"With regard to the first, it is obvious that no Clergyman can be justified in thus acting in direct opposition to the Rubric, which expressly disallows the use of the short service, even in private houses, unless upon great and reasonable cause and necessity,' such as dangerous illness, &c. &c. ; and also demands that children which are 'after this sort baptized, if they afterward live,' shall be brought into the church' for the completion of the rite. "The only apology for the administration of this short service, is founded on the supposition, that the children will be brought again and received into the church; but if I am rightly informed, this initiatory process has been so long considered as sufficient, that by far the greater portion of the population of this city, and of the districts in which this custom prevails, have never been fully received, according to the appointed form, as members of our Church, and thus the sacrament of baptism is administered without those impressive accompaniments which were designed, and have always been held especially needful, to explain and enforce its use and meaning. "Amongst other evil consequences to be deprecated, it may be remarked, that this irregular practice renders null and void those questions of the Church Catechism, which refer to the name given by sponsors, whom the majority of the children in our parochial schools never had, and to vows and promises which were never made for them; an inconsistency which, while it places the Clergyman in the painful position of asking questions to which he knows the answers must be false, cannot fail to give the children the impression (if they think at all), that the words they are taught to repeat are mere forms, with which they have no present concern. "I am aware that there exists a considerable difficulty in finding persons competent and willing to undertake the office of sponsors, and which has of course increased in proportion to the long neglect of the ordinance; but I would suggest to you, whether this obstacle might not be gradually lessened by an earnest and zealous endeavour, on your parts, not only to enforce the full Baptismal Service, but to explain its original intention and practical use to your respective flocks; whether this would not be a likely means of rousing a feeling of christian sympathy, much to be desired amongst neighbours and relations; and whether, as ministers of the Church, we are not bound to do all that in us lies to restore the spirit that has departed from her ancient forms, so long as those forms remain the established order of our Church. "The omission of the Psalms and Lesson in the Funeral Service is also in violation of the Rubric, which enjoins the reading of the whole service. It deprives the mourners of the consolation and benefit of hearing a most solemn and appropriate portion of Scripture, under circumstances calculated to give it impressive effect: and further, there seems a peculiar impropriety in making any distinction between rich and poor, at the moment of all others when such distinction should be forgotten. Yet this is an obvious conclusion, so long as the length of the service is proportioned to the amount of fees paid. "Believing as I do that both these omissions have been very painfully felt by many of the Clergy, and that the authority of their diocesan will be welcomed by them as the means of breaking through a bad custom, and of returning to established regulation, I gladly take the opportunity of expressing sentiments which, I hope, may lead to the removal of abuses injurious to the character of our Church, and to the usefulness of her services. "I remain, yours faithfully, "EDW. NORWICH." * CHURCH SOCIETIES. MR. EDITOR,-There can be no question that the Christian Knowledge, the Church Building, and the Gospel Propagation Societies, ought all to receive, in some way or other, the support of every member of the Church of England; nor can we doubt that the exertions of all three Societies collectively, are necessary to ensure the attainment of the ends of any one individually. But, nevertheless, as opportunity occurs of advancing the cause of any particular Society, such opportunity ought immediately to be embraced without waiting for a fitting occasion of urging at one and the same time the combined claims of all; and I am persuaded that, in practice, this will be found not only the easiest, but likewise the most efficacious method of proceeding which we can adopt. The Queen's Letter in favour of the SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL, has, I believe, by this time, been read in all the churches of the country and now that people's attention has been directed to the subject, and their minds have, in some measure, been opened to its importance, a happy opportunity is afforded of following up the promulgation of the royal epistle, by the quiet, but general institution of PAROCHIAL ASSOCIATIONS, and the preparing for the preaching of periodical recommendatory sermons in connexion with them. This course has, indeed, been taken with great success in many places; but, with almost a solitary exception, whatever has been done for the Society, congregationally and parochially, has been done out of London, for in London alone an extraordinary indifference respecting it seems