A PICTORIAL, Geographical, Chronological and Historical Chart, being a delineation of the Rise and Progress of the Evangelical or Christian Dispensation, from the commencement of the Gospel Narrative to the Ascension of our Lord. Arranged according to the Harmonia Evangelica of the Rev. Edward Greswell, D. D. With a Key. By Mr. R. MIMPRISS.

CHURCH REFORM.

THE following suggestions have been forwarded to us as the conclusions derived from a careful perusal of numerous pamphlets on the subject of Church Reform; with a request that they may appear in our present Number. We therefore omit the intelligence we should otherwise have inserted, and recommend these observations to the serious consideration of our readers, without pledging ourselves to the defence of every position.-ED.

1. It appears desirable that the Archbishops and Bishops should still continue to occupy their seats in the House of Lords-that the incomes of the poorer sees should be increased, and that translations should be limited to the archiepiscopal sees, and to London, Winchester, and Durham.*

2. That means should be forth with adopted for the gradual and eventual termination of non-residence and pluralities, All precipitate measures on these points not only involve great injustice to individuals but are pregnant with serious evils to the church itself; † the following provisions appear to be practicable and desireable.

(1.) That after the 1st day of January 1840, any incumbent who shall be instituted to a living whose gross value shall amount to £500. per annum, shall vacate his former preferment, and that no incumbent at that time in possession of a living of £500. per annum, be capable of being instituted to another living without vacating his former preferment.‡

(2.) That from and after the 1st day of January 1835, all the existing excuses for non-residence shall be disallowed-that all non-resident incumbents who have had bona-fide a licenced curate residing in the parsonage or glebe house of their cure for the preceeding year, shall be exempted from all penalties for non-residence for the said year on paying, to the Commissioners of Queen Ann's bounty, the sum of FIVE per cent on the GROSS annual value of the living-but that in case such incumbent shall NOT have had a licenced curate, bona-fide resident, he shall pay to the said Commissioners, the sum of TEN per cent on the gross proceeds of his

The presence of the Bishops in the House of Lords is highly important to the interests of true religion, though of course exceedingly offensive to infidel politicians; nor is there any scriptural warrant for an assertion frequently made by well-disposed persons, that the clergy have nothing to do with politics; they have duties to perform as citizens, which are not vacated by entering into holy orders, and they are bound to use their knowledge and influence for the temporal as well as spiritual benefit of the community.-Every Bishopric should afford sufficient provision for the necessary and unavoidable expences which must be incurred; and the pecuniary emoluments should approach so near to equality, as to render translations of minor consequence-perfect equality is not desirable, since some sees necessarily involve greater expences than others. Possibly the division of one or two of the larger dioceses, or the appointment in them of suffragan bishops, might be adviseable.

† Were pluralities and non-residence immediately terminated, many valuable curates would be dismissed, great difficulties would be experienced by young men in obtaining titles for orders;— churches and chapels in large and populous places, especially those connected with charitable institutions would be deprived of able preachers, &c.-Many non-resident ministers are far more usefully employed in the places where they labour, than they could be on their own livings; others are compelled to be absent through ill health of themselves or families, or through unavoidable circumstances; while those who are non-resident through idle or corrupt motives are far better away:-the great point is to secure a resident clergyman in each parish; whether that clergyman is incumbent or curate is of far less importance.

The year 1840 is mentioned, because it is equitable that those who have purchased Advowsons, &c. under the existing system, should have a reasonable time, either to dispose of them, or make some other arrangement. Possibly 1850 would be better than 1840. Many think that Pluralities if permitted at all should be confined to Livings under £400. per annum, and situated within five or ten miles.

living. Such payments of 5 or 10 per cent if neglected by the non-resident incumbent, to expose him to sequestration-and eventually to deprivation.* 3. That the existing tenths and first fruits be abolished, and a graduated payment similar to that proposed by Dr. Burton be substituted in their place. †

4. That in case the patrons and incumbents of small adjoining parishes agree to unite the same, and such projected union be approved of by the Bishop of the Diocese, together with the plan for the future patronage of the united living; the said union shall be duly registered, and in case either living shall become vacant, the surviving incumbent shall succeed to it of course; but that no such union shall take place where the distance of the parish churches extends to three miles, or where the population of either parish exceeds 1500 persons.

