,transcribed from the #ahda ,l4 and ,g4 ,seeley edition by ,david ,price1 email ccx#jgdpglaf4org ,picture3 ,pamphlet cover ,,letter ,,to ,,the ,,friends ,,and ,,subscribers ,,of ,,the ,,church ,,pastoral-,,aid ,,society4 ,,occasioned ,,by ,a ,,letter ,,from ,,the ,,rev4 ,,dr4 ,,molesworth ,,to ,,the ,,lord ,,bishop ,,of ,,chester1 ,,containing ,,allegations ,,against ,,the ,,society4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,by ,,the ,,rev4 ,,caleb ,,whitefoord ,a4,m4 ,,chaplain ,,to ,,the ,,infirmary ,,of ,,st4 ,,james',s1 ,,westminster1 ,,domestic ,,chaplain ,,to ,,his ,,grace ,,the ,,duke ,,of ,,roxburghe ,,and ,,to ,,the ,,most ,,hon4 ,,the ,,marquess ,,of ,,bute4 99 99 99 99 99 ,then ,i sent unto him1 saying1 ,there are no such things done as thou sayest1 but thou feignest them out of thine own heart4 ,for they all made us afraid1 saying1 ,their hands shall be weakened from the work1 that it be not done4 ,now1 therefore1 ,o ,god1 strengthen my hands4 ,,nehemiah1 ,,vi4 #h4 #i4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,london3 ,l4 ,,and ,g4 ,,seeley1 #afi ,,fleet ,,street2 ,,and ,,nisbet1 ,,berners ,,street4 #ahda4 ,price ,sixpence4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,synopsis ,,of ,,the ,,society4 ,,object4--,the salvation of souls1 with a single eye to the glory of ,god1 and in humble dependence on ,his blessing1 by granting aid toward maintaining faithful and devoted men to assist the ,incumbents of ,parishes in their pastoral charge4 ,,principles4--,that1 in a ,christian land1 a ,church established should adequately provide for the spiritual instruction of all the people2 and that it is part of the duty of a ,christian ,legislature to furnish the ,church with means to this end3 but that1 if the ,legislature should fail of this duty1 then1 rather than souls should perish1 ,christians must join together1 to supply the deficiency1 and make the ,church as effective as it is in their power to do4 ,,plan4--,the ,church ,pastoral-,aid ,society strictly regards the wants of the ,church on the one hand1 and the order of the ,church on the other4 ,it would make the ,church efficient2 it would carry the ,gospel1 by means of the ,church1 to every man's door1 but it never intrudes its aid3 the ,incumbent must apply for aid1 or sanction the application2 and until this is done1 the ,society cannot move4 ,when aid is sought and granted1 the ,parochial ,minister must say how it is to be employed--he must nominate the persons to be employed--he must engage them1 as well as superintend and entirely control them4 ,all that the ,society does1 is to provide for their remuneration2 and1 while so doing1 to ask satisfactory proof of their qualifications4 ,,operations4 ,,results ,,of ,,aid4 ,incumbents aided #bge ,grants now in operation3 ,population under their #b1jce1eef for ,clergymen #bcj charge ,average population to each #g1cge ,lay- #dj ,assistants ,average income of #afc ,additional ,churches and ,incumbents ,chapels3 ,without ,parsonage-houses #ach ,opened #fg ,the ,society's aid is to provide ,proposed #ei for ,clergymen #bic ,addit4 ,licensed ,places used as ,chapels3 ,lay-,assistants #db ,opened #ajf ,total charge on the #bf1aih ,proposed #bj ,society1 when all are in operation1 per annum ,charge of those now in #bj1ijh ,additional full ,services operation established3 ,income of the ,society for #af1agf ,on the #dja the year #ahci-dj ,lord's-,day ,on ,week-days #agb ,additional #afa ,cottage ,lectures ,,letter c4 c4 ,,the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,molesworth1 a ,clergyman favourably known for some time past by the publication of a periodical called the 8,penny ,sunday ,reader10--who is likewise 7as ,i perceive by the ,advertisement appended to his ,pamphlet7 ,author of 8,family ,sermons for every ,sunday in the ,year10 and whose promotion from a small benefice in ,canterbury to one of the largest in the ,north of ,england was not long ago announced to the public1--has lately signalized his zeal in another way1 by coming forward in the character of public prosecutor #c against the 8,church ,pastoral-,aid ,society30--this he does in a printed ,letter addressed to his own ,diocesan1 and our respected ,vice ,patron1 the ,bishop of ,chester1 containing serious charges affecting the whole character and management of the ,society4 ,the indictment sets forth1 that the ,society1 in spite of professed attachment to the ,church1 is in reality doing it the greatest injury1 and chiefly by the exercise of a veto upon the appointment of parties to be maintained upon its grants4 ,dr4 ,molesworth therefore calls upon the ,society to put itself upon its defence1--to appear at his bar1 and answer to his indictment1 upon pain of sentence of outlawry to be pronounced against it by all the orthodox4 ,he further presses upon the subscribers and friends of the ,society1 as yet more friends of the ,church1 the necessity of transferring their subscriptions from the 8,church ,pastoral-,aid ,society10 to the 8,society for promoting the employment of ,additional ,curates1 c40#d ,this direct attempt to injure the ,society1 as well in its funds as more vitally in its character1 will make apology needless on my part for following ,dr4 ,molesworth in his appeal to the ,society at large2 little as ,i may think his statements calculated to effect their design of weakening your attachment to this tried instrument 7under ,god7 of so great an amount of good4 ,and not suspecting that the ,committee acting for the whole ,society--a ,society comprising in its members ten of the ,episcopal order 7including ,dr4 ,molesworth's own ,diocesan71 many ,church ,dignitaries1 the ,regius ,professor of ,divinity at ,oxford1 c4 c4--is likely so to forget what is due to itself1 as to descend into the arena of controversy at the challenge of an individual2 ,i thought it open to any of the #adjj ,clergy attached to the ,society1 against whom the sentence of outlawry is to be passed1 to accept ,dr4 ,molesworth's challenge upon somewhat more equal terms4 ,the ,society will naturally enough remark1 upon a prim-facie view of ,dr4 ,m4's cry of alarm1--8,we have all these learned and venerable ,bishops amongst us1 these esteemed and valued ,dignitaries2 they would have informed us1 long ago1 if we were justly chargeable with the evil ,dr4 ,molesworth has imputed to us30--but either these learned and venerable men must be far less careful for the interests of the ,church than ,dr4 ,molesworth1 or else 7not having sufficient discernment87 failed to discover1 in the five years' working of the ,society1 under all the advantages of their connection with it1 those evils which a single observer at a distance1 acting in the exercise of his private judgment1 has found so clear4 ,happy for the ,episcopal ,bench1 amidst all the mischief ,dr4 ,molesworth has conjured up1 not only in the ,society1 but in the ,church1 that there should be still left to them such a faithful adviser1 such a controller1 such a corrector of their inadvertencies and mistakes6 ,we shall presently see what testimony is borne by these learned and venerable men to the character and services of the 8,church ,pastoral-,aid ,society20 when it will be for ,dr4 ,molesworth to decide1 how far his statement can be made to tally with theirs2 or otherwise1 which of the two we shall prefer4 ,whether the ,society is right or wrong in the exercise of its veto upon the nomination of parties to occupy its grants1 is the main question at issue4 ,a more satisfactory way of dealing with it1 than by following ,dr4 ,molesworth's arrangement1--which 7with the exception of what he has culled from the ,newspapers in his ,preface and ,appendix7 is the simple one1 of first saying all that can be said in favour of the ,additional ,curates' ,fund1 and next1 all that can be imagined against the ,church ,pastoral ,aid ,society1--will be1 to place fully before you the simple and intelligible principles upon which1 in the question at issue1 the ,church ,pastoral-,aid ,society acts4 ,i speak as one well