the rest are the expressions of the first | and purest ages, so that whoever takes exceptions at these must quarrel with the language of the Holy Ghost, and fall out with the Church in her greatest innocence; and in the opinion of the most impartial and excellent Grotius, who was no member of, nor had any obligations to, this Church, the English Liturgy comes so near to the primitive pattern, that none of the reformed churches can compare with it. Whoever desires to worship God with zeal and knowledge, spirit and truth, purity and sincerity, may do it by these devout forms. And to this end may the God of Peace give us meek hearts, quiet spirits, and devout affections, and free us from all sloth and prejudice, that we may have full churches, frequent prayers, and fervent charity, that, uniting our prayers here, we may join in his praises hereafter, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord, amen.-Robinson.

The month of February has been characterised, not only by the opening of another Parliamentary Session, and the announcement of important national measures, but also by several occurrences which are deeply interesting to every member of our Protestant and reformed portion of Christ's Holy Catholic Church.

The thirteenth of February is past; and the assembled Convocation of the University of Oxford then passed the proposed censure of Mr. Ward's book (The Ideal of a Christian Church) by a majority of 777 over 386, and also his degradation from the degrees of B.A. and M.A. by a smaller majority of 569 over 511.

The proposed censure of Tract 90, (the first cause of the present state of things) was not permitted to come before the Convocation; the two proctors having exercised their privilege to negative the proposition by their own authority, as dissenting from the measure. A petition was immediately prepared, requesting equivalent measure to be brought forward again as early as possible. The University of Oxford has thus cleared itself as a body from any participation in the late Romanizing opinions, and avowedly nonnatural subscription to our Articles, alvocated by some of her members. Mr. Cake

an

ley, who lately wrote a letter to apologize for still remaining in the English Church, has written a letter, much in the same spirit, to the Vice-Chancellor of Oxford, identifying himself with Mr. Ward, and almost requesting that he may partake of the same censures, or be told why he does not. It is said that the Vice-Chancellor has referred the letter to the Bishop of London, who is the diocesan of Mr. Oakeley, as minister of Margaret Chapel, Marylebone. Mr. Ward is about to appeal to the Court of Queen's Bench, for a mandamus to restore his degrees.

In the sister university considerable excitement has existed in consequence of the proposed dissolution of the Camden Society, on which the committee have unanimously agreed. As some half dozen young men have in fact been the founders, and almost the only acting members of that Society, we may suppose that they will have influence to destroy, as they originated, the Society; because they have brought upon it the disapproval of the Bishops of London, Exeter, and Lincoln, and also of the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor of the University. Its origin and progress have been remarkable. Few of the resident under graduates, and very few of the older graduates have been its members; but many of them, and of those country members who have enrolled their names in its list, have regretted that the little knot of acting members did not confine its proceedings to the precise object of Church Architecture, as suited to our reformed Church, but more and more advocated such a restoration of our churches as would adapt them to a revival of Romish practices. We have long anticipated a salutary change in the constitution and management of the society, when the present members of committee removed from the University, and continued a member of the society in hope of such a change. But we were not prepared for its dissolution, and trust that it will be reorganized, and put upon a less objectionable footing as to its constitution and proceedings, and perhaps with such a title as the Cambridge Architectural Society. The Oxford Architectural Society seems to have pursued a useful course, and to have called forth no such opposition and deserved censure.

The Consistory Court of the diocese of Ely recently decided to issue the faculty confirming the erection of a stone in the Round Church, Cambridge, for the administration of the Holy Communion. The Incumbent appealed against the decision, and Sir H. J. Fust has delivered an elaborate judg

ment reversing the decision of the Diocesan Court. The churchwardens have now appealed to the judicial committee of the Privy Council. We trust that they will confirm Sir H. J. Fust's decision against stone altars. We contributed towards the restoration of the Round Church, but have resolutely refused to advance another sixpence towards the liquidation of the debt on the church, ever since the very ugly stone altar was placed in it. Although stone altars were removed by our Reformers because of their connection with the doctrine of a sacrifice in the Lord's Supper, we feared that there was no sufficient law on record against them, and that the removal of the stone altar could not be compelled. Doubtless the systematic revival of them was not anticipated; nor would it be of any consequence of what material "the Lord's board" was made, if no revival had taken place of doctrines, at least approaching to the Romish doctrine of the sacrifice of the Mass. These have lately been so elaborately advocated, and stone altars revived on that account, that we have rejoiced in the testimony we have always borne against the use of the term altar, which the Church of England nowhere employs in her authorized Liturgy; it is retained in the Coronation Service. We shall await the decision of the Privy Council with considerable interest.

