I grieve to say that our National Schools are not supported as liberally as they ought to be, and that our funds are greatly depressed. Sure I am that "the Scriptures and the power of God" are the only ground and mainspring of all that is taught in them. As to discipline and general instruction, though I am far from thinking they are perfect-they are at least equal to other schools of a similar class -the masters and mistresses, we humbly trust, teach in the fear of God, and in dependence upon the "power of God" which they seek for in earnest prayer-wherefore, then, must we be thus urgent with you for pecuniary help?

Do we censure the Romanist for his greater zeal in the propagation of what he believes to be the truth? We rather commend him! But when we see the lofty towers and spires of Romish chapels, monasteries, and convents, thrusting themselves up in the length and breadth of the land, we would

provoke you to jealousy by the zeal of our opponents! We assure you that Protestant indifference contributes as much as Romish zeal to these lamentable results. Our remedy is Scriptural Education on the principles of the Established Church. We affirm that had this prevailed in the days of James I., the Gunpowder plot would never have been contemplated. We therefore urge you, by all that is sacred and holy, to give us your pecuniary support. We desire not to sow the seeds of disunion-we deprecate unkindness and exasperating statements; but, our enemies being the judges, surely we can sanctify this memorable occasion by Christian charity, and contribute our substance towards Scriptural Education, by which, under God, truth may be exalted above error,

light above darkness-the cross above the crucifix-and the Gospel of God our Saviour above the priest, or the church to whom its unsearchable riches' are entrusted!

WE now present our readers with another specimen of a Chapel, now erecting,on which we can bestow unqualified approbation. Being in the vicinity of the Metropolis, it is naturally of a rather higher rank in architecture than would be requisite for a country hamlet. It is of the Norman style, of the character common in the eleventh century. It was commenced in April of the present year, and advances very near its completion. It accommodates six hundred persons, about half of the sittings being free. The cost will be £2,200, which sum has been raised by subscription among the inhabitants. Lord Maynard presented the site.

One peculiarity of the building

consists in the facings, which both within and without are of fine brick. The effect, we understand, is exceedingly good; and this plan iş, of course, a very economical

one.

The architect is Mr. Shaw, of Christ's Hospital, whose work on Church Architecture we lately had occasion to notice.

It is with much pleasure that we perceive a marked advance in our ecclesiastical architecture. Compared with the churches which were raised some twenty or even fifteen years since, we find in those now in course of erection, a far more correct taste, and yet an equal or even greater attention to economy.

IN conversing on the subject of Church Extension, the enquiry is frequently heard, What is the exact position of the question at the present moment; and how is it affected by the proceedings of the late Session, as to Cathedral Reduction and other matters ?

Now, first to advert to the position of the question in itself: It is an aggressive movement; it is a direction of the "pressure from without," to induce the Government and the Legislature to do that, which, without such presure, they must not be expected to do. It follows, therefore, from this peculiar feature of the case, that the movement, the action from without, must be sustained,-must be continually, or, at least, at stated intervals, repeated and kept up, or the ground gained will be quickly relinquished, and final success become as distant as ever.

Now, in the present case, the success of the first endeavour was everything, (short of entire attainment) that could be hoped or expected. The demand was a new and very unusual one;-namely, for a public grant which Her Majesty's Ministers had not thought it right to ask of Parliament. Following up their opinion, the Government very naturally opposed the motion. The House was asked, then, to do two things which it is quite unaccustomed to do : 1. To vote money for a purpose never mentioned in Parliament since the passing of the Reform Bill. 2. To do this in direct opposition to the opinion of Her Majesty's Ministers. Yet in spite of these obvious disadvantages under which the question laboured, the division was a very close one; the votes being, for Sir Robert H. Inglis's motion, 149; against it, 168. May it not be said, then, without the slightest

exaggeration, that the reception of the question in Parliament was everything, short of entire success, that could be hoped or expected? And surely, if such was the very first division on the question, it cannot savour of presumption to desire, that the matter may again be submitted to the House, at as early a period as the customary forms will allow. The natural conclusion from so near an approach to success, is, that with a slight increase of exertion, the most entire success will be gained. Now there is no doubt whatever, that it would be easy to double the number of Petitions presented in the late Session. Let this be done, and speaking after the manner of men, we may say that success is certain.