to prevail. It is chiefly on this latter point, Mr. Editor, that I wish to offer a few remarks. Taking the whole circuit of the metropolis, and going to the extent of many miles from its centre, there are, I believe, only sevent associations in aid of the Society; and in the capital itself there is ONLY ONE. Now, surely there must be something wrong in this. The Society either is entitled to the warmest support of churchmen, or it can lay claim to no support at all. If, upon just grounds, it ought to be supported, why, we may ask, is it neglected-and neglected, too, in such a quarter, and to the almost exact extent to which it ought to be supported? If, on the other hand, the Society be unworthy of public patronage, why are not either its incapacities removed, or fitter channels opened in which christian charity may flow towards the distressed objects for which it professes to care? But, so far from the * CH. REM. 1837, p. 111. + Barking, Blackheath, Beckenham, Clapham, Eltham, Hackney, and Hornsey. St. Botolph, Bishopsgate. Society being ill-adapted to the prosecution of its professed objects, it is admitted on all hands, that it is a wise and active, and has been a successful, agent in the propagation of the gospel. Testimony to this effect is abundantly afforded by the venerated names of Coleridge, of Lipscombe, of Inglis, of Wilson, of Broughton, of Mountain, and of many others, who are moving in their respective spheres in the world's wilderness, scattering good seed, and publishing peace. Nor yet has the testimony of departed worthies been wanting to the wisdom of the Society's proceedings, and the success of its operations. Without adverting to the long list of eminent men who have stood its advocates from year to year for upwards of a century and a quarter, the mention only of Middleton, Heber, Stewart, Swartz, and Rottler, as identified with its interests in our own times, is surely enough to recommend it. To say nothing, either, of the "epistles" which it has been instrumental in inscribing on the "fleshly tables" of many a grateful heart, were we permitted to point to no other monuments of its zeal and liberality, than the church in the United States, Bishop's College, Calcutta, and the Missions in Southern India, the exhibition of these is abundantly sufficient to recommend it to the affectionate regard of every true and grateful churchman. They are deeply interesting questions; then why is this, the accredited and devoted Missionary Society of the Church, suffered to languish upon an income of only a few thousands a year? Why are apparently respectable churchmen in the metropolis so lukewarm in its cause, and so much less zealous than their less affluent brethren in many country towns and country villages? Why are humbler members of the Church, who are placed in the metropolis, less ready to throw their mites into the treasury of the Society, than their brethren in the same walks of life who reside in provincial districts? Why are its high claims so little understood, and so unduly appreciated? We are bound in charity to believe that a majority of churchmen, of all ranks, in London as well as elsewhere, would gladly cooperate with the Society, if they were only encouraged to do it; and that if its sacred claims were periodically set before them by the ministers of God, and in the house of God, they would want little inducement to the discharge of those obvious branches of christian duty which the Society, as the handmaid of the Church, undertakes, but which individuals, as such, are utterly incompetent to fulfil. And, to stimulate us to exertion, we should consider that every effort we might make to dispense the knowledge of the truth to those afar off, would naturally react upon ourselves, and lead us to commiserate the condition of many who are ready to perish" in our own parishes, streets, and lanes, and even at our very doors. And we should bear in mind, too, that many a nominal Christian among ourselves might be led, under grace, to think seriously of his own condition, and to "cry mightily unto God," were he to see infidels and heathen cared for, and means used to bring them to a sense of the value of their souls, and work out their salvation. Nor should we fail to consider, that, by engaging in this work and labour of love, we should refresh the heart of many a tried and faithful servant of Christ, confirm the faith, if it so please God, of many a weak and wavering one, and contribute not a little to the promotion of CHURCH UNION -an object in which the well-being of every christian community is so deeply concerned. Nor, in estimating the advantages of well-directed and duly authorized missionary effort, should we overlook the silent but legitimate influence which it would exert upon our governors. There is much of truth in the observation, that "with a few honourable exceptions, statesmen are too prone to care for none of these things; they do not love the church of Christ for the sake of her Lord, neither in general are they decidedly hostile to her, save when some holy rule interferes with their own selfish purposes." Now, as respects the colonial churches, we are justified in concluding, that if we were to manifest a more jealous regard for their prosperity and enlargement, the administrators of public