Let me call to mind my first to the Field of Waterloo, wrapt in a crimson flood of light, on a beautiful summer’s evening in 1859. Standing upon this celebrated Plain,
“this place of skulls,
The grave of France, the deadly Waterloo!”
who can forget the heroic deeds of that never to be forgotten Field?
Traversing that Plain where united Nations drew the sword, and where our Countrymen especially triumphed, who cannot sympathize with the dying English King, who on being told that it was the 18th of June, exclaimed “That was a glorious day for England!” But PEACE has her victories not less renowned than War.
And I hasten to review some specialities in a Home contest on which so much is at stake; in my notes on St. Marylebone nothing has struck me more than the high degree of speciality which attaches to this Crown Living. Lancing in Sussex, my native village, of which my Father was for many years Vicar, in Ecclesiastical language is termed a “Peculiar,” and certainly St. Marylebone might take the same title. The CLERGY in this, as in every other Parish, stand on a vantage ground, and, if I might venture to speak a few words, I would counsel them to vote for this Act, and advocate such NURSERIES of Intelligence and virtue as Public News and Recreation Rooms, and to recommend the rate paying part of their congregations to do the same.
It would be very unwise to separate yourselves from the only feasible plan for the innocent recreation and instruction of the People, and what have the working clergy to fear from Books or Newspapers?
Is it wise in the 19th century of the Christian era to proclaim openly that you dare not encounter the rivalship of places set apart for intellectual gratification and amusement? Is it not well occasionally to ask yourselves whether the common people hear you gladly? and if your words contain the food, or the medicine which meets the great necessities of toiling hearts. You have vainly preached prohibitions and restrictions,—you have hurled spiritual thunderbolts with little or no effect. Stand upon the steps of the Churches, and see who comes out. Is the working man there? There are clearly faults on both sides. He loves not the Church. The Church has not done its duty. You must constrain, tempt, “compel” him to enter. You must manage to attract and draw him, and above all you must learn to preach Freedom of Thought, UNITY and Christian Equality. Believe me it would be politic on your part to review the past, and do what you can, to ameliorate the condition of the masses by gladly availing yourselves of this Act. That is a sad day for the Gospel and the Church when a Plan for the Improvement of the People is called “secular,” and not sufficiently religious to be urged from the Pulpit: the Bishop of Sierra Leone in his Sermon at St. Marylebone Church drew an appalling picture of “1,300 millions of Idolaters,” and spoke of the duty of teaching the Nations, by spreading abroad the light of the Gospel. That obligation cannot be questioned, but who can say there are not IDOLS of SECTARIANISM and CASTE in our own country? Who can say there are not unhappy DIVISIONS, and a want of CHRISTIAN UNIFORMITY? And who can deny the Idol worship of Lisson Grove?
Talk of the dark places of the earth, where can more devoted worshippers of Bacchus or of Mammon be found than in this collection of Towns, called London? Here are Idols as real, sacrifices as hideous and mischievous as any in a heathen land.
I can understand the opposition of the Romanists to this gracious Act. The Romish system cannot bear the light of intelligence: Priests of that faith don’t want their people to know too much, or to get as high as the generalities of history, or the speculations of philosophy, but YOU, the Clergy of the Church of England, that Church which will stand or fall, as it meets the requirements of this progressive age, have no interest whatever in keeping the Key of Knowledge to yourselves. Recollect St. Marylebone has a disgrace to retrieve, a character to redeem. Believe me it is a discredit to your large Parish to be without a Public Library. Vote for the adoption of this Act, and you reduce the Poor rate, you reduce crime, and simplify the policeman’s duty, and above all you bridge over the gulf that separates classes. Your cordial sympathy cannot be withheld from a Proposal of this description.
“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth glad tidings, that publisheth Peace!” You who promulgate “Peace on earth, GOOD WILL TOWARDS MEN,” cannot carelessly regard this beneficent project. You cannot be more usefully engaged than in promoting a scheme that enlarges the means of instruction, and widens the field of economical and sanitary science. Your senses cannot be quite dazzled by the pomps and vanities of exclusive Rifle Corps, trained to fire at imaginary foes. You cannot allow this fair land to be invaded by an enemy so real and fatal as Ignorance. You will not forget what it is that makes one man wiser, or more virtuous than another, and what it is that constitutes the difference between one man and another? You well know what it is that makes them what they are, good or evil, useful or not. You well know that it is Education which makes the great difference in mankind. [24] You are too sagacious to slight, or separate yourselves from the only feasible, enduring plan for the innocent RECREATION and instruction of the people. You are aware that all work and no innocent AMUSEMENT, has been productive of the worst results. You are aware that Music is a powerful agent in the promotion of refinement and civilization, and that after a long day of toil, a man has need of relaxations other than books. Knowing this, you will, I hope, gladly respond to the appeal, and strengthen the hands of St. Margaret and St. John.