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which have otherwise a dignified clergy, that take the name of superintendents. The number of Lutherans in Russia is about 2,000,000.

The Reformed Church.-This communion consists almost exclusively of English, French, and Dutch settlers, who have each their places of worship, the regulation of the internal affairs of which belongs to the wardens or elders chosen by the factories or colonies where they live. In regard to their external relation, they are subject to the control of the Minister for Ecclesiastical Affairs. Their number may amount to 400,000.

Moravians.-The Moravian Brethren have their principal seat at Sarepta, on the banks of the Volga; but they have associations in different parts of the empire. At St. Petersburgh they have a regularly organized society, with a pastor, who administers to them the ordinances of religion according to their received customs. They abound in Esthonia and Livonia, where they are under the superintendence of a Bishop of their own, though he is not publicly acknowledged under this character.

Congregational Church.-The first and only association of the kind in Russia exists at St. Petersburgh, under the pastoral care of the Rev. Richard Knill, and consists of about sixty members. Of this Church an historical account would occupy too large a space to warrant our engaging in it.

Memnonites. These are settlers, principally from East Prussia, whence they emigrated in the year 1805, to avoid being distressed by the military conscription; their well-known principles of non-resistance not permitting them to serve in the army. Their colony lies on the eastern bank of the Moloshnaia river, near the sea of Azof. Including some other colonies higher up in Russia, their number amounts to nearly 10,000.

Wirtemberg Millenarians. Some of this sect of visionaries are settled in the neighbourhood of Odessa; but the greater part, amounting to between 400 and 500 families, reside in villages or colonies in Georgia, whither they were impelled to proceed by the belief that during the persecution of three years and a half, which they maintain will precede the Millennium, they shall have a refuge provided for them in that quarter. The Millennium they expect to commence in 1836.

Jews, of the Rabbinical sect, abound in Poland, and have synagogues in St. Petersburgh and other towns in the west of Russia and the Baltic provinces. The Karaites reside in some few towns in Poland, but are principally to be found in the Crimea, near to the capital of which is Djufut Kale, or the Jews' Castle, inhabited by about 250 families of Karaites. The number of Jews subject to the Russian sceptre falls little short of 2,000,000.

Mohammedans.—Only a portion of those who bear this name live strictly according to the precepts of the Koran. Numerous tribes, such as the Kirgisians, Karakalpacs, Arabians, &c., are little more than nominally the followers of the Arabian impostor. They are allowed the free exercise of their religion; have their colleges and mosques; and their Mollahs, or priests, are subject to two Muftis, or supreme ecclesiastical judges, one of whom lives at Ufa, and the other at Karasubazar, in the Crimea, where he has attached to him a Kadi

Effendi and five Ulemas, for the purpose of assisting him in discharging the duties of his official station. The Mohammedans may be put down at 2,400,000.

Lamaites.-These heathens are found in those southern and eastern parts of Siberia which lie contiguous to Thibet, and acknowledge the spiritual authority of the Dalai Lama. Their number has been reckoned at 115,000; and their Lamas, or priests, who are rapidly increasing in the government of Irkulsk, alone at upwards of 4,000.

Brahmans. Of these several hundreds reside in Astrakhan, Kisliar, and Schirvan. At Astrakhan they have a temple, where they regularly perform the rites of Hindoo worship.

Shamanites.-Under this name are included all those heathens who have no regular or definite system of idolatry, and who are the superstitious dupes of juggling pretenders to an influence over the powers of nature, beyond which the Shamanites do not raise their ideas on the subject of a divinity. Besides the remote parts of Siberia, in which they chiefly abound, they are to be found even in Europe among the Samoides, Laplanders, and Ishuashians. They have been computed at 529,000.

THE SEVEN BLESSINGS FROM THE LORD'S PRAYER, ENTITLED "PRAYER AND BLESSING."

(From the Harleian MSS. Vol. 4955. p. 57. b.)

