PROPOSAL FOR INSTITUTING A RITUAL PRO FESSORSHIP IN DIVINITY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCHMAN'S MAGAZINE.

I

SIR,

HAVE perused with much attention the proposal for a New Professorship, inserted in your number for May last, p. 334, and the perusal of it has produced in my mind a full persuasion, that the establishment in each of our Universities of some such professorship as is there described, would be a measure attended with the greatest public utility. As the author of that proposal does not profess to give more than a general outline of his plan, I may be permitted, without offence to him, to dilate further upon it, and even to make alterations in it. The object in view, i. e. to secure a supply of good parochial ministers, is the same with us both; and perhaps, were your correspondent and I to discuss the subject freely, we should not differ much in the mode of attaining it. I am of opinion, with him, that though of late years, some attention has been paid in our Universities to the instruction of young men, intended for the Church, in the theory of their profession, yet the adoption of some publicly authorized measure, by which they may be instructed and regularly trained up in the practice of it, is still a desideratum. In the University of Cambridge, for instance, though the institution of the Norrisian Professorship may be supposed to provide sufficiently for the instruction of young students in divinity, in the evidences of Christianity, and in the nature and meaning of its doctrines and precepts, yet there is no provision made, none at least that is sanctioned by pubfic authority, or that can be relied on as safe and permament, for directing them in the actual performance of ecclesiastical duties; and, so long as this is the case, I cannot but think, that the system of education for ministers of the Church of England, as such, is very incomplete. Young clergymen of that Church, for want of such di rection, enter upon the exercise of their profession under great disadvantages; nor is it any wonder, that they so

often

often contract erroneous methods in the exercise of it, which they are afterwards unable to correct. We do not expect a person to be skilful in any mechanical profession, without much previous instruction and actual employment in it; and, though the most important part of the ministerial office, and consequently of the preparation for it, is of a mental nature, yet there is a part of it, and the part most open to general observation, which may be considered as rather mechanical, and which, if not executed with propriety, will not fail greatly to interfere with the intended effect. Generally speaking, we have a clergy sufficiently learned; but, with all my partiality for the Church of England, I cannot but allow, that the service of the Church, with respect both to the Prayers and the Sermon, is often performed in a manner, which is very ill calculated to excite the intended sentiments, and to impress the intended convictions. This is a circumstance in the exercise of the ministerial office, of which the people in general are pretty competent judges; and it is almost the only circumstance in it of which they are competent judges. They know but little about the doctrines, under the name and pretence of which, rather than the reality, there is, unhappily, such a diversity of sects among Christians; the ingenuity of argument and method, and the various beauties of elocution, so far as those beauties relate to the composition only, are in a great degree lost upon them; but they can easily judge whether the appointed prayers are read with propriety, distinctness, and devotion, and whether a sermon is delivered, pot as the unmeaning lesson of a school-boy, but as an earnest and persuasive exhortation, indicative of the real feelings of the heart. Now, in order that the established religion of a state may produce all the good effects which it is intended to produce, and which, under proper regulations, it is capable of producing, care must be taken, that it be furnished as amply as possible with those means, or at least not impeded in the use of them, by which the public religious service, prescribed or sanctioned by the state, may most forcibly recommend itself to the favour of the people, and most effectually secure their attachment. More especially is this necessary in the case of an established religion like ours, the good effects and even the safety of which, surrounded as it is with sects, and in perpetual danger of being as sailed or undermined by them, depend on the opi

nion

nion entertained of its excellence. In saying, that the Church of England does not enjoy the advantage of these means in the degree that might be wished, it is not my intention to charge any of the clergy withblame; I speak of it as the natural, though, perhaps, not necessary, consequence of a defect in clerical education; a defect, which it is incumbent on the directors of such an education to supply. My proposal, therefore, is, that the young men who are to be instructed by the new professor (whom I prefer to call the Ritual Professor of Divinity) should not only be instructed by precept and example in the due administration of the public service, but exercised in the actual administration of it. With a view to this, I would have each of the pupils, attendant on the Professor'slectures, called upon in his turu, and all of them liable to be called upon, to read a portion of the Scriptures, or of the Common Prayer, which has, in a preceding lecture, been read and commented on by the Professor. I say commented on, because, as it is impossible to read with the desired effect, or even with propriety, what is not (at least to a certain degree) understood, it will make a considerable part of the Professor's duty to explain, so far as is necessary for this purpose, the meaning of such parts of Scripture as are more commonly read in Churches, particularly the Lessons appointed for Sundays, and all the parts of the Common Prayer, inclusive of the occasional offices. Opportunities may also be taken to make remarks, which cannot fail to be useful on the composition, as well as delivery, of SERMONS, as adapted to the different classes of people, of which, in different places, congregations consist. The Professor's principal business, however, will be to go before his pupils in the actual performance of the dif ferent parts of divine service, as appointed by the Church of England, and to notice the faults which are most likely to be committed in the performance of it. The exercises of the pupils will furnish abundant examples of these faults, and give ample opportunity of making such observations and laying down such cautions, as may ́seem most conducive to prevent the commission of them. It may be sufficient to exercise a small number of the pu pils, suppose four or six, at each lecture; but, as the individuals to be exercised need not be previously pointed opt, there will be an obligation on all to be equally pre