acquainted with the ,society's operations1 but as having no other authority for what ,i say4 ,dr4 ,molesworth affirms 7p4 #ac7 that this rule of the ,society will not abide 8the sifting of honesty and common sense40 ,let us see4 ,we contend1 ,i4 ,that unworthy men do intrude themselves into the sacred ministry of the ,church4 ,,ii4 ,that it is a principle not unknown to the ,church1 that those who provide the temporalities shall have a voice accorded to them in the selection of parties to benefit by their appropriation4 ,,iii4 ,that to appoint such as unworthily intrude into the ministry of the ,church to cure of souls1 is to be 8partaker of their evil deeds40 7#b;d ,ep4 ,john47 ,in these particulars1 it is presumed1 will be comprehended a full discussion of the question at issue4 ,by the first proposition1 ,i intend to shew the expediency of the veto2 by the second1 its lawfulness2 and by the third1 its bounden obligation4 ,previously1 however1 ,i would disclaim1 for myself1 and the cause with which ,i would identify myself1 all pleading at ,dr4 ,molesworth's tribunal2--a conclusion to which ,i am forced by the perusal of his ,letter4--,i appeal not to him2--and why8 ,i discover him to be an incompetent1 because an unfair and presumptuous judge4 ,these are strong charges2 and only to be warranted if borne out by proofs derived from his own ,letter4 ,to his revered ,diocesan appeal would have been superfluous1 who well knows how to appreciate the becoming sneer at 8spiritually-minded10 8evangelical10 and every thing of that sort4 ,indeed1 a less-disguised antipathy to real ,religion1 in my judgment1 these later days have seldom witnessed1--at least in print1 and from one of the ,clergy4 ,my appeal is to those whom ,dr4 ,molesworth would seek to pervert 7vide ,app4 p4 #ci71 the friends and supporters of the ,society3 and ,i ask them1 whether ,dr4 ,molesworth has not prejudged already1 from the temper and style of his pamphlet1 the cause which he affects to put on trial8 ,a few extracts will shew4 ,he commences temperately enough2 calling for1 in page #g1 8,an abandonment of the objectionable test1 or at least a clear and explicit understanding upon the character and designs of the ,society40 ,and adding1 8,the ,society owes to itself as well as to the ,church1 an official vindication from the questionable 7to say the least7 appearances against it40 ,such likewise was the tenor of his original ,letter to the ,manchester ,courier 7p4 #d74 ,but1 as he warms upon his theme1 he forgets this prudent part of his plan4 ,page #ae1 we find the veto thus described3-- 8,it is an insidious plan2--it is a plan fit for a society with shabby1 party1 and sectarian designs1 but not for a society with simply and singly ,church views4 ,it places the ,society above the ,bishops and ,archbishops10 c4 ,page #ad1 he had remarked-- 8,i will not affirm that the rule was designed to be the instrument of a shabby and crooked policy2 but ,i will affirm1 that if it had been so designed1 it could not have been better contrived40 ,the insinuation here conveyed is that amplified1 as we have seen1 in the very next page1 by which we may judge at what rate ,dr4 ,molesworth travels4--,page #bj1 he feels shy of saying that this rule is the instrument of 8a dangerous and double-faced policy20 whilst he does not hesitate to style 7p4 #bc7 those who have the working of the rule1 8despotic1 and irresponsible0 767 managers4--,the ,secretary of our ,society 7the ,rev4 ,e4 ,b4 ,were7 had wound up an unpleasant correspondence 7for it is always unpleasant to tell a man he will not do7 with a layman 7,mr4 ,briarly ,browne71 whose friend1 the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,clark1 had sought for him a grant from the ,society1 upon which ,mr4 ,briarly ,browne was to be ordained2 brooding all the while1 and hardly suppressing1 considerable ill-will to the ,society in their hearts4 ,the endeavour on the part of our ,secretary to expose this unhandsome proceeding is stigmatized as 8a poor shuffling attempt0 7p4 #bd74 ,previously1 ,dr4 ,molesworth had admitted 7p4 #ah7 that this was done 8with some1 but rather severe1 justice40 ,i pass by another charge1 in the same page1 of more serious and offensive character1 which ,dr4 ,molesworth greedily catches up from a ,letter of ,mr4 ,clark2 intending to return to it by and by4 ,but after all1 nothing of this kind comes up to the appendix3--he has bade adieu to the ,bishop1 and has got a little out of sight2--and now hear him3--what was but the lion passant guardant before1 is become truly the lion rampant now4 8,the ,society0 7he says1 p4 #cf71 8in the plenitude of their super-papal authority1 have thought fit to declare6660--and at the end of the next extract--8,is not this monstrous80 8,are these ,church principles80 8,is such a tribunal of intolerance and sectarianism66 to stand forth and collect money1 and to be advocated in our pulpits as a ,church ,society80 ,and now1 friends and supporters of the ,church ,pastoral-,aid ,society1 are you willing to be tried by ,dr4 ,molesworth1 or are you convinced that he has made up his mind before you come into ,court8 ,if the ,society1 or the ,committee it appoints as among its most responsible members1 be deserving of such rank abuse as this1 where is the need of inquiry8 ,bad indeed must the ,society be decided to be2--bad in its principles1 bad in its management1 bad in its officers2 in short1 all bad together4 ,why1 then1 does ,dr4 ,molesworth dwell so tamely1 at the outset1 upon 8questionable appearances which require vindication08 ,wherefore does he affect to call for 8a clear and explicit understanding upon the character and designs of the ,society40 7,p4 #g1 and ,letter to the ,manchester ,courier47 ,if the matter needs no inquiry1 why does ,dr4 ,molesworth make a show of demanding it8 ,and if it does1 why does he approach the question in such a predetermined spirit of hostility as to make the proposal1 in his case1 a deception2 shewing that he at least has settled the question before 7as he admits7 he has heard it4 ,there is no disguising it--,dr4 ,molesworth's objection lies far deeper3 this will be seen1 as we enter further into the consideration of his attack4 ,the ostensible grounds of objection shift about4 ,the employment of ,lay agents is now the minor matter 7pp4 #ah and #ai74 ,it was the major1 onewhile2 but the ,society having suffered as much loss as the urging and mis-stating of that objection could inflict1 and having happily survived the injuries1 the major point sinks1 and becomes the minor 7as you perceive71 and the minor is now the major1 and so on2 for reproach will never be wanting against a ,society founded1 supported1 and 7under ,god7 successfully worked by those whose religious sentiments ,dr4 ,molesworth treats with undisguised aversion4 ,else why that strange loathing of the very word 8spiritually-minded02 so that he has actually clipped it of a full syllable8 ,it is a curious fact1 that the ,rev4 ,doctor has quoted this word 7in allusion to the ,letter of the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,were1 ,secretary to the ,society71 but always writing it thus1 8spiritual-minded10 no less than eleven times in twenty pages1 and evidently in a tone of derision4 ,now1 when a ,doctor of ,divinity takes up a ,scriptural term only to disparage it1 and others by it2 and actually mistakes the orthography of the word1 as though it were quite new to him1 and foreign to his taste2 it is high time we should quote him the passage at length wherein it occurs1 and then leave it with him3--,rom4 viii4 #f3 8,to be carnally-minded is death1 but to be spiritually-minded is life and peace40 ,dr4 ,molesworth can do justice to the ,society in nothing2 he cannot even allow it its real title3 yet one would think1 that the good he is forced to admit1 to a certain extent1 that the ,society has done in the ,church1 and not out of the ,church1 might1 in a lesser sense at least1 and putting aside all courtesy to his clerical brethren in the ,society1 entitle it