ground for accusing me of checking the freedom of debate.' Among the new adherents to the Opposition I must mention Monsignor de Mérode, who has openly declared against the dogma of infallibility.

The London correspondent of the Western Morning News most justly rebukes the unforgiving character of the late Bishop of Manchester's will:-"The paragraph describing the late Bishop of Manchester's will, which has just been published, sufficiently reveals the stern, unforgiving character of the man. Some years ago a gentleman in every way irreproachable, I am told, was brought into communication with Bishop Lee's family. This gentleman was only a Curate, but he was a good deal petted by the Bishop, and at last he proposed marriage to Miss Lee, and was accepted. When the Bishop heard of this he was filled with wrath, and as the lovers persisted in marrying without his consent, he refused to hold any communication with them. Subsequently they were reduced to the most painful straits of poverty, out of which they were rescued by the interposition of friends. But though on hearing of this the Bishop gave some relief, he never forgave his daughter. Neither she nor her husband was with him during his illness nor at his funeral, and he has now made known to all the world that he, a Christian Bishop, has died as unforgiving as he had lived towards those who had committed the Ligh crime of marrying without his approval. For this reason only, as set forth in his will, he has bequeathed his eldest daughter not a farthing of the 40,0007, which he has left."

In a recent number we gave an account of the consecration, by the Bishop of Toronto, of the English Church at Dresden. The congregation have now had the melancholy duty of following to the grave the body of their Chaplain, the Rev. James William Kitto, who died somewhat suddenly on Friday the 4th inst. He had laboured incessantly to forward the designs of the munificent founder of the Church, and to make English Church life a reality in this place, organising a choir, instituting Daily Services and frequent Communions, and he was just about to commence his classes for Confirmation. Mr. Kitto was only twenty-nine years of age, and the last, we believe, of a large family. He wanted not, however, real mourners; as must ever be the case with those whose chief characteristic is their utter abnegation of self. The Church was crowded not only by its own but by members of the other English and American congregations. The choir met the procession at the entrance, and the Service was performed by the Rev. John Mansfield, who has been in the habit of bearing great part in the Services. As the coffin was being removed, Nunc Dimittis was chanted, and a large number of the congregation followed the remains to the cemetery of Blasewitz, where the last rites were performed by the Rev. John Medwin, assisted by several of the choir of the Hof Kirche, who were anxious to show this gratifying proof of the respect in which the Reverend gentleman was held by the inhabitants of Dresden.

her arms.

and the Priests of the New. This is effected in the French Protestant translations by the use of the word Sacrificateur'-a word which could never be used in our Prayer Book, or applied to designate a Potestant Minister."

DR. LITTLEDALE ON THE RECENT JUDGMENT.-The following are the concluding sentences of an admirable Sermon preached by Dr. Littledale at St. Michael and All Angels, Shoreditch, on the morning of Sunday week. His text was from the Gospel of the day, "Let both grow together: "-Let our spirit be as for as possible from that of the servants bear and forbear to the utmost. Let us shrink with horror from the bare of the Householder in the text! Let us always show ourselves ready to idea of reprisals or revenge. Of course all that heard him would know what he was driving at. The enemy who had sought ten years ago to put down by popular tumults the revival of Catholic worship, had more recently taken another line. They had subscribed large sums of money, and by means of foolish, incompetent, or partizan Courts, they might for a time deprive us of things that we held very dear. But what of that? Suppose that the tares did seem to be choking the wheat, let us not for one moment think of rooting them up. Let them stand till the harvest, but let us do what in us lay in the first place to strengthen the wheat, so that it may not suffer from the worst efforts of the enemy, and in the seemed about to receive was one that we really might want. There was second to gain those who assailed us. Further, the lesson which we something so wonderful in the depth and symmetry of the Catholic Faith; something so affecting in the sublimity of Catholic art; something so attractive in the Song of the Sanctuary, that many a man was perhaps a Catholic not so much for the sake of serving God as of pleasing himself. Well, the question was perhaps going to be put to each of us, "Can you bear to be a Catholic when all these things which, perhaps unconsciously, move you so much, are swept away? You, who have found it so pleasant to shout with an enthusiastic crowd-Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord!'-will you linger with the two or three faithful ones and adore Him as He hangs naked upon the Cross?" In a word, Dr. Littledale drew from the parable motives first for great charity and forbearance towards those who oppressed us, secondly for great humility and confidence in God, and lastly for increased holiness and strictness of life.

