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Leader (1850-1860), 4th January 1851, Edition Town of 2, Page 19

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      Untitled Article

      • RpT > naT of the Committee of Management op \ , t ttvuaby axd Scientific Institution , Johnthe LitWiaby J » & meeting of the Lon-^ f goopeS Building Society , which 8 erected the ^ rtSion held in February , 1846 , it was found that the ? . n "S £ , a debi then due was £ 1200 , with an annuity of So SS anr urn payable to W . D . Saull , Esq . Active fin , were shortly afterwards taken to pay the debts of JhTbuSg society , viz ., to satisfy the claim of £ 424 Smp to Mr , Braby ' s executors , secured by the guarantee of the orincipal creditor of the institution , and also to hnv ud Mr . Saull ' s annuity . Since that time , a period « f fmirvears and a half , the institution committee have SaW off £ 7 * 2 7 s . 3 d . of their liabilities . The present Mr . . n . i _ i —* rA-mmt-invx 10 cvomnlifiorl Viw tKo faof that of the institution is lified by the fact that

      position exemp the debt is now reduced to £ 506 . The good offices and active exertions of the friends of the institution are still necessary to pay off this sum . The substantial support accorded to the committee has enabled them to preserve this institution for the purposes of " Free discussion and free expression of opinion on all subjects of public interest " This distinction—of so much importance in a country confessed by its ministers to be " governed by opinion "—this institution has always been proud to preserve and had the committee no other claim on public support they would deem this sufficient . In that exciting period through which the country recently passed they opened their doors to the Political Conventions of the Working Classes , and afforded accommodations to their Chartist brethren , when all places of similar conveniences

      were closed against them . But besides promoting freedom of opinion , the institution labours to diffuse popular knowledge , without which opinion must be inefficient . To this end the weekly lectures at the institution are maintained , in which a greater variety of literary , political , aud speculative information is communicated than in any other institution in London . The committee are now labouring to extend its scientific and educational classes , which they hope to put upon a footing of unquestionable efficiency . They desire the institution to posseas as much instructional , as they believe it has of moral utility , and on this account they bespeak for it the continuous interest of its friends , and the cooperation of the district . ( Signed ) J . G . Holyoake , President ; J . Reed , Vice President ; E . Tkuelove , Secretary . — Literury and Scientific Institution , 23 , John-street , Fitzroy-square , October , 1850 .

      The Redemption Society . —Meetings , as previously announced , were held in Horsforth and Huddersfield . The one at Horsforth was the first , and will do much good . The Hudderefield meeting was good and highly satisfactory . Indications of a large gathering are now beginning to appear for the 13 th of January , We are receiving letters from various gentlemen of eminence who intend being present . The late soiree in Halifax has resulted in more than fifty candidates putting down their names . Halifax is a proof of what a few good workers can do in a cauae . We had reason to be glad at its activity before Mr . Dennis went , but since then it has surpassed our expectations . The secretary , Mr . Chaffer , and Mr . Sturzaker deserve public

      acknowledgment for their zeal . Newcastle-on-Tyne , we are told , is about to hold a public meeting on this subject ; and we have no doubt but Manchester , Hyde , Rochdale , I adiham , Burnley , and Liverpool will do their share in the coining labour . Mr . Denton , our secretary in Wales , is ou a visit to Leeds , and is in favour of communal life , after having experienced it . The proa pects of the society are highly gratifying . The first cargo of shoes and boots has arrived from tlie community , and haa been sold to the members for cash , who ure much pleased with the price and quality of the goods . Moneys received for the weekending December 231850 : —Leeds £ 2 5 a . lOd .

      Lon-, , ; don Mr . Charles Paul , Ida . ; lluddtrbfield , 2 « . ; UIubkow , J . Henderson , Is . ; Newcastle-on-Tyne , T . Woodruff , U . Moneys received for tho week ending December 30 , 1850 —Lends , £ 2 12 d . l () d . ; Hyde , Mr . J . Bradley , 8 a . Gd . ; 1 l ymoHth , Mr . J . Bottomiey , 8 s . 8 d . ; Worcester , F . C . Jones , 5 s . 2 d . Communal Building Fund : —Leeds , 'r „* Glu 8 8 ow , J- Henderson , 2 i . ; JNewcastle-on-AyiH ' , 1 . Woodruff , Is . ; ltowcll , Norlhainptonnhire , J . i-i 1 ^ 7 ' < m' » tiry , * Mr . Shufllebothum , 10 s . ; Leeds , * l 17 b . Gd . ; Hyde , per J . Bradley , £ 1 18 a . lOd . ; Worw'Hti-r , per Mr . F . C . Jones , ( is . !) d . ; Plymouth , " per Mr . Bottoniky , 3 h . 4 d .

