CHRISTIAN UNITY.
[To THE EDITOR OF rim "SPECTATOR."]
Sfa.,—In your issue of, I think, a fortnight ago allusion was made to the fraternity which used to obtain some genera- tions ago between Church people and Nonconformists. I have been reading the manuscript memoirs, dated 1840, of a parishioner of a village in North Lincolnshire, a district saturated with the spirit of John Wesley. The following extracts may be of interest Of the Parson.
"The Parson was called the Rev. Buck Warren Wright. He
was a most useful man in the Parish. He had been an Honorary Doctor before taking Holy Orders. He attended all the people day and night. At the Vicarage was a regular Dispensary for the sick and poor—Churchmen, Wesleyans, Ranters, and all alike. There was no Party Spirit in him except the Tea Party Spirit. Nothing pleased him better than a Chapel Tea Meeting ; he was in his glory then. He was always voted in the chair. Ile knew the value of brethren dwelling together in unity and loving his neighbour as himself, and doing to others as he would be done by."
Of the Clerk.
"John Gibson, the Parish Clerk, was a useful man la the Wesleyan Chapel. He attended the evening service every Sunday, starting all the tunes and leading the singing, at the same time uniting Church and Chapel in brotherly love."
These simple records make one wonder at the modern theo- logical rancour born of political jealousy and at the spectacle of the Free Churches exciting themselves to destroy the traditional ancient Church of England.—I am, Sir, Ste., Scawby, Lincs. R. N. SUTTON NELTHORPE.
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