OUR Father poure thy blessings downe from heaven
Where thou still art; I meane these blessings seaven.
First let me sanctifie wth humble spirit

Thy name, that I thy kingdom may inherit.
Graunt for my sins I may so weepe and waile
That when thy kingdome comes I may not fayle
Of comfort, make me milde, that I thy will,
May strive on earth, with dutie to full-fill.
Cause me to hunger for thy sacred bred,
Which is the foode, by which my soule is fed.
And make me mercifull to pardon such
As me offend; as thou dost pardon much.
From all temptations let my soule be free,
That with pure hart I may thy glorie see.
Defend me from all evil, and give peace
Of conscience, at the houre I shall decease.

ORGANO-HISTORICA;

Or the History of Cathedral and Parochial Organs.

NO. X. THE ORGAN AT ST. STEPHEN'S, WALBROOK.

In pursuing our description of the London organs, according to their respective degrees of excellence, we come to speak of the one at St. Stephen's, Walbrook, built by an English artist of the name of England, who was as celebrated in his day as any of his predecessors or contemporaries. As Byfield succeeded Renatus Harris, so, in a similar manner, England succeeded Father Schmidt, having been an apprentice

to Schrieder, (Schmidt's son-in-law,) whose daughter he married.† Those who are acquainted with the tone of Father Schmidt's organs, will easily discover how closely England adhered to Schmidt in his voicing-especially in the compound stops. England's organs, like Schmidt's, have always been remarkable for brightness and brilliancy in the chorus; or, to use the technical phrase of organ-builders, "they have plenty of devil in them."

The organ at St. Stephen's, Walbrook, was built by subscription, and erected in 1765; and the following will be found a just enumeration of its stops :

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The compass of the great and choir organs is from G G to E in alt, 57 notes; that of the swell, from fiddle G to E in alt, 34 notes. The quality of tone in this instrument is good throughout; and, with the exception of the vox-humana, it does not contain an inferior stop. The touch, however, we cannot commend. Although it has two pair of diagonal bellows, yet the supply of wind is not sufficient when the full organ is used; but the greatest defect is unsteadiness of the wind. The clarion, in the swell, is rather too loud for the trumpet and hautboy.

This instrument, which is esteemed the best of this artist's make in London, underwent a repair by Mr. Gray, in 1825, it having then been discovered to be in a very dilapidated state; at which time a new open diapason was added to the great organ, together with an octave of unison pedal pipes, and an octave and half of German pedals, with stops to unite

* See an account of Schrieder in our number for August 1833. The lines of succession from the rival artists, Schmidt and Harris, stand thus:Father Schmidt from 1670 to 1710 1710 - 1740

John Schrieder

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George England
*George Pike England

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Harris.
Renatus Harris.
John Harris

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from 1670 to 1680

1680

1700

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W. A. Nicholls, son-in-law to England, succeeded him in the business; but, owing to the irregularity of his life, did not long survive. His wife is still living; but the name of England is quite extinct in the direct line.

them to the great or choir organs. These additions have considerably enriched the chorus of the great organ, by thickening the foundationstops; but, owing to the scale of the furniture and mixture-the voicing of which is so very brilliant-the instrument would still bear another open diapason, and pedal pipes of greater calibre, extending as far down as C C C. The swell also is very deficient in compass. If it were extended downwards, to C in the tenor, or to gamut G, it would be the most powerful swell in London. It should also have a large pair of horizontal bellows, with the modern improvements of coupling stops, and composition pedals, &c. &c. With these additions and improvements it would rank with the best in London. This organ has the advantage of standing in a church favourable to sound, which is a great desideratum, since the best organs may be ruined through a bad situation.*

SERMONS BY REQUEST.

MR. EDITOR,-I have often thought that the CHRISTIAN REMEMBRANCER would be a most admirable channel for the publication of Sermons, when particularly requested by the congregation. We are, it is well known, frequently asked to do this; but the small local circulation, and the expense which may attend the printing, deters us. Now, if you would make it known, that on such invitations, and where the doctrines are sound, your columns will be open for that purpose, provided twenty-five copies of the number containing the Sermon are taken, which, no doubt, those who are anxious for it would engage to do, I think you would confer a great benefit on all parties, and injure none; for the REMEMBRANCER, for one shilling and sixpence, containing the Sermon, would be more valuable than the Sermon alone for the I am, Mr. Editor, your constant Reader,

same sum.

January 25, 1834.

H.D.

