in most others a mere formal 'yes' is written against every question. In short, a churchwarden hardly ever dreams of presenting what is amiss in his parish; often because he is ignorant of what he ought to present; but generally because he knows that the oaths he takes have been for a long time looked upon as what are called custom-house oaths; and very frequently because he knows, that, were he to present what is amiss in his parish, it would involve him personally with the parson, who would probably raise or take up his tithes, in return for his having (officiously) done his duty." pp. 57, 58. Such, we conscientiously believe, to be the front and forehead of the abuses existing in this department of the church. And the objects to which, on a view of the whole, we wish to turn the minds of our ecclesiastical rulers, if they will also condescend to be our reformers, are these; 1st. relieving churchwardens from the constant and unequivocal guilt of wilful perjury. Wilful, we fear, we must call it, when every churchwarden in the kingdom wittingly sets his hand to the affirmative of questions most plain and intelligible, of which he knows the negative to exist in fact. We in stance in the eighth and ninth queries of the vicar-general. "Do your parishioners resort constantly to church, and behave there or in writing: but the articles of inquiry sent to the churchwardens are never either filled up or asked for. I filled up that for my church warden, when the bishop visited last; but he saw another churchwarden offer his articles to the clerk of the deputy-register; and when he looked at it, what is this?' said he, and threw it down under his feet: upon which my churchwarden put his quietly into his pocket. The articles are much the same to the churchwardens in every diocese. Though our archdeaconry is a very large one, we have nobody to visit us but a country attorney, except when the bishop comes. He is deputy register, and transacts the civil business, and goes away again. Prayers are read; but very few clergy attend these meetings.' "This simple statement, not written for publication, coming from a person of sound orthodoxy, great experience, and unimpeachable veracity, speaks more than whole volames of discussion." derly? Do such of them, as are of suitable age, communicate as often as the law requires? Do any of them follow their calling, or keep open shop, on the Lord's-day? Have any gifts or legacies to the church or poor been embezzled?" Canon "Are there any cxi. cxii. Rubric. persons of ill life, or guilty of any notorious crimes within your parish? If any such, say what their crime is, and who they are." Can. cix. We might instance, in many other inquiries, to which, though not so impossible as here, it is yet highly improbable, and, in point of fact, most rare and unheard of, that distinct or faithful answers should be given by the churchwardens. We are not backward to confess our surprise at men of conscience and religion undertaking this office at all. We should have expected that those who deeply feel the sanctity of oaths, would have met any severity of ecclesiastical censure, rather than have undertaken an office, as it now stands, so arduous in the discharge of it, so perilous in the breach. The words of the canon are most remarkable, we should say most awful, on the breach of a churchwarden's oath. Amongst notorious offenders not to be admitted to the communion, are classed such "churchwardens or sidesmen, who, having taken their oaths to present, &c. shall (notwithstanding their said oaths, &c.) wittingly and willingly, desperately and irreligiously, incur the horrible crime of perjury, either in neglecting or refusing to present such of the said enormities and public offences, as they know themselves to be committed in their said parishes, or are notoriously offensive to the congregation there," &c. Can. xxvi. And yet from this guilt where is the single exemption to be matched, in our days, against the solitary example of the heroic David Rice, so appositely quoted by our author from Malcolm's London ? "To the inhabitants of St. Faith-London. "I have observed of late years that the London meeting-houses of all sectaries have crowded audiences, and that the prayers of our established church are read, and the sermons of her ministers preached to empty seats, unless at places where some new-fangled doctrines are propagated to captivate weak minds. It becomes me as an honest man, and agreeable to the oath I have taken, earnestly to admonish you to attend the ser vice of the church on Sundays, unless prevented by occasions that are lawful. It requires that I should give you this notice publicly, that no person may have reason to think me over officious if he finds his name among the presentments my oath obliges me to exhibit before the ecclesiastical court at the expiration of my office. "DAVID RICE, Churchwarden." p. 73. Surely inquiries, demanding the half-yearly exercise of such stiff and rigid virtues from two illiterate farmers or shopkeepers, in every parish in the kingdom, should, without delay, be authoritatively modified, or put a stop to altogether. The abuse is shocking. And whoever has suffered the pain of attend. ing a visitation, and seeing the careless and absolutely nugatory manner in which these important, these only official and public affairs of the church, are transacted, must have pitied the conscientious feelings of the reverend or right reverend visitor; and we must add also, blushed at the accidental glance of some passing and prying non-conformist. Hoc Ithacus velit, & magno mercentur No small inducement to us, for mentioning this abuse of visitations, is our desire to see them turned to some better account, in the second and highly important view we wish be taken of them, as the means of gaining information to the bishop of the actual state of his diocese, and thereby enabling him the more easily to maintain the parochial regulations before alluded to. The archdeacon, it is true, is the eye of the bishop: but, may we say it without irreverence here, as well as in a higher department, if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness;" i. e. if the archdeacon's office is absolutely perverted and nullified by general con sent, so as to be neither the channel nor the receptacle of any proper intelligence between the bishop and his clergy; what possibility remains for any regularity, any vigour, any exertion whatever on the part of the bishop in the common cause? He is, in fact, like the eastern emperors, shut out from the sight and observation of the subject, and known only as the principal figure of some empty pageant occasionally exhibited to give evidence