to be called a 8,church ,pastoral-,aid ,society40 ,not so1 for 7p4 #be7 the ,society is a 8,lay ,society06 ,what ,dr4 ,molesworth does with the ten ,bishops1 so high a ,churchman as he would be thought1 ,i marvel3 when they are treated thus1 his #adjj brethren of the ,clergy will1 of course1 go for nothing6 ,the title given us of 8,lay ,society10 however1 is adopted from the ,letter of ,mr4 ,briarly ,browne2 a layman himself1 be it observed1 but who 7proh pudor67 will not bestow the name of ,churchman upon ,bishop or ,archbishop1 ,dignitary or ,parish ,priest1 so long as they remain connected with this ,society6 ,might it not have served his turn to have denounced the ,society as a mixed ,society of ,lay and ,clergy1 an unauthorised ,society1 or any thing more offensive that he pleased1 which would at least have spared the ,church ,dignitaries attached to the ,society the insult of being reckoned as laymen1 or nothing2 and by which this layman would not have set his clerical champion the bad example he was not slow to follow1 of casting contempt 7as ,i cannot but consider it7 upon the highest authorities of the ,church4 ,another1 and the most unmeasured of all their charges against the ,society1 is likewise adopted by the ,doctor from the ,letter of ,mr4 ,clark1 that of 8raising money upon false pretences6660 ,this1 in other terms1 accuses the ,society of swindling2 and to this no defence will be conceded on my part4 ,if the authors of the charge can believe it1 ,i pity them3 in my judgment1 it refutes itself4 ,nevertheless1 as an offence cognisable by our laws1--they will pardon me the suggestion1--it will afford them the very opportunity they appear to seek1 of exposing1 as well as annoying1 the ,committee of the ,society in open court2 provided only the proofs are at hand4 ,little as ,i am disposed to bandy words1 ,i might ask1 if a ,society1 having fully1 fairly1 and publicly declared its principles1 7and ,i believe there never was a ,society which carried the practice to a greater extent17 and had thereby published upon what terms its money was subscribed and its grants made1 so that there could be no mistake2 and if others1 knowing and hating its principles equally1 had1 notwithstanding1 proposed themselves as parties to benefit by its funds whilst they eluded its principles2 who would be raising money upon false pretences1 in that case8 ,here ,i cannot refrain from reporting an earlier specimen of the bad faith the ,society has experienced at the hands of those whose dislike it may have merited by diligence in the ,church ,pastoral-,aid4 ,the facts are known to the subscribers generally2 but are again introduced here1 to shew1 that when the 8minor matter10 as ,lay-agency is now called1 was urged as the major1 7before it had fallen so many degrees by ,dr4 ,molesworth's disciplinometer17 the ,society was not a jot the less liable to misrepresentation and unkindness than now4 ,the following statement appeared in a work of a popular character1 published in #ahch anonymously1 and called 8,a ,voice from the ,font40 8,an ,incumbent of a populous town in the ,west of ,england applied for two ,lay-teachers1 who were granted2 but who1 after establishing an acquaintance and intimacy with the parishioners1 became ,dissenting ,ministers of the town1 drawing to them those whom they had visited as the delegates of the ,incumbent40 ,this stood in the relation of a note1 containing the proof1 or substantial part of an excellent argument against ,lay-assistance and the ,church ,pastoral-,aid ,society4 ,alas6 the whole was pure invention4 ,but all men are liable to err1 and to derive information from incorrect sources4 ,the publisher was therefore apprised1 and the ,editor of the ,church-of-,england ,quarterly ,review1 which had copied the objectionable passage1 written to4 ,the ,author of the book1 understood to be a ,clergyman1 was appealed to3 there could be no doubt of the mistake 7to call it by the mildest name72 and the publishers1 ,messrs4 ,longman ,co41 consequently received authority to paste over the note in all future and unsold copies4 ,now the ,society thought that more was due to it3 the libel had gone through the length and breadth of the land4 ,so void of truth was the statement1 that1 in point of fact1 no ,incumbent in the ,west of ,england ever had two ,lay-assistants paid by the ,society3--7to nominate them1 ,i beg to acquaint the 8,poor ,parson0 p4 #e1 is always left to the ,incumbent himself72 and not a single instance has occurred1 since the formation of the ,society1 of any ,lay-agent1 supported by its means1 becoming a ,dissenting ,teacher4 ,yet all attempt to obtain further redress was hopeless3 no sorrow was expressed by the party who had circulated the false report2 no proper feeling shewn for having wounded a much-called-for ,christian ,charity2--no apology1--no reparation1--no answer1 in short1 was given to the ,society's appeal6 ,i know not what effect the relation of such injustice may have on other minds3 it made me the zealous friend of the 8,church ,pastoral-,aid ,society30 previously content with being its well-wisher1 ,i had taken no part in its proceedings3 since then1 ,i am thankful to say1 ,i have4 ,hitherto1 my object has been1 to expose the animus of these attacks3 though painful1 it was necessary to do so1 lest any one should conceive that ,dr4 ,molesworth1 and those who think with him1 are men who may be easily satisfied2 or that by giving up one point1 however vital1 we should silence opposition4 ,does the spirit displayed in their attacks afford us any fair grounds for hoping this8 ,was not ,lay-agency first attacked1 as the veto is now8 ,does not the reproach of 8,lay ,society0 announce that the whole ,society must be re-constituted1 from the top-stone to the bottom8 ,in short1 these gentlemen will be satisfied when we have given up every thing1 and have nothing more left to give up4 ,bear in mind1 that they have already established a ,society 7a ,church ,society they call theirs71 for the same objects1 upon their own model2--,i do not say1 in opposition to1 but a year or more after the ,pastoral-,aid ,society4 ,one would think1 if ,dr4 ,molesworth could do justice to the ,society in any thing1 it would be as parent of a child so hopeful1 so highly-prized1 and so justly-commended by himself1 as the ,society for the employment of ,additional ,curates c4 ,standing in this relation to each other1 it is painful to learn from ,dr4 ,molesworth the probability of their becoming 8bitter rivals0 7p4 #bg74 ,on the part of the parent1 ,i am sure1 no such unnatural sentiment prevails2 and ,i trust it would continue to be so1 were the respective positions changed1 and the daughter flourished as much1 or more1 than the mother4 ,far more congenial to my feelings than the topics which have engaged us hitherto1 will be the discussion upon certain definite principles1 as was proposed1 of the use of the veto4 ,my first proposition was a question of fact scarcely requiring proof2 yet indeed the whole argument depends upon it3 for could it be proved that no evil men exist in the ,church as ministers1 then the ,society's rule would doubtless be unnecessary1 offensive1 and chargeable with party motives4 ,but ,i assert1 ,i4 ,that unworthy men do intrude themselves into the sacred ministry of the ,church4 ,a proposition so plain amounts1 in fact1 to a truism2 yet it affords in itself1 to my mind1 and upon ,christian principles1 a sufficient vindication of the ,society's rule4 ,some escape the vigilance of the ,bishop at ordination2 and some fall away1 like the unhappy ,dr4 ,dodd1 and others1 from a state of considerable usefulness and credit4 ,thus it was in the earliest ages of the ,church1 and in the presence of extraordinary inspiration4 ,a 8,demas1 having loved this present world10 forsook his master3 and ,paul prophesied1 that1 after his departure from ,ephesus1 8grievous wolves should enter in1 not sparing the flock40 8,also1 of your ownselves10 adds he1 8shall men arise1 speaking perverse things1 to draw away disciples