On this page
-
Text (3)
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
LORD STRATFORD DE REDCLIFFE'S APPEAL . It is understood that Lord Stratfokd De Redcmffe has earnestly entreated tlie Government to lay before Parliament with the least possible delay , the whole of his correspondence respecting the Asiatic frontier of Turkey , the defence of Kara , the expedition into Circassia , and ids own position with reference to the conduct of xailitary questions . We can imagine no grounds on which this appeal -could be fairly resisted . Lord Stratfokd re Redclifpe
is under imputations which affect his diplomatic and personal character . If he can rebut the charges that have been made , the Government is bound to give him the opportunity , me English interests can be served by concealment . If other interests are consulted , which might be compromised by the full publication of the despatches , they are consulted at the expense of justice , and of the reputation of a public servant . Whatever may be Lord
Stratford de Redcliffe ' s faults of temper , he has been made obnoxious principally by his overweening devotion to a purely English policy , which he has opposed to many rival influences at Constantinople . It is easy to understand whose object it is to preserve a mystery which comprises our Ambassador . Lord Stratford de Kedcofff is williug to take his trial , and the public , sullenly suspicious , desires to hear him . What will Ministers do ?
Untitled Article
it is notorious , is indeed almost avowed in the manners of many people , that they attach no grave meaning to religion—the Working classes , who have less motive for " keeping up appearances , " are filled with repugnance at that organised insincerity . Their feeling is not the less bitter since the conforming classes are also
the classes that " look down" upon the workers . Many an intelligent and independent working man retorts the supercilious manner of the churchwarden class "with at least equal contempt . Such working men , then , associate with the professions , manners , and customs of " respectable" religionists a kind of settled insincerity , which they heartily despise .
the success of their mission to carry it on in the right spirit , and to give their address the right aim . They will not make the working classes of this country religious by speaking in a tone that begs the question , and that demands submission upon presumption . Neither to cant nor arrogance will the working classes yield , though they will open their hearts largely and generously if th « address is directed to their hearts ; they will give attention if an appeal is made to their
understanding . A public meeting was convened on Monday evening by ' * The Sunday Rest Association , " and about seven hundred persons assembled in a- large room in Kentish Town . Lord Shaftesbury took the chair , and called upon a religious minister present to open the proceedings with prayer . Many working men loudly protested against this preliminary , their objection causing great scandal and wonder to Lord Shaftesbury , who said ie he was a , t a loss" to account for the senseless noise and
uproar with which his proposition was received . " " Being on the most friendly terms with the working men , it was with no little chagrin and surprise , " he said , " that he should : there be met not only with indignity , but witH something like insult . " He seemed quite ^ ' : unable to understand when those who resisted the proposal deprecated that construction of their conduct . A distinct motion
was made and seconded , that tlie business proceed ; vvitliout prayer ; Lord Shaftesbury declared that in all his experience he had never heard such a resolution , and he declined to put it . There was greater 'Uproar ; he abandoned the chair , another chairman was chosen , and the proceedings went forward Tfith perfect order . Resolutions were passed in favour of opening the British Museum , the National Gallery , Marlborough House , and . similar institutions , on Sunday afternoon . A motion of the same kind was all but
carried at a meeting called by the Lord's ^ day Society in Chelsea , There is , in fact , a strong feeling amongst the working classes against any compulsory interference with their fireedom of the Sabbath , and in favour of giving them access to places where the understanding and the taste can be improved , instead of driving them to places where the understanding , taste , conscience , and life itself are imperilled . We do not , however , at present intend to reopen the Sunday question . The Sabbatical agitators will oblige Us to do that presently , but just now we have other work in hand .
We have to deal more particularly with the unpleasant incident at Lord Shaftesbury ' s meeting , We are not exactly surprised at his surprise , although if he understood his own position a little better all wonderment would cease . It is very bad to prescribe without knowing the state of the patient ; and those who are so anxious for the soul of the working class ought to know exactly the condition of ttat soul . Tho fact is , that sceptical opinions pf the strongest kind not .. only exist amongst the
working class , but are shared to a very wide extent / A still larger number of the working class feel that absolute indifference which makes them dislike even , to discuss , fthey care less about the question of religion than the Atheist cares , for he will argue it ; tjjwt a larger number hold it to be not worth * SBgjg . ^ out at oil . Amongst this sceptical or lUOuterent class arc some of the most intelligent * TOL ° f *? w Prder , It ia notorious that we do ^ TO ? ^ oir PpMonj but it w oul d be a very fopuah dishonesty if we were to deny the aoiuty and thq conscientiousness of that num-! a ££ ^ l ^? S ota who entertain such TSZSa S 5 fC ^ H <**> b aWe them fre - qtrtmtljr cctttfow * to tcB ^ ua ^ rdilMiweB—while
speak in accents like those by which James Caikd lias compelled attention from Priace Peer , and people , and has delivered accents that have been equally eloquent from the pulpit of the Scottish church , of the English church , or of the Unitarian chapel ; for the sermon of Catbd , published by royal command , has been preached from established pulpits , and from every Unitarian pulpit in the country . If the
museum and the gallefy can call the multitude from the tavern , rouse their dormant instincts 3 elevate their tastes , it is quite possible that a genuine minister of religion , unaided by the constable , might draw people from museum and gallery to the church . But this is a mission not to be performed by a canting arrogance that begs the question against the working classes , and presumes the judgment which they are invited to pronounce .
