The Church Weekly from London, Greater London, England • Page 15

SEPTEMBER 17, 1897. THE CHURCH WEEKLY. 753 one o'clock. Those who purpose attending the reqiiested'to'send in their names to the lion, secretary, Church House, Lincoln, by Thursdav September 73rd. Illness of the Bishop of The Bishop of Duharri has addressed a letter to the clergy of the diocese stating that after several years of happy uninterrupted labour his health has broken down, and that lie is orJered two months' complete rest.

The Bishop sdds that he is assured that.with this rest he may confidently expect to recover his normal health. He has gone-to North Yorkshire. Prayers for Rain and Pair Rural Dean writes in the Guardian "In Staffordshire we have I believe there lias been in more northern rain on almost on every alternate day for the last three weeks, with 1 he result that the in-gathcriug of the crops, particularly of wheat and barley, has been seriously hindered. I have been requested by not a few of my parishioners to use to-day the Prayer for Fair Weather;" but I felt a difficulty in acceding to this request, because I coald not myself, and I did not think the congregation could, truthfully say that the recent rain had been a "plague oi rain and waters," or that we had worthily deserved the same because of our iniquities," or that it was a "punishment;" I felt, moreover, that it might be a blessing in disguise, bringing forth good that we know not of, and hence a cause for gratitude to Almighty God, but a call to us in any the preamble I have amend our lives" and to give God praise and glory." It would be a right welcome boon if our Bishops would issue in their several still better if they would unitedly put forth, in expression and rhythm, after the model of the Prayer-book prayers for rain or fair weather much more appropriate than those now authorised, to be used at the discretion of the clergy as occasion requires. Additional cation for such prayers is to be found in resolutions 45 and of the recent Lambeth Conference they might in the same connection add prayers for the Rogation days and other occasions.

Another boon, for which I 'believe many a parish priest is longing, is the authorised use of proper Psalms and Lessons within an octave, the same as or additional to those appointed for the festival; also for dedication festivals and similar commemorations." The Cowley Fathers in Bishop of Argyl and the in the course of his charge delivered at the recent synod at Cumbrae, said In this island of Iona the missionary society of St. John the Evangelist, an order which during the last thirty years has taken the lead in the restoration of the religious life both at home and abroad, has established a permanent connection with our Scottish Church. That this connection may be strengthened and that its influence amongst us may be extended is my earnest desire, one which 1 would commend to the overruling and protecting grace of that Holy Spirit whose it is to glorify our LOUD JUSTS CMKIST in all that is done in and by His Church. You and my reverend brethren, can only look at the religious life from a distance. But while we watch, and admire, and pray for those who have left all for CIIKIST'S sake, we can hardly fail to be strengthened for our own more ordinary warfare against the powers of evil, and to be stimulated by the example of those who, to use an old Columban term, are in a very special sense the soldiers of And thus we may hope to become more faithful and diligent, more legular and disciplined in our own spiritual lives, even though those lives may have to be led in the midst, perhaps, of many worldly cares and distractions.

Several retreats have been held in Iona since the Cowley Fathers first came among us, and we hope to have another next month. But this year, the thirteen- lu ndredth annive siry of St. Aidan's death has been marked bv the formal acceptance, on the part of the superior of the Order of St. John the Evangelist, of the house and chapel which were erected several years near the ruined cathedral by one who desired that in some way (how it did not at first appear) these buildings might be used for the giory of GOD and for good of His Church. Who among us, that looks back to the pait, reflecting what Iona once was, and what it has been of late, can fail to rejoice that once more that holy island there is from lime to time, not the daily pleading of the Lord's death in the mysteries of the Holy Eucharist, but also the often recurring worship of those whose rule ctf life is framed upon words of the inspired Psalmist, Seven times a do I praise Thee: because of Thy righteous judgments Church Bishop of Peterborough, preaching at Leicester said that unless Churchpeople made it a matter of Christian principle to help to educate their young, it would bo a difficult matter to keep up their day schools.