THE TRANSLATION OF THE BIBLE.-As President of the Bible Society, the Earl of Shaftesbury lifts his voice against "the revision of the version of the Scriptures, as proposed by the Upper House of Convocation at their sitting of the 11th of this month, and observes :-"The English Bible, as altered by the Bishops, will cease to be the Bible, not only of the Nonconformists, but of the Scotch and Irish Presbyterian Churches; it would cease to be the Bible of our brethren in the United States of America, and of every Protestant speaking the English language over the entire surface of the globe; we should, moreover, lie under the burden, the importance of which will, of course, be variously estimated, of having the fifty million copies of the Scriptures already issued by the Society "synodically condemned." Such is the phrase of the two Houses of Convocation. Nearly all, I believe, both of Churchmen and Dissenters, would be most happy to leave the translation as it at present exists, and to forbear the assertion of their own special criticisms on words and phrases; but if the Bishops will insist on such minute accuracy, others will be equally positive in similar demands. Many will ask, and justly ask, whether the Church,' as understood in the present day, is a due

ARCHBISHOP LYCURGUS IN MANCHESTER. The Archbishop of Syra, who is at present on a visit to Manchester, preached on Friday in the Greek Church, Higher Broughton, it being the day on which the Greek Orthodox Church celebrates the memory of St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory the Theologian, and St. John Chrysostom. There was a very large congregation, which included a considerable number of the Clergy of the Anglican Church resident in Manchester and the neighbourhood. The Rev. Dr. M. Moro, the Archimandrite Stratélaos, of Liverpool, and other Clergy of the Greek Church, took part in the Service. The children attending the Greek school attended for the purpose of receiving the blessing of the Archbishop The girls were very prettily dressed in white, with blue sashes. After the Prayers, Archbishop Lycurgus ascended the throne, which was of a rich crimson, fringed with gold, and surmounted by a cross. He delivered, in a clear and highly melodious tone of voice, a long and earnest Sermon on Hebrews xiii. 7, "Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the Word of God, whose faith follow, concourse was the three hierarchs, whose memory was being celebrated, and who were regarded in Greece as the patrons and protectors of the schools. The first part of the Sermon described what the hierarchs were as pupils, and the second what they were as teachers and shepherds of the people. Mention was made of the different incidents in their lives, especially their descent from parentage of eminence, wealth, and spiritual virtue, and their Christian training by pious mothers-St. Basil by Emily, St. Gregory by Nona, and St. Chrysostom by Arthonssa. Turning to the ladies present his Grace showed what an eminent example those three mothers gave, and by what clear testimony they had ratified the truth that the most difficult to be acquired, and yet the most wished for accomplishment was the light training of a child as the work of and moulding by a mother's hands. In the subsequent parts of the discourse his Grace addressed himself in succession to the young, the Priests, and the schoolmasters, exhorting them in their several vocations to hold precious the example of the three hierarchs. After the Sermon, his Grace descended from the throne, and gave his Benediction to the children of the Greek school, each of whom received the broken bread of the Communion from him and kissed his right hand; and he then distributed the bread amongst the senior members of the congregation. The Service lasted nearly three hours.

1. What are the best means and measures for improving the condition of poor Benefices in the Diocese ? and for providing relief for aged, disabled, and necessitous Incumbents?

2. How can the public Services of the Church be rendered more inter

esting and attractive to our people? How can we best create and cherish a more intelligent appreciation of the structure and distinctive teaching of the Church of England in her Book of Common Prayer? What measures can be adopted for a better observance of the Lord's Day, and of the sacred seasons—the holy days, fasts, and festivals—of the Christian year?

What can be done for the restoration of public catechising in our Churches, especially with a view to Confirmation?