after them30 ,acts xx4 #bi1 #cj4 ,or1 without speaking of our own times1 to come to times bordering upon our own2 who has not heard of an assembly of ,divines of the ,church of ,england meeting for the purpose of obtaining relief to their consciences from subscription to the ,thirty-nine ,articles1 which they had already subscribed8 ,these were men whom the ,church ,pastoral-,aid ,society1 ,low-,church1 or ,no-,church as it may be called1 would never have supported from its funds1 nor put itself in the way of doing so4 ,leave it in the hands of the ,bishops to refuse their licence1 is ,dr4 ,molesworth's panacea4 ,dr4 ,molesworth would throw all upon the ,bishops4--,and was it1 ,dr4 ,molesworth1 not left in the hands of the ,bishops at that very time1 long before any ,church ,pastoral-,aid ,society was heard of8 ,i know it will be thought invidious1 in more ways than one1 to take the course ,i do1 upon this proposition4 ,i may content myself with ,dr4 ,molesworth's ,apology to his ,diocesan 7p4 #bf71 by affirming only with more reason1 that 8the importance of the subject requires that no courtesies should suppress plain speaking upon it40 ,towards the ,episcopal body ,i would conduct myself with the utmost deference and respect4 ,in what ,i shall say1 ,i would refer but to the past4 ,are not ,bishops elected at that time of life1 in a majority of cases1 which would preclude them from acting very long with the promptitude and vigour which ,dr4 ,molesworth's system would require8 ,a remark to that effect fell from the lips of good ,bishop ,horne1 as he ascended the steps to his episcopal palace at ,norwich for the first time4 ,it is blindness to expect in ,bishops more than can be found in man--more than was found in ,apostles4 ,it is ill service to their cause and ours1 to load them with responsibility1 to expect more of them than they can give1 teaching others the same lesson1 and making 7to use an obvious figure7 the head the most active of all the members4 ,if the ,bishops are to depend upon the information of others1 ,i may ask1 ,are ordinary testimonials never unsound8 ,does personal character always come out1 in divinity examinations before their chaplains8 ,again1 when corrupt men are in the ,church1 who does not know the difficulty 7perhaps in some degree necessary1 upon a balance of evils1 and all things considered7 in removing them8 ,one case of that kind1 in a diocese not far from the metropolis1 cost more anxiety1 pains1 and expenditure in the ,ecclesiastical ,court to ,bishop after ,bishop 7though the circumstances were flagrant7 than it would be possible for them often to repeat4 ,here we have a vindication of the ,bishops upon the point of allowing corrupt men to remain in the ,church2 and here we have the propriety of the ,society's veto confirmed1 and the inexpediency of ,dr4 ,molesworth's suggestion of laying all the onus upon ,bishops4 ,while men in holy orders are to be found devotees of the ball-room1 the card-table1 and the race-course1 in spite of the remonstrances of the refined ,bishop ,jebb1--whilst men are to be found as ministers of ,christ1 throwing the peculiar doctrines of the ,gospel into the shade1 in spite of the indignation of ,bishop ,horsley against 8the apes of ,epictetus10--it is no time for those who are attached to the ,church to lay aside precaution against the mal-appropriation of consecrated funds4 ,at the 7last87 ,races in ,canterbury1 which the magistrates tried to put down1 on account of the immorality and disorder attending them1 a distinguished list of ,clergy was announced as having been present on the 8grand stand20--a grand stand1 indeed1 for the ,clergy6--,i wish the statement were too improbable to need contradiction4 ,it is found in a work written by a ,clergyman of the ,church of ,england1 reviewed in a daily print of considerable circulation4 ,provided it be true1 are these men whom ,dr4 ,molesworth would have us receive 8as faithful and devoted0 without question1 of whose habits this appearance on 8the grand stand0 at ,canterbury is a specimen8 ,the ,committee of the ,church ,pastoral-,aid ,society consider1 with ,bishop ,jebb1 that they are so far the reverse4 ,our idea of faithfulness would comprise the not being present1 as pleased spectators1 in the resorts of immorality2 and of devotedness1 the being far better employed4 ,dr4 ,molesworth inquires 7p4 #bd7 what ,,tests of character and qualifications the ,society uses4 ,is the doctrine and discipline of the ,church of ,england none8 ,the question is raised1 ,i suppose1 because ,dr4 ,molesworth cannot disabuse his mind of the petty suspicion1 that ,high and ,low ,church 7p4 #bh7 are the points upon which the examination turns4 ,does ,dr4 ,molesworth really suspect this8 ,if so1 let me undeceive him at once3 the ,clerical ,committee of that ,society are1 ,i trust1 as distinguished for conformity and attachment to the ,church as himself2 and in this sense no one could be nominated who was too ,high-,church for them4 ,when1 however1 we do all that is required of us1 and give our ,,tests more in detail1 what do we gain by it8 ,dr4 ,molesworth finds nothing but vagueness in our requirements--vagueness in what we find most explicit4 8,faithful1 devoted10 c4 7p4 #ae71 8is vague20 8spiritual-mindedness0 8is vague0 7p4 #af71 which is repeated 7p4 #bb72 and an admirable note in the next page 7#bc71 explaining the rejection of a candidate1 is spoken of as written in 8hide-and-seek phraseology20 where1 as ,dr4 ,molesworth formerly clipped1 so now he coins a word to shew his little respect for the ,society4 ,i do beg the attention of the friends and subscribers of the ,church ,pastoral-,aid ,society to the ,letter referred to #ah1 not as an illustration of the ,doctor's discovery of what he is pleased to name 8hide and-seek phraseology10 but as a very luminous and compendious refutation of the ,doctor's hard words1 and aspersion of the veto4 ,the ,poet speaks of things 8,dark with excess of light30-- upon some such phenomenon1 methinks1 ,dr4 ,molesworth must have stumbled1 as respects the ,letter in question4 ,he professes to be quite in the dark likewise--to which ,mr4 ,b4 ,browne led the way--as to the possibility of discerning1 without looking into the heart1 who are spiritually-minded 7p4 #ag74 ,scripture holds out to him a candle3 8,by their fruits ye shall know them60 8,the fruits of the flesh are manifest30 ,gal4 v4 #ai4 ,the fruits of the ,spirit1 or spiritual-mindedness1 which are the reverse of the former1 are likewise enumerated in the same portion of ,scripture4 ,but where individuals are not known to us1 how shall we judge8 7for this ,i suspect is their last shift47 ,simply by taking the judgment of those who are spiritually-minded1 devoted1 faithful1 and the like1 and know the candidate2--in short1 the best testimony that can be obtained3 there is no mystery in the matter1 the course taken in every inquiry as to character is the course taken by the ,clerical ,committee and ,secretaries1 and one by which the truth can seldom fail to come to light4 ,that ,i may not be said to shrink from any part of this discussion1 ,i come to the case of ,mr4 ,briarly ,browne himself4--,first of all1 as to his testimonials4 ,any one knowing how unreflectingly testimonials of every kind are given1 will see the necessity of looking narrowly into them1 when so great a matter is at stake1 as appointments1 or the approval of them1 in the ,church4 ,it cannot but be perceived by our friends and supporters1 as well as by the public at large1 that the gist of the accusations against the ,committee is the care and strictness with which they discharge their trust4 ,in the next place1 the ,bishop of ,chester's countersign to the testimonials of the three beneficed ,clergymen presented by ,mr4 ,browne amounted to this1 that they were ,clergymen officiating in his diocese1 and 8worthy of credit40 ,lastly1 the testimonials themselves are1 to my mind1 both guarded and limited in their expression1 and not of a decided character4 ,the two first set forth