genius, or moral influence, to show how much evil is in him. I should have ventured to think that the christian critic was not merely to apply these same principles to a different class of writings or persons, but to act upon entirely different principles. I should have thought that he was especially bound to use the loving powers with which he is endowed, for the purpose of bringing to light that which is good in every work or person who is able to exert any influ ence over his countrymen, for the very purpose of making that influence beneficial of confounding and discomfiting anything that is evil in it. I should have thought (and here I do not wholly speak from guess; I am not simply casting stones at others less guilty than myself,) that any one who had failed in doing this, who had been tempted to write or speak upon any other maxim, would find cause for frequent and repeated self-reproach and repentance; would feel that he had wronged his own mind, and not only the minds of others, because perchance he had few or no listeners. But, waiving these points, upon which I have been over bold in touching, I should like to inquire who those five in six readers are, for whose especial benefit Churchmen think it needful to adopt the practice of the world. Are they, in this particular case, persons who are already readers and admirers of Mr. Carlyle? The probable effect of such criticism will be to convince them that Churchmen have no sympathy with that which they have felt to be true and useful to themselves; whatever, then, they have heard which is disadvantageous to the Church and its ministers, will be strengthened and deepened in their mind. To this part of their author's creed they will cling: what qualifies it they most likely reject. Or are they persons already disposed to be afraid of this author, with a very sufficient and reasonable horror of him; these are the very men to whom he could not do mischief- to whom he might do much good; men who, if they are to be worth anything as Churchmen, require to be sifted and winnowed, lest haply, in the day when a mightier winnower appears, they shall be found chaff and not wheat. So that this kind of reviewing, which is studiously contrived for the majority, and not for the minority, has the merit of discountenancing the best, encouraging the worst in every class of that majority. As far as my own experience has gone, the warmest admirers of Mr. Carlyle are to be found among very simple people, women especially, who love their Bible above all other books, and would hate any which did not lead them to love it more. Such persons, with that faculty of love which so far excels the merely judicial faculty in subtlety and discrimination, have detected something at the heart of his writings which reached into their deepest faith and convictions, and have thrown aside, as wholly extraneous, or at all events as unintelligible, what seemed to contradict them. You may tell such readers that they have been all wrong-that you know better; but you will not easily convince them. Not pride, not self-will, but genuine humility, self-distrust, affectionate charity to that which has imparted wisdom, are enlisted against you. Your arguments, and criticisms, and sneers, will not seem to them the least in accordance with the spirit of the Bible or the Church; they will still obstinately declare that Mr. Carlyle has done more to give them a delight in what is living and true, and, threrefore, into the Bible and the Church, than you have. Might it not be well to enter into such prejudices a little; to inquire the meaning of them; to see whether they are wholly monstrous. But I must conclude this long letter. I hold no_brief from Mr. Carlyle; he would not thank me for my advocacy. I am jealous, not for his honour, but for that of the body to which I belong; I am sure that it is the body in the world which ought to acknowledge and love truth wherever it manifests itself; the