5. That the establishment of each cathedral be regulated so as effectually to provide for the maintenance of the fabric, and the due performance of Divine worship; but that where unnecessary offices exist, the vacancies occurring by demise shall not be filled up, and the surplus funds thus accruing be employed in the enlarging of small livings under the direction of the Dean and Chapter. †

6. That the Archbishops and Bishops be directed to revise the Book of Common Prayer, together with the 39 Articles, and Canons, or to cause such revision to be made by competent persons; so as to omit, alter, or remodel such passages as occasion unnecessary offence; to make such abridgments and remove such repetitions as may in some measure diminish the length of the morning service; to provide such new arrangements in the Psalms, Lessons, &c. as may appear more adapted either to the times in general or to the particular cases where three services are performed in the same church on the Lord's day; to correct and alter the Rubrics, and to

* The objection to this proposition is that it sanctions non-residence. The answer is that it taxes non-residence-that it renders it the interest of an incumbent to repair or provide a Glebe House; and thus secure a resident minister, though he may himself be non-resident. It should be remembered that non-residence is now sanctioned by law in certain cases ;-in many the incumbent has only the inconvenience of writing a letter to his diocesan-in others he has only to apply at stated periods for a licence which costs him something less than one pound per annum. The real and only formidable objection to the proposition is that it taxes so severely the richer non-residents. The incumbent of a living of 500l. per annum will groan bitterly at paying 251. or 50l. per annum for his non-residence. Some indeed think that such a tax would diminish non-residence too rapidly, and they recommend commencing with a smaller per centage, and increasing it at the expiration of 10, 15, or 20 years. If however non-residence be the evil which many imagine, some serious inconvenience should be connected with it. The proposed per centage would very materially increase the revenues placed at the disposal of the Commissioners of Queen Ann's Bounty, and would thus diminish one of the strongest reasons for non-residence. Mr. Millar proposes a new valuation of benefices, and an exaction of tenths and first fruits proportioned to such valuation. Mr. Prebendary Townsend objects to the principle of Dr. Burton's plan. It appears, however, perfectly equitable to tax the wealthier ministers of religion for the exclusive benefit of their poorer brethren. The only point in which the writer differs from Dr. B. is, in desiring the alteration should apply to existing as well as future Incumbents.

Mr. Townsend proposes that government should advance a sum in the three and a half or four per cents, of sufficient magnitude to raise at once each living in lay patronage which is now under 150l. per annum to 300l. per annum. That the incumbent should pay back to government 1007. per annum, with part of the interest; that the patron should pay annually another portion of the interest, and the lay impropriator the remainder of the interest. The effect would be, that every living now under 150l. per annum would be immediately raised to 2007. per annum, and in the course of 29 years to 300l. per annum, when government would be repaid the whole sum advanced: a repetition of the process would raise the livings in another period to 400l. per annum, and thus the livings might be increased to any amount without costing government any thing. Mr. T. conceives that the patron wonld be remunerated for his share of the interest, by the increased value of the advowson, and that lay impropriators may be fairly required to contribute to the support of the clergy in those parishes where the impropriators enjoy the great tithes. When we consider however that these impropriations, &c. were all granted prior to the death of Henry the Eighth, it seems scarcely just, and certainly not expedient to interfere with the present possessors.

The determination of what offices are necessary, might be entrusted to Commissioners appointed for the purpose; the requirements of the different Cathedrals render the application of any generally rule exceedingly difficult.

expunge, correct, or remodel the Canons. And that the said Archishops and Bishops shall present. such revised book to his Majesty, that the same may be printed and laid before the Two Houses of Parliament for their consideration.*

7. That in case the Proprietors or Trustees of any Dissenting, Methodist, or separate place of worship now in existence, shall be desirous that such place of worship shall become a Chapel of the Church of England, they shall nominate to the Bishop of the Diocese, a Clergyman to be licensed as Minister of the said chapel, or a person suitably qualified as a candidate for Holy Orders; and in case such person shall, on examination by the Bishop be found competent, that such nomination shall be regarded as a Title, and the Bishop be at liberty to ordain, license, or in any other manner appoint such person as Minister of the said chapel, without incurring the penalties mentioned in the thirty-third or any other canon; and that on the death or resignation of such Minister, the said Proprietors or Trustees may nominate a Clergyman as successor, or a candidate for Holy Orders, to be ordained to such chapel, and so on in each succeeding vacancy, which may occur during the following periods; namely, in case the chapel be endowed with the clear sum of One Hundred Pounds per annum over and above the Pew rents, for One Hundred Years; if with Fifty Pounds per annum, for the space of Seventy Years; and if with any smaller sum, or the proceeds of the Pew rents alone, for the space of Forty-five Years; and after such respective periods, the nomination to such chapel shall devolve on such College or Hall in one of the Universities, as the present Proprietors shall appoint and notify to the Bishop of the Diocese; in case no such appointment and notification be made within seven years after the nomination of the first Clergyman, the patronage after the above-named period shall devolve on the Incumbent of the parish where the place is situated.†