briefly what they believe ,mr4 ,browne to be1 c43 the third1 more strongly ,i allow1 states1 that the writer has every reason to believe1 but 7what87 the matter deposed to would appear both meagre and insufficient to me1 if it was all ,i had as recommendation for a ,curate or substitute for my own duties4 ,it can answer no good purpose to quote at length a correspondence which the parties who think themselves aggrieved lost no time in sending to the ,newspapers4 ,i can only express my coincidence with the ,secretary of the ,society1 in thinking that the testimonials1 7if7 good as far as they went1 yet fell short of giving full satisfaction as to 8,christian character and qualifications30 and since ,i would not flinch from the most open discussion of the subject at issue1 ,i will tell my ,reverend ,brethren1 ,dr4 ,molesworth and ,mr4 ,clark1 the sort of testimonial which ,i think called for by the occasion3 for instance1--not only that ,i 8believed10 but that ,i was fully convinced1 upon sufficient evidence1 or knowledge of the party1 that he was both a sincere ,churchman1 and still more a sincere ,christian2 preaching1 or desiring to preach1 the doctrines contained in the ,articles1 and those in their proper order3 first1 8the ,name which is above every name10 78for there is none other whereby we must be saved107 and afterwards every thing else in due subordination1 with no mixing up essentials and non-essentials as of equal worth3 and further1 that his life exhibited tokens of his having been 8born of the ,spirit10 by humility1 meekness1 temperance1 devotedness1 holiness1 c41 as the case might be4 ,such a testimonial surely could not be chargeable with the spirit of party2 nor is there any thing overstrained1 ,i conceive1 in its language or requirements3 and yet three such testimonials1 ,i feel certain1 from persons of credit1 would never be rejected by the ,committee4 ,i would fain be spared the entering upon any of the doctrinal peculiarities of the day2 but am bound1 in conscience1 to add1 that if ,i knew of any one holding the doctrine1 condemned by the ,bishop of ,exeter in his last ,charge1 of reserve in communicating the doctrine of the ,atonement1 nothing more would be required1 in my judgment1 to call for the exercise of the veto4--,we can but do as we would be done by4 ,let ,dr4 ,molesworth put himself in the position of the ,clerical ,committee3 would he recommend to others a ,curate that he could not conscientiously appoint himself8 or would he assent to the appointment of a ,curate 7for that is more correctly our case71 if he were trustee for another1 provided his own mind were not satisfied as to the fitness of the individual proposed8 ,is any one so simple as to believe that ,dr4 ,molesworth would take the first person that offered1 or choose blindfold as it were1 for his own ,curate4 ,many of our brethren1 ,i believe1 delegate the choice of their ,curates to friends in the ministry1 upon whose judgment they have more reliance than on their own4 ,what does the ,church ,pastoral-,aid ,society more than these 7it does not half so much78 except1 that where its judgment is asked1 it bountifully pays the ,curate that is appointed4 ,,ii4 ,but it might be argued1 that allowing unworthy men did so intrude1 and establish themselves in the ,church1--for the fact is indisputable1 making the necessity for vigilance manifest1--we could not meddle as a ,society1 or ,committee of ,laymen1 or ,clergymen1 either or both with a view of repairing the evil1 by rejecting nominations to our grants on account of the character of ,clergymen nominated to us1 without violating the plain order of the ,church4 ,is it so8--then where is it laid down8 for we should like to have the very words of authority produced2 being most unwilling to forfeit our protection of the veto1 so strong a necessity for which is shewn1 unless the ,church has spoken very plainly and authoritatively against it4 ,all ,i can gather upon this subject from ,dr4 ,molesworth1 is in the way of assertion1 rather than of authority and proof4 ,there is plenty of surmise of evil to the ,church1 and everywhere an assumed departure from order on our part2 but what proof is given8 ,i am sure ,i cannot see it in the prayer for the ,clergy and people which ,dr4 ,molesworth has alleged for that purpose4 ,what decree1 canon1 or judgment of the ,church1 has he quoted8 ,as most decisive in the controversy1 ,i would by no means pass over that ,scriptural argument from ,acts vi4 #b1 #c2 where the whole 8multitude of the disciples0 were solicited by the ,apostles to select 8men of honest report1 full of the ,holy ,ghost and wisdom10 to be afterwards ordained by themselves4 ,to judge who were fit for the office of ,deacon is here manifestly delegated to the body of believers2 and those we call ,laity were constituted judges as to who were 8of honest report1 full of the ,holy ,ghost and wisdom40 ,the multitude made choice because they had raised the common fund which the ,deacons were to distribute4 ,let us come to the actual law and system of the ,church4 ,laymen1 consistently with the order of the ,church1 purchase or inherit1 and appoint to benefices2 and afterwards the ,bishop inducts4 ,this is in no small degree analogous to granting the means for1 and consenting to1 the nomination of ,curates to the ,bishops for licence4 ,corporate bodies1 as the ,haberdashers' or ,goldsmiths' ,company1 without a ,clergyman among them1 exercise the right of patronage over livings in their gift4 ,the ,trustees of new ,churches or ,chapels1 commonly laymen1 upon providing a certain endowment1 obtain ,episcopal consecration for their edifices1 and exercise the whole right of selecting and appointing ,ministers1 to be afterwards licensed by the ,bishop2 the consecration of their wealth to the ,church entitling them1 ,i suppose1 in the ,church's view1 to this privilege of nomination in return4 ,the parties ,i have specified make election according to their views of ,clergymen or applicants1 their doctrine and manner of life4 ,nobody has ever objected to it1 as far as ,i know at least1 as inconsistent with the present order of our ,church4 ,late ,acts of ,parliament are enlarging the facilities by which the ,laity erect and endow ,churches upon consideration of the selection and nomination of ,ministers being in their own hands4 ,if it were possible that the ,church ,pastoral-,aid ,society1 by the exercise of a simple veto upon the nomination of ,curates to fill its grants1 should endanger the ,church1--what if its object were changed1 its funds invested in ,church property1 and it had in its hands the whole appointment to as many livings as could be purchased with its annual income2 that is1 of ,incumbents1 and ,curates too1 virtually2--a proceeding against which no one would have a right to complain1 or power to act1 as contrary to the principles of the ,church8--,if a ,society may consistently with the laws of the ,church appoint to livings1 why may it not exercise a negative voice in ,curacies8 ,if it may do the greater1 why may it not do the less8--,the ,church ,pastoral-,aid ,society asks for no right to nominate or appoint1 but only1 that1 in any appointment made by others to the benefit of its grants1 the ,society should be satisfied that what it gives is not1 as we have seen it might be1 unworthily bestowed4 ,is this more than the ,church is in the habit of allowing1 in return for the consecration of wealth to ,god2 or is it less8 ,dr4 ,molesworth is very sore on the subject of the veto4 ,p4 #ae1 he asserts that the retention of it makes the nomination1 engagement1 c41 promised to the ,incumbent1 8a mere bubble40 ,suppose1 then1 that the veto has been exercised as one in ten1 or one in twenty1 7,i speak in entire ignorance of the real proportion17 would ,dr4 ,molesworth affirm1 that in the cases where the ,incumbent's domination has been accepted at once1 the veto nevertheless proves those nominations to be a bubble8 ,the nature of a veto is well known3 at the most1 it is but half1 and the worst half1 of