We have read with great pleasure the Pastoral address of the Bishops of the Church in the United States. It is principally of a practical nature, and points out the leading features of Scriptural doctrine, as required to be maintained against Antinomian and Ronan error. Its length alone prevented us from reprinting it; but perhaps a few extracts may be given in a future number.

We much regret to see announced the suspension of another Bishop of the American Church, Dr. Benjamin T. Onderdonk, Bishop of New York. He was tried by 17 Bishops, on the presentment of three others; and eleven brought in a verdict of

guilty, and six pronounced him "not guilty." The accusation was, that he had acted on several occasions in a manner not consistent with chastity. Dr. Seabury has publicly vindicated his innocence from the pulpit; and his remarks are printed in the New York Churchman, of which he is the editor. His friends, and the advocates of Tractarianism, are endeavouring to persuade the public, that the Bishop's Tractarian tenets, and his recent ordination of Mr. Carey, have been the moving cause of his prosecution. It is certainly remarkable that the six Bishops who voted in his favour, are those who favour Tractarian views. But even if we suppose that either side were biassed in their judgment by their theological sentiments, it is more natural to suppose that six desired to acquit their friend, than that eleven pronounced him guilty, after a trial of 23 days, without sufficient ground. If mere party had anything to do in originating, or producing this sad suspension of (we believe) the brother of the lately suspended Bishop of Pensylvania, it is greatly to be regretted; and still more so if the result produces further exasperation of the Tractarian controversy in that Church,

for

The Primate, and the other Bishops of Ireland, who disapprove of the Government system of Education in Ireland, have put forth a full and praiseworthy statement of their reasons for still refusing to co-operate therein. If they cannot share, as equity demands, in assistance Church Schools where the Scriptures are used without restriction, we trust they will be supplied with adequate funds from private sources. Protestants are anticipating with some apprehension, the measures which government are expected to ditional grant for the Romish College of propose respecting an enlarged and unconMaynooth, and for other similar purposes in Ireland. The state policy which positively fosters Popery, must be mischiev

ous.

In conseqence of the retirement of the Ven. the Archdeacon of Ceylon, the stipend attached to the Archdeaconry has been appropriated to the foundation of a bishopric, and the Rev. J. Chapman, late Fellow of King's College, Cambridge, and Rector of Dunston Wallet, has been appointed first Bishop of Ceylon.

CLERICAL OBITUARY.

Rev. A. Annesley,M.A., Rector of Clifford Chambers.-Rev.G. Hulme, Incumbent of Trinity Church, Reading.-In the East Indies, Rev. Henry Pratt, M. A., formerly Curate of Wilsdon. The Rev. T. Myers, Vicar of Stannington, Northumberland.— At Dublin, the Rev. J. S. Butson, Archdeacon of Clonfort.-The Rev. W. Fox, of Girsby House, Lincolnshire. At Torquay, the Rev. George Shaw, B. A., of Fen Drayton.-The Ven. Dr. Butson, Archdeacon of Clonfert.-Rev. Robert Hepworth, M. A., Vicar of Gamlingay, Cambridgeshire, aged 72.-Rev. C. H. Lethbridge, Perpetual Curate of St. Stephen's-byLaunceston, aged 53.-In Sloane-street, the Rev. William Winthrop, aged 75.-The Rev. Charles Rose, Rector of Cublington, late Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxon.-At Kentchurch, the Rev. William Bowen, Vicar of Ewyaherold, Hereford, aged 79.-At Market Rasen Vicarage, the Rev. James Walter, late Master of the Grammar School, Brigg, aged 87.-At Aughrim, the Rev. Henry Martin, Rector.-At Southsea, the Rev. William Tate, aged 74.-At Green Hammerton, Yorkshire, the Rev. Richard Ridley, aged 62.-At Barton, Westmoreland, the Rev. Thomas Gibson, Vicar of Barton, aged 60.— At Leamington, aged forty-eight, the Rev. James Crebbin, Curate of Creat Clacton, Essex. At Bingham Rectory, Notts, the Rev. Robert Lowe, aged 65.-The Rev. John Law, Vicar of Bradworthy and Pancras Week. The Rev. John Channing Abdy, Rector of St. John's, Southwark, aged 53.-The Rev. R. H. Chapman, Rector of Kirby Wisk, and Incumbent of the Parish Chapel, Marylebone, aged, 64.-The Rev. Lord Aston, Vicar of Tardebrigge.-The Rev. Thomas Dickes, Senior Fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge, aged 75.

CHURCH

ADVOCATE & MAGAZINE.