The Second Part treats of the worship -the third of the discipline, which is represented as not so severe now as formerly, and the fourth of the Constitution of the Church which is pure Presbyterianism. At the end is an account of the various sects which have separated from the establishment.

Pastor Oberlin.- A monument has been erected in the church of Waldbach to the memory of this pious pastor, who for 59 years preached the Gospel in the Ban-de-la-Roche. Another subscription has been opened to perfect an institution which he had designed for the education of young children. Female instructors collect the children under seven years of age, for three or four hours once every week, and teach them useful occupations, and while the children are working read to them such histories out of the Bible, and give them such instruction as they are capable of receiving. But as the persons so employed are not able to devote much of their time, it is proposed to raise a fund, the interest of which shall be appropriated to their support; and in this way to perpetuate the name of Oberlin. Several Roman Catholics are subscribers, and amongst others a Curate in the environs of Paris.

FRANCE.

Versailles.-The French Protestant inhabitants of Versailles and its environs, having obtained the sanction of

Government to have public worship in that town, the two consistories of Paris (of the Reformed and the Lutheran Churches) have made arrangements to have Divine service performed there every fortnight. For this purpose they are allowed the use of the church which the English inhabitants have fitted up and frequent as their place of worship. On Sunday, March 2d, service was performed for the first time, when M. Marron, President of the Consistory of the Reformed Church, preached from 1 Thess. iv. 12.

On Thursday, July 19, the British Episcopal Protestant Chapel, Rue Dauphine, Versailles, was consecrated by Bishop Luscombe, attended by five English Clergymen from Paris. The Bishop preached on the occasion to a numerous and highly respectable congregation. After the consecration, several English children were confirmed.

Nanteuil-lès-Meaux.-A new church was lately opened at Nanteuil-lèsMeaux, as a chapel of ease to the church of Meaux. Bishop Luscombe (Chaplain to the British Embassy) read the consecration service according to the form of the Church of England; many English clergymen were present by special invitation, The Pastor of Meaux preached on the occasion. It is gratifying to observe this amicable feeling of unity on the part of the French Protestants (who are Presby terians) towards our Church.

Bristol.-Ladies' Association, Cornwallis House. We alluded in our last Number to this Institution, and promised a more full detail of its plan and history-the following paper, which has been sent us from a Correspondent, will enable us to redeem our pledge; and we have much plea. sure in bringing the subject under the notice of our readers ;

"It is gratifying to witness the attention given in the present day to the wants of the lower ranks of the community. It is also pleasing to observe that in the labours of benevolence those who, though belonging to a higher class in society, and not so cirumstanced as

to need the assistance of what is commonly called charity, and yet subject to sorrows and bereavements, which call for Christian sympathy and assist ance, and which genuine philanthropy would seek to alleviate.

"Among the number of females in the rank of gentlewoman whom we see daily deprived by death of the protection of parents and and husbands, many have not a home to seek ; of whom, some, are not only sorrowing for the deprivation of all that was most dear to them, but are also suffering the ills necessarily attendant on a change from competency to indigence. For the benefit of this latter class, several insti

tutions have been nobly endowed, such as Partis's College near Bath, and in many dioceses there are Colleges for Clergymen's widows. But among those who feel painfully the loss of a protecting and social home, there are some who neither require nor would accept an asylum offered by Eleemosynary Institutions. Such it may be supposed would in many cases gladly join in a voluntary association, where, uniting with ladies of Christian principles and liberal education in such works of benevolence as their fortunes would permit, they might enjoy the combined advantages of economy and inpependence, and participate in the grati.ying consciousness of time and talents usefully employed.

"The late Queen Charlotte gave her sanction to an attempt to form an association of this nature, and evinced a cordial interest in its succcess. The Institution thus favoured by Her Majesty, has now existed about twelve years. It is under the patronage of The Archbishop of Dublin, the Hon. the Bishop of Litchfield, the Marquis of Cholmondaly, the Duchess of Wellington, the Marchioness of Exeter, the Viscount Lorton, the Countess Fortescue, the Dowager Countess Manvers, the Countess of Carysford, the Duchess of Beaufort, the Lord Bishop of Salisbury, Lord Bishop of Winchester, the Countess of Clare, Dowager the Viscountess Anson, the Lady Isabella King, the Lady Olivia Sparrow, Right Hon. Lady Willoughby Eresby, Right Hon. Dowager Lady Clonbrock.