3. How can we best provide for the religious instruction of the young, particularly of those who have left school? and for strengthening among them habits of private prayer, of reading the Holy Scriptures, and of attendance at public worship? How can we best induce them to be regular attendants at the Holy Communion, after Confirmation? Whether by communicant classes, or otherwise? What may be done to improve the religious condition and habits of our farm servants?

4. What means can be devised for maintaining and advancing the study of the Holy Scriptures-critical, expository, and practical-and theological learning and literature among the Clergy; with especial regard to the requirements and dangers of the present times?

5. In order to awaken in our people a more lively sense of their religious responsibilities, and to strengthen them in the principles of religious faith and practice, is it desirable to organize Special Services and Missions, with a body of preachers gathered together, especially such as are connected with the Cathedral, as the Mother Church and religious centre of the Diocese? and if so, under what regulations ought such special Services and Missions to be conducted?

6. What measures may be adopted for the restoration and recovery of our Wesleyan brethren to the unity of the Church? Would it be advisable to invite any of their principal leaders, and those of other religious denominations which are separated from our Communion, to a conference on the fundamental principles of Christian doctrine and discipline, with a view to common and united efforts together with them against ignorance and vice, especially intemperance, unbelief, secularism, and superstition?

7. What suggestions can be offered for the proper management of a Parish Choir? for the religious improvement of its members, and for the general edification of the congregation of the Church by means of musical Services? How can Christian teaching and Christian practice be best aided by hymnology?

8. Would it be possible-and, if so, would it be desirable-to endeavour to obtain greater uniformity in our musical Services (not by superseding any hymn-books already in use, but) by endeavouring to frame or provide a compendious Diocesan hymn-book, as a common appendix and general supplement to other hymn-books; such proposed supplement or appendix to contain hymns suitable for Christian Seasons, for Confirmation, for Choral and other Festivals, Harvest Thanksgivings, Missionary Services, Consetration of Churches and Churchyards, reopening of Churches after restoration, opening of schools, for funerals, and other occasions, when persons from many various parishes in the Diocese might be expected to be gathered together in one Church?

9. What suggestions can be offered for promoting united consultation and co-operation of the laity with the Clergy in works of piety and charity in their respective parishes, and in the Diocese generally? and particularly for conference at the Visitation which the Bishop hopes to hold in the autumn of the present year?

DISCOVERY IN MOAB.

A discovery of remarkable interest, and as it may turn out to be, of exceptional importance, has just been announced by Captain Warren, R.E., the head of the working explorers at Jerusalem. It is a short pillar or stele between three and four feet high covered with an inscription in theso-called Phoniecian characters, and evidently of Moabitish age and origin.

The following letters on this subject have appeared in the Times :Sir,-Captain Warren, R.E., the active and able agent of the Palestine Exploration Fund at Jerusalem, has made a discovery which promises to be of great importance, and of which I hasten to communicate the main particulars, reserving a more detailed description for a future letter. A few months ago Captain Warren heard of a stone covered with writing, which was said to be existing at Dhiban, the ancient Dibon, on the east side of the Dead Sea, in the heart of the old country of Moab. The stone was then whole. but on finding that the Franks were inquiring for it the Arabs broke it up into several fragments, which they hid in the granaries of the neighbouring villages. By the tact and perseverance of Captain Warren and M. Ganneau, of the French Consulate, the whole of these pieces appear to have been recovered. Captain Warren is in possession of two of them; others, as I understand, are in M. Ganneau's hands. The larger of the two, 22in. by 14in., belongs to the centre of the lower part of the stone, and the smaller, 12in. by 9in., to the right hand top corner. The stone itself appears from Captain Warren's sketch to be 3ft. 5in. high by 1ft. 9in. wide. Its sides taper very slightly from the bottom upwards, and the top is rounded to nearly a semi-circle, The writing runs across the stone in straight lines about 1 inch apart. At present we have only full-sized tracings of our two pieces, but the others have been sent to Paris, and copies and "squeezes" are on their way to us. Meanwhile

not a moment has been lost in sending the tracings to Mr. Deutsch, of the British Museum, the eminent Semitic scholar to whom the Palestine Fund has been more than once deeply indebted, and I subjoin a letter from him about them.