He was not there for a moment to say anything disparagingly of any system of education, but he would say that the elementary education given in their Church schools was, in regard to the things of this world, as good as any other system, and better than any other system in regard to things of the world to The Archhishop of York (in the Diocesan Magazine) expressed his sense of the mournful loss which has been sustained by the Northern Province and by the whole Church of England in the removal of Bishop Walsham How. "A man of high spiritual tone and of self- sacrificing energy, with a beautiful mental culture and most attractive personal charm, he was beloved wherever he was known. He leaves behind him an exceptional number of devoted friends and a widespread circle of spiritual children who owe to him the awakening or deepening of their religious life. The Archbishop deeply mourns the loss of a friend and brother with whom he had been uaited for more than thirty years in close personal affection." Bishop Reinkens' worthy monument has been erected tc the memory of Bishop Reinkens in the eld graveyard at Bonn. It is of Swedish granite, and on one side of it there is an admirable likeness in bronze of the departed Bishop.

It was solemnly dedicated by his successor, Bishop Weber, in the presence of a large assembly, after mass had been said in the chapel at 8 a.m. on the 25th ult. Under the portrait is the text, selected by himself, "One is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren," and in an address which Bishop he pointed out how these words express the inner thoughts and convictions of his much-loved predecessor. The Church have good hopes that the Nottingham Church Congress will eclipse in numbers any of its predecessors. The final arrangements are rapidly approaching completion; and altogether the names of eighty selected speakers are on the programme.

The enforced absence of the Archbishop of Ontario and Canon Newbolt will cause great disappointment to many, though their vacant places will, it is hoped, be ably filled. It goes without saying that the Congress has been subjected to widely differing criticisms, some complaining that old and oft- discussed subjects are presented again under slightly varied forms, and treated by familiar speakers, while others declare that there is an unusual amount of novelty in the programme. The following subjects are altogether new The Lambeth Conference," Methods of Theological Inquiry," Progress of the Church in the Victorian Era," and the subjects which are not so thoroughly new are put in new forms, so that there is probably more novelty than has been seen for some years. And surely it is neither wise nor considerate to demand that eighty entirely new speakers should be provided year after year, at any rate if the quality is to equal the quantity. Many of the invitations issued by the subjects' committee to various leading laymen have been refused on the ground that their pressing public duties leave them no time to concentrate their mental energies on writing a paper, or even to attend the Congress.

Of hearers, as we said above, there will be no lack- indeed, it is feared that many who wish to attend the Congress will be kept away by actual want of shelter, and this although hospitality has been offered in the kindest manner by Churchmen and others. The committee earnestly beg all who have not yet done so to come forward with offers of rooms, either in Nottingham itself, or in any places within easy reach of the town. The Curates' A Layman writes in the Nottingham Daily Guardian How very few of our clergy read the prayers and lessons intelligently. Some intone them in a national schoolboy fashion, others race through them as though anxious to get them over, or, perchance, the oft repetition palls on their senses, and they grind them off like the prayer organ shown at missionary museums. Should this slurring unhappily be committed by a curate, and there be a patron looking out for a suitable incumbent, nr his bishop paying the church a surprise visit, how disgusted they would be.

Then when the curate ascends the pulpit, hiving, it may be, no subject to preach upon which has burnt into his soul for weeks, he reads for ten minutes or a quarter of an hour, or more, or talks with sundry slips of grammar and much repetition. Why, sir, there must indeed be a union, and strikes too, to get such an one a he has great interest and wealthy relations. That such a man should be promoted I quite admit is a great scandal. But it will be said all our curates cannot be Dean Farrars or Dean Holes. How can we improve the material we have Well, sir, I would very humbly suggest that the Curates' Union should aim to get its members into a more manly frame of mind and realisation of their duty.

Could not this Curates' Union grafton to its financial aspect and pension scheme a mutual improvement society, with the best preachers and readers in the district as tutors, and a debating society, where each member in turn, or by lot, should, after thoroughly getting up his subject, taking only a few notes of figures, dates, and so on, deliver his speech as if he meant to convince his most critical audience. Then let him deliver a sermon, let there be a free and full expression of opinion thereon. We laymen in our pewu are. debarred this privilege until we get outside, and we don't as a rule tackle the parson on the quality of his sermon, unless it is very pronounced. His confreres would note any slips in grammar, any sleeper or vawn, any watch pulled out, any cough or shuffling of feet, and score them against him, whilst close attention of hearers, logical construction, perspicuity, convincing argument, wealth of illustration, evident reading up and study, simplicity of language, earnestness and elocution, with suitable expression, would score in hi3 favour.

