AN INCIDENT VERSIFIED. [THE Conversation here recorded is said to have taken place on the Steyne at Brighton, in the latter years of the Regency of Geo. IV. On the Regent's so modified invitation, Mr. Wilberforce told his friends he thought it right to accept it; and it was well known at Brighton that sacred music became, after this, the usual Sunday evening's recreation at the Pavilion.] VOL. XXI. AT eve, beside the sounding sea, Two men in converse stood, High toss'd the wave, and, fresh and free, The breeze came o'er the flood. Yet all uncover'd stood he there, The taller was of graceful mien, The blush was rising o'er the brow "Not for the Sovereign of the land I may not break my Lord's command- "Yet come," the other said, "and we And strains of sacred minstrelsy That gentle voice had senates shaken, That feeble form the world could waken, F. R. EXTRACTS FROM THE LAST DECLARATIONS OF THE MARTYRS. FROM BISHOP RIDLEY'S FAREWELL. OH! thou now wicked and bloody See of Rome, why doest thou set up again the altars of idolatry, which by the Word of God were justly taken away? Why hast thou overthrown the Lord's Table? Why doest thou daily delude the people? Why babblest thou the Common Prayer in a strange tongue? Why slayest thou down and makest havoc of the Prophets of God? Why murderest thou so cruelly Christ's poor silly sheep, which will not hear thy voice because thou art a stranger? Farewell, dear brethren, farewell. Heaven and earth shall perish, but the Word of the Lord endureth for ever. O Heavenly Father, I give thee most hearty thanks for that thou hast called me to be a professor of Thee even unto death. I beseech Thee, Lord God, take mercy upon this realm of England, and deliver the same from her enemies. BISHOP RIDLEY'S DYING DECLARATION, OCT. 16, 1555. So long as the breath is in my body, I will never deny my Lord Christ and his known truth. God's will be done. Lord, Lord, receive my spirit. BISHOP LATIMER'S LAST WORDS, OCT. 16, 1555. Be of good comfort, Master Ridley, and play the man: we shall this day light such a candle, by God's grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out. O Father of Heaven, receive my soul. EPISCOPAL LIBERALITY. THE following are the subscriptions of different prelates to the new Diocesan Funds for National Education, established in their respective Dioceses : * “J'ai vu l'homme de l'Angleterre le plus aimé, le plus revéré.”—Mad. de Staël. MONTHLY REGISTER. CHURCH SOCIETIES. Society for Promoting Christian Ar the February meeting of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, it was announced that a communication had been received from Lord Melbourne, intimating that the Queen has been graciously pleased to express her intention to become the patron of the society. At the suggestion of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the president, resolutions were framed, stating that the board entertained a lively sense of the distinguished honour conferred on their society, which had been engaged for 140 years in advancing the knowledge of the christian religion in conformity with the pure and apostolic doctrines of the Church of England, and that, under the patronage of her Majesty, they would endeavour to continue to do so. The most Rev. President was then requested to sign the resolutions, and present them to the Queen. the privilege of attending the monthly meetings of the Board. "The Society feels that it may rely upon the continuance of your zealous cooperation, and in this confidence would strongly recommend the for mation of Parochial Associations, as the best means of interesting the people generally in the objects and operations of the Society, and so permanently augmenting its income. It is thought that many among the middle and lower classes might be induced to contribute 5s. or 2s. 6d. a year, and if only 17. on the average was thus raised from every parish, our receipts would be more than doubled. "If any clergymen in your neighbourhood should be willing to adopt this plan, we shall be happy to furnish them with ruled books, and any number of our papers for circulation that they may require. "I am, Rev. Sir, "Your faithful Servant, Church of England Schools. Ir may be briefly mentioned with regard to the Church, that the increase in all its schools, between the years 1831 and 1837, appears to be, Sunday and daily schools, 2979, with 60,531 scholars, and 631 Sunday schools, with 35,517 scholars; and that the total of schools and scholars was as follows, viz. In 12,391 towns, parishes, villages, and hamlets, which possessed schools of some description, there were-Sunday and daily schools, 10,152; Sunday schools, 6068; Infant schools,704; total, 16,924. Sunday and daily schools with scholars, 514,450; Sunday schools, ditto, 438,280; Infant schools, ditto, 43,730; total 996,460. Total places, 12,391, with schools, 16,924, and scholars 996,460; to which are to be added the union workhouse schools, and those in course of establishment by aid of the Parliamentary grant, making a grand total of at least one million children educated in the principles of the Established Church! If the statistics of Dissent were equally authentic, their thousands would dwindle to hundreds. "At the rebuke of one, ten should flee." Bristol Diocesan Church Building Association. A MEETING of this Society was lately held, and very numerously attended by the clergy and gentry of the neighbourhood. The Lord Bishop of the Diocese presided, and in the course of an interesting speech, relative to the proceedings of the Committee, stated that the money received by the Society amounted to nearly 80001. The names of several gentlemen were announced as having contributed most munificently towards the endowment of churches which this Association contemplated erecting. Mr. Bathurst was instanced as one who rendered great service by giving the sum of 2000l. towards the endowment of a church in the Forest of Dean. His Lordship