The New-Zealander.

New Zealander, Volume 5, Issue 358, 22 September 1849, Page 2

The New-Zealander.

He just and fear not: Let all the ends tlion auiis't at, be thy Country's, Thy God's, ami Tiutlt's.

S ATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1849 The barque Pilgrim arrived in this port last night ; and by the kindness of Captain Francis, we have had an opportunity of seeing a few Wellington papers, to the 12th inst. There is little news of importance ; but we shall be able to give further intelligence in our next, when we shall have received our regular files from the South. The proceedings at the opening of the Legislative Council here had been leceived. The sittings of the Supreme Court at Wei ington commenced on the Ist inst. The number of cases was unusually great, and some of them possessed considerable interest. Ratea, native, was tried for the murder of another native, and acquitted through a curious flaw ,

in the indictment. R. 0. Clark, charged vith bigamy, also escaped through a defect in the evidence respecting the fact of his first wife being alive when he married again. The Constitutional Association had published a Report, surcharged with abuse of the Governor. The Spectator handles it severely, describing it as made up of " the hacknied arguments, (if indeed they deserve the name), the laboured perversions, the studied misrepresentations, the gross fallacies " with which their author has " since his exclusion from the Council, nauseated the public." The Acheron arrived off Kapiti on the sth. Captain Stokes had discovered a magnificent harbour to the south of Queen Charlotte's Sound. There had been heavy floods at Poverty Bay, by which much valuable property in cattle, wheat, and houses had been destroyed. The Spectator, referring to the assertion that the Treasuries of both the Provinces are empty, assures the public that the Treasury at Wellington " is able to meet all demands upon it, and that there is every reasonable probability of its continuing to do so." The Wellington journals loudly complain of the want of communication between Auckland and the Southern Province. Most of their intelligence from this town has reached them through the extracts from our columns and those of our contemporary, which had been made by the Sjdney Herald, the Maiiland Mercury, the Bat hurst Advocate, &c.

A considerable portion of some of the London journals which have lately reached us are occupied by reports of " The May Meetings," — as the anniversaries of numerous religious and benevolent Institutions usually held at that season in the metropolis, at Exeter Hall,the Freemason's Hall, the Hanover Square Rooms, and other central and commodious public buildings, are commonly called. The interest excited amongst the supporters of such Institutions on each return of these yearly " festivals," is well known to be great and geneial ; and, in addition to the personal and social gratification which they produce, as animating occasions of the temporal y re -union of friends in town and from the country, (and frequently from the Continent and the United States), — and the intellectual pleasure and spiritual profit derived from the sermons and speeches delivered by many of the most distinguished men of the day in connection with them, — they unquestionably exercise a powerful and salutary influence on the welfare of Christian and philanthropic undertakings, by diffusing information, stimulating zeal, and furnishi )g motives for continued andaugmented effort in the promotion of good causes. Mr. Macaulay's flippant sarcasms on what he described as " the bray of Exeter Hall," were as unjust as they were insolent ; and the moral and right-minded electois of Edinburgh acted well in ejecting from the representation of their city, the brilliant but unsound essayist and orator who had insulted the religious community by the expression of such sentiments in Parliament. The meetings of 1 849 have exhibited, in an undiminished degree, the honourable and useful characteristics of those of preceding years. A novel element of bitterness however, was thrown amidst their proceedings by the Bishop of London, who exercised — we do not hesitate to say, abused — his authority, by prohibiting the performance of certain services which had been arranged for, on behalf of two of the oldest and most important of the Missionary Societies. A catholic spirited clergyman, the Rev. Thomas Mortimer, 8.D., had promised the use of his Episcopal Chapel, in Gray's Inn Lane, for a sermon in aid of the Wesleyan Missionary Society, which the Rev. John Jordan, the popular and excellent Vicar of Enstone, hid undertaken to preach ; but the Bishop thought fit to forbid his granting it. His Lordship also subseqti ently prohibited a similar service in the same place of worship, on behalf of the London Missionary Society ; thus manifesting at least an impartiality in his attempts to hinder the evangelization of the heathen by non-conforming enterprise. It is difficult to divine the motives which could have influenced this acute Prelate in thus setting himself against the prevailing current of religious opinion and feeling. His conduct in this case certainly does not justify the imputation conveyed by a writer in one of the Reviews, who severely said that before Dr. Blom field resolved upon any step he anxiously looked out to ascertain the direction in which every weather- cock in his neighbourhood was blowing; — but, indeed, we have ourselves known instances in which he, with a fearlessness and steadfastness deserving of all praise, contended for high principle, in opposition to the latitudinarian views of expediency entertained by some of the first statesmen of the age. Mr. Jordan (in referring to the peculiar position in which the prohibition placed him) well 'dagucrreotyped his lordship's character whe"n he observed, " I have ever been accustomed to admire the boldness with which the Bishop of this diocese will bring forward and advocate some measures upon which I have the happiness to agree with him ; but, at the same time, I have been accustomed deeply to grieve at the intrepidity with which, at other times, I have seen him push forward measures which, I be^eve, for the benefit of the Church of England had much better not have been so

