Oct. 19. In a Congregation holden this day, the following degrees were conferred: DOCTOR IN DIVINITY. Rev. J. Norris. Pres. of Corp. Ch. coll. Oct. 26. In a Congregation holden this day, the following degrees were conferred: DOCTOR IN DIVINITY. Rev. H. D. C. S. Horlock, Magd. hall. Rev. G. Braithwaite, Queen's coll. G. C. W. D. J. Bridgman, Wadham coll. (from BACHELORS OF ARTS. E. A. Breedon, Trin. coll. G. C. R. Gregory, Corp. Ch. coll. G. C. Nov. 2.-In a Congregation holden this Rev. G. T. Spring, Edmund hall. BACHELORS OF ARTS. J. O'Brien, Qu.'s col., from Trin. col. Dub. Nov. 9.-At a Congregation holden on Thursday last, the following degrees :MASTERS OF ARTS. C. M. Lushington, (Fell. elect of All Souls') Oriel coll. Rev. W. D. Hall, Fellow of New College. Nov. 11.--In a Congregation holden on Friday last, the following degrees : MASTERS OF ARTS. Rev. W. C. Howell, Brasenose coll. Mr. F. A. Goulbourn, Merton coll. The Rev. W. Thompson, a Senior Fellow of Queens', to the Headship of St. Edmund hall. Nov. 17.- In a congregation holden on Thursday, the following degrees :— DOCTORS IN CIVIL LAW. C. W. Borrett, Fell. of Magd. coll. Rev. W. D. J. Bridgman, Wadham coll. BACHELOR IN DIVINITY. Rev. T. H. Whorwood, Fell. of Magd. coll. R. Cholmeley, Fellow of Magd. coll.. Rev. W. J. Whateley, Stud. of Ch. ch. BACHELORS OF ARTS. F. G. Simpson, St. Edmund hall. J. W. Atkinson, Lincoln coll. G. H. Turner, Balliol coll. W. E. C. Austin, Fellow of New coll. J. W. Roberts, Scholar of Jesus. E. L. Davies, Jesus coll. (Cambridge and Durham degrees next IRELAND. Ordinations.-On Sunday, the 24th of Sept., by the Lord Bishop of Down and Connor, &c. : PRIESTS. Rev. J. H. Titcomb, B.A., Cambridge. Rev. J. C. Gaussen, A.B., Trin. coll. Dub. On the Feast of St. Michael, by the Lord Bishop of Down and Connor. &c. : DEACONS. R. W. Toler, A.B., Trin. coll. Dub. Appointments.-Rev. H. B. Macartney, to the vicarage of Kilcock, co. Kildare: patron, the Crown.-Rev. T. F. Miller to the vicarage of Temple-Patrick, co. Antrim: patron, the Marquis of Donegal. Rev. E. R. Lander, to Trinity Church, Louth.-Rev. R. Handcock, M.A., to the Rectory of Ballymaglasson, co. Meath.Rev, H. Moore to the living of Julianstown. -Rev. G. H, Porter, a Commissioner of Education.-Rev. E. M. Hamilton, to the rectories of Carrick and Rathdrummin, co. Louth: patron, the Crown.-Rev. R. Henderson, to the rectory of Killala, co. Derry: patron, the Bishop.-Rev. J. Corvan, to the union of Mothel, co. Kilkenny: patron, the Bishop. Deaths.-Rev. T. Prior, D.D., Senior Fellow of Trin. College, Dublin, and ViceProvost.-Rev. Roger Owen, Rector of the Union of Camolin, diocese of Ferns.-Rev. N. C. Fenwick, Rector of Killinick. Rev. N. Inch, Rector of Killala, co. of Derry, Rev. R. C. Owen, Rector of Toomb, co of Welford Rev. W. Hore, vicar of Ferns. co. of Wexford. THE CHURCHMAN'S MONTHLY REVIEW AND CHRONICLE. DECEMBER, 1843. THE TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT of the INCORPORATED SOCIETY FOR THE ENLARGEMENT, BUILDING, &c., of CHURCHES London: Rivingtons. 1843. AND CHAPELS. VARIOUS signs seem to portend, that the time is at hand when it will be impossible to avoid a public investigation of the claims and position of the Incorporated Church Building Society. To arrive, however, at a proper understanding of the subject, it will be necessary to take a larger scope, and to review the whole history of what are now often called "the Church Societies," from the Revolution downwards. We say, from the Revolution; for it was at that period, now regarded by some as one of the darkest stages in the Church's history," when she threw, as it were, out of her pale, the doctrine of Christ crucified, together with Ken and Kettlewell,*"-it was at this period of "latitudinarianism and decline," that "the Church Societies" took their rise. We are not, however, at all disposed to exaggerate this circumstance, or to dwell much on the value or extent of this symptom of life. Rather shall we hold up to view, and challenge attention to, the fact, a fact altogether undeniable, --that the great missionary movement of the present day owes its rise and its matured strength, under God, solely to that despised body, the "evangeli* Tracts for the Times, No. 80, p. 76. 