that he breathes. We venture to propose, therefore, as the principal change in this department, that the clergy themselves, instead of the churchwardens, be called upon to answer to all such questions concerning the moral and religious state of their respective parishes, as shall, after due deliberation, be thought fit to be proposed. To inquire the average number of communicants and of attendants at church, compared with the population; also, whether means have been taken to close the shops and alehouses on the Sabbath, and with what success such means have been attended; whether, in general, any notorious abuses of the Sabbath take place, and whether the practice of vice be, on the whole, stationary, on the increase, or on the decline in the parish: at the same time to grant the power of presenting any open or notorious of fender, of whatever rank (with an injunction also so to do), without injury or action at common law, should the evidence be defective. These inquiries and powers, we conceive, might well, even in our days, be offered to the clergy themselves: and their statements, in consequence, we should expect to be neither nugatory in themselves, nor unworthy to be inspected and acted upon by the diocesan; whilst to the clergy the return to be made would itself offer a salutary admonition to attend to the objects so specified. To these clerical questions would be then also most suitably appended direct in quiries, what is the duty performed in church? If defective, why so? Who the minister? If a curate, what is bonâ fide his salary? If below the standard, why so? If incumbent or curate non-resident, the cause ?-We conceive, after a very short trouble of arrangement, such a practice in visitations would bring into the bishop's closet, in clear and regular statements, against the name of each parish on his list, its exact state year by year. Nay, we would submit to our ecciesiastical enactors, whether the actual form of a register embracing these objects, might not be regularly kept amongst the archives of the see, and handed down in regular succession. The third great object we alluded to, as to be consulted in any reform under this head, is that of establishing some general understanding, some plan of mutual co-operation amongst the clergy of the same district, or, if possible, diocese. It is remarkable that the Church of Engand is the only church in the world which has no general assembly, in which its members may meet as a body, and hold those communications so essential to the well-being and good conduct of any establishment whatever. This circumstance makes a great peculiarity in our situation; and places an establishment, in point of political advantage, (thus far considered) even below the very Methodist or Baptist establishment of our own country; and still farther below the Church of Scotland, and almost every regŋiarly established church throughout Christendom. Hence that want of a due and enlarged attachment to our ecclesiastical constitution, but too visible, even in very rational and active members of the establishment; and hence, perhaps, a great portion of that disunion, as it would be represented, let us rather call it misunderstanding, which has ALMOST divided the church into par ties; each of which is under strong temptations, at least, to account itself the only true church, and to CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 120. identify its attacks upon the other, with the defence of the establishment itself. We are strongly inclined to attribute, in part at least, this very unnatural posture of affairs, to the peculiarity of the circumstance before alluded to; that is, to our being reduced by the strong hand of necessity, to what a greater writer has called the dust and powder of individuality." And we see no means of obviating this grand defect, but by revivifying, if it shall be possible by any episcopal enactments, the defunct principle of visitations. We conceive, that to interest the clergy personally in the returns to be made of the state of their parishes, might lead to some degree of mutual communication and co-operation, which would tend greatly to remove the strangeness often found to subsist between them. Joint representatious to the bishop, or recommendations from him of general concernment, might serve to draw the link of union still closer. To complete the junction, positive associations, amongst the clergy of a particular neighbourhood, might ensue. And to these, should the superior dignitaries, and even the mitre itself, think fit to lend their countenance, and more especially their assistance and presence, upon some general plan of " parochial visitations," hinted at by our author*, it is impossi "Another step....would be the revival of what are now fallen into disuse, I mean parochial visitations (a). The archdeacons and vicars-general ought not to be satisfied with merely meeting the clergy at the principal towns of each deanery; but should, themselves, inspect every parish, looking carefully to the state of the duty in each, the moral character and conduct of the clergy, the repairs of parsonage houses, and encouraging the reception of well-grounded complaints; and, above all, particular care should be taken to examine how the extra '" (a) ''What we now call visitations, were really the annual synods (at which the body pected to appear)-the laws of the Church, of the people, as well as the clergy, were exby visitations, always meaning visitations parochial-Gibs. on Visit. p. 59." 5 K ble to say, to what results a spirit of harmony, so introduced into the church, might gradually lead; or how promising an aspect of things might soon present itself to the fond wishes of its friends, how imposing a front to the attacks of its enemies. This truly might be said, without fear of contradiction, that as we have much to fear from the present disunion, or want of cordiality between the members of the establishment, so we should have much to hope from the system that should even tend to unite them. If to think together, will for the most part incline men to act in concert, what wonder if acting in concert should bring them much nearer to each other in sentiment and principle? Our limits will only permit us to conclude with a few observations on that part of the present publication which alone seems to us with propriety to have been addressed to Mr. Perceval. Indeed, our author has saved us much trouble on this head, by the distinctness, and, we may add, the ability with which he has treated this last department. As a proof of our remark, we are more particularly glad to refer to his eighth letter, for a defence of tithes: a mode of paying the clergy, how ever