But a very natural question which will be asked, is, What is the bearing of the Cathedral Bill, passed in the late Session, upon the question of Church Extension ? The answer is, that it merely removes one very considerable objection, entertained by some persons, to acting in the present matter, until some such measure had been passed.

It is well known, that a principle enunciated, both by Sir Robert Peel in his correspondence of 183-1 (recently published), and also by the Duke of Wellington, in the last Session, was,—that while the State was bound to provide Christian instruction for the people; it could not properly be called upon to make money grants, so long as ecclesiastical revenues remained, either undeveloped or misapplied. Only when the pecuniary means of the Church had been entirely brought into use, and had been proved inadequate, would either Sir Robert Peel or the Duke admit the feasibility or propriety, of call

Now, by the passing of the Cathedral Bill, which became law at the close of the late Session, this difficulty is almost entirely removed. The Act for equalizing the Episcopal Revenues, which passed about four years since, settled that portion of the Church's revenues; and this year's measure regulates the funds derivable from the estates of the Deans and Chapters. So far, then, at least, we have advanced in the adjustment of these matters; and it can scarcely now be said, as heretofore, that the State must wait till the Church has first done her duty in the matter.

But it may be asked, whether the funds derivable from the Cathedral Estates, under the late Bill, will not be adequate to meet and supply the destitution which has been so often shown to exist?

The answer is, that Parliament has already resolved, and that by an unanimous vote, that the revenues derivable from the suppression

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of the stalls of non-resident Prebendaries shall be applied to the cure of souls, in parishes where such assistance is most required." Thus the great parish of Stepney having lately had four new churches built, by means of the Bishop of London's fund, and the ministers of such churches having no endowment or stipend whatever, save that which arises from pew-rents, the Commissioners will be enabled by reducing the incomes of the (next) Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's, to assign to such parochial ministers small endowments, of perhaps £100. or £200 per annum. And in like manner, with the many new churches now erecting, or recently erected, both in London and in the other populous and ill-provided districts.

Such is the mode in which, according to the decision of Parliament, this fund is to be disposed of. And large and urgent will be

the demands upon it, and most rapidly and entirely will it be absorbed by them. A sum equal to about £120,000. or £130,000. a year, is the highest estimate which has ever been formed of the product of these savings; and this can only accrue by slow degrees, as the existing Prebends fall in. This would not suffice even to provide £200. a year for each of the 700 or 800 Churches which have been built by private contributions within the last fifteen years. At all events, nothing can be more clear than this, that by the deliberate adjudication of Parliament, the appropriation of the means derivable from all these sources, is SO fixed as to leave nothing whatever for Church Extension.

The Church, then, has done her utmost, or rather, the State has so regulated her revenues as thoroughly to apply them to the ends of Religious Instruction. The Episcopal revenues, and the property of the Deans and Chapters, have, each in their turn, been made the subject of an especial enactment; and no one can now say with any justice-"Let the incomes of the prelates or prebendaries be amerced, before call on the State to supply the wants of which you speak.”

you

But perhaps another suggestion may be offered, that by a better leasing of the estates of the Church, whether belonging to Bishops or to Chapters, some means may yet be found, which, when applied to the purposes of Church Extension, may render a national grant unnecessary.

This, however, is not a point on which the advocates of Church Extension can offer an opinion; nor should it be allowed to operate as an objection to an immediate provision for the spiritual wants of the people. All that those who urge the present application to Parliament can do, is to insist on the necessity of some means being immediately found, for providing Churches for those who at present

have no opportunity of worshipping God, or hearing the words of eternal life. As to what those means shall be, or by what measures the Legislature may best supply the existing need, it would be obviously improper for the advocates of the question, out of Parliament, to express an opinion. They must confine themselves to the simple duty of laying before Parliament the necessity; and of urging that such measures as may be judged most expedient, should be adopted without further loss of time.

An expression may here be noticed, which is often used when speaking of these subjects, but which necessarily conveys an erroneous idea. It is frequently said, that

the Church must do what she herself can, before she calls on the State to come to her aid with fresh grants of public money." Now it is obvious, that in thus speaking, the fact is for the moment lost sight of-that the Church, as a whole, and as to questions of revenue or the like, has no power to act at all.

