trin. Coll. PRIESTS. Of Dublin.-E. B. Moeran, M.A., G. Stone, M.A., J. Quinton, B.A., J. Stone, B.A., J. Moffett, B.A.; on 1. d., A. H. Alcock, B.A., J. D. M'Donagh, E.A., A. C. Coghlan, B.A., W. Murphy, B.A., H. Robinson, B.A.; all of Trin. Coll. By the LORD BISHOP OF MEATH, at the Church of Ardbraccan, on Sunday, Sept. 24. DEACONS. M. C. Morton, B.A. Exet. Coll., Oxford, and Fell. of St. Columba, Stackallan; J. M. Jephson, B.A., Trin. Coll., Dublin; and R. Winning, formerly Minister of the Presbyterian Congregation at Kingscourt. Alder, W............. White Notley, v.......... London..... Bp. of London............ £195 ......... Crux Easton, R. ...... Eckington, v.............. Bagge, J. Cobb, R. Currie, J............. Winchester James Bagge, Esq....... Langley, P.C... Norwich.... Sir W. B. Proctor (St. Barnabas, Bristol, P.C..... Christ Church, Moss) (St. Mary the Virgin, V. {༤ cester, P.C.......... G. & B...... Bp. of Glouc. & Brist... Lincoln...... Jesus Coll., Cambridge. G. & B...... Trustees ......... Elliott, W........... ....... Miles, C. P.......... St. Jude's, Glasgow, P.C. Glasgow..... Pullen, W. Richardson, E..... Scott, J. W.......... Symonds, T. M.... Thompson, C...... Tinkler, J. Turner, A.. Watts, J. St. John, Redhill, P.C... Winchester Trinity Ch., Louth...... Louth........ Trustees.... .... Landbeach, R............. Ely ... Corp. Chris. Coll., Camb. 231 Woodcock, W. T.. Boyer, J. W. R., Rector of Swepstone and Fussell, H. D., at Glastonbury. Greenwood, R., Vicar of Colaton Raleigh. Harrison, H., B.D., Rector of Pontesbury, and Hore, W., Vicar of Ferns. Mandell, W., B.D, Senior Fellow of Queen's Middleton, S., B.D., of Douglas Lodge, Cheltenh. Orme, R., Rector of Essendon. Probyn, J., Dean and Archdeacon of Llandaff. Stephens, D. E., Cur. of Trin. Ch., St. Giles's. PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. INCORPORATED SOCIETY, FOR PROMOTING THE ENLARGEMENT, BUILDING, AND REPAIRING OF CHURCHES AND CHAPELS. THIS Society resumed their sittings for the season on Monday, Oct. 23, when the Lord Bishop of Norwich took the chair at a meeting held at the Society's Chambers, 4, St. Martin's Place. Grants were then voted towards building a church at Cowhill, in the parish of Oldham, Lancashire; building a church in the parish of St. Andrew, Plymouth; building a church at Broad Town, in the parishes of Broad Hinton and Cliffe Pypard, Wilts; building a chapel at Ingleton, in the parish of Staindrop, Durham; building a church at Milton next Gravesend, Kent; rebuilding a chapel at Penrhos, Montgomeryshire; enlarging, by rebuilding, the church at Dawley, Salop; enlarging, by rebuilding the nave, of the church at Holcombe Burnell, Devon; repewing the church at Holwell, Beds; enlarging the church at Codford St. Mary, Wilts; enlarging, by rebuilding the nave, of the church at Winterborne Whitchurch, Dorset; increasing the accommodation in the church at Llandyfreog, Cardiganshire; increasing the accommodation in the church at Hinxton, Cambridgeshire; enlarging the church at Woodliam Mortimer, Essex; building a church at Eccleshill, in the parish of Bradford, Yorkshire; and rebuilding the chapel at Ellerker, Yorkshire. The population of these parishes and districts is 108,508 persons, for whose accommodation twenty churches and chapels are now provided, containing 13,873 seats, and including free sittings for 4,666 persons. With the Society's aid, seven new churches will be erected in populous districts, by which means, together with the alterations contemplated in the existing places of worship, 4,527 additional sittings will be provided,3,113 of which will be free. The population of one of the parishes assisted, is upwards of 60,000, with church-accommodation for less than onetenth; another has a population of nearly 24,000 persons, with accommodation for less than one-fifth; one with 9,300 souls, can only accommodate one person in twenty-three; and another, with a population of 8,700 persons, has churchroom for about one-eighth of that number. Certificates of the completion of the works in twenty-two parishes were examined and approved, and the Board issued orders to the Treasurer for the payment of the grant awarded in each case. Previously to the execution of these works, which included the erection of eleven new churches and chapels, and the rebuilding of four existing churches, the provision of church-room for a population of 119,934 persons was, 25,210 sittings, 8,497 of which were free. One of these parishes, with a population of 56,000 persons, had churchaccommodation for about onee-fourth; another, with 17,500 persons, had accommodation for less than one-fourth; another, with upwards of 10,000 persons, possessed church-room for one - tenth ; one with nearly 8,000 persons, has accommodation for one - eighth ; three parishes, each with a population of upwards of 3,000 persons, could only accommodate 462, 450, and 288 persons respectively; and one township, with a population of 4,000 souls, in a parish containing 13,500 persons, had neither church nor chapel. To the very insufficient accommodation provided in the places which have now claimed the payment of the grants voted by the Society, 6,939 sittings are added, 5,304 of which are free and unappropriated. TO CORRESPONDENTS. If " Wintoniensis" be "but of yesterday in his Theology," he ought, of all people in the world, to be the most careful in conferring nickname, such as Rationalist, and the like, on his brethren. We can quite understand the impression that has been made on him by his first glance at the writings of the distinguished person to whom his letter refers; it is by no means an unnatural one; nevertheless, we beg to remind him that an author, marked by far more than ordinary originality and depth, is not to be judged at a first glance, and we feel bound to recommend to him a studious perusal of the principal works of the one in question. He will find nothing in them to unsettle his faith, but the very reverse. |