"Trustees-Earl of Shaftsbury, Earl Manvers, Hon. George Vernon, Sir Benjamin Hobhouse, Bart. "Treasurer-Messrs. Coutts, London.

"A Local Committee of Ladies was appointed to form the establishment, and a sum of money was subscribed, with which (as a permanent residence was deemed essential to the success of the undertaking) a house at Clifton was purchased, in the names of local trustees and guardians, appointed by the patrons and patronesses. An additional sum was further raised to endow a few official situations for ladies of respectability willing to enter the establishment as assistants to the presíding lady.

"Thus it appears that the extent of pecuniary aid given towards the formation of the institution consists of, means having been supplied for purchasing a house, and endowing a few

official situations. The sum expended for these purposes, was about £8000, being the whole amount of the fund placed under the controul of the patrons and patronesses. Such improvements as were thought desirable to render the mansion more commodious, were made at the expense of a few of the immediate friends of the institution.

"A letter addressed by the late Bishop Heber to the Lady President of the institution, in 1817, thus strongly expresses his approbation of the plan. I can no longer delay offering you my thanks for the flattering attention you have paid to my slight hints for the conduct of an institution, which bids fair if successful, to lay the foundation of many similar societies,-to alleviate much distress of the severest nature, and even to become an important feature in the domestic prosperity of the nation."

"With a view of promoting kind and harmonious feeling in the Society, equality is preserved in every thing affecting the real comfort of the inmates. Each resident lady contributes to the house-keeping expenses the same annual sum of £600 derived either from private income or from the salaries annexed to the endowed situations. The Lady President and one or two other members pay in addition, a large annual rent for private apartments in the establishment, and thus a fund is created to meet the expenses of the institution, without subjecting the less affluent to any feeling of pecuniary obligation. It is obvious that the continued existence of such an association, must, from the nature of its pecuniary arrangements, depend upon the agreement of a sufficient number of members

-the prescribed sum to be paid by each associate being small, and the allotment of apartments to be rented by more affluent ladies being limited : and it is well that there should be this obs vious necessity for union with the walls of the establishment. Interest is thus combined with duty, for if discord should divide the Society, it must decline and die. This teaches the necessity of caution in the admission of inmates, and of kindness to those who are admitted, and to this extent perhaps, a merely selfish principle, may be sufficiently powerful to preserve peace and good order: but, in taking a higher view of the subject, in considering the real happiness and spiritual welfare of the members of

the institution, it must be admitted that there can be but one bond of union--and that is Christian love, the results of which will be a concord produced, not by the narrow spirit of exclusiveness, so natural to the unrenewed or self-deceived heart, but arising from those dispositions which the Holy Spirit of God alone can produce in the human mind, "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." To cherish such principles is the object and endeavour of the Society, and it may be hoped that this has been in some degree attained. Every influence, which the nature of a voluntary association will permit is used to promote active benevolence, aud in a sisterhood acknowledging the divine authority of the command, "six days days shalt thou labour," it may be supposed that such calls to exertion are not given altogether in vain.

"In the choice of occupations it is not forgotten, that domestic life is woman's sphere-such employments, therefore, are preferred as tend to unite rather than to disperse the in. mates; to promote activity at home rather than to excite attention abroad." Clifton, June, 1828.

That your petitioner has been informed that proceedings have recently been taken, with a view to induce the Legislature to repeal certain Statutes, commonly called the Corporation and Test Acts.

That your petitioner has no wish to suggest any impediment to the passing of such a Bill as may be necessary to relieve his Dissenting Brethren from the provisions of the above-named Statutes; but your petitioner most humbly represents to your Lordships, that, as attempts have been, and continue to be, successfully made, to strip the Established Church of those negative securities which have heretofore been deemed es

sential to her stability, it becomes the duty of Parliament to provide some positive measures, in order to strengthen and extend the influence to which she is justly entitled.

