2. In the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, I have experienced a little more difficulty. I have gone through the District and Diocesan Societies, and have reckoned the numbers of separate subscriptions and donations, and not always according to individual persons. A subscriber, therefore, to more than one Society or Association may be reckoned in each; but this I conceive to be right. All who have not a Rev". before their names, all "Anonymous," or from a "Friend," &c., have been included among the laity. "Donations and Collections," as printed under this head (pp. *38 and *39), and Collections when noticed among the Subscriptions, have not, however, been taken into the account. Deduct Lay Majority of Clergy DIOCESES OF Cler. Lay. Females. Total. 164+ 130+ 59= 353 Coventry ... Cashel Deduct Lay 2520 Clerical Maj. 1384 If the proportion of Clerical Females were added, this majority would be greatly increased. 3. National Society. The Subscribers are not so numerous; and this is more especially a lay society, inasmuch as the lay poor almost exclusively enjoy the great benefits of its operations. Annual Subscriptions, 1831, 346 +277 + 90 = 713 974 +1312 + 308 = 2594 "Collections," "Literals,"" Anonymous," "Friends," which are rather numerous, are reckoned among the laity. The clergy have a majority of regular subscribers (69), but the lay donations are much more numerous (407). 4. The Incorporated Clergy Orphan Society, 1830. The following comprehends the general "list of the Governors and Benefactors" only, from p. 41 to 66 inclusive. The colleges and corporations are also excluded. Majority of Clergy Cler. Lay. Females. Total. 651478 435 = 1564 478 173, besides the proportion of females. † 5. Church Building Society, 1830. In this Society, I have included the donations from the collegest amongst the clergy; but collections, &c., amongst the laity. Annual Subscribers.......... Cler. Lay. Females. Total. 114 +66 + 19 = 199 1075931+ 284 = 2290 1189997 + 303 = 2489 The majority of the clergy is in annual subscriptions, 48; and in donations, 144; without reckoning the females. Some DISTRICT SOCIETIES are appended. They seem not very correctly reported, but the following is an Abstract. "Anonymous," "a Friend," &c., among the laity. • All the Donations from the commencement are, I believe, here included. The Diocesan Society for the Sons of the Clergy in Durham, for the year 1830, was as follows: I regret that I did not, in the beginning, perceive the benefit of going in some certain rule with respect to "collections," and the subscriptions and donations from corporate bodies, " Anonymous," " Friends," &c. 78108 52 = 238 Total Gen. Don. Total. 19 +27 + 11 = 57 =295 135 +41 + 18 = 194 | 123 + 90 + 25 =238 =432 4220 + 11 = ++++++++ Canterbury Exeter......... Chester-le-Street* 7 Bristol Seven Oaks.......... = 73 = 10 49 + 15 0 64104 28 +56 + 5 = 89=134 34 +22 + 20 = 76 =139 8 +24 1951= 57 Stow 10 ... = 10 10 + 2 = 354 +216 + 99 669 271 +234 +80=585=1254 Add Donations... 271 +234 + 80 = 585 Majority of Clergy... 175; viz., 138 Subscribers, and 37 Donations. 1. Society for Promoting Chris-6430 + 4850 + 2726 = 14006 Subscrip. tian Knowledge Total or Gen. Majority of Clergy 3268, without adding the proportion of females, which would make the number as nearly as much more. If the Collections &c. were added, the majority would be still larger. I can scarcely hope that the above abstracts will, at present, be very attractive, but as they are strong and stubborn facts, I submit them to your consideration, and shall be amply rewarded for my trouble, if they shall, in any one instance, remove a single prejudice against the clergy; who, though generally so poor and so few in number, besides incessant labour and collections, personally contribute to the General and Local Societies for advancing the temporal and eternal interests of the people, very nearly a-third more than all the laity of the empire. I am, Rev. Sir, With great respect, Durham, Jan. 22nd. R. W. B. The account of the Durham Diocesan Society, on the 1st of January, 1830, was— Cler. Lay. Fem. Total. 18 Majority of Clergy... 51 VOL. III.-March, 1833. 2 Q WEEKLY LECTURES. To the Editor of the British Magazine. SIR,-Will you permit me, through the medium of your publication, to ascertain the sentiments of some of my elder and more experienced brethren in the ministry, with respect to a service, which, although I cannot find it enjoined in either the canons or rubrics of our church, has, nevertheless, been adopted by many of her clergy-I mean a weekly lecture in a school room or private house. The mode I have almost always observed to be adopted on such occasions is as follows:-The clergyman gives out an hymn, repeating two lines at a time-then prays extemporaneously-then gives an exposition of a chapter, or a portion of one, or not unfrequently preaches-the sermon differing in no respect from that delivered on the sabbath, either in arrangement or applicationafterwards, he