The inform them, that such existed, and was in a flourishing condition. He could give them many instances throughout the country in which the Free Church of England had very large congregations. If one was established in Ledbury, it must be by the people themselves, who, of course, would sustain it, and have the government in their own hands. Council of the Free Church in London would do all they could to find efficient clergymen, and the Ledbury Free Church would, of course, be recognized by such Council. This body had been properly enrolled as a Corporate in the High Court of Chancery. The Order of Service was the same as in the Established Church of England; only they could boast of that word "Free"-which signified that the congregation could elect their own ministers, have their own government, and look to themselves for the support of the same. Mr. Dodd concluded by stating, that if it were the wish of the people, there was not the slightest difficulty why a Free Church should not exist in Ledbury. H. MASEFIELD, Esq. inquired in what way the ministers were selected, and what was the character of the ordination? Mr. DODD replied that the Council selected educated men-men who had received a University or College education, and who had been properly trained. The ordination was of the Presbyterian type. The CHAIRMAN: What is the nature of the Service? Mr. DODD-Precisely as in the Book of Common Prayer if preferred, with any slight alteration to suit the wishes of the congregation or their wardens. With regard to the Psalmody, there was a very excellent Free Church Hymn Book, but the congregation could use any other. He said, that if the proposition was carried out, there would, of course, be considerable expenses incurred in the movement, but he had not the slightest doubt that with the union which seemed to prevail, there would be no difficulty on that point. A committee should be formed to adopt the best means; and he suggested that for the present the Services should be rendered by occasional ministers, by which means the congregation could feel their way and then make more permanent arrangements. Dr. Wood then proposed—“That this meeting invites the Council of the Free Church of England to commence Public Service in the Town-hall, Ledbury, on Sunday, March 19th, to be continued on each succeeding Sunday for a month, and that the order of Service be the same as the Established Church." In making this proposition, Dr. Wood expressed his regret that they should be compelled to take the present step, but from the unfortunate circumstances surrounding them, he saw no other course. He stated, that of course the hardship did not appear so great to the rich, who could and who did drive to the neighbouring villages, but to the middle class and the poor it was a hardship indeed to be compelled to remain away from the parish church. If something similar to the present movement was not adopted, he dreaded the results, more especially to the poorer classes. Mr. LEWIS seconded the proposition, which was carried with applause. J. GREGG, Esq. proposed-"That the following gentlemen-viz., Messrs. Masefield, Wood, Lewis, Freeman, and Barber -be Wardens to provide for the proper and decent maintenance of Divine worship, and that the Secretary of the Midland District be appointed to engage ministers to take the duty." C. E. A. LLOYD, Esq. seconded this resolution, which was also carried. A vote of thanks was accorded to the Chairman, who, in acknowledging it, proposed the thanks of the meeting to Mr. Dodd, and stated that if the future congregations in that room were favoured with such talented men as Mr. Dodd and Mr. Roberts, success was sure to attend their efforts. He only hoped they could persuade Mr. Dodd to officiate at the opening Service; to which Mr. Dodd assented-an announcement which was received with the greatest satisfaction. ST. STEPHEN'S CHAPEL, MIDDLETON. -On Monday, the 13th ult., a Tea party was held in the School-room, Back Highstreet, the proceeds of which go towards There clearing off a debt on the organ. were about 200 persons present, who enjoyed a really excellent tea. An entertainment was afterwards given in the chapel, consisting of vocal and instrumental music, etc. Mr. W. R. Clark, solicitor, occupied the chair. He said he was somewhat surprised that he should have been called upon to preside over that meeting, though he admitted it to be a very agreeable one. They would all know that the object was to clear off a small debt which had been contracted in the repairing of the organ, and he felt sure they were all actuated by a desire to assist in the furtherance of God's work. It gave him infinite pleasure to see so many people around him belonging to other congregations. That was as it should be. It showed a desire for friendly intercourse between one religious sect and another, which was highly creditable. He hated bigotry, aud the sooner it was stamped out the better. He had been much gratified at the reception accorded to him. The Rev. R. W. Maydon was then called upon (in the absence of the secretary) to read a statement, showing the amount received. He took the opportunity of adverting to what the chairman had said with regard to bigotry. It reminded him very forcibly of a few lines he once read, which were as follows: Bigotry lived, and bigotry died, And when she was buried, nobody cried; 66 and Several readings and recitations were given in good taste and style. The choir, led by Mr. Abraham Wellens, sang, “I will give Thanks," Worthy is the Lamb," and the "Hallelujah Chorus." Mr. Thomas Wyatt (of Manchester) performed "The Wedding March,' another composition by Mendelssohn, and the beautiful offertoire (No. 5) by Lefebure-Wely, in a highly creditable manner, and elicited much applause.