affairs, so far from doing any thing inimical to their interests, would feel called upon to cherish and protect them. And if they should not be the men to do this from higher considerations, even motives of policy and expediency would impel them to it, were they only to see rich and poor sympathizing with the trials and privations of their distant Protestant brethren, and each man sending over his contribution to relieve their spiritual wants. How truly important, then, is it, even in this point of view, that the Church should plainly declare her mind, and manifest the depth of her sympathy by the tenor of her outward demeanour. Nor, again, should we omit to consider, that the fact of the Society's interests not being duly consulted by the inhabitants of the metropolis, is not only a proof of their neglect of duty, but has likewise a tendency to diffuse a feeling of apathy, suspicion, and irresolution, among the members of the Church throughout the land. Whereas, were London churchmen actuated by a better spirit, they would impart a mighty and generous impulse to their brethren in the country, to the stimulating their zeal and love, and to the great strengthening and extending of the church of Christ in general, and of our own branch of it in particular. I trust, Mr. Editor, I have said enough to fix attention on the important point, that it is peculiarly the duty and the interest of metropolitan churchmen to espouse the cause of the SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL. They need not be afraid that the funds of parochial schools, or other local charities, would be impaired, or that those of the Church Building, and Christian Knowledge Societies, would be otherwise than beneficially affected by their so doing; nor, again, need they fear that special collections under future Queen's Letters would be less in amount than they have hitherto been; on the contrary, there would be good ground for believing that they would be much greater. "The liberal soul shall be made fat,” and “he that watereth shall be watered also himself," are promises upon which we may, and ought, implicitly to rely. We should remember, also, that "God is able to make all grace abound toward us; that we having all-sufficiency in all things, may abound in every good work." As a case somewhat in point, the following passage from the First Report of the Committee of the London Churches Fund, may be cited:-" Previous to the establishment of the fund, an apprehension was entertained by some that it might prove injurious to the interests of the Incorporated Society for promoting the Building and Enlarging of Churches;' more especially as a King's Letter for a general collection in behalf of that Society was issued at that time. But it is a source of peculiar satisfaction to the Committee to be able to state, that these apprehensions have proved entirely groundless. Not only was the collection under the King's Letter considerably more productive than usual, but, in general, the last year of that Society's operations has been the most successful which it has yet experienced; and there is reason to believe that this is but an instance of the beneficial influence which the raising of this fund has exercised over the operations of others engaged in the same sacred cause." Seeing, then, that the spiritual prosperity of individuals, the wellbeing of the Church of England, and the enlargement of the church of Christ, are all intimately connected with the energy displayed by the SoCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL and seeing that the general efficiency of that Society is greatly dependent on the efforts made in its behalf in THE METROPOLIS, let metropolitan churchmen, without further delay, earnestly engage themselves in its service; let the reading of the Queen's Letter be succeeded by the immediate institution of parochial committees; let the Society's deeply interesting reports be universally read and circulated; let each clergyman, and each layman, in his station, labour to further its views, and extend the sphere of its operations; let zeal, sobriety, and perseverance, characterise the proceedings of its advocates, and be united to promote its good designs; let no one for a moment suppose, that, because objects of charity exist immediately around us, our indigent brethren at a distance have no claim upon our sympathy, or that their heathen neighbours stand in no need of the friendly offices of the christian church, in order to their conversion; but rather let EACH MEMBER of the Anglican branch of the catholic church, bearing in mind HIS OWN deep responsibility, resolve to do what he can in the charitable work; let him deem no object of christian enterprise too high for him to reach, if with prayer and perseverance he strive to reach it lawfully; let him "give, looking for nothing again." but remembering, for his encouragement, "that a cup of cold water only, given in the name of a disciple, shall not lose its reward;" let him cultivate a temper the reverse of that which would exclaim, "To what purpose is this waste;" let him cast his bread upon the waters, and believe God's word, that he shall find it after many days. X. THOUGHTS DURING THE LATE STORM. WHAT awful, startling sounds assail my ear! Of mighty winds, that mark the closing year, |