MEMBERS OF CONVOCATION. [From the Spectator.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 809, 4 May 1853, Page 4

MEMBERS OF CONVOCATION. [From the Spectator.]

Tbe Convocation of the Clergy of the Pro vince of Canterbury met again on Tuesday anj Wednesday. j At tbe sitting of Friday last week, it was ob vions that tbe active mind of tbe Bishop of Ox ford breathed an unwonted spirit into the pro ceedings ; and that the prolonged session of th convocation would be mainly due to him. So i was in tbe sittings this week. The upper house, at its meeting on Tuesday conceded to tbe press the privilege of admissioi in order to report the proceedings. There wer present the Archbishop of Canterbury, th Bishops of London, Winchester, Lincoln, Exe ter, Rochester, St, Asaph, Peterborough, Llan daff, St. David's, Oxford, Salisbury, Worcester Norwich, and Cbichester. A discussion took place at the outset «s t« tli right of tbe Archbishop to prorogue the Convo cation without tbe consent of his suffragans. Tb Archbishop said he btd no idea of surrenderin the right hitherto exercised by his predecessors Some of the bishops denied the right and it was understood that they are sup ported by the legsj opinion of tbe Attorney-Gen, eral. Tbe business of tbe sitting commenced by tli reading of the address to tbe Crown proposed b

the Archbishop of Canterbury. It stated, that there were many of the clergy favourable, and many unfavourable, to the revival of convocation ; and that convocation was content to leave the matter in the hands of Her Majesty. Upon this the Bishop of Oxford moved an amendment, stating that the time was come when it would be beneficial that the active deliberation of Convocation should be resumed ; but disclaiming by a distinct statement the discussion of controverted questions of doctrine, and confining itself to questions of discipline. The Bishop of Winches- j i ter was decidedly opposed to the amendment. The Bishops of Llandaff, Worcester, tnd Norwich, rather deprecated than directly opposed it. The Bishop of Salisbury supported it. The Bishop of St. David's, dissatisfied with both the original address and the amendment, struck out a third course, in which several, and more particularly the Bishops of Exeter and London, concurred. Heproposed that both should be submitted to a committee, for the purpose of seeing how far they could be united. The speech by which be preceded this luggestion was warmly praised for its ability and moderation. But the Archbishop would not say whether he wouM agree to tbe appointment of a committee. Ultimately the Bishop of Oxford withdrew his amendment, in faI your of one drawn up by the Bishop of Salisbury, expressing nearly the same opinions as the Bishop of Oxford's, only in a less dogmatic manner — namely, praying that Convocation might at no distant date be revived, and disavowing any intention of touching doctrinal questions. This was agreed to ; as was also an additional clause protesting against the Papal aggression. A Committee, consisting of the Bishops of London, Oxford, Salisbury, Exeter, Winchester, Chichester, aud St. David's, was afterwards appointed, on the motion of tbe Bishop of Oxford, to consider whether an addrets should be presented to her Majesty, with respect to a measure for the better enforcing of discipline among the j clergy. The Committee was directed to confer with the Lower House. Wednesday's business consisted in settling some matters of routine, aud iv finally passing the address to the Throne. The Lower House met at ten o'clock. The actual business consisted of the appointment of a Committee of Grievances ; the members of which were proposed by the Prolocutor, and consisted of the Deans of St. Paul's, Norwich, and Wells, tbe Archdeacont of London, Middlesex, ' Lewes, St. Alban's, Winchester, Chichester ; Dr. Spry, Dr. Jelf, Dr. Mill, Dr. Wordsworth, Dr. M'Caul, Dr. Jeremie, the Reverends G. B. Blnmfiftlri. Frederick Vinivnf VUnnnm^^^m—

