Letter to the Friends and Subscribers of the Church Pastoral-Aid Society / occasioned by a letter from the Rev. Dr. Molesworth

Transcribed from the 1841 L. and G. Seeley edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org
OCCASIONED BY A LETTER FROM THE REV. DR. MOLESWORTH TO THE LORD BISHOP OF CHESTER, CONTAINING ALLEGATIONS AGAINST THE SOCIETY.
BY THE REV. CALEB WHITEFOORD A.M.
CHAPLAIN TO THE INFIRMARY OF ST. JAMES’S, WESTMINSTER, DOMESTIC CHAPLAIN TO HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF ROXBURGHE AND TO THE MOST HON. THE MARQUESS OF BUTE.
Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart. For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now, therefore, O God, strengthen my hands. NEHEMIAH , VI. 8. 9.
LONDON: L. AND G. SEELEY, 169 FLEET STREET; AND NISBET, BERNERS STREET.
1841 .
Price Sixpence .
Object.—The salvation of souls, with a single eye to the glory of God, and in humble dependence on His blessing, by granting aid toward maintaining faithful and devoted men to assist the Incumbents of Parishes in their pastoral charge.
Principles.—That, in a Christian land, a Church established should adequately provide for the spiritual instruction of all the people; and that it is part of the duty of a Christian Legislature to furnish the Church with means to this end: but that, if the Legislature should fail of this duty, then, rather than souls should perish, Christians must join together, to supply the deficiency, and make the Church as effective as it is in their power to do.
Plan.—The Church Pastoral-Aid Society strictly regards the wants of the Church on the one hand, and the order of the Church on the other. It would make the Church efficient; it would carry the Gospel, by means of the Church, to every man’s door, but it never intrudes its aid: the Incumbent must apply for aid, or sanction the application; and until this is done, the Society cannot move. When aid is sought and granted, the Parochial Minister must say how it is to be employed—he must nominate the persons to be employed—he must engage them, as well as superintend and entirely control them. All that the Society does, is to provide for their remuneration; and, while so doing, to ask satisfactory proof of their qualifications.