I need not, my Lord, remind you-I need not, I am sure, remind this company-that Christianity, as taught by the Church established in these realms, is eminently a social benefit. I need not remind you, that by enforcing the sanctions it supersedes the penalties of law; that it establishes social order on the broad and sure basis of religious principle; that it tempers those inequalities of condition, which, for wise purposes, are permitted to exist among mankind, by precepts of mutual forbearance and benevolence; and that it places loyalty to the appointed sovereign, and obedience to all constituted authorities, on the high vantage-ground of primary obligation to God, As little need I remind you of the beneficial influence which it exercises over families; how it awakens the vigilance of the parent and calls forth the duty of the child; how it knits together the offspring of the same parents, in a tie of friendship more close by far than that of brotherhood; and how in neighbourhoods where families who act upon such principles are located, those who dwell around them may read a perpetual homily, in the example which they display of all that is pure, honest, just, lovely, and of good report. Never has it been affirmed, my Lord, that the Churchman, whose profession should coincide with his practice, and who should embody in his daily conduct the spirit of his weekly prayers, would be-could be, other than a good neighbour, a good subject, a good citizen, and a good man.

In coming hither, therefore, for the purpose which has induced you to appear in the midst of us this day, your Lordship has been performing the highest and the most pleasing duty of a Christian magistrate. For it will not be denied, that the prevention of crime is far preferable to the infliction of penalty; and that there is no path to the prevention of crime so sure, so safe, and so speedy as the promotion of the knowledge of pure and undefiled religion.

While however, my Lord, no exception can be taken to the general application of these principles, an objection may perhaps be brought against this individual case. It may be said-it has been said-that within the limits of your Lordship's jurisdiction, the places of worship are

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already more in number than the necessities of the inhabitants require; that those around me of the hundreds and the thousands who cannot be accommodated in their own parochial edifices, have only to go to a distance to some of those sanctuaries in a comparatively deserted neighbourhood, which exhibit what has been termed " beggarly account of empty pews." But, my Lord, those who argue thus, can know little of human nature, and still less of the principles of the Church of England. We hold, my Lord, that he who is put in trust with souls, is the minister not of a congregation but of a parish; and if from circumstances peculiar to great commercial cities, it is impracticable to pervade, with his week-day ministrations, the whole of his appointed field of labour, still, my Lord, I say (and I think I may appeal to many here around for proof of what I assert), that the parochial minister is at all times, in the hour of sickness and distress, the friend and adviser of every parishioner who shall require his good offices, whatever may have been the conduct of that man, and whatever may be his creed.

In proof of this I have only to state what must be a startling and striking, no less than a lamentable fact, that in the cases of sickness which it has been my lot to visit, more than one half have been persons who were never accustomed to attend the worship of God in any Christian sanctuary whatsoever. The principle of the Church of England, my Lord, is this-that every parishioner should have a right in his own parochial minister; and surely it is equally her principle that every parishioner should have a right in his own parochial edifice. And they, my Lord, know little of human nature who do not feel, that when the flame of true religion has been kindled in the heart, it requires to be nursed by careful superintendence and by frequent visitation; and, consequently, those who have been thus awakened to a sense of their best interests, cannot be expected to go to a distant church where they no longer hear the familiar voice of one whom they know to be their friend. Still less can it be expected of the freeborn Englishman that he should go and seek that accommodation as a stranger, or as an intruder, which his country-his country that ought to be the spiritual mother of

all her children-which his country has provided for him, or should have provided for him, in a local habitation and a parochial home.

I could, my Lord, bring before you, and before this company, statistical details which would prove to demonstration, the necessity of another church in this populous neighbourhood. These, however, I shall reserve for another place, and for another occasion. Let it suffice now to state, that when the church-bell shall echo for the first time in yonder tower, there will be (if the state of the neighbourhood continues what it now is) there will be within sound of that bell, at least two thousand souls— two thousand immortal souls,-men, women, and children, -who are dwelling in utter estrangement from the ordinances of public worship, and, I fear it may too often be said, with as little sense of the restraints of Christian morality and piety, as though they had been born in some barbaric clime, in which the pure light of the day-spring from on high hath never dawned. Is it wonderful then, my Lord, that in such a vicinity practices should abound, which the statesman would reprobate as injurious to society, no less than the Christian as detrimental to the interests of the soul?