All the great Legislative changes in the distribution of the Church's reveuues, which have been made of late years, have been made by the Legislature, and by the Legislature alone could they be made. Convocation being no longer a living and acting assembly, and the bench of Bishops, often spoken of as a deliberate body, having in fact no such corporate existence; it is only in Parliament that matters of this sort can be adjusted. Those, therefore, who speak of the Church's doing this or that, should bear in mind that it is only in the Legislature that any thing at all can be done.

Reference will, doubtless, often be made to private efforts, and an opinion may perhaps sometimes be hazarded, that these alone, without the aid of the State, will prove adequate to supply the existing

need. Let us, then, once more revert to the facts which surround us on every side, and which bear on this part of the question.

The Ecclesiastical Commissioners reported, in 1835, that to supply the Metropolis adequately with Church-room, no fewer than two hundred and seventy-nine new Churches would be necessary. The Bishop of London, not venturing to attempt so much, proposes to raise fifty, by a voluntary effort. Of those fifty, only about thirty have yet been commenced. Within the last twelvemonth, a second effort was made, to supply one parish fully, by building ten new Churches in Bethnal-green. But, after a long and vigorous effort, the subscriptions still fall short of the required sum by no less than £20,000.

In Birmingham, a subscription was opened, two years since, to build ten new Churches. The sum of £40,000, was required; but only about £23,000. has yet been raised; and thus the enterprize is crippled at the very outset. Precisely a similar report might be made of Manchester, and of Liverpool. And, in isolated districts, of smaller population, the complaint is almost universal, that poor and ill-built churches are raised, for want of means to provide better

ones.

This leads us to advert to one more point, i. e. the real character and extent of the application that is made to Parliament. In the course of the late Session, an attempt was made to create a prejudice against the application, by asserting that its advocates intended to ask for a grant of eight millions sterling!

It is almost needless to say, that no such absurd idea ever entered the minds of the advocates of Church Extension. In fact, they have never even attempted to fix in their own minds any amount to be asked for. All that was sought, on Sir Robert H. Inglis's motion,

was, a recognition of a case of need, and of a principle of action. If these were conceded, the practical question would then devolve on the government, as to what vote of money they would propose. The advocates of the measure attempt not to decide this point. But so far from being inclined to seek for a very large grant, they would readily hail, from the bands of the government, a very small annual grant, such as £100,000. or even £50,000., and would anticipate, even from the distribution of the latter sum, among such parties as had subscribed largely themselves, the most extensive and substantial advantages.

What, then, is the duty of Churchmen? Clearly, it is, to persevere; stating, year by year, until their petition is granted; spiritual necessities of our growing population; and the incumbent duty of the legislature to make some adequate provision.

It is important that every opportunity should be embraced, of urging this matter upon members of parliament. Whenever an election takes place, let churchmen constantly prefer that candidate who will give due consideration to the claims of our destitute population.

But, chiefly, let us persevere in a general and united address to the legislature. Last year, 2577 petitions were sent in; let the number in 1841 exceed 4000. It is only necessary to make one more such exertion, and, humanly speaking, the question must be carried. Myriads of our countrymen are perishing "for lack of knowledge; myriads more are falling a prey to Socialism, Chartism, and every other strange opinion; merely, or for the most part, because a sound scriptural instruction is not provided for them. Amidst all this, private effort is struggling on; doing great good; but utterly incompetent to keep pace with the advancing tide of population. And yet, all that is needed, all that is asked, is, a moderate annual grant, not to supersede, but to aid and encourage private effort. With this fostering aid, the zeal of the people would probably soon overtake the need; without it, the evil proves too strong for them, and the destitute grows with each succeeding year.

One more effort, then, an united and simultaneous effort,-let us all make in the coming session; and if made in faith and prayer, it can hardly be made in vain.

THE worldling sees the Christian with his Bible, and his prayers, and his psalms, but he knows not the internal blessing. "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him," and with them only. "Our life is hid with Christ in God." We too have walked according to the course of this world, have fed on its vile husks, and we know what we have relinquished; but they whose eyes the God of this world hath blinded, know not what we have gained. Our invitation is, "Come thou with us, and we will do thee good." We

cannot descend from our high ground; we cannot part with our glorious bliss; we long that they should be partakers of it with ourselves. The kingdom of God is righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost." Every sabbath duly improved, we experience the reality of this truth in fuller and richer and deeper blessedness; every sabbath is as it were a link in the chain which binds us more closely to heaven; a step in the ladder of our upward

ascent.

STODART.