DR. TAIT'S FIRST CHARGE.
The Bishop of London delivered his primary charge in St. Paul's Ca- thedral on Wednesday, to a very full attendance of the clergy. The charge was of unusual length, the Bishop remarking that he thought it right at a primary visitation to pass over as few matters as possible in order to review the whole field of the work, and consider how very wide it is. The whole discourse, not perfectly entire, occupies thirteen co- lumns of the Times newspaper. The topics which it specifically con- siders are, remuneration of the clergy, church rates, training of curates, authority of the priest, confession, case of Mr. Poole, the Bishop's own views on confession, dangers of the younger clergy, sermons, extent of the metropolitan parishes, home diocesan mission, special services in Exeter Hall, other special services for the poor, opening of St. Paul's and Westminster Abbey, City churches, London clergy, residence of the City clergy, attendance at the City churches, parochial charities, and union of smaller parishes. On all these subjects the Bishop took a broad and prac- tical view, the spirit of his remarks being brought out by a passage in the section on church-rates.
" I think the impression is gaining ground that we have had of late almost enough legislation for the Church. What we want rather is, to take things as we find them now ordered, and make the best of them. What we want is, that our machinery, such as it is, be worked in the best possible way, rather than to be striving perpetually after new experiments for altering it. After all, the Church's usefulness far more depends upon the conscientious discharge of duty than even upon the appliances of our eccle- siastical arrangements being adapted to the best possible theory."
Upon this topic of church-rates the Bishop awaits the Government measure ; bit he seems to think that it would be very desirable to obtain a permanent endowment on the churches in lieu of the precarious sources from which their support is now derived, On the topic of education the Bishop referred to the inquiry which is now proceeding under the Com-
y GovernMentom — xis of almost e and pblitinOVWonir every shade of you may 'fearatrMeffi Oh if suit' inqUiries were directed make education less dependwaton elk clergy% ritokesh'all be glinal,74,7 if the result is that the laity learn-to take a more real practical interest in its details. But, as I have said I see no prospterbf the clergy eye,. relieved from that deep responsibility which the nation, whatever it in Ir &LI in words, always practically lays on :them, leaving them, where they arl zealous, at once to oollect the, chief part of the, funds, and to conduct by far the greater part of the practical administration of the schools within their district." And the Bishop asked " whether the clergy have not gained rather than lost influence by the efforts made under the Educational De partment Of the Privy Council ?" " - Of course the most popidar interest attaches to that portion of Inc charge which relates to the authority of the priest, confession, and the case of Mr. Poole. Dr. Tait prefaced this portion by remarks on the unwiseness of an extreme rigour as opposed to the excessive observance of the ritual. He pointed to the retention of the cathedrals by the formed Church as an evidence that the reformers, in abolishing the re. dundant furniture of the corrupted Church, still desired to retain the sublimer ornaments of religion. " Whe has not felt," asked the Bishop, :" in rigid Presbyterian counine; that a mistake has been made in this respect ? Indeed the most rigid Puri. tans have now learned that there is no connection between want of taste and the pure Gospel. The worship of our quiet parochial churches without falling into any fooliali mimicry o maiedr#14, should be beautiful of their kind, and that their music should be refined as well as solemn and hearty. As the sermons which are preached within them will lose nothing of their heart-stirring Gospel force by being well composed and well spoken, so willour distinct acts of prayer and praise lose nothing of their spirituality be.
cause their adventitious accompaniments are beautiful as welt as grave."
The Bishop, however, proceeded to condemn excessive floral &enc. tions, bowings, genuflections, and the burning of candles in daytime. Re reminded his hearers that clergymen who stray into these observances may be actuated by conscientious motives ; but they are " weak," and need to be advised. In investigating the authority of the priest be re- presented him as the interpreter of the Word, but condemned that kind of teaching, which would convert the sacraments into "superstitious charms and make the clergy spiritual despots over the laity." Isolated passages from mir great divines, upholding the 'priest's absolving power, he contrasted with the tenor of "those more moderate sentiments which we find breathing through the works quoted when we view them as a whole ; " and in like manner he described the man who pays an exag- gerated attention to sikeredwestments and set ceremonies as " unfaithful to the whole spirit of the Church of which he is.a minister." But he treated the upholders of these innovations as being exceptional in their numbers and declining in their influence. He promised to. advise any who should consult him frankly, but intimated that no advico could be obtained from him which would tend to sanction such practices. And while he saw the difficulty of enforcing the law against the literal observance of certain passages in the ritual; he looked to the influence of public opinion, and to the feeling of the great body of the clergy, as the best counteractive of the encroachments.
The tercentenary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth was celebrated on Wednesday, by religious services in Westminster Abbey, Christ Church, Newgate, and other places ; giving opportunity for many useful reminders of the Reformation.
The Milton Club held a soiree on Wednesday evening anent the church-rate question, In the absence of Sir John Trelawny, Mr. Miall took the chair. A number of gentlemen from the country. were present. Mr. Miall, in his address, seemed to be full of confidence in the success of the agitation, not only against church-rates, but against "the state church" itself. Once clear the ground of church-rates, and it will be clear for the agitation of other questions. Let there be no mistake about that. The meeting and its speakers were favourable to the total and immediate abolition of church-rates, and voluntaryism at home as well as in the colonies.
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