thrust forward." We are satisfied that none will more decidedly and strongly disapprove of his lordship's rash and sectaiian procedure than those liberal members of the Church of England who have learned to regard the claims of our common Christianity, as paramount to the claims of ecclesiastical exclusivism. We may notice as illustrative proof of this, that " A Churchman" immediately sent adonation of £50 to the Wesleyan Missionary Society, in lieu of the collection that would have been raised at Mr. Jordan's sermon ; and Lord Ashley, (whose attached churchmanship no one will question) forwarded during the meeting at Exeter Hall, the following note :—": — " It is not in my power, so many are my engagements, to attend the meeting of the Wesleyan Missionary Society to-day. I am much grieved by your disappointment of the sermon at Mr. Mortimer's chapel. Had I been present, I should nave put the enclosed contribution into the plate for your Missions at the Pacific. I regret that the amount is so small. With best wishes for the welfare of your society, I am, &c, Ashley." While we are on the subject of this meeting, we may quote from the speech of the Chairman, Sir Edward N. Buxton, Bart., (son of the late Sir Powell Buxton), the following passage, which will be read with interest at this side of the world. " There is one part of the world, and a most interesting part of it, — New Zealand (hear, hear) , with regard to which I have been much struck and greatly pleased by the way in which your Society, especially, and above all others, has taken advantage of the principles laid down by Sit Fowell Buxton, — I allude to the Treaty of Waitangi. That treaty was founded upon the principles laid down by a Committee of the House of Commons, over which my father presided ; and I think it will be admitted that no one took a more important part in effecting that treaty — a treaty founded in justice, and upon which the peace and prosperity of New Zealand depends, — than your honoured missionaries in that country. My friends, we may indeed say, that your missionaries in New Zealand acted the part of ambassadors of Christ, — that thus they have been enabled by J their influence, by their character, and by their power among the people, to induce the natives of that country to accept a treaty, which I must say is one of the justest treaties that ever was made between this country and any other ; and I have to thank this Society for having come forwaid about a year ago, and assisted by their influence in maintaining the force of that treaty. Ido hope, my friends, that without engaging in politics, without interfering with the politics or the government of those countries in which your missionaries may be stationed, you will continue, as you have hitherto done, to maintain those just hbeities which the natives of foreign countries have a right to demand at our hands." (Hear, hear.) '

Ragged School Emigrants. — At a meeting of " The Original Ragged School Association," held in Edinburgh, on the 19th of April, the Rev. Dr. Guthrie, the founder of the Ragged Schools, said, — " The question then arose, what were they to do with the children ? They had it in view — and he hoped, through the able co-operation of Lord Ashley they would be able to accomplish it — that something was to be done in the way of emigration. That Noble Lord had had the kindness to offer him (Dr. Guthrie) what he called two colonial cadetships. When he first heard of them he began to think they were two colonial cadetships for India (a laugh) — but he afterwards discovered that the meaning was that they were to send two of their best boys to the colonies. By and by they hoped to get colonial cadetships for several of the boys, but in the meantime this had not been accomplished ; and he would just take this opportunity of saying to every lady and gentleman that they could do these unhappy children a most important service by trying to get them into employment, especially in the country, away from their companions, and from the scenes of the crimes and temptations to which they were exposed." We are sure this idea of tranf erring boys from the Ragged Schools to the colonies was prompted by motives of the purest benevolence on the part both of Lord Ashley, and of Dr. Guthrie, to whose talents, influence, and indefatigable zeal the origination and progress of the admirable Ragged School movement are mainly attributable. We quite concur also in the propriety of separating the children as speedily and as completely as possible from their old and vicious associations. But we have substantially the same objections to their introduction into the colonies that we have to the introduction of the Pentonville Exiles and the Parkhurst boys. These little outcasts are confessedly the very dregs and offscouring of the neglected and depraved juvenile population of the great cities. On analyzing the statistics of the Report presented to this very meeting, we find that, out of 1406 children in the schools, 271 were beggars, 236 had parents who were drunken, transported, or " worthless ;" 95 had been in. jail or in the policeoffice ; and 224 were the offspring of thieves. One of the Resolutions declared that "the children who are admissible to the Ragged Schools are almost invariably found in a condition destructive both, of physical and moral