pared

pared, and an opportunity for all to be greatly, though perhaps not equally, benefited.

As it is necessary, in order to a due administration of the various rites and ceremonies of the Church of England, that the Rubrics, and such of the Constitutions and Canons as refer to that administration, be rightly understood, an explanation of these will also make part of the Professor's duty; and he will, of course, in the discharge of it, give such advice respecting extraordinary cases, for which no express provision has been made, as may preserve his pupils from the commission of any gross improprieties.

I agree with your correspondent in thinking that the number of lectures should be fifty in a year, and that these should form a complete course. With respect to the period of academic residence, in which students should be required to attend these lectures, I could wish, as I have stated at large in a separate publication*, that the time employed at the University, (I speak of Cambridge more particularly) in the study of mathematics and natural philosophy, were reduced from three years and a quarter, to two and a quarter; by which means a year of the usual term of an academic life might be employed in studies, which more immediately relate to each student's future profession, and in the case of those intended for the Church, might be properly employed in attending lectures in divinity. As matters are at present conducted, I propose, that students in divinity should attend a course of the lectures, of which I am now speaking, in the last year of their residence, whether that residence terminate at the time of their taking the degree of A. B. or, what I should think more advisable, be continued to the end of the May term next succeeding.

It may, I hope, be presumed, that young men, who care intended for the Church, will gladly make use of every means afforded them, by which they may be better qualified for the discharge of the duties of their important office, and that in general, in order to secure their attendance at; and attention to, the proposed lec"tures, no compulsion will be necessary. As, however, this may not be the case in every instance, I have no ohjection to your correspondent's suggestion, that the *Letter to a Member of the Senate of the University of Cambridge. Vol. XI. Churchm. Mag. for Nov. 1806. 3 A Bishops

Bishops, at the time of Ordination, should require satisfactory evidence, that no blameable omission in these particulars has occurred. Nay, I will go further, and propose, that the Bishops should ascertain the improvement, which every candidate for orders, who may have attended these lectures, has made by his attendance, and examine every candidate whatever in the subject of them, by requiring each of them to recite, in a much more copious manner than is now usual, different parts of the public service in the episcopal chapel.

Lastly, I agree with your correspondent in thinking, that if such a Professorship, as we have described and recommended, were instituted, and the spirit of it properly kept up, it would, as instrumental in displaying the nature and excellence of our ecclesiastical establishment, contribute more than any thing to shield it from impending dangers. The progress of schism has been alarming, and the effects of it are much to be deplored; but, let the Church of England be true to herself, and she need not fear any evil. Let but our Sion, which is worthy of becoming the "joy of the whole earth," appear in her genuine beauty, and her enemies will be

ashamed and confounded." Were the Church of England, under which term I comprehend all her professed members, and their conduct as such, to appear in the eyes of beholders, what she was in the conception of her venerable founders, and what she is in her prescribed rules of faith and practice, or were she such even in any considerable degree, and after making all due allowance for the infirmities of human nature, she would, like the form of virtue rendered visible, be so lovely, as to excite the admiration of every eye, and win the affection of every heart.

In order to obtain the pecuniary assistance which the proposed institution will necessarily require, your correspondent has made an appeal to the generosity of individuals. I am of opinion, however, that an institution, which seems so materially to concern the public welfare, should not be left to the chance of casual benevolence, but should be set on foot and supported at the expence of the nation. But be this as it may, I am so desirous of seeing this proposal carried into effect, even if it were only by way of experiment, that, supposing no other person, who might be judged more compétent to the undertaking, willing to engage in it, I would venture to