one body which, if it understand its own rights and persons, could afford to do so. How long will its members treat it as a sect, while they boast of it as a Church? how long will they hold that its power is shown in rejecting and denying, not in embracing and harmonizing? I am, my dear Sir, your obedient servant, F. MAURICE. [Every thing from Mr. Maurice's pen is sure to be both interesting and important; and therefore we rely on our readers at once justifying us for such a departure from our rules, as is involved in admitting into our pages anything like discussion upon our articles, and acquiescing in the declaration which we now make, that the proceeding is not to be regarded as a precedent. It appears to us, we own, that Mr. Maurice over-rates the difference between his and our estimate of Mr. Carlyle. In most of what he has said we cordially coincide; and he admits that there are elements in Mr. C.'s mind and speculations, which he will not deny to be very dangerous ones. If so, are we not to point out the dangers? Do none of the admiring readers of "The History of the French Revolution," "Chartism," "Hero-Worship," &c. with whom he comes in contact, require to have it pointed out to them that fine religious sentiment is not Faith; and that while we are indulging in the one, we are under a very peculiar danger of forgetting the other? Are there no hero-worshippers in whose eyes Genius is all but infallible, and who must be made to see that there is but one Law for man, whether richly or poorly endowed; that the richest gifts of Genius are turned into curses by those who use them as means of separation from their brethren, and that the differences between man and man are as nothing compared with the links which ought to unite them? Is it safe to allow hero-worship to be turned in the direction of a Rousseau, without one word of protest? We entirely agree with Mr. Maurice, that it is the office of a christian reviewer rather to seek for and draw out the good there may be in a writer, than to show up all the evil: but he has probably not seen our former article on the Hero-Worship, in which we endeavoured, however unsuccessfully, to discharge this duty. He, however, has done it far better than we have, and, cordially thanking him for his interesting and valuable observations, we leave them to take the place of our former article, and, instead of that, to be combined by our readers with our latter one on Carlyle, which we still think to have been much called for; as we do not believe the number of persons who have "a very sufficient and reasonable horror" of this author, to be nearly so great as Mr. Maurice imagines.] DEACONS. Of Oxford.-G. G. Hayter, B.A. Oriel; C. J. A. Padby, B.A. Exet.; T. L. Rich, s.c.L. New Inn H.; T. Renwick, B.A. Ch. Ch.; W. Savage, B.A. Queen's. Of Cambridge.-J. B. Chalker, B. A. St. John's; T. O. Feetham, B. A. Trin.; R. G. Maul, B.A. St. John's; G. H. Parminter, B.A. Trin.; P. V. Robinson, B.A. Ch. Ch.; J. W. Ward, B.A. St. John's. PRIESTS. Of Oxford.-C. H. Archer, B. A. Ball.; R. L. Bampfield, B. A. Trin.; F. E. B. Cole, B.A. St. Edm. H.; J. Harris, B. A. Pemb.; W. E. Vigor, B.A. Worc.; C. H. Walker, B.A. Worc. By the LORD BISHOP OF PETERBOROUGH, at Peterborough, on Sunday, Sept. 24. DEACONS. Of Oxford.-J. White, B.A. New Inn H. Of Cambridge.-J. P. Goodman, B.A. Emm.; W. Hildebrand, B. A. Clare H.; D. M. Mackintosh, B.A. Corp. Chris.; W. W. F. Murray, B.A. Corp. Chris.; S. K. Swann, B.A. Christ's; J. Taylor, B.A. Trin.; J. Blackburn, B.A. Pemb. (1. d. Abp. of York.) Of Durham.-H. M. Short, Univ. (l. d. Bp. of Ripon.) PRIESTS. Of Oxford.-F. W. W. Martin, B.A. Ball. Of Cambridge.-J. W. Ayre, B. A. St. Peter's; W. Bennett, B.A. St. John's; R. Bryan, B.A. Trin.; C. Charlton, B.A. St. John's; W. Dusantoy, B.A. Sid. Sus.; W. L. Towke, B.A. Queen's; W. Twynne, B.A. Magd. (l. d. Abp. of York:) W. M. Kerr, B.A. St.John's; J. Sutherland, B.A. By the LORD BISHOP OF HEREFORD, at Hereford, on Sunday, Sept. 24. DEACONS. Of Cambridge.