I conclude with two remarks:-1. If the stone be a Moabite record it is the first fragment of the literature of that people that has yet been encountered; for though chapters xxii., xxiii., and xxiv. of the Book of Numbers, and verses 5 to 8 of the 6th chapter of Micah, are probably from Moabite sources, we have no means of knowing how far they may have suffered in adapting them to the Hebrew records. The indications of Isaiah xv. and xvi. imply that the nation of Moab was more civilized and important than we are apt to suppose, and the general interest attaching to the discovery of such a portion of its literature is therefore naturally great. But (2) if the "Mesha" whose name appears in the first line is the hero of the tragical story of 2 Kings iii., then we have indeed a discovery which may well make us stand breathless till the whole document has been deciphered. To find a passage of Moabite chronicle so parallel in date to a portion of the Bible is an event of no mean importance; and it should stimulate us to further researches in the same direction.

I may add that Captain Warren's labours in Jerusalem are not abated, and that they have lately yielded remarkable results, which I hope shortly to send you.

The Fund has recently sent out Mr. E. H. Palmer-whose competence in vernacular Arabic was fully proved in the late Ordnance Survey of Sinai and Mr. Tyrwhitt Drake to that vast tract of desert which lies between Sinai and the Holy Land, with the view to discover whether traces can be found of the wanderings of the children of Israel. These gentlemen are carrying on their mission with great vigour and apparent accuracy, and I hope on a future occasion to lay some of their discoveries before your readers. At present they would require maps for their elucidation. Your obedient servant, GEORGE GROVE, Hon. Sec. Palestine Fund. Office of the Fund, 9, Pall-mall East, Feb. 8.

"My dear Grove,-I hasten, in reply to your message, to transmit to you the following preliminary notes for the information of your Committee. The Moabite inscription, of parts of which you have forwarded me tracings, is of very great importance indeed. Being at present in possession of about a third of the whole only-this third being copy of squeezes taken from two mutilated fragments of the upper and lower portions of the monument in question-I refrain from dwelling on its apparent general purport. The 26 lines before me (eight and 18 respectively), averaging from seven to 24 letters to a line, are incomplete in every single instance. A few exceptions apart, both the beginning and the end are wanting. About another third of the letters thus extant are marked by the hand of the copyist, Captain Warren, as doubtful. Finally, certain gaps, several inches wide, occur at times in the very midst of these mutilated characters. And yet, even in this piteous state, the document reveals things of the utmost moment. Leaving what conjectures I have formed till such time when a sight of the (promised) fuller text shall confirm them or cause me to reject them, I shall content myself with a few items, which are absolutely incontestable even now.

The document starts with the words I, Mesha, son of Ch... Whether this be the Mesha who, driven at bay by the three allied armies of Judah, Israel, and Edom, sacrificed his son to save his country, or not, I cannot yet determine; but there is no special reason against the assumption. A king of Mesha's prowess might have spoken of his doings as proudly as is done on this monument. And, what is of much greater weight, the character of the writing, which, in default of a better word, we must still call Phoenician,' looks even older than that of many of the Assyrian (Mesopotamian) bilingual cylinders in the British Museum, the date of which is, at the very least, as old as the ninth century B.C., the time of this Biblical Mesha. It is, indeed, the palæographical part of the document which at present seems paramount. Apart from the very primitive character of the whole alphabet as it here occurs, there is one letter (the Kaph) which, to my knowledge, is found on no other Semitic remnant in this peculiar Moabite' shape. Next to this point ranks always for the present the geographical importance of this record. There start up with absolute clearness such names as Beth-Bamoth, Beth-Baal-Meon, Horomim, Dibon, well-known Biblical cities, either situate in Moab (the names whereof were changed by the Israelites,' whence their variations), or temporarily held by Moab. These places, among others, King Mesha on this stele boasts of having built.' Indeed, the words 'I built' occur so frequently that they form welcone landmarks to the decipherer. Besides these places which occur in the Bible, I find Karkha,' which I venture to identify with Kerek, the later name of the whole country, also the name of a hamlet still in existence. But apart from this, mention is also made repeatedly of Israel,' the rival, often hostile power, and Chemosh,' the national God of Moab.