This would be a good post graduato course. Other professions are grateful for them. If the curate is not too proud to take part in one, in twelve months or so it would do him a great deal of good. But if in that time no improvement took place, and the large majority of the members were obviously'against him, it would be his to seek some other sphere of usefulness. Three Choirs' The opening service in connection with the Three Choirs' Festival took place at Hereford Cathedral on Sunday, when a special sermon was preached by Canon Donaldson, precentor of Truro.

In previous years, at Hereford, the opening service has been on the Tuesday, and the festival has tinued without a day's interruption until the Friday evening. This year an innovation was introduced in the hope that the attendance would be larger on the Sunday, and the collection more substantial than is UMially the case. The object of the festivals in the three cities is to raise funds in order to assist necessitous clergy, their widows and orphans. From a small beginning, the festival has grown to its present importance. Hereford possesses the much coveted honour of being its birthplace.

The precise period of its origin is not known, but its commencement arose through the formation of musical classes of the clubs in the cities of Hereford, Gloucester, and Worcester. At Hereford the musical club was composed mostly of the members of the college, and the practices took place in the college hall. The earliest authentic record of a musical gathering is in 1723, but it is believed the clubs existed previously to that. In 1849 the festival lengthened to four days, and for the first time Mendelssohn's Elijah was rendered. In 1867 the orchestra was placed at the west end of the nave, and since then the festival has gone on increasing in popularity, and although it is still held somewhat on the old lines the management is modified or improved year by year as occasion demands.

1 Canon's Mysterious body of Canon Slater-Brown, M.A., of CholdeLton House, Salisbury, was found in a well at four o'clock last Friday. He was missed late at night, and a search was instituted, with the result that one of his slippers was found near the well. The cover was taken off, and the body, which was dreadfully injured, was found in the water. The rev. gentleman was about sixty years of age.

He was an eloquent preacher, but at the time of his death he held no active office in the Church, being dentiary canon. He was educated at Worcester College, Oxford, and was sub dean of Salisbury from 1882 until 1887. The deceased went for a walk at seven o'clock on Thursday evening, and it is believed that shortly afterwards he accidentally fell into the well. The Bishop-Designate of Bishop- designate ot Wakefield (Dr. Rodney Eden) has just returned to Canterbury from paying a visit to his new sphere of episcopal work.

He has decided to defer his translation until some time in November, which will enable him to act as Archdeacon of Canterbury in the enthronement of the Bishop of Stepney as first Bishop of the restored diocese of Bristol, in Bristol Cathedral, which will take place early in October. We reprint the following from the Canterbury Diocesan Gazette The Yorkshire Post has published a very generous and appreciative leading article, welcoming the new diocesan to Wakefield. All that has been said we, of course, agree with, and from a more intimate knowledge gained by long personal intercourse can fully confirm, but the very measure of our agreement with this unreserved appreciation of Bishop Eden's personal character and administrative capabilities is also the measure of our sense of loss in his removal from the Diocese of Canterbury. Beyond his ordinary duties as a Suffragan Bishop, Bishop Eden was the chief one to initiate and bring to a successful issue the Association for the Augmentation of Poor Benefices, the Diocesan Church Trust, and the Diocesan Gazette, a publication that completes the fifth year of Its existence with the present number. All this work laid down on the right lines is of great value to the diocese, and likely to last and grow in the future as it has in the past; but what we shall miss so much is the man ring of sincerity in speech, of lucidity in teaching, of judicial mindedness in advice, the pastoral instinct that made the senior and junior clergy alike seek his help and sympathy in their manifold difficulties.

Bishop Eden's promotion is a real loss to us, but his more responsible work in the Diocese of Wakefield will be a great gain to the Church. The Universities' Mission have recently by death, the valuable and devoted services of the Rev. H', D. Gerrish, and of Miss-Ellershaw. The former, who was one of Dr.

Sinythies' old boys at Roath and was educated at St. Augustine's, Canterbury, died of hematuric fever at Kttingani, in Zanzibar. Miss Ellershaw was from St. Saviour's, aud was a worker in the island of Likorna,.