      fcooiAi , Institution , Manchehtkr- On Sunday last , J > eciMnl , er 29 , Mr . Walter Cooper , who is on u tour of ""! manufacturing diatricts , delivered two lectures in the ""• I o the institution , Garrutt-road , on ' ? Alton Locke , n » a the Socialism of Literature . " After showing the jniiuenoe of the uHHocintivc ideu on the presH and literu-Alt r c «» u » try , the . leoiurc-r quoted largely from Juttm Locke , und commented on various pusHages . Mr . ^ oopcr will lecture again at the iiibtitution on Sunday " < xi , January f >; and during tho week will vinit L ' ury , ¦ "cywood , nnd the surrounding towns . — -T . Lindsay . fern , i '""' '" «> r accident , would liaro been acknowledged ue-* "' <> further uucounU .

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      THE ECCLESIASTICAL COURTS . December 20 , 1850 . Sir , —The restoration of the "Western empire by Charlemagne forms an important epoch in the annals of the Church , and the fetters of ecclesiastical authority , then firmly rivetted on an uneducated laity , were only burst asunder by the convulsive movement of Europe at the Reformation . The Carlovingian princes had accepted the royal unction of the kings of Israel at the hands of the successors of St . Peter ; and the head of the Apostolic Church of the "West , in imitation of the Jewish priesthood , assumed the character of a spiritual ambassador of divine appointment . The reverence of Charlemagne for the clergy induced him to entrust that aspiring order with temporal power and civil jurisdiction ; and he was the first to enforce the payment of tithes . " Such obligations have country gentlemen to his memory , " as Gibbon sarcastically observes . Under Gregory VII . the Papal ~ pretensions to ecclesiastical supremacy , as yet but partially developed , were first matured ; and it was ^ not till the sixteenth century that the secular power began vigorously to resist the encroachments of the clergy . The ecclesiastical laws of this country have been , for the most part , derived originally from the authority exercised by the Roman Pontiffs in the different states and kingdoms of Europe , under the title of the Canon Law ; but in England its authority has always been much restricted as incompatible with the jurisdiction of the courts of Common Law . In the eleventh century , however , episcopal courts of unique authority were established in England . The Conqueror separated the ecclesiastical from the civil courts , and constituted them by charter .

      For several centuries these courts have been the subject of attempted legislative correction . Henry VIII . commenced the work of reform in earnest , which was continued by Edward . But the House of Commons , in the reign of Elizabeth , declined to undertake the task initiated by the meek " Defender of the Faith . " At length a commission was issued by George IV ., in 1830 , among other things , " to enquire into the jurisdiction of the Ecclesiastical Courts of England and Wales , and whether such jurisdiction may be taken away or altered . "

      Few of the recommendations , however , contained in the report of these commissioners have been adopted ; and as Mr . Muscutt says , in an able pamphlet « n the " Ecclesiastical Courts , " * the main point , that " of altering or taking away the jurisdiction of these courts , " remains unaccomplished not unattempted . The efforts to reform or amend the system have failed by reason of the enormous wealth , patronuge , and parliamentary influence ( especially in the House of Lords ) of the Anglican clergy .

      Before the Reformation the bishops issued process in their own names ; but by a statute of Edward VI . all ecclesiastical jurisdiction was declared to be from the crown . This was repealed under Mary , but her act was itself repealed by Jumes ; and tho spirituul courts continued to issue process in the bishop ' s mune . On some difliculty being made concerning this , it was referred by the star-chamber to the twelve judges , who decided that the practice of

      tho courts was ngreeable to law . Lord Brougham , however , has stated that in his opinion the original jurisdictions of the bishops uro an anomuly . The organ of tho itigh Church party , on the other hand , asserts that " the great mischief and injustice of Lord Cottonhum ' s bill ia tho attempt to withdraw the rig ht of issuing original writs from tho bench of bishops " : that , if " the Government insist on making tho JJishop ' s Court the Queen ' Court , .... it will bo a formal and legal

      retractation of those powers hitherto recognized inthe episcopal clergy as Christ ' s ambassador . " It is -41 declaring the—violation-of-the supremacy of the priesthood , ... . which strikes at the very root of that power which makes their office effective , and independent of man ' s jurisdiction "; and that , " if her Majesty put forth her hand to issue that writ , which should come only from the altar , she ought to find the spirit of the Man of God that withered the hand of Jeroboam at thealtar of Bethel . " Such is the nature of the pretensions again revived by the Anglican clergy who boast their lineal succession from the only Apostolic Church of the West . Our Ecclesiastical Laws have been described in the

      language of our statutes as " Laws which me people have taken at their free liberty , by their own consent . " It is for the people , therefore , ' to inquire into the jurisdiction of these courts "— " whether such jurisdiction may be taken away or altered . " "With your permission I will again return to the subject . I remain your obedient servant , W . C .

