THE CLERGY OF LANCASTER AND BRIBERY. [To THE EDITOR OF
THE "SPECTATOR."]
Sin,—In reading up my back numbers of your much valued paper, I have this morning seen the letter contained in your impression of the 19th of September, and signed "S. C. 0." This letter refers to the duties of ministers in relation to bribery, and very strongly infers that ministers are far too lacking in boldness and sincerity to lay this subject before their congregations. I should not have intruded upon you had not your correspondent mentioned Lancaster. This reference is somewhat unfortunate for " S. C. O.," for it shows that he is much better acquainted with what takes place in the " Inns " (not low public-houses) of that old town than with the things that are spoken from the pulpits or the deeds that are done in the churches. Three ministers, a clergyman of the Established Church, a clergyman of the Unitarian denomination, and myself, preached from our pulpits on the subject, and, I believe, spared neither the sin nor the sinners. More private and painful action of a disciplinary character was taken also in one of our churches, which showed that neither the minister nor the great bulk of the people composing that Christian community were at all inclined to "look on it [bribery] as a capital joke."
With the purpose of "S. C. O.'s" letter I, of course, agree. Bribery is not looked upon sufficiently RS a sin, as a crime against the holier principles of our nature, as a foul transgression against the laws of morality and virtue. Until it be so regarded, there is
much reason to fear that our penal laws will not suppress it ; and until the Ministers throughout all the land shall see very fully the I sin of bribery, and so be led to denounce it from their pulpits, bribery will most likely continue to be regarded as a venial sin (if, indeed, it be a sin at all), and one in which the end fully justifies the means.
The principles on which all true Liberals should act during the forthcoming elections are these, "Let not your good be evil spoken of," and " Do no evil that good may come."
I enclose a copy of the sermon preached to my people on "The Sin of Bribery," only that you may see how undeserved is the universal stigma which it is sought to affix to ministers that they connive at bribery, and care not to expound its sin before their
congregations.—I am, Sir, &c., ELVERY DOTIII§.. Independent Church, Lancaster, Oct. 9.
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