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is our earnest prayer to Almighty God that He will continue to ourselves, and extend to all nations, the blessings of peace and unity. Here we earnestly desire to assure your Majesty of our deep sympathy with the sorrow which your Majesty has so graciously expressed — a sorrow which is even shared by foreign nations — for the loss which the staple is now mourning, in the death of that great warrior and statesman, to whom, above all, it has been owing, under God's all-ruling Providence, that we have enjoyed this long and unprecedented peace and prosperity. We assure your Majesty that we prize, above the splendour of his greatest exploits, that high sense of duty which led him to devote all his faculties to the service of his sovereign and bis country, and to value his most glorious victories chiefly as they secured a lasting peace. The subject, however, on which your Ma- ! jesty will expect us to feel the deepest interest, is the state of religion in this land. And here there is much to encourage whilst there is also much to lament, and much (hat we hope gradually to amend. Great exertions have been made during the last thirty years, with the desire of providing the means of spiritual instruction for a population increasing beyond all former | experience. Much has been done by the awakened liberality of individuals, assisted by | recent legislative measures, towards enabling the Church to fulfil the ends of her divine mission. Much, however, still remains to bt done ; and we assure yonr Majesty that our heartiest endeavours shall be used to relieve, wherever tbey | exist, the spiritual wants of the population, We feel a confident persuasion that these our endeavours will be seconded by the piou* and ready co-operation, oi our lay brethren in the Church. In connexion with this subject, we cannot but observe that, although the population of Eugland and Wales has been doubled in the last half century, the number of English and Welsh Bishops reraaius nearly the same as it was three centuries ago ! a state of things to which we beg respectfully to invite your Majesty's consideration. We trust, however, that if the Church hat been unable to accomplish all that might be desired, it has yet given no slight proof of activity and power. Fewer churches were built during the whole of the last century that are now consecrated to the service of God in every successive year. Inadequate as are still the means of providing Christian education for the increasing numbers who require it, we thankfully acknowledge that great efforts have been made for its extension and improvement. And great and painful as are the privations of many of your Majesty's poorer subjects in our crowded cities, it must be a peculiar source of satisfaction to your Majesty, that, under the continuous and active encouragement of your Ma- | jesty's illustrious consort, institutions have been formed and are daily forming, to increase the comforts of the labouring classes, and to improve their moral and social condition ; and as all true charity has its origin in religious principle, we trust that in this instance also proof has been given of the influence of that faith which it is the duty of the clergy to inculcate and maintain amongst the people intrusted to their charge. For whatever has been done or intended of good, we desire to give God the glory, through our Lord Jesus Christ; being deeply conscious of the imperfection of all our endeavours. In thus referring to the subjects which appear to us especially to concern the well-being of the Church, we cannot omit 10 speak of those deliberative functions of this Convocation which many members of our Church desire to see again called into active exercise. We do not deem it advisable, at the present moment, to petition you. Majesty for your royal license to transact such business as we may not enter upon without it ; but we think it our duty respectfully to express our conviction, both that its legislative assemblies are an essential and most important part of the constitution of our Reformed Church, and that the circumstances of the present day make it alike more imperative to preserve, and, as far as possible, to improve them, and more particularly that the resumption of their active functions, in such manner as your Majesty by your to jal license may permit, may at no distant date be productive of much advantage. We know, indeed, that apprehensions have been entertained that in such case Convocation might address itself to the discussion of controverted questions of doctrine, and a spirit of strife and bitterness be thereby engendered, fatal to Chrittian charity, and dangerous alike to existing institutions aud to our visible unity ; and we therefore feel it to be our duty humbly to pray your Majesty to receive this our most solemn declaration of our hearty acceptance of the doctrinal formularies and liturgical offices of the Reformed Church, and our assurance that we regard them aa inestimable blessings, and are resolved, by the help of God, to transmit them unimpaired to posterity, And further, we not only recognise, bnt highly prize your Majesty's undoubted supremacy in all causes, ecclesiastical and civil, over all persons and in every pan of your Majesty's dominions, at it was maintained in ancient times against the usurpations of the See of Rome, and was recovered and re-asserted at our Reformation. In connexion with this grave subject, we feel that your Majesty ir ay expect from us the expression of our solemn protest against that fresh aggression of the Bishop of Rome, by which he has arrogated to himself the spiritual charge of this nation, thereby denying the existence of that branch of the Church Catholic which was planted iv Britain in the ptimitive ages of Christianity, and bat been preserved by a merciful Providence to this day, tt well as against many which have preceded it ; and we desire on this, our first occasion of addressing your Majesty since its recurrence, solemnly to protest in the face of Christendom, and to lay this our protest before your most gracioua Majesty.

Beth House* were prorogued till tbe 16th of February, on tbe sole authority of the Archbishop under a protest from the Bishops of Oxford, Salisbury, Cbicbester, and St. David's. It is understood that tbe Committee of Grievances appointed by the Lower House vroald be called together during the recess by the Prolocutor.