-Votes of thanks to the ladies and gentlemen who had assisted in the tea-room, and at the entertainment, brought this very agreeable meeting to a close shortly before ten o'clock. Popular MOLD. The fifth of the " Lecture" series was given on March 14, at the (Congregational) Free Church. There was a large and highly respectable attendance, the church being well filled. The hymn-"O worship the King having been sung, the pastor offered up prayer, after which the Rev. F. Payne (who presided) gave a short address, in which he referred to the difference between the state of their church when he last met them, and the present occasion. At the former time, it was intensely cold, now it was quite the reverse. He hoped they would heartily co-operate with their pastor in raising the necessary funds to pay for the new heating apparatus. The choir then rendered the melody-"O touch those chords again,"-after which the Rev. G. S. Reaney (of Warrington) delivered a most able and interesting lecture on "The French Empire under Napoleon III." The anthem-"Thine, O Lord, is the greatness "-appropriately followed. The Rev. Roger Edwards then moved a vote of thanks to the lecturer and chairman, and in so doing expressed the pleasure with which he had listened to the excellent lecture. The Rev. D. B. Hooke having seconded the same, it was carried by acclamation, after which the choir sung the anthem-"In Jewry is God known." Mr. Reaney, in responding, referred to the services which the choir had rendered in making the meeting more successful and pleasant. He was pleased to have met them, and should gladly come again another year. The proceedings closed with the National Anthem. LEICESTER.Mr. Wreaks delivered an address here to a good audience, at the Gladstone Hall, on February 19th; and on the following Tuesday, being Shrove Tuesday, he gave a lecture at the Sundayschool belonging to the Gospel Hall, on "Christ receiving sinners." Ritualism prevails to some extent in this town, and very strongly at Derby, which Mr. Wreaks has recently visited. GIRLINGTON, BRADFORD.-Mr. Wreaks has commenced a course of Mission Services at the various cottages in the neighbourhood. PROTESTANT HALL, WILSDEN.-On Sunday, April 2, two sermons will be preached in this Hall, by Mr. J. Wreaks, of Girlington. Subjects:-Christ Crucified; and Christ receiving sinners. THE COUNTESS' CONNEXION, CHESHUNT COLLEGE, &c. WE are informed that the Solicitors to the Trustees have received instructions to prepare the Deeds of Appointment to the various Trusts, rendered necessary by the resignation of H. F. Stroud and James Haycroft, Esqs, and by the death of W. Jackson Taylor, Esq. The lists of Trustees will then be CONTRIBUTIONS, COLLECTIONS, AND SUBSCRIPTIONS. COUNTESS OF HUNTINGDON'S MISSIONARY SOCIETY FOR THE SPREAD OF THE Contributions, &c, to be sent to the Treasurer, MR. FREDERICK WM. WILLCOCKS, 1, Myddelton Villas, Lloyd Square, London, W. C. WHAT was formerly denominated Tractarianism has since been called Ritualism. Tractarianism is the doctrine, Ritualism is the practice. Call it which you will, its development in the Church of England has become positively alarming. Some of its advocates tell us plainly-We give our people the fact; the real doctrine of the mass first, the name will come of itself byand-bye. So, with regard to the Cultus of the Virgin, we shall only be able to establish this by slow and cautious steps. We are one with Roman Catholics in faith, and have a common foe to fight." The Cultus, or worship of the Virgin, is the fetishism of Africa translated into the vernacular of Roman Catholicism-a vile, degrading, and frightful idolatry. The doctrine of the mass is the doctrine of Transubstantiation, with its associated theories-priestly power to offer to God a real sacrifice for sin, authority on the part of the priest to set up the Confessional, force the penitent into it, and to forgive sins. In perfect consistency with their doctrine, they lift up the bread and wine, and worship them, believing them to be the real body and blood of Christ. And yet the Church of England, in her] 28th Article, declares that "Transubstantiation is repugnant to the plain words of Holy Scripture. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was not by Christ's ordinance lifted up and worshipped." The Ritualists are stopped by a recent decree from lifting up the elements and outwardly worshipping them, but they go on preaching the same doctrines as they did before. And all this with the avowed intention of leading the members of the Church of England to Rome, either by incorporation or union. But the Church of England must not, according to the policy of these men, go over to Rome as individuals. They say, "So long as the Church of England remains what she is, to join the Roman Catholic Church in any but a corporate capacity would be, in our view, to sin against the truth." And why? Because, as they say, "it is only through the English Church itself that England can be Catholicised; for this purpose," they go on to say," it offers innumerable opportunities." "it Side by side, simultaneously with the Tractarian advocacy of priestly pretensions, many of the moderate clergy of the Church of England, and some of the Evangelical, have assumed a higher authority among their parishioners, as though they had the keys of hell and of death at their side, and had the sole right to reorganize order and determine all ecclesiastical matters in their several parishes. The laity may be the subservient menials of the clergy, but if laymen dare to form an independent and honest opinion, and act upon it, then too often clergymen instantly put a ban upon them, and make them feel they are under their displeasure. What are the members of the Church of England to do? To remain where they are in the instances referred to is, for themselves, to lose all selfrespect-in fact, to submit to ecclesiastical slavery, and to expose their families, in an unsuspicious and defenceless condition, to the energetic, virulent, and persistent attacks of the most able and artful combination of men the world has ever seen. The Jesuits are abroad-men who have entered into a deadly conspiracy, in the name of Heaven itself, against the religious liberties of mankind. Of course, they work covertly and through the agency of soft-headed and good-meaning Anglicans. Then, what are the heads of families in the Church of England to do? They cannot quietly submit to this state of things, and they cannot join the Dissenting communities; because either would be to give up some of their most cherished and conscientious convictions of duty in religious matters. They want, and will have, the worship, doctrines, and ecclesiastical organization, in which the religious life of their families has been nurtured for generations, running on from the time of the Reformation. The Free Church of England, formed specially for Churchmen, not for Dissenters, meets that want. It is essentially one with the Church of England, and is free from Romish doctrine and clerical despotism. Our movement has no political signification whatever. Our flag is as white as the driven snow; ranged under it are men whose political opinions are distinguished by all the colours of the rainbow. As a fact, we are free from all State support and control; but no member of the Church is committed by any particular theory on the subject. The members arc free to hold opposite opinions on this subject, and do. It is because of this liberty, we are free to go into any parish of the kingdom, and oppose the Ritualism and unseemly assumption of the clergy. No bishop can inhibit us, and no rector can exclude us. We ask nothing from the State, and the State has no power to interfere with us. |