-H. Homer, B.A. Jesus; W. Nuttall, B.A. Queen's; R. Burgess, B.A. Christ's; J. F. Macmichael, B.A. Trin.; S. B. Taylor, M.A. Trin.; T. Evans, B.A. St. John's; J. H. Roberts, B.A. Clare H. Of Dublin.-T. J. Avard, B.A. Trin. PRIESTS. Of Oxford.-W. Taylor, B.A. Trin.; R. Merewether, B. A. St. Alb. H. Of Cambridge.-S. C. Brown, B. A. St. John's; R. Hey, B.A. St. John's; J. Winter, B.A. Jesus; C. H. Ramsden, B.A. Trin.; J. B. Webb, B.A. Corp. Chris. Of Dublin.-T. Gawthrop, B. A. Trin.; C. A. Graham, B. A. Trin. By the LORD BISHOP OF SALISBURY, at Salisbury, on Sunday, Sept. 24. DEACONS. Of Oxford.-R. Simpson, B.A, Oriel; G. F. S. Powell, B.A. Wad.; E. Bradley, B.A. Magd. H. (l. d. Bp. of Chichester); C. F. Lowder, B.A. Exet., T. H. Ravenhill, B.A. Worc., R. A. H. Stroud, B.A. Wad., and R. H. Taylor, B.A. Trin. (l. d. of Bath and Wells.) Of Cambridge.-D. E. Domville, B.A. Christ's; J. Crofts, B.A. Queen's; G. Stallard, B.A. St. John's; L. F. Thomas, B.A. Queen's (l. d. Bp. of Bath and Wells). Of Dublin.-W. Fry, B.A. Trin. (1. d. Bp. of Bath and Wells.) PRIESTS. Of Oxford.-E. B. Edgill, B.A. Ball.; B. B. Astley, B.A. St. Alb. H.; E. A. Ferryman, B.A. Univ.; T. H. House, Worc.; R. Cooper, B.A. Wad.; W. Jackson, B.A. Queen's; T. D'Oyley Walters, B.A. Ch. Ch. (l. d. Bp. of Bath and Wells.) Of Cambridge.-G. C. Gordon, B.A. Corp. Chris.; J. Beck, M.A. Corp. Chris.; E. R. Prother, B. A. Magd. (. d. Bp. of Bath and Wells.) Of Durham.-M. Brown, B.A. Univ. Chester...... Earl Derby....... Adamson, E. H.... St. Alban, Heworth, P.c. Durham..... 1 P. C. of Heworth...) Anson, T. A........ Billingford, R............. Norwich.... Rt. Hon. E. Ellice ...... Arthur, G........... Rowington, v............. Worcester.. Lord Chancellor.......... Courtenay, F....... Cox, J. Cripps, J. M........ Evans, E. C......... P.C....... St. Sidwell's, Exeter, P.C........ P.C..... Diocese. London..... Parishioners............... £255 789 G. & B...... 234 182 169 396 288 133 136 478 300 371 Palgrave, R................ Norwich..... Sir E. Kerrison, Bart... Gt. Yeldham, R. ....................... London..... Mrs. J. M. Cripps........ Egginton, P.C............. Ely. Parishioners Alderley, R. G. & B...... R. H. B. Hale, Esq..... (Hope-under-Dinmore Hereford... Bishop of Hereford...... Figgins, J. L......chester, P.C........ (St. Clement, ManChester...... Trustees..................... Fisher, J. T......... Uphill, R. ... B. & W...... John Fisher, Esq. ....... 184 Freeland, H. ....... Hasketon, R............... Norwich.... Rev. H. Freeland........ 290 517 Fullerton, A........ Thriberg, R. York......... J. Fullerton, Esq......... Gilby, F. D.......ham, P.C...................... (St. James, Chelten- G. & B...... Trustees .................... Hill, H. T........... Wolverley, V............... Exempt..... D. & C. of Worcester ... Hippisley, R. W... Stow-on-the-Wold, R... G. & B...... H. Hippisley........ Hodgson, J.......... Hoxne cum Denham, v. Norwich..... Sir E. Kerrison, Bart... 456 James, H............ Willingdon, R. .... Chichester.. D. & C. of Chichester... (Christ Church, Turn-) London...... 1 ham Green, P.C.......) Jenkins, R.......... Kennaway, C. E... {Trinity Ch., Brighton, Chichester.. Late Rev. R. Anderson P.C........ Larken, E. R....... Burton, R..... Lindley, W.......... Lincoln...... Lord Monson.............. (Thirsk and Sandhut-York.......... Abp. of York............... 143 3829 ton, P.C................. (St. John, Evangelist, Topham, J.......... (St. Nicholas, Droit- Worcester.. Earl Somers................. 1 wich, R............ Trollope, E......... (Leasingham, South & Lincoln...... Sir J. Thorold North, R...............) Waud, S. W. ...... Rettenden.................. London...... Bp. of Ely........... Medwin, T. R.... (Head Master of Solihull (Chaplain to the British Resi- Milner, J......... (Head Mast. of the Gram. Sch., Stratford-upon-Avon. (Chaplain of St. Anne's Hospital, Appleby. (Evening Lect. at St. John's, Saunders, J. C... Southwark. Weldon, J. I...... Mast. of Tunbridge School. CLERGYMEN DECEASED. Abdy, C. B., at Coopersole Rectory. Bridges, T. E., D.D., President of Corpus Christi Dalton, J. H., at Hetherside, Cumberland. Dennis, J., Vicar of White Notley. Hale, J., Rector of Holton and Rector of Buslingthorpe, Lincoln. Hare, M., at the Rectory, Liddington. Marshall, F. J., M.A., of New Coll. Oxford, 31. Myddelton, C. P., Inc. of Heaton Norris Chap., and Chaplain to the Earl of Tyrconnel. Pratt, H., of Wartling. Prior, Dr., Vice-Provost of Trin. Coll., Dublin. Ramshaw, C., Vicar of Fewstone. Rosbotham, W. Shaw, F. W., Min. St. Ann's Chap., Wandsworth. Taylor, W. R., Rector of Town Barningham, & MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. SCOTLAND. DIOCESE OF ABERDEEN.-We understand that the Rev. Alexander Allan has lately resigned the cure of Monymusk in this diocese. At the synod of the diocese of Aberdeen, which was held on the 9th current, the Bishop directed the attention of his clergy to a lecture preached by Mr. Allan, in the month of March last, to the congregation of St. Mary's, Inverary, which was subsequently published under the title of "A Lecture on the Distinctive Characters and Relative Bearings of Theological Parties in the Christian Church." The Bishop went on to state, that various points of heretical doctrine seemed to be promulgated and set forth in said lecture, with the apparent approbation of the author, which must be denounced and entirely disclaimed by the Church, whether they are to be considered as the opinions of the "Parties" to whom Mr. Allan ascribes them, or of the writer and preacher himself. The Bishop produced his correspondence with Mr. A. on this painful subject, and appointed a select committee of the members of synod to take the case into their consideration, and report to the synod accordingly. After serious deliberation, the committee reported to the synod that they had come to the conclusion that the lecture in question contains much that is highly censurable, as being at variance with the teaching of the Holy Catholic Church in general, and with that branch of it which exists in Scotland in particular. But that, as it was rather difficult to determine precisely how far the lecturer means the various statements upon which they had occasion to remark, to be an expression of his own opinions, or merely a narrative of the doctrinal views of the "parties" which he avers have always been found in the Christian Church, the committee contented themselves with expressing their conviction, that Mr. Allan was guilty of very great indiscretion (to give it the mildest term), in making subjects of such grave importance the matter of a discourse to a christian congregation, while, at the same time, he expressed himself so vaguely as necessarily to leave the minds of those who heard him in great doubt as to what he recommended to them as truths worthy of all acceptation, and what he gave merely as the opinions of sects and parties, and of something even much more censurable, if any importance is to be attached to the notice prefixed to his lecture, which appeared to the committee to implicate the writer as individually maintaining certain views set forth in it. The committee, in conclusion, stated, that they could not fail painfully to remark that the entire discourse is founded on the denial, or non-recognition, of that Article of the Creed"I believe One, Catholic, and Apostolic Church;" because it supposes the Catholic Church to consist of all sects and parties, however discordant from the truth and from one another, and to have no unity of faith or sacraments. The report of the committee was unanimously approved of by the synod, and adopted by the Bishop as his judicial decision on the case. TO CORRESPONDENTS. We are much obliged to Mr. Hare, of Langham-place, for the interesting document he has sent to us. |