also called attention to the fact of the Rev. Dr. Walton having given the sum of 500l. to each of five churches to be built by the Society, aud an additional 500l. towards building a parsonage-house to one of them; making altogether a sum of 3000l. from this one individual; and this, without any desire to the presentation of clergymen to such churches, as he had expressly wished that such presentation should remain entirely. with the Bishop. It was also announced that Mr. Colston had offered 5001. towards building and endowing an additional church at Pucklechurch. All these splendid gifts are in addition to the 8000l. received by the Society. The resolutions relative to the receiving the report and other business of the meeting, were moved by gentlemen present. On glancing at the list of subscriptions, we found it headed with the princely example of 100l. per annum from the deservedly respected Bishop, and 30. per annum for the Archdeacon Thorp. The Bishop also subscribed 100%. to the National Education Society. Indeed, what with his subscription to these and the many other religious associations which he patronizes on an equally liberal scale, it may be said of him, "his charity and benevolence have no bounds." UNIVERSITY, ECCLESIASTICAL, AND PAROCHIAL TRIBUTES OF RESPECT. MONUMENT TO DR. BURGESS.-A magnificent monument has just been erected in the Cathedral of Salisbury, to the memory of its late highly-esteemed Diocesan, Dr. Burgess. It is placed at the south end of the east transept, near his grave, and is an elaborate design, in the florid style of the fifteenth century, consisting of richly-panelled sides or jambs, which are relieved by clustered buttresses, terminated in crocketed pinnacles, supporting a foliated arch, the cusps of which are highly ornamented with angels bearing shields with the initials, &c. Above, rises a crocketed canopy, carried up to a point, and surmounted by a rich finial; a mitre sculptured in bold relief occupies the centre spandril of the arch, under which is an altar-tomb, with the front divided into three compartments of flowing tracery, the centre one charged with the Order of the Garter, Mitre, &c., and the arms of the see and those of the family on shields at the sides. The inscription, beautifully cut in Gothic characters, is as follows: : "Sacred to the Memory of the Right Reverend THOMAS BURGESS, D. D., F. R. S., late Lord Bishop of this Diocese, and Chancellor of the Most Noble Order of the Garter who departed this life, regretted and revered, February 19, 1837, aged 80 years. This venerable Prelate received his early education on the foundation at Winchester College; from whence he was elected Scholar, and afterwards became Fellow and Tutor of Corpus Christi College, Oxford. At that seat of learning, he was distinguished by his talents and attainments; and, after a residence of some years, was appointed Examining Chaplain to Dr. Shute Barrington, then Lord Bishop of Salisbury; who, on his translation to the See of Durham, preferred him to a Prebendal Stall in that Cathedral. In the year 1803, he was promoted to the Bishopric of St. David's. His praise in the administration of that extensive Diocese, and, still more, in the foundation of St. David's College, for Clerical Education in the Principality of Wales, is in all the churches. After twenty-two years of faithful and unremitting labour, he was translated to the See of Salisbury; where, among other Ecclesiastical and Charitable Institutions, he founded and endowed the Church Union Society for this Diocese. The learning of this eminent Prelate was extensive and profound, and his critical talents were of a high order. Of this his numerous publications bear ample testimony. His literary studies embraced a wide and varied circle; in the zealous pursuit of which he was chiefly instrumental in forming the Royal Society of Literature, of which he was elected the first President. But the principal employment of his life, from its earliest to its latest period, was devoted to the elucidation and defence of Scriptural and Catholic Verity, as professed and inculcated by the Church of England. His love of Primitive Christianity was deep and unalterable. He had imbibed the great principles of the English Reformation; and was firmly persuaded that their maintenance, in all their original purity and integrity, was inseparably connected with that of constitutional freedom, and of true religion. His manners were simple, yet dignified; his temper singularly sweet, placid, and equable; his spirit generous, candid, and disinterested; his charity liberal and diffusive. His faith was sound and unwavering; his life pure, and unspotted from the world. His end was peace, and his hope, through Christ, full of immortality." The design and execution of the whole are by Mr. Osmond of Salisbury, and the monument presents another elegant specimen of his works, placed within that venerable Cathedral. QUEEN ANN'S BOUNTY.-The Governors of Queen Ann's Bounty have appointed John Burder, Esq. of 27, Parliament-street, Westminster, to be their Solicitor, in the place of the late John Dynley, Esq. deceased. ORDINATIONS. The Bishop of Oxford has given notice in his Charge, that except where "circumstances may occur which will call for his Lordship's special consideration," he "requires notice six months previous to the day of Ordination from every candidate for Holy Orders." The Bishop of Ripon states, in his Charge, that he proposes that "his own regular periods of Ordination shall usually recur in the months of January and July," and "calls upon incumbents to endeavour to make their arrangements for the appointment of Curates coincide with them." The Lord Bishop of Exeter will hold an Ordination on Sunday, the 7th of April. The Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells will hold his next Ordination on Sunday, the 12th of May. The Bishop of Salisbury on Sunday, May 26. (See our last Number.) |