66 Let this suffice now. The historical as well as the linguistic purport of this find are both so startingly obvious that nothing need be added at present. I would only beg to urge on your Committee the expediency of leaving no means untried to get possession of as much of this unique Moabite relic as may survive.

"E. DEUTSCH.

Correspondence.

(The Editor is not responsible for the opinions of his Correspondents.)
DR. TEMPLE.

SIR, Dr. Temple, in his late most painful utterance in Convocation, amid much that was ambiguous made the following facts at least sufficiently clear-1. That he neither retracted his own share in Essays and Reviews, nor condemned any one of his co-essayists. 2. That the object of the book was to encourage sceptics to "speak out," and so communicate the contagion of their unbelief to others, instead of preserving that "reticence" which were surely more becoming, unless indeed they were to adopt the more excellent way of unburdening their grief to some discreet and learned Minister of God's Word. 3. That he was not prepared to deny that the book had done great mischief. 4. That he did not the least regret the mischief it had done. It is this last fact which is so especially painful. Here is a Christian (?) Bishop openly confessing that a book in which he had no mean share, has done great mischief to souls bought by the precious Blood of Christ, and yet giving no sign whatever of contrition or penitence!

Dr. Temple evidently considers a few souls by no means too great a price to pay so long as his book succeeds in its mission. And all the good he claims for its having done as a set off against the acknowledged mischief is, that it may have stopped some few who already disbelieved many vital truths, such as e. g. Eternal Punishment, from thoroughgoing infidelity, and encouraged them to continue in the visible Church.

Now, the practical question is, what act of reparation can we make to our Blessed Lord for this fearful recklessness about souls thus displayed by a so-called Christian Bishop?

I would suggest that every Priest who feels for the poor souls for whom Bishop Temple does not feel, should ask the prayers of his people before every Litany, from now to Easter, for those who have erred and been deceived by the book called Essays and Reviews.

I could wish the suggestion had come from some one more influential than myself, yet I trust it will not be despised, even from Your humble servant in Christ, JAMES E. VERNON. Vicarage, Bicknoller, Taunton, February 14, St. Valentine, 1870. SIR,-Does it not strike you that the very thing which Dr. Temple's friends allege in his favour is really his strongest condemnation? "We believe he is sound in the faith." So much the worse, surely. Doubly guilty, then, must he be in having assaulted it; excusable as he were if an infidel instead. "It is a vile bird, indeed, &c." He knows that he has helped to shake the confidence of very many weak minds in the truth of Scripture, and his justification is-"Yes, I have fought my poor little fight in the enemy's ranks, but all the while I was and am yours. My own personal convictions, our best guide, induce me to adopt Christianity, wherever yours may now lead you to, after all we have done." Your obedient servant,

THE ANTI-PEW ACT.

B.

SIR, Will you permit me to ask suggestions from your "Free Church" readers on the subjoined project of law, adopted some years back by the Parliamentary Committee of the National Association for Freedom of Worship, but postponed through other legislation. It is now intended to move for a Committee upon the effects of the present exclusion of the mass of the people from parish Churches by the pew-rent system, and to bring forward a short Bill:

(1.) Declaring the common-law right of all parishioners (now as for a thousand years) to the free use in common of all the seats in the nave of a parish Church.

(2.) Prohibiting any rent or charge being paid or made for seats in any Church hereafter to be consecrated for a parochial district, or for any seat not now rented in a new or old parish Church.

(3.) Providing for the establishment of Free Mission Churches, or Free Church Services, wherever the number of families in the parish is more than twice the number to whom pews in the existing Churches and Chapels are allotted. J. E. DUVAL, Secretary. National Association, 16, Northumberland-street, W.C., 12th February, 1870.

Yours faithfully,

as practised by the State? What is it as regards these two essential points, honesty and chastity?

First, for honesty. How has Government kept faith with the dead in its wholesale dealing with the wills of founders-altering, annulling, contravening, ad libitum? How far is it going to keep faith with those who have purchased property under the Irish Encumbered Estates Act? They purchased under the idea that their title was indefeasible-the best in the world-so they were told by Sir Robert Peel when he brought in his Bill? If this be the kind of morality that is to be taught in our schools, woe betide us!