Independently of this class feeling , which is strong among many , the working class have a very reasonable dislike to the obtrusion of religious observance at public meetings . The assemblage convened in the school-room at Kentish Town was gathered for the particular purpose of discussing a point in religious polity . It may be said that religious observance was represented on the one side , free opinion on the other . Now , Lord Shaftesbtjry ' s request to begin the proceedings with
prayer implied an attempt to beg the question in favour of religion . It was presumed by the orthodox side ^ that , at least in that ceremony , the great body of the meeting must submit to a religious form . Logically , the allowance of that form Woidd have given an advantage on the side of the religionist as against the free opinionist , and the working men have quite sufficient logical faculty to make a stand against any such begging of the questions which they were convened to discuss and
decide . Many , therefore , who would not be disposed to decide the question against religion would resent that endeavour to steal a march upon the sense of the meeting . It may be true , and we believe it is , that no work can prosper which is not carried on under the blessing of God ; it may be true that no man enjoys his full strength Tinless he is a conscious instrument in the same work ; but religious observance is desecrated , not exalted , when it is made a means of contention , and is flaunted in the face of those who return the
arrogance with scoffing . Appropriate as prayer is to begin the proceedings , when those who are agreed upon the spirit and form of prayer are alone assembled , the intrusion of the form amongst people prepared to dispute the very principles upon , which it rests , is nothing more lefty than impertinence . It is generally admitted now that laws only follow the manners and cxistoms of the people . The Sabbatarians would do well to consider
this truth . According to their own statement , it is in districts inhabited by the working classes of the metropolis the custom to trade on Sunday . We may regret that custom , and we do so ; but we can only put it down corapulsorily at the expense of religion . Religion is not to be produced by statute or coerced by the constable ' s staff or the bayonet . It is the result only of instinct , confirmed by conviction and feeling ; and no statute can awaken instinct , produce conviction , or rouse feeling . It is not through Parliament that the
working classes are to be driven away from Sunday trade and Sunday unrest . If those who profess to speak in the name of divine power really have a " mission" they will not need appeals to Acta of Parliament . Their endeavour should be to remove every such false reliance , —to abolish all species of compulsion , —to leave the city and the field equally open , —to let the Museum and tho Gallery of Art be as free as the public-house or the church , and to trust entirel y in the voice of religion speaking to the instincts of mankind . If they did so , they might perhaps learn to
Untitled Article
, ife i ,. , THE LE ADER . [ No . 308 , Saturday
Untitled Article
The Princess Mathilde has quarrelled with , the cuto" of Saiiat Philippe du Roule , M Auzoua , for having denied her the honours due to her rank wheu b 1 i < 3 came to " assist at" divine service . The euro" has been removed to another parish , but his former parishioners have petitioned for his return . Sueh are the relations of tho Church and the Empire . Mr . Costa ' s oratorio " Eli" was performed livst evening for the first time in London by the Sacrod Harmonic Society at Exeter Hall in the proscuco of her Majesty and Prince Albert and a densely -crowded audience . Mr . Costa , experienced an enthusiastic reception , and the performance was a . triumph .
Farm Servants in Sickness . —In a case hoard at the Wiughara . Petty Sessions , Mr . Rico , M . P ., one of the magistrates , said farm servants should distinctly understand that , during the time they are disabled by illneap front * working , their masters aro bound to keep them . —South Eastern Qamtte . Thb MANonissTEB . Stiuke . —The strike of wpinnors at Manchoster , which has now lasted nearly thirteen weeks , has not yet been 'brought to a close . There was a meeting of about 3 Q 0 only on Wednesday night , at which great dissatisfaction was exproftsod "by tho meeting with the oommittoo managing tho strike , aud n motion was mndo for its dissolution . Much confusion and recrimination followed , and the mooting wan ultimately dissolved by tho platform lig hts being oxtinKubhsjcl befovo a vote could bo takoti .
Ol'PQSmON TO THH NlfiW POL . IOE BlLI . —At IV UlOOting of the town council of Loeds , on Wednesday , \ lderman Shaw said that the Polioo bill of Sir Goorgo ¦ Grey contains so much . of tho appearance of its prodooesaor t 3 iat ho thought it would be undesirable to hoc it adopted by tho lqgialaturo . A petition was subaequG » tly adopted in ohjootion to Bomo of the clauHOB of tho bill .
-
-
Citation
-
Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 16, 1856, page 158, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2128/page/14/
-