"That the state in which the Church of England is left is, in many points of view, disadvantageous to her interests, injurious to her usefulness, and derogatory from her undoubted rights and functions as an ecclesiastical body.

"That, in proof of these assertions, your petitioner needs only to refer to the following notorious facts-namely, that the discipline of the Established Church is relaxed to such a degree as to become a subject of lamentation among her friends, and of derision among her enemies that the functions of the Con vocation have been suspended, and the Church of England thereby deprived of an advantage essential to the well-being of a Church, and possessed by every other religious community—that of correcting abuses as they arise, accommo dating her discipline to the change of times and the fluctuations of society, and consulting for the maintainance of her own purity, and the spiritual welfare of her children. That, from the same causes, she is debarred from the opportunity of protecting her constitution by having it regarded (as it would be in Convocation) as an entire system, and discussed by persons conversant with ecclesiastical matters; while she is exposed to the evils resulting from isolated and detached measures, materially affecting her interests, but grounded on discussions wherein circumstances render it impossible that spiritual considerations should have sufficient scope-that the ecclesiastical laws, by which she is guided and sustained, are confused, antiquated, and, for the most part, incapable of be ing applied to any salutary purpose that many of her Canons and other spiritual regulations have been framed in periods when the rights of conscience were imperfectly understood; and being, consequently, at variance with the spirit of the present age, and, in numerous instances, with the Municipal Laws of the land, they have become totally inoperative, while, at the same time, no means exist of substituting others of a milder character, and more appropriate to the legitimate purposes of Churchgovernment that owing to these and similar causes, the professional usefulness of the Established Clergy is materially obstructed, inasmuch as they are unable to administer any system of dis

cipline by which they may subserve the objects of their preaching, promote the edification of their flocks, restrain their vices, or preserve in them a distinct attachment to the church of which they are members; while, to the great regret of all sincere and enlightened friends of the Establishment, the Dissenters are enabled to boast of their growing strength and numbers.

"Your petitioner further sheweth, that the foregoing representations are not made in a spirit of hostility to any Christian body whatever; but that your petitioner, conceiving it to be contrary to the spirit of CHRIST's religion, that dissensions among his followers should take place, ardently desires to see some remedies attempted; which, by improving the discipline of the Church of England, establishing her laws, purifying her Communion, and amending her system in any points which may, upon due deliberation, appear to require it, may be calculated to cherish the interests of the national Communion, and take away all reasonable ground for deserting it.

"Your petitioner begs leave to add, as a farther reason for taking into consideration the state of the Church, that an alarming increase of crime has recently been observed throughout the Country; that the most proper and effectual means for correcting such an evil do manifestly consist in the due administration of a salutary and influential system of religion; that when your Lordships take into account the extensive influence which the Church of England ought to possess on the minds and habits of the population, when you likewise consider the great opportunity afforded to the people of enjoying the blessings of education, and the zeal exhibited by the Established Clergy in promoting their instruction, and reflect that an increase of crime is found cotemporaneous with these advantages, it becomes evident that what is really wanting is, to strengthen the pastoral influence of the Clergy, and to afford means of following up the lessons which they teach, by invigorating our ecclesiastical discipline on a temporate, judicious, and well-organised sys

tem.

"May it, therefore, please your Lordships to take into consideration the state of the Church of England, and to institute such measures as may be necessary, to strengthen and extend her influence; either by addressing the Crown with a view to revive the functions of the Convocation; or, if it should

VOL. VII.

appear that the constitution of that body would be inadequate to the exigencies of the case, by taking such other steps as may be fitting, in order to give the Church of England the benefit of due deliberation on her general polity, and the spiritual interests of her people.

"And your petitioner will pray,

(Signed) "DANIEL NIHILL."

Hints for improving the state of the Established Church in Ireland. - The

following paper, with the above title, has been circulated in the north of Ireland. Without expressing our opinion as to its merits or practicability, we give it a place in our pages, and shall be happy to admit any fair and temperate discussion of the subject to which it relates :

"I. A public, solemn, and general examination of all candidates for Holy Orders, to be held for the several dioceses in each province in Ireland, under the superintendence of the Archbishop, at his cathedral, once in

"III. The number of candidates to be received for examination shall be in proportion to the wants of the diocese, they shall be graduates of a Protestant University, and shall be required to produce testimonials of character, &c.