5 U DECEMBER, 1843. cal" party, or portion of the community, whether within the Church or beyond its pale. The Church Societies" continued, for nearly a century, to plod their weary and cheerless way; and, at the close of the last century, after having been in existence an hundred years, their total annual income, from subscriptions, collections, and donations, was, of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (subscriptions and sales of books,) (1802) £6,636 17 2 Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts (1798) Grand total 700 15 1 £7,337 12 3 But by this time the good seed sown by the Romaines and Conyerses, the Newtons and Walkers, had taken root, and began to spring up. The Scotts and Cecils began to ask, "What do we more than others?" But even then they moved not hastily, or in strife, or envy. It is on record that for several years before the Bible Society was formed, the men who were at last driven to that proceeding, had corresponded, and waited, and prayed, and intreated, and all in vain, at the doors of "the Bartlett's Buildings' Society," for Welsh bibles to supply the urgent wants of that principality. At last they were forced to try an independent movement, and the British and Foreign Bible Society, which began in 1804, with an income of £5592, realized in 1814 a revenue of £87,216., and in 1822 one of £103,802. Life and warmth thus manifested, soon spread their influence, and the old "Bartlett's Buildings Society," which, in 1802 could not venture to order an edition of 10,000 Welsh bibles, now learned to follow in the steps of its more vigorous sister. As the Bible Society reached an annual receipt of £87,216 in 1814, so the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge rose to one of £34,545 10s. 11d. in that same year; and when the Bible Society realized its £103,802. a-year, in 1822, the Christian Knowledge Society started up, that same year, to £57,714. 19s. 11d. În 1801 this latter Society disposed of only 7291 bibles, and 12,895 common prayer-books. In 1822 the bibles issued from its depository were 39,559, the common prayer-books 103,826. Precisely similar was the progress of affairs in the matter of foreign missions. It was found that the Society for Propagating the Gospel confined its operations to the British colonies, and so left the Africans and New Zealanders, the Chinese and Abyssinians, absolutely without hope, and without an effort, as far as the English Church was connected. No prospect being visible, of any enlargement of its operations, Mr. Newton, Mr. Scott, Mr. Simeon, Mr. Cecil, and Mr. Biddulph, met, and commenced the Church Missionary Society. In 1821 the income of the new society amounted to £31,991. while the old one still slumbered on with an annual collection (irrespective of a government allowance) of only £1458. 15s. At last, however, here too, the infection was taken, and following in the wake of the Church Missionary Society, and adopting, like it, the rousing system of pulpit and platform excitement, the Society for Propagating the Gospel shows, in its last report, an income of £80,000, while that of the Church Missionaary Society, in the same year, 1842-1843, was £115,000. In another matter, the lead was still more decidedly taken by the evangelical party. The wants of the Church at home, the destitute condition of many populous districts, where one or two clergymen were lost in a population of 30,000 or 40,000 souls, had long been seen, but not a finger had been stirred by the more opulent and dignified portions of the Church. Again the movement commenced among the evangelical clergy. A few persons assembled at the Church Missionary House, in February 1836, and commenced "the Church Pastoral Aid Society," which, though only in its eighth year, has already realized an income of above £20,000. per annum, and is now supplying additional labourers to more than two hundred over-tasked and miserably-paid incumbents. This scheme, however, was speedily copied by the "HighChurch" party. Two years had not elapsed, before they were in motion, to commence a rival society, called "The Additional Curates' Society." Of this we can say but little, simply because it has pleased its managers to give but little information to the public, except that it assists 107 incumbents, at a cost of about £8000. per annum. A public meeting, in London, we are not aware that it has ever held; and a full account of its receipts and disbursements we have never yet seen. But why should there have been any second Society formed, in this last instance? What prevented the Church from acting in one body, in this matter? We suggest these questions, in the the most direct and pointed manner, because in the answers which must be given, we come at once in sight of an element of disunion which can never be banished, and which must prevail, more or less, in this and all similar matters; and which seems to render a separate and independent line of action inevitable, so long as two parties continue to exist in the Church; i.e., to all human appearance, during the continuance of the present dispensation. 1 This, however, is inclusive of the proceeds of a Royal Letter. |