REMARKS ON A LETTER LATELY PUBLISHED BY MR. HARDING, IN DEFENCE OF THE PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF THE CHURCH PASTORAL-AID SOCIETY. BY THE REV. GEORGE CLAYTON, M.A. RECTOR OF WARMINGHAM, CHESHIRE. LONDON: PRINTED FOR J. G. F. & J. RIVINGTON, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH YARD, AND WATERLOO PLACE, PALL MALL. 1841. ADVERTISEMENT. IN giving publicity to the following remarks, the author can truly avow that his object is not to impair the efficiency of the Church Pastoral-Aid Society, or check it in its work of benevolence; but, on the contrary, by exposing the fallacy of the arguments used in defence of its practice, and by showing the meagreness of the facts on which its principle of action is based, to induce those connected with it to perform a duty they owe to the Church at large, that is, temperately to review their position, and candidly to weigh the evidence brought forward against them; and, if it be such as to lead them to imagine that the obnoxious rules are not altogether in accordance with Church principles, then, for the sake of peace, and for the furtherance of their excellent undertaking, not to be afraid or slow to remove the cause of complaint: but if, on the other hand, still confident, after careful consideration, of their right to the title of Church," and the support of churchmen, then, by a full, fair, and official vindication of their Society, to meet the accusations brought against it, by proving that they have no just foundation. 66 WARMINGHAM RECTORY, March 23, 1841. REMARKS, &c. I MAY first observe, that Mr. Harding's letter can— though, as he himself says, intended as a vindication of the Society's plans-be hardly received as an answer to the letter of Dr. Molesworth, for the doctor's charges are levelled against the Society, and he calls upon it for an "official vindication;" (Dr. M. p. 8.) and though the secretary to the Society, in his letter to Mr. Clark, of Nov. 9, 1840, (Dr. M. p. 35.) signifies its willingness to maintain its principles and practice, yet it has not yet done so, for it may either approve or disclaim altogether Mr. H.'s letter, as it shall see expedient; and therefore, as far as the Society is concerned, no answer has been given, and the only thing to be concluded is that, in its secretary's words, it does not "deem it necessary to do so." I shall first deal with the main question, which, at page 4, Mr. H. thus puts forth: "The point of difference between him (Dr. M.) and us is this; we believe that the Church Pastoral-Aid Society is framed and conducted in perfect agreement with our ecclesiastical law; Dr. Molesworth affirms the contrary." |