gives out an hymn as before, and concludes with extemporaneous prayer. Now, Sir, this is precisely the form of service adopted by the dissenters and methodists; and, consequently, whenever clergymen can conform to their mode of worship, and become, in fact, dissenters themselves, it is no longer matter of surprise, that such services should be generally, if not always, well attended by those who yet are never seen within the doors of our churches or chapels, and who appear not a little elated at the conversions made to their own systems among our clergy, and of course will honour by their patronage! any departure from the forms of our incomparable liturgy. There is another evil, in my opinion, attendant upon this mode of instruction, and one of a much more serious nature, viz.-that they not . unfrequently are substituted, in the estimation and the practice of a large portion among the poorer classes of our congregations, for attendance upon Divine worship on the sabbath day-thus tending to create a breach of God's commandment (already, alas! too prevalent), as well as to cherish an indolence of disposition so observable among that portion of our hearers, and especially when such lectures are held in the viciuity of their own dwellings, and at a distance from the parish church. That this is the case, I have had frequent opportunities of ascertaining in Ireland as well as here, and not a little have these evils been increased by the zeal of some of my brethren in the ministry asserting that "this school room! is none other but the house of God," or, "this KITCHEN (!) the gate of Heaven." Now, Sir, in zeal to be made the honoured instrument in bringing souls to the Redeemer, I shall yield to none; and I care not how I spend or am spent in the service of my blessed Master. That an explanation of a portion of God's Holy Word to the adult members of our congregations during the week is necessary, I willingly allownay, I deem it absolutely requisite. But the mode in which such information should be communicated consistently with the discipline and the formularies of our church is the point on which I desire to be informed; particularly when the daily occupations of the inhabitants, and their distance from the church, render an attendance there at a weekly service impossible, and the instruction must necessarily be given either in a school room or private dwelling. Brief as has been my ministerial career, every succeeding day brings fresh conviction to my mind that the formularies of our scriptural church, to which as I have most willingly and conscientiously subscribed, and from which I shall, with the blessing of God, never depart, are the best appointed mode for communicating religious information to our people, as well as those which I do believe God will most honour. Still, as I am but young in the ministry, I would intreat, in some of the succeeding numbers of your Magazine, the matured opinion of some of the fathers of our church upon this subject, so important to the welfare of souls, as well as to the maintenance of the true religion which has been established among us.* I remain, Sir, Your constant reader, W. G. ON SUNDAY SCHOOLS. To the Editor of the British Magazine. MR. EDITOR,-Many may be led to exertion, in a way of which they have not previously thought, by learning the details of successful efforts elsewhere. It is with a belief that somewhat of the kind may be the result, that I send you the following statement for insertion in your Magazine, if you think fit. In the curacy to which I am attached, there are four small hamlets lying at distances varying from five to two miles from the church. In two of these there were week-day schools previously to the year 1829, but in none Sunday-schools. In that year my attention was drawn strongly towards them through an approaching confirmation. I became wishful for the establishment of a Sunday-school in each, but scarcely knew in what way the desire could be accomplished, as there were no resident Protestant gentry near any, save one. Still I was stimulated to make the exertion by an active person in the cause of schools; and he and I went into the different hamlets in succession, learnt who were the most likely persons to be interested in such a cause, spoke with them, combating all fears of failure, and pressing for a trial. They successively fell into our suggestions; notice was given of a public meeting in each, at which the principal inhabitants were personally invited to attend. There the advantages and plans of gratuitous Sunday-schools were explained,-well-disposed persons were solicited to give in their names for teachers, and the inhabitants at large to contribute some pecuniary assistance for the purchase of requisites. In one place, I remember, when we arrived at the hour The Editor hopes that this subject may be well discussed. But as many will probably express their opinions, may he respectfully request them to compress as far as they conveniently can? |