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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 34, 9 February 1881, Page 4

The London correspondent to the «• Otagb Daily Times " makeß the followiog reference to one of tbe moat popular or select circles eraopg tbe

many forms of religions worship now observed in 'Englend :— I have lately visited one of the highest of the High Churches in London, that of All Saints.V Margaret-etreet, of which the Bey. Bericlmore Cooipton is vicar. Stfme idea may be formed of itß magriifioenoe j from the feet tba'f, though 1 there are sea<B for only about 6C9 persons! it; has cost between a quarter and half a million sterling, r Most of this is spent j on the ioßide, as the church stands on q i email piece of ground, and ie nearly built id. There is not a square foot of the inside of the walla which, is cot decorated. The money is spent in marble, and grenite, and gold. A description of these decorations would not suit your columns, but I should like to jot down a few things which struck me. The congregation oootained as many men as women* The bonnets did; not outnumber the heads.- The sexes sit opart on opposite sides of the church. There were no grand enclosed pews, and no reserved seats. Each person was entitled to a . chair who oould get one, and the West- end Duchess sat side by side with the poor governess or shopgirl, repeating the same prayers to " Our father which art in Heaven." Again, I rever .saw in any place of worship so large a proportion of men with good foreheads — of unmistakeable culture and refinement, t ough hero again the richest and the poorest sat side by siie. Thero are held in this church eight services every Sunday, and four services on every ordinary week day, with extra services od festivals. The average number of services cannot be less than 35 per week. Eight clergy serve the Church, besides hearing confession and cttenlin? fcj all the duties which cluster round such a centre of Christian activity. Many of these services are short j the whole service including the sermon, did cot exceed an hour on the occasion of my visit, end another congregation waited to enter as we came out. The sermon was plain, earnest, simple, and manly. I don't like the doctrine, and I faar the tendency of these.people, but I respect the men. lam sure that Punch has greatly erred in spreading the impression which is common among those who don'tknow any better, that the Hi^h Church clergy are a weakkneed sef, with a like following. lam not sure what their numerical strength is, but if we would calculate- mental, and especially spiritual force, I have no manner of doubt that they ate the strongest party in the Church to-day, They represent, too, the church of the future. They gain ground like an incoming tide. Who ever heard of either priest or layman brought up upon these reverent interesting servioes caring for Low Church afterwards? Bat whither does it ail tend ? are they not bound for Heaven, changing at Bomet Cicv not say. One is bound, however, to respect their own view of the matter, which is, that they arresttbe stream of immigrants to Borne on the part of thoueands who must have an leatbetic service, but are glad to it without going all the way to Popery if they oan. I fancy that this 19 the Catholic view of the question, as it is well known that Popery has no liking for the flection in the English Churob which most nearly approaches it. There is a good deal of sympathy here for the. Rev Pelham Dale, 'who ia now J iir prison for his, High Church practices. The Church of England Working Men's. Society have issued a strongly-worded protest against his imprisonment. '