IV. The candidates approved of shall be arranged in a diocesan list according to merit; this list to be signed by the Archbishop and examiners, and to be deposited in the registry of the diocese to which the candidates belong, who are to be admitted to Holy Orders in regular gradation, and to succeed to curacies in the same course.

"V. Each Archbishop and Bishop to support his full number of chaplains, who are to be appointed from this list, and are not to have permanent parochial cure until nominated to curacies in their respective order; their office shall be to preach in such parishes as may, from peculiar circumstances, require additional aid, as also to assist clergymen, who, through age or infirmity, are not adequate to the discharge of their parochial duty, and whose benefice may not enable them to pay a curate.

"VI. Curates appointed under these regulations to succeed, after five years, to such preferments as may be vacant,

on the regular promotion of the clergy already beneficed, according to their seniority. All non-resident incumbents to be excluded from the benefit of this rule.

"VII. The curate who shall be next in rotation for preferment, to produce a certificate from his rector to the dean and chapter of the diocese, who are, in that case, to recommend him to the Bishop, after due investigation as to his life and character; five, at least, to be present upon this occasion.

"VIII. The dean and chapter to form a permanent council at their respective cathedrals, and to assist their diocesan in all cases of ecclesiastical discipline, &c., and to compose a local committee of education.

"The foregoing regulations are intended to correct the present administration of church patronage, and to give to the church establishment a national interest. Examinations for Holy Orders are generally held in private by a person frequently inadequate to the duty; and no notice is taken of the comparative merit or qualifications of the candidates. These regulations would open the church to talents which are now given to the dissenting meeting-house; and would restrain the families and connections of bishops from receiving preferment, except in regular course; they would strongly enforce residence, particularly of deans and chapters, at their respective cathedrals, which would in the course of a few years improve the appearance of the see towns, now proverbially the most wretched in Ireland. The collective residence of the deans and chapters would afford a stability and society to the bishop, which is so very desirable in many parts of the country, and particularly so at the present moment."

Church Psalmody.-The following letter of a correspondent may perhaps supply some useful hints :"I have occasionally seen some remarks in the Examiner on the subject of sacred music, as used in the Established Church, and by other bodies of professing Christians ; and I am glad to be able to say that it has engaged much more attention and regard in this neighbourhood for some time past than it previously had for many years. By regular weekly practice a good many young persons of both sexes have been taught to sing 50 of the Psalms of David as

arranged by Weyman, and published by the Association for Discountenancing Vice,* The effect is very good, and when there is a flute or two playing first and second, with a bass horn accompanying, it is sweet, and often harmonious; and to my ear more pleasing and like a religious service than an organ, unless played with great solemnity, and accompanied also by many voices. A friend of mine who only twelve months since could not sing any music whatsoever by note, has, by hearing the organist practise, occasionally, and by a little assistance learned to sing correctly nearly all the 50 Psalms by note, and has taught by weekly practice, without the aid of any instrument, a good many young people to sing them also by note. The teacher's knowledge was scanty; and all that he could do was to make his pupils learn the names and value of the notes and marks, and to shew them that the voice must rise and fall as the notes rose and fell, on the five lines. -But notwithstanding all impediments, it has succeeded remarkably well; and many school children even of the humbler classes of society, who had no assistance from instrumental music at home, and whom it was thought ridiculous to attempt to teach in any other way than by ear, have thus learned to sing by note. In the endeavour to introduce congregational singing, it is of the utmost consequence to have a cheap book to serve as a class-book and standard: all persons who possess musical instruments can buy it and if the clerk or leader of the church-music be compelled to abide by the standard in every respect, introducing no varieties or arbitrary improvements, the church music will gradually become known to the congregation; and many, feeling their ability to join, be induced to do so. If Weyman's 50 Psalms, or some better cheap book, were recommended in every diocese, those who had learned to sing in one church, on changing their residence, would be able to join in another; but nothing will so effectually prevent the congregation from joining, as to allow the clerk to alter the Psalms, or introduce strange ones which the people cannot know and practise at home, or which if they do know as printed in the class-book, he,

*Sold to members at the reduced rate of 2s.