It is well known that the very proximity of a church acts as a check upon open vice and immorality. How much more then the purposes for which a church is used! They who shall be drawn by degrees to mingle in the sacred services of this place, will obviously be drawn away from those pursuits, and from those associations, the tendency of which is to convert our choicest blessings into a curse, and to make the very Sabbath an opportunity of sin. For I am sure, my lord, I shall need no argument beyond your own magisterial experience, when I say, that Sabbath breaking and intemperance are the two main-springs which supply that deep and black flood of vice and misery which rolls through this great metropolis, overflowing our hospitals, inundating our prisons, and gorging our graves.

During the six days of his honest labour, my Lord, the man of the working classes-the operative, as he is popularly termed-is employed as usefully to society, aye,

and as honourably too, as though, like your lordship, he bore the sword of justice, or led forth to battle the armies of the state, or wielded at will the fate and fortunes of mighty empires. But it is when the rest of the Sabbath brings with it the license for iniquity, that those seeds of bitterness are sown, which grow up in all the charities of kindred violated, in all the sanctions of religion set at defiance, in the extreme penalties of the law incurred, and, last and worst, in the forfeiture of the soul's eternal jewel to the common enemy of God and man.

If, then, my Lord, we can draw together in this place a congregation out of those who have hitherto been living without hope and without God in the world, then I would appeal to your lordship as a Christian man, and a Christian magistrate, I would appeal to this goodly company here assembled, of whatever elements it may be composed,-whether we do not thus confer a benefit upon the state itself,—a benefit which entitles us to the hearty and liberal co-operation of all those who have been taught, whether by experience or by observation, that the interests of true religion are mixed up with the prosperity and the greatness of the country; and that it is "righteousness which exalteth a nation," while "sin is a reproach to any people." That co-operation, my Lord, I acknowledge it with gratitude to God and man,-has in this case indeed been liberally given. Public companies, and private individuals, have vied with each other in contributing to this good work. The part which your lordship has taken speaks for itself; for which, and for the sentiments which you have expressed,—so congenial, I am persuaded, with the feelings of all around you,-I beg to tender you my best thanks, in the name of the parish which I, its unworthy minister, represent; persuaded as I am that your lordship will enjoy the best reward in the consciousness of having done good.

And, my Lord, it is a source to me of peculiar satisfaction, connected as I officially am, and have long been, with this great city, that in acknowledging your lordship's kindness, it becomes my duty also to commemorate the most zealous and disinterested assistance of him who preceded your lordship in the high and responsible office,

and to whom we owe it that we are in possession of the very site on which this church is to be raised. He, my Lord, who obtained this splendid gift from the distinguished body of which he is a member, was one of whom we may now say, what in a short time many voices will exclaim concerning your lordship, that he reflected fresh honour on his important office by the manner in which he discharged it; and to you I will venture to repeat the words once addressed to him, that in your honourable retirement from official toils, that part of your professional duty on which you will not reflect with the least satisfaction, is that which you have now so kindly come hither to perform; for the work is not for man, but for the Lord God.

The site for the church having been thus obtained, the necessary funds have been supplied from various resources. Her majesty's commissioners, as it has been already stated by your lordship, have devoted one thousand pounds to the erection of this church. The same sum has been obtained from the Metropolitan Church Building Fund, so ably administered under the advice of our venerated diocesan; in mentioning which, it is but right to state, that thus has been paid back to this great city, two-fold, the contribution which was made for this holy purpose from its corporate funds. The remainder, my Lord,-upwards of two thousand pounds,—has been raised, within a very small amount, by the voluntary subscriptions of the parishioners and their friends; among whom I am especially bound to commemorate the worshipful Company of Cutlers, from whom we have received a donation of one hundred pounds, the Right Honourable Lord Calthorpe, who has been a benefactor to the same amount, with all the corporate bodies who occupy premises in the parish. Thus, my Lord, the funds have been raised to erect a temple to the honour of God; and I am sure I shall but give utterance to the sentiments of all present, when I pray that those who have so generously and so piously contributed, may be spared to be

*The Goldsmiths' Company.

The Hand-in-Hand, Albion, and Hope Insurance Offices, and the City of London Gas Company.