an appointment2 for vigilance may be lulled1 and resolution wearied out4 ,let not the ,society1 for the ,church's sake1 be provoked to justify itself in detail for the use of it4 ,in the blindness of his anger against the veto1 the ,rev4 ,doctor declares that it makes the promised appointment by the ,incumbent 8a mere bubble20 entirely overlooking1 that in the great majority of cases where the ,incumbent's nomination is accepted1 the ,curate is left thenceforward entirely under his controul2 the ,society losing sight of the individual altogether--for years it may be--unless the ,incumbent himself bring the appointment once more under its review4 ,i thought it not beside my purpose to follow ,dr4 ,molesworth at this point upon the effect of the veto2 but my proposition is the lawfulness of the use of it1 which ,i have endeavoured to shew by the analogy of appointments to spiritual offices1 such as the ,church allows to the ,laity1 either individuals or ,societies1 in return for the endowments they furnish4 ,precedents are besides afforded us in the existence of other ,societies of much earlier date1 exercising similar or greater powers1 and recognised by the ,church4 ,the ,society for ,promoting ,christian ,knowledge1 and 7by special licence of certain gentlemen who have invented a standard for the purpose of determining the fact7 a ,,church ,society1 patronized by the whole ,episcopal ,bench1 is likewise a ,society very liberally constituted2 all members1 ,lay or ,clerical1 having a vote in the proceedings4 ,members are ,clergymen or ,laymen being ,annual ,subscribers of a ,guinea4 ,now this ,society1 besides its dissemination of the ,scriptures1 c41 has the credit of having instituted the first ,missions in our colonies abroad4 ,the great1 the benign1 the venerable ,swartz--or1 may ,i say1 8the faithful and devoted0 ,swartz--was one of those employed in them4 ,till of late1 the ,charges of the ,society to its ,missionaries appeared1 as a ,tract for sale1 on its ,catalogue4 ,here1 then1 we have a ,society of the most liberal character1 acting with the full concurrence of the ,episcopal ,bench1 selecting1 and appointing1 as well as paying ,missionaries4 ,it is true1 as the ,christian-,knowledge ,society enlarged its operations1 it transferred this part of its business to a separate ,society1 the ,society for ,propagating the ,gospel in ,foreign ,parts1 but the precedent still remains4 ,before that time1 any member of that ,society might have sat in judgment upon1 and a majority of ,lay-members might have put the veto practically upon ,missionaries nominated by the ,clergy2 or1 vice-vers1 nominated the ,missionaries disapproved by the ,clergy4 ,so ,i read the constitution of this ,church ,society3--if ,i am wrong1 there are many who will be glad to set me right4 ,members had1 and must have had1 the same power over ,missionaries that they originally had over ,tracts2 the same power that they had over the appointment of all their officers4 ,such1 ,i say1 was the constitution1 whatever may have been the practice of the ,society3 any ,member might have stood upon his right to exercise a vote in the appointment of ,missionaries2 and1 furthermore1 if the practice of the ,society in this respect had been to delegate its right to the clerical members of its body1 as best qualified to judge of the fitness of persons for spiritual offices1 this would only make the case more analogous to that of the ,church ,pastoral-,aid ,society1 which confides the trust of examining into the character of candidates for its grants solely to the clerical members of its ,subcommittee4 ,follow the case to the ,society for ,propagating the ,gospel in ,foreign ,parts1 which is likewise1 according to the exact discrimination of some gentlemen1 a ,church ,society4 ,whatever difference may exist between it and the ,society for ,promoting ,christian ,knowledge1 their constitutions in one respect are similar2 viz4 that the governing body are a mixed ,committee of ,laymen and ,clergy1 in whom must necessarily vest all appointments and distribution of funds3 if they should delegate the nomination of ,missionaries to their clerical members1 they do exactly what the ,church ,pastoral-,aid ,society is doing2 only with this difference1 that the ,church ,pastoral-,aid ,society exercises a negative and partial1 the others a positive and absolute voice in their appointments4 ,it is time ,i should quote the actual ,rules of one of these two ,church ,societies1 with whom the whole business of the ,missions is now lodged4 ,rule ,,xvii4 of the ,society for ,propagating the ,gospel is1 #ag4 ,that no ,missionary be employed until the fullest inquiry has been made into his fitness and sufficiency2 and that all persons applying for ,missions shall produce testimonials1 signed by three beneficed ,clergymen1 and countersigned by the ,bishop of the ,diocese in which those ,clergymen are beneficed4 ,what1 ,dr4 ,molesworth6 a ,society1 a mixed ,society1 examine and ,,appoint to sacred offices1 judging of fitness and sufficiency3 and not only so1 but ,,after testimonials by three ,clergymen1 countersigned by the ,bishop of the ,diocese1 c4 ,even so6 and this is a ,church ,society66 ,i will not inquire1 with the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,molesworth 7p4 #af71 8,upon what ,church principle are the testimonials of these men to be set aside1 for the vague affirmation that the candidate is0 8not fit nor sufficient20--but ,i might do so with as much justice as ,dr4 ,molesworth has shewn to the ,church ,pastoral-,aid ,society4 ,to guard against the intrusion of unfit persons to the sacred office1 every precaution is desirable3 and ,i am by no means a less well-affected member of the ,society for ,propagating the ,gospel on account of this rule4 ,dr4 ,molesworth may be affected in a directly opposite manner1 and not allow their practice to be any vindication of ours4 ,at all events1 ,i have made good my position3 here are ,church ,societies acting upon a principle of appointment to sacred offices by ,laymen and ,clergy in union2 only carrying the principle much further than we have1 and doing what our ,society has been all along particularly scrupulous not to do--has1 in fact1 avoided upon declared principle--viz4 hazarding an opinion upon any question1 when it has been previously before the ,bishop4 ,if ,dr4 ,molesworth finds all these ,societies equally to blame1 pray let him do equal justice2 and not reserve all his indignation for us1 the last and the least offenders4 ,if he is looking back to the pure theory of a ,church1 and losing sight altogether of its present position1 let him confess the fact3 but it is evident1 in that case1 he must sue for a fresh trial against us1 and enlarge the terms of indictment2 when we may chance to find ourselves pleading in such good company as to cause us to rejoice in the prosecution4 ,at all events1 the ,society stands guiltless1 at the present moment1 of having more influence in the appointment of spiritual persons than the ,church grants to those who provide its temporalities2 and1 furthermore1 is not without precedent in established1 sanctioned1 ,church ,societies1 for every step it has taken1 and much more4 ,,iii4 ,having shewn that the veto is expedient1 and lawful1 ,i next proceed to shew that the exercise of it is a matter of ,christian obligation4 ,who knows not that we are responsible for all our talents1 our time1 influence1 actions2 those which we do by ourselves1 and those which we do by others1 or enable others to do8 ,if by any remissness in the management of funds set apart for sending labourers into the ,lord's vineyard1 grievous wolves1 profane or worldly men1 were introduced instead1--a contingency which is not so remote1 as we have seen1--how sad the perversion6 how painful the self-reproach6 ,to be not only not attaining the good result1 but in league with1 and carrying on the very opposite evil1 would convict the ,society of raising funds to be directed against itself1 and to its own condemnation4 ,we are parties