health;" and Professor Miller, who moved the Resolution, described them as " conversant with nothing save dirt, and ignorance, and vice, and crime." It is doubtless a noble, a Godlike, design to attempt the reclamation of these miserable victims of sin and wretchedness ; — but, why fix on the colonies as the field in which the success of such tentative efforts is to to be tested, and in which, therefore, if they should fail, the injurious consequences of that failure are to be expeiienced ? Surely England and Scotland, with their breadth of surface., their extent and depth of resources, and their multiplied and varied moral and social means and appliances, might take upon themselves the charge of not only commencing but carrying on to its completion this scheme for the reformation of the youthful delinquents and outcasts of their own large towns, without shipping them off to dependencies which have suffered but too much already through similar gifts and transfers from the home country. Dr. Guthrie could easily find in the highlands and islands of Scotland refuges for his distressingly interesting proteges, where the young " ragamuffins" of Edinburgh and Glasgow would h ive, at least, as ample opportunities of permanent improvement as in Australia or at the Cape of Good Hope, without as much risk of their becoming sources of contamination or missionaries of demoralization to others. The latter part of the passage we have quoted suggests not only the fairest but the most efficacious mode of practically carrying out the obviously wise and just principle for which he pleads.

Mr. Bouverih's "Clergy Relief Bill," which professes to exempt from legal penalties, clergymen declaring themselves Dissenters from the Church of England, will probably cast a sufficiently broad shield over seceders in the exact position of the individual whose hard case was the immediate cause of its introduction ; (we allude to the Rev. James Shore, who at the latest dates was still shut up in prison, with broken health, on account of his inability to pay the law costs of the Bishop of Exeter's proceedings against him); — but, that it will be inadequate to satisfy the conscientious convictions of those taking the ground occupied by the Hon. and Rev. Baptist Noel, and like him determined to maintain their right to be regarded as Ministers, notwithstanding their withdrawal from the Established Church, re evident from the following communication, addressed by Mr. Noel to the Bishop of London : My Lord,— As a dissenter from the doctrine arfi discipline of the Establishment, I have taken before a mri i »rate the o,iihs preicribed by 52 George HI. 5 yesterday I preached for Mr. Bitinie, at the Weigh ilouse Chanel, and received the Lord's Supper with the tn j 111 hers of that church ; ntid I am lvudy to do any other proper and lawful act which your LorJship nuy suise8 f . by which I may publicly dec'are my dij'ent. I ha<l intended to bt silent for icmt time, but the pro* greas of Mr. Bouverie's bill has changed my intention, because as that bill trill doubtless pass through the House of Lords without material alterations, and I am unable to aviil myself of it, I wish to ascertain as soon as possible whether it* effect will be to sentence me to mpr.srximent for preaching the gospel. Hal the act simply declared that the seceding clergy* man is deprived of all office* and emoluments within tb.3 Establishment, and incapable of them for the time to come, I should have thoroughly approved- it. Had it further enacted that such seceder, upon proof of his secession, should be deposed from the ministry, I might have thought that the legislature was intruding into matters beyond its competence, when it ordered Bishops to depose ministers of Christ, and tint this afforded new proof of the bondage of the Church to the State In spiritual things, but I should have submitted cheerfully to bs enactments. But this bill makes me a party to my own deposition fro.v the ministry. I ana to certify to your lordship my avowal of dissent, upon which ynu. are ordered to " depose me from holy orders," and then I am to be free from all pains and penaltiei. To avail myself of this act is to purchase exemption from legal penalties by consenting to my deposition from the ministry ; it is to avow, not that I hare ceased to be a Minister of the Establishment, but that I have ceased to be a Minister of Christ. Were <\ portion from orders merely an act of exclusion from fhe boJy of the Established Clergy, I should willingly consent to it ; but as it is «n act which declares me to be no longer a Minister of Christ, I cannot do so ; because, with evsry wish to pay due respect to the fegis'ature, I cannot purchase exemption from any pera'ties by a lie. When I was ordained, I was required to declare naybelief that I was " inwardly moved by the Holy Ghost to take upon me this office and ministration," and that I was " cil'ed avoiding to the will of the Lord Jesus Christ to the ministry of the r!uirch." Those who lightly enact the deposition of a minister may think that this declaration is a farce ; but in my cue* at least, it was a solemn declaration of the truth; That call of Christ, determined by the influence of the Holy Spirit in the heart, with other suitable qualifications, {terms to me to be the substance of ordination ; and the recognition of this call by a bishop is one among several modes in which the call of the church is added to the call of God. As I believe then I believe now, that I have been called to the ministry by Christ, and no prelate, church, or parliament can either exonerate me from the obligations of the ministry, or deprive me of irs privileges ; and if I should say, as this bill invites me, that I have ceased to be an ordained minister of Christ, I should lie. Although I attach no especial value to episcopal ordination, yet it is valid; and I can no more be a layman than a Presbyterian or Congregational minister is so. Whatever, therefore, parliament may enact, I can nei her cease to be a minister nor cease to preach ; and if the law requires it, I would rather suffer any length of imprisonment for preaching the gospel than purchase an exemption from trouble by either declaring I am no minister, or by ceasing to preach. 1 shall t«ke the liberty of sending this letter to two or three newswapers, because I wish the character of the " reliel" lafforJed to seceding clergymen, bj tho bill now passing tluough parliament, to be known. I remain, my dear Lwd, Your Lordship's faithful servant, Baptist W, Norx. Homsey, May 7, 1819.