8. That it shall be lawful for any person or persons to build, purchase, provide, and endow any suitable place, for the performance of Divine Worship, provided he obtain the consent of the Diocesan, and that it be lawful for such person or persons to nominate and present a clergyman to be licensed to the same, for a term of years proportioned to the endowment, as specified in the preceding article; and that in all cases, the Bishop of the Diocese shall be allowed to licence any place of worship as a chapel of the Church of England, and any clergyman to officiate in such

* A temperate, judicious person carefully reading over the Liturgy, Articles, and Canons, and considering the objections advanced at the Savoy Conference, and repeated from time to time by Dissenters of different denominations, would soon find that by striking out a few words, correcting a doubtful or obsolete expression, and allowing the officiating minister to use his own discretion in particular cases, every serious complaint might be obviated, and obviated so that the variation would only be perceived by those who compared the present and the revised liturgy; the chief danger is of attempting too much, lest it should lead to secession. Clergymen already in orders might be allowed to continue the old, or adopt the revised Liturgy at their discretion, perhaps not twenty through the land would avail themselves of the permission, but it would obviate complaints; the Apocrypha should be excluded from the Calendar, and from the Sixth Article. The Bible version of the Psalms should be adopted; and all Dissenters be allowed to marry as they like, and to register their marriages in registers kept by the Clerk of the Peace, or some such officer. The publication of banns in time of Divine Service, is a very inconvenient interruption, and has long ceased to be any effectual precaution against clandestine marriages.

+ Dissenters are of THREE CLASSES-those who object to all establishments-those who object to certain parts of our Liturgy-those who dissent from habit or convenience. The first class is the smallest, and must be given up as hopeless; the second may be recovered by trifling concessions; many of the latter are desirous of conforming; if some plan similar to what is here suggested were adopted, considerable additions would speedily be made to the Church, and the asperity of dissent would be materially softened. In revising the Liturgy it might be desirable, especially to intimate that persons might be baptized, and have their children baptized by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion, as they please.

chapel, with or without the consent of the Incumbent of the parish in which such chapel is situated.

9. That Bishops be appointed with moderate salaries in all the principal Colonies of the empire, and that it be recommended to the several Colonial Governments to promote plans for the educating, providing, and maintaining Clergymen in those Colonies.

10. That the existing system of Ecclesiastical discipline be altered; that Bishops be authorized to examine Clergymen presented to them for institution; that they be required to assign their reasons for refusing to institute Clerks nominated to livings; for rejecting candidates who apply for Ordination; for refusing to license Curates, or for dismissing them from their Dioceses; and that it shall be lawful for persons so rejected to appeal to the Archbishop of the province; and that Ministers repelling any from the Holy Communion, or exercising other offensive parts of the Pastoral duty, agreeably to the Rubrics, Canons, &c. shall not be liable to any civil action, but responsible solely to their Diocesan.*

Such are the principal points of Church Reform which appear at present important. I have not mentioned the commutation of Tithes, because, however strong the popular feeling may be in favour of such commutation, it appears to me of very doubtful expediency. I have not touched on clerical education, because no legislative measures on this point are necessary. The Bishops can now demand from Candidates for Orders, any degree of knowledge they please :-if incompetent men are admitted, the fault really rests with the Diocesans.-Were a few more candidates than usual rejected at any particular ordination, it might excite a clamour, but it would compel future applicants to be more diligent in preparation. The universities require their students to attend chapel on Weekdays, and Sermons on Sundays and Holidays; in some cases, Common places, that is, short discussions on Theological Topics are read once or twice a week during Term ;-Greek Testament Lectures, and Lectures on Moral Philo sophy are given in most colleges ;- -one Gospel, at least in the original, is always required at a previous examination for the first degree. Candidates for Orders are required to attend Theological Lectures, &c. so that it is difficult to say what the universities really can do more than they now do ;—the fault, if fault there be, must rest either with individual students who will not improve their advantages, with negligent and thoughtless parents, schoolmasters, or tutors, who do not religiously educate their scholars or stimulate their students to exertion; or with pliant, superficial, or accommodating examining chaplains, who allow incompetent persons to pass examination. It might perhaps be advisable to require persons in general, actually to officiate as Deacons, in a curacy, for a year before they are ordained Priests, and to allow those, who, in the course of their probation, find themselves, or are found incompetent for the sacred office, to relinquish the clerical profession and become laymen.

T. W. O.

*The Ecclesiastical penalties are of Popish origin.-Thus a Clergyman is suspended, and his Living sequestered for a given period. In popish times, this was a trifling punishment-the offender went into a monastery, and lived as the other monks, and performed divine service-but now the sequestered clergyman is left with a wife and family, perhaps to starve, or beg, or apply to the parish, or turn Dissenter; and sometimes the severity of this punishment provokes compassion, and leads to liberal donations, so as to encourage a repetition of the offence. There ought to be no irresponsible authority-power without appeal is diametrically opposed to the spirit of the British constitution.