objectionable in some views of it, which we cannot help concluding, with our author, to be on the whole equitable, safe, highly honourable to the body in the use they have made of it, and not to be changed without considerable hazard. Indeed, so admirable are his statements on this subject, and in so fair a spirit, that it would give us great pleasure to exbibit them to our readers, or, at least, to see this letter very generally in the hands of those who are so ready to join in "the war-whoop begun by the Board of Agriculture, and echo ordinary duties in each parish are performed, &c." p. 129. We believe the practice of Bp. Burnett, in a very laborious diocese, and amidst a press of extrinsic business, afforded a bright example to his brethren in that elevated rank, by constantly peregrinating on these parochial visitations, ed against tithes from every corner of the kingdom." p. 80. But we are warned to return to the old subject of abuses. And, first, on the subject of non-residence we have only further to add, as addressing ourselves to Mr. Perceval, that assuredly if the bishops are not disposed to adopt some efficient, and even some legislative measures, which shall give ample satisfaction to a much-abused public on this head, it is high time that the government of the country should. The formidable array of no less than 2446 non-residents," without noti fication, licence, or exemption," in a year (1807), when doubtless the bill of Sir W. Scott," for enforcing the residence of spiritual persons on their benefices," might be considered as having attained its limits of efficacy, affords ample matter for meditation to any well - wishing member of the legislature. Neither can we be satisfied with a list, we hope, sinking below 1000, of nonresidents, on the score of "want or unfitness of parsonage-houses;" and much less with another list of near 500 incumbents only resident, we suppose for convenience, in the neighbourhood, and doing the duty of their parishes. Surely the mental resources of a minister of state, accustomed as he is to conduct the most intricate measures of government, can devise a method for enforcing the residence of a few given persons on given spots, with greater certainty than this. The business of a legislator we conceive to be, when a measure is absolutely pronounced necessary to the welfare of a country, to devise and apply in succession provisions of increased force, till the object be actually attained. Suppose it were attempted to demand of all persons, non-resiabove-mentioned, a distinct affidavit dent upon pleas similar to the two that no residence whatever can be found in their parish, which they can conscientiously pronounce to be compatible with their circumstances: which circumstances should be ex pressly confined to the necessary accommodations for a wife and children, the expenses of living, and (in cases of bodily infirmity) to health. We have that respect for the moral feelings of the clergy at large, that we believe such an oath would never be taken without a due regard to the conditions expressed in it. And in that case, how many of the 1902, stated as non-resident on those three pleas in 1808, would remain for the census of 1812? In cases of non-residence without licence or exemption altogether, we confess we think the time is almost arrived for still. stronger measures. At least, shall we say that government has done its best to obviate this abuse, till, by a law to that effect, the living, after a certain period of such non-residence, be pronounced ipso facto void, with lapse to the bishop, if not again filled up in the usual time; the former incumbent being expressly excluded from reappointment? We conceive a measure, of which this should be the basis, might be so modified as, without undue severity, to be made lastingly binding on the interests, both of incumbents and patrons; nor should we disdain the help of informers*, in case either party should fail in the performance of their duty. After providing against unlicensed, or ill-licensed, non-residents, it should be an object of attention to reduce, if possible, the quantum of licensed non-residence under legal exemptions. These in general may be classed under four general heads: those arising froin pluralities; from other offices or places of emolument with cure; or again, without cure; and, finally, from the impoverished state of the living. Of this last we have spoken already, and shall speak further in treating of the revenues of the church. At the three first, we are not able to do more than glance, by observing, that, far from multiplying such exemptions, as seems to have been one of the happy See this subject discussed in our vol. for 1903, p. 238. objects of Sir W. Scott's bill, it should be the studious endeavour of Mr. Perceval to curtail them, upon the demise of the several occupants, as far as possible. On the head of pluralities, we should rejoice to see limitations in point of distance and value. Might it not be expedient also, progressively to reduce the number of chaplains appended to nobility, and of other privileged ranks of the clergy, without at the same time too far trenching upon the power of conferring reward on merit, or upon the dignity of the higher orders of the state? A very great abuse, in regard to pluralities, we conceive to exist in the reputed (and, strange to say, still recognized) value of livings in the King's Books. The injustice is only equalled by the absurdity of suffering a man "to add living to living," upon the mere ground of an undervalue in that register, when it is notoriously no standard whatever of present worth; and when livings of 500l. or 600l. a year shall be frequently below the well-known 81. or 101. which another living, scarcely affording bread to the hungry, shall happen as much to exceed *. This surely ought to be the object of instant attention and redress_to any considerate ecclesiastical reformer. Of those other exemptions from residence, we cannot but lament that the first, viz. the holding of other offices and places of emolument with employment, should have place at all: for what employment, in what office, throughout the whole range of literary, civil, or even "cathedral and collegiate" duty, ought to come into competition with the sacred trust reposed in the actual incumbent of a living, or with the deep responsibility which the cure This should be a warning to Mr. P. and to all future Chancellors of the Exchequer, in fixing money values upon permanent objects, to fix them only for a certain period, after which they should in course expire, and new values be assigned by authority, in the same proportion to the actual standard then existing. |