In reply to our Correspondent, we beg to say, that we have no objection to attend to his suggestion, provided the Sermon is in every respect sound and practical.—ED.

LAW REPORT.

No. XXII. PEWS ATTACHED TO PARTICULAR HOUSES.-BLACK CLOTH SUSPENDED IN CHURCHES.

CASES AND OPINIONS.

AMONGST the records of the parish of P, in an ancient book containing the minutes of the proceedings in the Vestry, and the accounts of the churchwardens of that parish, the following entry is inserted:

"At a Vestry held in P this

30th day of July, 1667, upon the request of A. B. to the vestry for a seat in the church, it is this day ordered, That the said A. B., at his own proper cost and charges, shall build a gallery from the gallery of Mr. H. P. unto the chapel, of the same breadth as the

* An instance of this kind occurred at St. Martin's church, Leicester, where Schnetzler erected his last organ, in 1774, and which he pronounced his best. This church having one of the old-fashioned open roofs, which was so unfavourable to sound, the parishioners were induced to have it underlined, which had the desired effect.

pews of F. C. and P. P., the said gallery to be and continue unto the said A. B. and his heirs for ever, during the abode of them, or any of them, within this parish of P— aforesaid, and then to return to the disposal of the vestry at the said parish.'

A search has been made, in order to ascertain, if a faculty was procured at the period of time when this permission was given, or subsequently thereto, substantiating and confirming the same; but no such instrument has been discovered: had this document been granted, it would not have immediately affected the prominent circumstance of this case, but it might have operated so as to defeat any subsequent resolution of vestry passed to annul and abrogate the above order; it does not, however, appear that the vestry came to any resolution which invalidated the same.

It is considered material to observe, that the proceedings of vestry of this parish contain minutes, tending clearly to shew that it has been inmemorially an established usage, that the churchwardens, and frequently the parishioners, assembled in vestry, directed and determined by whom the pews and seats in the church should be occupied, and placed and displaced persons therein and therefrom; and that the exercise of this power and authority has continued to the present time, frequently by an express order of vestry, and generally by the act of the churchwardens, a practice very generally prevalent in parishes.

The said gallery has been held by the descendants of the said A. B. until a recent period of time, when a female, being the only person composing his posterity, and dwelling in the said parish, upon the demise of her husband, quitted the parish, and established her residence at a very considerable distance therefrom.

Although this lady has therefore decidedly ceased to be an inhabitant of the said parish, she possesses a freehold interest, for her life, in a house and grounds, situate therein, and she and the presumptive heir to this property have granted their estate therein to a certain person during the joint lives of herself and the next succeed

ing heir to her, with an express reservation to the grantee or assignee, that he shall have liberty to quit the said messuage and grounds, at his option, whenever he shall think proper to leave the same; and, attaching her claim to the said gallery to this messuage, she has assigned the occupation of the gallery to the occupier of the dwelling-house, but her tenant declining to hold and use the gallery, she has authorized another person to use and occupy the same. It is apprehended that a seat in a church cannot be granted, even by virtue of a faculty, to a man and his heirs absolutely; for it has been observed, that a seat does not belong to the person but to the inhabitant; otherwise, if he or his heirs go away and dwell in another parish, they shall yet retain the seat, which is unreasonable: it also appears clear, that a person may support a right to a seat, as attached to a house, either by prescription or by authority of a faculty; but, in the present case, there seems to be no ground which is tenable towards establishing a claim to the seat or gallery upon either of these principles, for no faculty is alleged to be in existence, and the right to hold the gallery upon the ground of immemorial prescription is utterly destroyed, by the original order for granting the gallery being extant.

Under the circumstances, your opinion is requested, whether the descendant of A. B., being no longer a resident inhabitant of the said parish, is authorized to retain the possession of the said gallery, and to place therein such person or persons as she shall judge proper to use and occupy the same, and whether the law will support and justify her in so doing.

OPINION. I am of opinion, that the descendant of A. B., having ceased to reside in the parish, has no longer any claim to retain possession of this gallery, and certainly not to place other persons therein; indeed the family never had a strict legal title to this gallery, though, after so long a possession, it would not have been proper to have disturbed any of A. B.'s descendants, had they continued parishioners: the gallery is at the disposal of the churchwardens, to seat therein such parish

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