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      • The llutory and Power of the Ecclesiastical Courts . Uy Kdwiinl Muucult . < J . Ullpiu , o , Uluhopngute-street Without , London .

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      PAPAL AGGRESSION . London , Nov . 24 , 1850 . Sib , —I will give you some of my ideas on the " Papal aggression . " I shall probably horrify you by declaring that , after the first feeling of irritation at the " insolence" of the Pope , I have had but one strong impression of the absurd spirit in which this crusade against Popery has been carried on . That the excitement will have a good effect in calling general attention to the errors and dangers of Popery I doubt not ; but that is no reason for those who , like myself , utterly reject the domination of all priesthoods whatever , but at the same time desire perfect toleration for all religions , to join a crowd of High Church , Low Church , and Dissenters in crying out against the Court of Rome , and praying for pains and penalties against my fellow-countrymen , the Catholics . And why is this outcry ? Because the Roman Catholics have petitioned for , and the Pope has granted them , a form of hierarchy more suited to their government in things spiritual than that which they have had since the Reformation . Will it be said that , as the minority in this country , they have no right to Bishops ? Then , how will the members of the Church of England justify the appointment of their Bishops in Ireland , where the Catholics are nearly seven times more numerous than all the sects of Protestants put together ? Or , how will they justify the right assumed by the Queen , who is the Pope of the English Church , * of nominating her Bishops in foreign countries , though the majority of the inhabitants may be Roman Catholic , Mahommedan , or of any other religion ?

      The only real foundation , therefore , for this outcry must be the manner in which the Pope has made the appointment , not in the appointment itself . This , I will admit , has been insolent and domineering . It is certainly very disagreeable to find the Pope ignoring all the Protestants of this country as heathen ( as our Bishops would the Mahommedans in India ) , and pretending to assume a spiritual jurisdiction over , not only those of his faith , but over those of every other faith .

      How can Lord John Russell , however , " agree " with the Bishop of Durham in calling the " aggression" " insidious ? " It is the most open act ever perpetrated by a Pope ; and , so far from being " insidious" in an attempt t > propagate Romish doctrines , it is founded , as Lord John himself so forcibly points out , in a great measure , on the backslidings of the clergy of the Church of England . Now , this insult offered to Protestants by the Pope should , in my humble opinion , be treated with

      dignified and silent contempt ; but , as I know that , in their present temper , this will not suit my fellow-Protestants , let me advise them not to try to conceal their fears of the spreading disaffection among their own ranks under a cry that the Queen's Crown and Supremacy are endangered by the act of a Sovereign bo insignificant as the Pope of Rome , nor ( as they value their own title to religious freedom ) % o attempt to fetter other men in the freest exer «? ino qtf their religion .

      But , say my zealous friends , it is th < 5 ' Queen s spiritual supremacy that is in danger . Let us look this question boldly in the face . Is the Queen the spiritual head of her Roman Catholic subjects ? No . Would the clergy or the members of the Established Church wish her to become such ? No ; they would not hear of it for nn instant . On the other hand , it is vain to deny that tho Pope does exercise spiritual jurisdiction over the Catholics ; that is , over all who choose in this country to submit to it , and over no others . Can the Queen prevent her subjects

      • Ah evidence of tliiH I would refer you to tlio Act of ft Victoria , cup . d , which , after empowering tho Arehblshona of Canterbury und York to consecrate Hritiali or foreign aubjecte to bo UinliopH in any foreign country , enucta that HUeii Bishops " inuy extireine , within Much iiinitu iiu muy from time to time be assignc . l for Unit purpoHc in uuuh foreign c . ouiitricH by her Mnjenty , upirituul juriudictioii over tho miniuteia of Hritiuh congregations of tho united Church of Knglund mid Ireluud , and over itich other Protestant congregation * nu may bo deuirouw of placing themael \« d umlcr their authority . "

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      AND ITS OFFICIAL ACTS . ^ -

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      A a there is no special intelligence from the Demorratfc party , nor any document of urgent importance , Stsweek , there is no necessity to occupy the space usually devoted to this head .

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      Jak . 4 , 1851 . ] «»*¦ & *»*«*? " ™ _

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      There is no learned man but will confess he hath much profited by reading controversies , his senses awakened , and his judgment sharpened . If , then , it be profitable for him to read , why shoiild it not , at least , be tolerable for his adversary to -write . —Milton .

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      p [ In this department , as all opinions , however bxtheme , abb allowed an expression , the editor necessarily holds himself responsible for nonb . ]

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  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Jan. 4, 1851, page 19, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1864/page/19/