But now for chastity. How far is this promoted in the Divorce Court, under the sanction of which the adulterer and the adulteress may re-marry and marry again and again? How far will it be promoted by the Bill which is to be brought in to legalise marriage with a deceased wife's sister, under which the widower may marry sister after sister-as many as he likes? I greatly fear lest, as religion gets more and more into disfavour with the State, our morality may sink to the level of that of the Jews in the days of their decline and fall. Take the females of the Herod family. There was Herodias. She forsook her husband to live in adultery and incest with her husband's brother. There was Drusilla. She also forsook her husband to live in adultery with Felix, a Roman and a Pagan. And worse still was the case of her sister Bernice. She forsook her husband to live, it was said, in incest with her brother, and when she left him it was to become the mistress, first of Vespasian, and then of his son Titus. Could anything be conceived more horrible? These women threw off the restraints of religion, and morality, of course, soon followed. We, thank God, are not yet fallen into such depths of degradation. But who can say what we may come to, when religion is excluded from our primary education, and a State morality substituted in its place. Let us pause ere it be too late, or we may sink as much lower than the Jews as the religion that we forsake is higher and more I am, Sir, your faithful servant,

excellent than theirs.

MR. DIDHAM'S LETTER.

E.

SIR,-1 was much amused when I read Mr. Didham's letter in your last. However, I am happy to inform the Editor of the CHURCH HERALD, or whoever it may concern, that I have succeeded in obtaining several new subscribers during the week, and hope to continue to do so. Let me try and impress upon all who value the C. H. to introduce it to their friends. I have done so with remarkable success. Yours faithfully, H. E. HARRIS. Feb. 14th, 1870.

ILLUSTRATED CHURCH PERIODICALS. SIR,--The want of a cheap illustrated magazine of sound Church principles has long been felt by the Clergy and District Visitors, and has often been advocated in the Church papers. I beg to call the attention of all interested upon this subject among your readers to an advertisement in your columns of an attempt that is being made to supply this want by the publication of the Banner, the first number of which it is proposed to publish on April 1st. I shall be glad to receive communications from any one interested in the subject. Yours faithfully, Frome-Selwood, Feb. 14.

JOHN HODGES.

ANGLICAN AND ROMAN MISSIONS. SIR,-At a time when all the machinery of the Church at home is being cleaned, oiled, and set to work, might we not with advantage look abroad and inquire how things are going on there? There is but one thoroughly Missionary Church in the world-the Church of Rome. She appeals to the universal success of her missions, and the universal failure of any attempts of others to convince men that to her is confined the promise of Christ, "Lo, I am with You always." The Holy Orthodox Church has not such a thing as a mission to the heathen. The Church of England's missions are mostly shams. The missions of the Protestants are shadows of the Church of England! The cause of our want of success is not far to find. First of all, if we are to Christianize India, or Africa, or any parts of those "new worlds" (there are nations in both yet unknown), we must not expect to have the Church of England in India, or in Africa. We must have a Church of India and a Church of Africa, with a native Priesthood. Secondly, let us take a leaf out of Rome's Book of Directions for carrying out missions. Look for a moment at the two missionaries, the Roman and the Anglican. The Italian Priest leaves his country and arrives at his destination, say India. What does he do? First he digs his grave in token that he will die in harness in this new land. All his interests are before him. He can never return to Europe. He has put his hand to the plough, he can't turn back. Then he learns the native language for two or three years at a Priest's house, where he is separated from the fashions and the pleasures of their

WHAT IS MORALITY?

SIR,-There is to be a strong effort this Session on the part of the Liberals to establish a system of secular education. The children are to be taught morality, but not to be taught religion. But what is morality

seeking. Then he is sent forth in his canonical dress, so that he need never be ashamed of his habiliments, however shabby they may be. He has neither money nor jewels, so that he is never in fear of his life, or of being robbed. If they will not receive him at one native village, he goes on till he comes to another where they will. He lives in a hut as a native, on the curry and rice they bring him. He sets up a black cross by th