to the errors and to the sins of those men who work only at our bidding1 upon our wages4 ,with what consistency would a ,society subscribing funds devoted to the glory of ,god and the salvation of souls be afterwards heedless of inquiring into whose hands they fell2 knowing1 at the same time1 that they might probably fall into such as would exhaust their bounty indeed1 but never advance their object8 ,where is principle1 if men who do apprehend the definition of 8faithful and devoted10 and believe that such men alone can supply the spiritual destitution of our land1 could willingly hand over their funds to those of opposite principles1 upon no better plea than the cry of one man--in whom we cannot have any particular confidence--that 8the ,church is in danger80 ,we are bound1 with a wise economy1 to husband our resources for ,god1 especially in the present disinclination or delay on the part of the ,state1 to provide for the moral destitution of its evergrowing population3 and how can we do this1 unless we ascertain how those resources are applied8 ,to give1 is but a small part of our duty2 but it is enough to involve us in responsibility1 as to the manner and measure1 the application and effect1 of our gifts4 ,in short1 of all matters over which conscience must preside1 and pronounce a verdict1 there is none of more serious magnitude and consequence than this1 ,how shall ,i apply the funds contributed for preaching the ,gospel8 ,the ,society must follow the law of conscience too3 and what men would not do as individuals--contribute to the circulation of error1 and the support of unworthy men as ministers of the ,gospel--they will not do as members of this ,society2--they will earnestly1 ,i trust prayerfully1 guard against it4 ,would the friends and supporters of the ,society1 whilst they remained in doubt whether they were doing good or evil in the ,church1 and what character was borne by the ,curates they maintained1 whether 8faithful and devoted0 or the reverse1 7seeing that both are to be found in the sacred office1 the tares and the wheat together17 make the exertion they now do--many of them1 ,i believe1 out of their deep poverty--in support of the ,society's funds8 ,enough has been said1 ,i think1 to shew that it is no light thing1 when it is required of us to give up our power of influencing others for their good2 no light thing1 when we are asked to provide funds for a minister1 without inquiring whether he is good or bad2 no light thing1 when we are asked to lose sight of our responsibility in the application of gifts we have devoted to the glory of ,god4 ,the last thing ,i proposed to lay before you was the testimony of the highest authorities of the ,church to the character and services of the ,church ,pastoral-,aid ,society2--,i may safely challenge any ,society in the ,church to produce a more favourable one4 ,the following was the tribute of ,his ,grace the ,archbishop of ,canterbury in the ,house of ,lords1 ,july #bgth of the present year1 in the debate on the ,ecclesiastical ,revenues' ,bill4 ,after stating that 8nearly #c1jjj1jjj of our ,fellow-,christians in this land are utterly cut off from the advantages of ,religion and pastoral superintendence10 the ,archbishop adds1 8,the funds of ,queen ,anne's ,bounty1 for the augmentation of small livings1 were only #ab1jjjl4 a-year2 but considerable assistance in aid of that sum was derived from the ,pastoral-,aid ,society1 and the ,supplementary ,curates' ,fund40 ,i notice1 first1 that if the ,archbishop had thought the ,society was doing more evil than good with its fund1 he never could have mentioned it thus3 secondly1 that it is quoted as a ,church ,society1 that is to say1 as belonging to the ,church1 and doing good service in it3 thirdly1 that it is placed above the ,supplementary ,curates' ,fund1 according to its proper place1 both on account of priority of date and greater extent of usefulness4 ,other tributes of our spiritual ,heads under ,christ were given at the last ,general ,meeting of the friends and supporters of the ,society in ,may #ahdj1 a period not greatly preceding ,dr4 ,molesworth's attack3 ,the ,bishop of ,,lichfield 8felt1 on behalf of his diocese at least1 ,a ,,great ,,debt ,,of ,,gratitude ,,to ,,this ,,society2 there being at that moment thousands1 he might say tens of thousands1 in that populous district1 to whom the word of ,god was faithfully preached every ,sabbath-day1 who1 but for the assistance of this ,society1 would have been without the means of grace1 almost1 if not altogether4 ,but his satisfaction did not arise merely from these selfish considerations1 but because he approved of the general principles on which the ,society was founded1 and the plans on which it was carried on4 ,those principles and plans had been1 in some instances1 misrepresented1 or perhaps1 he would rather say1 misunderstood4 ,there was an impression on the minds of many1 that this ,society preserved to itself a kind of jurisdiction independent of the ecclesiastical authorities4 ,nothing could be more erroneous than that40 ,the ,bishop of ,,ripon said-- 8,he would willingly have been spared the necessity of addressing them1 but that he had one strong motive for doing so2 namely1 that of declaring the singular benefits which this ,society had been the means of conferring upon the diocese over which he had the honour to preside40 ,the ,bishop of ,,chester said-- 8,over the space to which this ,report refers1 only seventy-one ,clergymen were engaged for this population before the time when the aid of this ,society came in2 and this was one great reason1 among many others1 why he should be grateful to a ,society which had enabled him to look to the vast concerns under his care with so much less anxiety of mind1 as to the means provided for their discharge1 than he could otherwise have hoped to have done4 ,but there was still a vast amount remaining of the benefits which this ,society had conferred upon the ,church and upon the people1 and which could never be stated in the words of a ,report40 ,the ,bishop of ,,norwich said-- 8,i willingly come forward in support of the ,church ,pastoral-,aid ,society4 ,there are two ,church ,pastoral-,aid ,societies3 they are called rivals1 but they are established entirely and solely for the purpose of doing good4 ,i welcome the introduction and success of the ,society2 and ,i heartily wish it ,god speed1 and that it may prosper throughout the land40 ,the ,bishop of ,winchester having been prevented by domestic affliction from attending the last public meeting1 and the ,bishop of ,llandaff being absent in his diocese1 their testimony is derived from public declarations of a year previous1 #ahci3-- ,the ,bishop of ,,winchester3-- 8,he was bound1 then1 in the spirit of unfeigned thankfulness1 to add his testimony and expression of gratitude to those already given4 ,he1 too1 could refer to that part of the country over which he presided in spiritual things1 as furnishing1 to his own knowledge1 an amount of obligation to the ,society for the timely aid it had afforded to his clergy2 and in many respects he could testify both to its direct and indirect usefulness4 ,he could point to the stimulus to good works which it had given in many quarters of his diocese1 by the aid afforded through its instrumentality3 he could point to subscriptions raised on behalf of additional churches2 to school-rooms erected1 and soon1 as his ,right ,rev4 ,brother had expressed it1 to be converted into places of worship1 and endowed according to the use and form of the ,national ,church40 4 4 4 8,i rejoice in the existence of this ,society1 and am thankful to ,god for having put it into the hearts of many to aid this work of faith and labour of love40 ,the ,bishop of ,,llandaff3-- 8,the ,right ,rev4 ,prelate said1 that though it might appear late in the day1 he had been anxious to make amends for apparent neglect in past time1 by taking part in the proceedings of the ,society1 and ,,especially ,,to ,,express ,,his ,,belief1 ,,that ,,that ,,prejudice1 ,,which ,,for ,,some ,,time ,,had ,,kept ,,many ,,back ,,from ,,supporting ,,this ,,design1 ,,was ,,entirely ,,unfounded4 ,,examination ,,and ,,experience ,,had ,,taught ,,him1 that general1 religious1 and benevolent purposes ,,had ,,animated ,,the ,,proceedings ,,of ,,the ,,society1 and ,a ,,cautious ,,and ,,sober-,,minded ,,desire ,,not ,,to ,,depart ,,from ,,the ,,true ,,doctrines ,,and ,,discipline ,,of ,,the ,,church4 ,,he ,,could ,,not ,,but ,,admire ,,the ,,christian ,,temper ,,and ,,ability ,,with ,,which ,,the ,,society ,,had ,,been ,,conducted1 ,,and ,,by ,,which ,,its ,,managers ,,had ,,endeavoured ,,to ,,live ,,down ,,all ,,prejudice ,,and ,,opposition4 ,,he ,,looked ,,to ,,this ,,society1 ,,then1 ,,which ,,was ,,not ,,influenced ,,by ,a ,,party ,,spirit1 ,,as ,a ,,remedy ,,for ,,the ,,evil4 ,he was happy to have this opportunity of testifying his cordial approval of the designs and operations of this ,society40 ,the late ,bishop of ,,chichester 7as well as the present1 a ,vice ,patron of the ,society71 in supporting the ,resolution1 bore his testimony to the excellent effects produced by this ,society1 not only upon the country at large1 but upon that sphere of ,christian action over which he had the superintendence4 ,there is but one ,layman whose testimony ,i shall quote2 for ,i know not where ,i should find another worthy to be added to the above list1 as an equally devoted and energetic friend of the ,church1 and of this ,society4 ,it is not so much ,lord ,ashley as ,president of the ,society1 ,i quote1 as ,lord ,ashley known and esteemed in every relation of life1 public and domestic1 in office and out of office1--by the ,court1 the statesman1 the operative1 and the ,christian4 ,at the last public meeting1 ,lord ,ashley speaks thus3-- 8,perhaps in the history of all the ,religious ,societies1 there was no parallel to the sudden rise and rapid progress of that which they were that day celebrating2 no one on which the blessing of ,god had more immediately and more manifestly been bestowed4 ,it was the very thing demanded by the exigency of the times3 and had accomplished1 in proportion to its means1 the entire object for which it was instituted4 ,of its holy and beneficial effects on private life1 wherever its labours extended1 he would say nothing2 they were amply and nobly recorded in the periodical ,reports2 but he would assert his firm and conscientious belief1 that the operations of the ,society had mainly contributed to abate the hostility that had raged against the ,church of ,england2 by making her known among those by whom she was little known1 to render her honoured and beloved1 and to enable her friends in another place to fight1 under ,god's providence1 the great battle of our civil and ecclesiastical constitution40 99 99 99 99 99 ,here my labours might appropriately end1 ,dear friends and supporters of the ,church ,pastoral-,aid ,society6 with giving you the voice of the highest authorities of the ,church in our favour4 ,all1 therefore1 ,i shall permit myself to add1 is an appeal to ,dr4 ,molesworth himself--as one to whom we bear no ill-will2 as one who has not injured us at all1 but rather himself1 by his late attack--warning him not again to peril his respectable name on such an unjust and injudicious tirade 7for ,i can call it nothing else7 against this ,society2--a ,society so shielded from his attacks1 that he can only injure it through the sides of the ,church1 of which this ,society is as a specimen of the young wood1 and vigorous growth1 from that old yet glorious stem1 planted by the hands of the ,apostles1 and rooted in ,christ4 ,i exhort him to lay aside his prejudice and his opposition1 and join the ,society--as many of our members1 ,i hear1 have joined his2 when we will work together1 8the ,lord being our helper10 to make the ,society as perfect as we can4 ,then1 surely1 he would learn to look at things in a more cheerful aspect1 and with less jaundiced eye1 than to be raising a cry of 8schism0 7p4 #i7 in the ,church--a reproach which could hardly be expected1 and would certainly be untrue 7according to any definition that ,i have heard of the word71 even in the mouth of a bigoted ,dissenter4 ,i would appeal to the ,most ,reverend ,prelate from whom ,dr4 ,molesworth's preferment was derived 7and whose known gentleness should have taught the ,clergyman whom he had preferred1 8a more excellent way071 not to suffer this unseemly widening of breaches in the ,church1 if there be such2 or1 as ,i think1 opening them1 where they would not exist without4 ,is this 8the comprehensive1 healing1 uniting spirit of the ,articles0 7p4 #ae7 which ,dr4 ,molesworth loves8 ,if it is1 ,i hope he will pardon me for saying 7for ,i wish we might part friends71 that his is the most abstract love of the principle of which ,i can form an idea4 ,for my part1 ,i have never either made or acknowledged party distinctions in the ,church2 nor will ,i be provoked to do so now4 ,the ,church ,i have ever wished to regard as one body1 with that mixture of unworthiness in members which is consequent upon the imperfect condition of all things here below3 and ,i trust ,i do honour the ,church too much1 lightly to foment her distractions1 or expose her troubles to her numerous foes4 ,yet do not mistake1 ,dr4 ,molesworth2--,i value the ,church for the sake of the ,gospel1 not the ,gospel for the sake of the ,church2--,i value both ,church and ,gospel for their own sakes1 and1 by ,god's blessing1 will support and defend both1 according to my poor ability3 but it is a truth ,i am not ashamed to confess1 that if by #8,church' is to be understood the outward frame-work of this or any other ,church1 ,i value the everlasting ,gospel even more1 and much more than ,i do the ,church4--,the ,vicar of ,rochdale may have time for controversy3 ,i have not4 ,i have given him once for all what appeared to me to be a full and satisfactory explanation of the points at issue3 let the ,society--those to whom ,i address myself--judge4 ,i was quite unwilling that the ,committee should follow ,dr4 ,molesworth to the field3 ,i felt1 therefore1 the more ready to give him the meeting myself4 ,i am1 c4 ,,caleb ,,whitefoord4 ,hamilton ,terrace1 ,st4 ,john's ,wood1 ,january #e1 #ahda4 ,,note4--8,we feel some difficulty in adopting the nomination1 not from any doubt of ,mr4--'s moral character1 or of his activity in his ministerial duty1 but because we do not see that evidence which we desire to receive of the orthodoxy of his preaching3--that we are deeply convinced that activity in the ministry can only be useful so far as it is connected with the promulgation of those doctrines which are taught in ,holy ,scriptures1 and exhibited by the ,church as the prominent truths of ,divine ,revelation4 ,we do not mean to impute to ,mr4 -- deficiency in this respect1 but we wish to be satisfied that his instructions are such as1 under ,god's blessing1 will promote the great end for which our ,society has been established--the salvation of souls through the instrumentality of #8faithful and devoted men4'0 ,n4,b4 ,a specimen of the 8hide-and-seek phraseology10 from the ,collection of the ,church ,pastoral-,aid ,society1 presented by the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,molesworth4 99 99 99 99 99 ,printed by ,richard ,watts1 ,crown ,court1 ,temple ,bar4 ,,footnotes4 #c ,what other inference can be drawn from p4 #ci of the ,appendix1--where he says1 8,i have adduced strong cases1 collected with ease1 against the ,society4 ,i now lay myself out for them2 and request those ,clergy1 who have been in similar circumstances with regard to the ,pastoral-,aid ,society1 to send me in their cases 7postage pre-paid71 and the documents supporting them408 #d 8,every ,churchman belonging to it should withdraw his support1 and transfer that support to the liberal and truly ,church ,,society ,,for ,,promoting ,,the ,,employment ,,of ,,additional ,,curates40 7,the ,italics and ,capitals are ,dr4 ,molesworth's47 ,p4 #ci1 ,appendix4 #ah ,see the ,note at the end of this ,letter4