This letter affords additional evidence o the deliberation with which Mr. Noel seceded from the Established Church, and of the calm and thoughtful earnestness with which he anticipated the various difficulties likely to occur in his new position, so as to be prepared to meet them with definite and unhesitating jnomptitude whenever they should arise. He is manifestly piepared to follow Mr. Shore to prison, if Cluules James of London should tread itrthe peisecuting steps of Henry of Exeter,— that is supposing, (which we doubt), Mr. Bouvene's bill should leave it in his power to do so. A little ago, indeed, we should scarcely have regarded the adoption of any such course by the Bishop of London as within Hie limits of even remote probability ; but his conduct in a matter to which we refer in another article, leaves us uncertain as to what he may or may not resolve upon, i a his crusade against all who dare to differ from his own views of Church order and polity.

Recent Deaths. —In the obituaries in the papers lately received, we notice some names which have more than merely domestic interest. Amongst the recorded deaths are, — at Armagh Castle, the Earl of Gosford, who was Governor-General of Canada, under the late Earl Grey's administration :— at the Railway Hotel, Birmingham, the Hon. and Right Rev. Edmund Knox, Lord liishop of Limerick :—: — at Gibraltar, in his 19th year, Sir John Home, Bart , a young naval officer of promise :— at London, Major Shadwell Clarke, Editor of the United Service Journal .—Mr. Horace Twiss, Vice -Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, author of the " Life of Lord Eldon," and for several years, writer of the Parliamentary summary in the Times .—the Rev. A. E. Farrar, a popular Wesleyan Minister in London: — James Morier, Esq., author of " Haji Baba," and other admired oriental romances -.—Samuel Maunder, author of " Treasuries " of Knowledge, and other useful works, and formerly <\vith his brother-in-law, Mr. Pinnock), conductor of the small educational treatises, well known as " Pinnock's Catechisms:"— at Dublin, Viscount Monk : — at Killarney, Sir Arther Blennemesset -.—at Rome, the ce'ebrated Cardinal Mezzofanti, who had acquired so astonishingly extensive an acquaintance with languages, that we are told there was " scarcely a spoken jargon from the Himalaya mountains to the Andes of u hich he had not made the comparative anatomy -." — in his 83rd year, M. Dupont de l'Eure, who occupied a prominent place in connection with the late Revolution in France, having been the President of the Provisional Government. We also notice the deaths of the relicts of some men once well known in their respective departments : — Madame Cuvier, relict of the famous naturalist : — the relict of Edmund Kean, the celebrated tragedian : — and the relict of William Blackwood, the founder of the great bookselling and publishing house in Edinburgh. The hon. Frances Eden, youngest sister of the late Earl of Auckland, is also dead.

I-I.M. 58tii Regiment. — On Tuesday last, the 18th inst., the Seijeants of the 58th Regiment, entertained at their mess-room, Hospital Seijeant James Stafford, on being discharged from the Corps, after an uninterrupted seivice of 24 years ; on which occasion he was presented by Serjeant-major Clifton, in an appropriate speech, with a handsome silver SnuffBox, as a tokeii of the regard and esteem he was held in by his comrades, and as an earnest of their wish for his future welfare and happiness.