DIOCESE OF LINCOLN. 
 
 PASTOEAL LETTER 
 
 BISHOP OF LINCOLN, 
 
 1880-81. 
 
 LINCOLN : 
 
 JAMES WILLIAMSON, 290, High Street. 
 
 1880.
 
 TO THE REV. 
 THE CLERGY OE THE DIOCESE OF LINCOLN. 
 
 Riselwlme, Lincoln, 
 
 Novomher 23, 1880. 
 Rev. and Dear Brethren, 
 
 Let me invite your attention to the following subjects : 
 
 1. Burial Laws Amendment Act, 1880. 
 
 In order to ascertain the opinions of the Clergy on several 
 questions arising from this Act, I convened a Meeting of Arch- 
 deacons and Eural Deans of the Diocese, and of the Canons- 
 residentiary and I^on-residentiary of the Cathedral Church. 
 
 This meeting was held on Friday, Oct. 22nd. 
 
 I announced to the meeting, that after careful consideration, and 
 after taking legal advice, I was resolved not to consecrate any 
 portions of Cemeteries, or additions to Church-yards, subject to the 
 operation of that Act. 
 
 My reasons lor this resolution have i^een stated in a printed 
 letter dated Oct. 1 8 last, from which I make the following extracts : — 
 
 I regard Consecration as a solemn religious act. By it, — in 
 the case of a Graveyard — the land is separated from all otlier uses, 
 and is set apart as a sacred gift to Almighty God. By that act He 
 becomes the owner of it. It is ' God's acre.' 
 
 Hitherto, under the Cemetery Acts (10 & 11 Vict., c. 65 ; 15 
 & 16 Vict., c. 85; and 16 & 17 Vict., c. 134) a Bishop was 
 empowered by Law to Consecrate a portion of a Cemetery ; such 
 portion being reserved under the provisions of those Acts for 
 ' interments according to the rites of the Church of England,' and 
 it was expressly provided, that such portion should ' be used only 
 for burials according to those rites.' (10 & 11 Vict., c. 65, sect. 23.) 
 
 Another portion of the ground was, by those Acts, to be left 
 unconsecrated, for other interments. 
 
 But those Acts have now been vuiiadhj repealed by the 
 ' Burial Laws Amendment Act.' 
 
 No part of any Cemetery can now he reserved for Burials 
 ^according to the rites of the Church of Eiujland.' Every part of 
 every Cemetery is free and open for all burials alike, performed by 
 any minister or member, — man or woman — of any denomination 
 calling itself Christian. 
 
 I should be sorry to give offence to any one. But, wliile I am 
 bound to declare that Consecration, performed by a Bishop of the 
 Church of England, is a solemn religious act, in Avhich a portion of 
 land is dedicated to Almighty God for His honour and service, 
 according to a certain form of doctrine and worship, received by the 
 Church of England, I am no less constrained to say, that false
 
 doctrine and heresy are condemned by Almighty God, — in His holy 
 Word — especially such false doctrine and heresy as denies the God- 
 head of Christ (2 John 10, 11 ; 2 Pet. ii. 1), and by consequence 
 rejects the faith in the Ever-Blessed Trinity, in Whose Xame every 
 Baptism in the Church of England is administered ; and that wilful 
 Schism is also declared in that Word to be a grievous sin, a work 
 of the carnal mind (1 Cor. iii. 3-5), ami that 'to be carnally minded 
 is death ' (Eora. viii. 6). 
 
 I cannot therefore suppose that I should be doing an act well- 
 pleasing to God, if I were to profess to offer to Him, by Consecration, 
 a portion of land, which, soon after its Consecration, may be used 
 for services and for addresses (which no one can tell what they may 
 be), by persons who deny — and teach others to deny — Christ's God- 
 head and the doctrine of the Holy Trinity— to say nothing of other 
 dangerous errors — and who not only deprave the Church by heresy, 
 but rend it asunder by schism. I could not venture to dedicate to 
 God what may be thus desecrated on the next day after Consecration. 
 I do not believe that there is any Church in Christendom — 
 guiding itself by Ecclesiastical Law and usage — which would 
 empower and authorize a Bishop to consecrate a Burial-ground under 
 the conditions now imposed on such places in England by the 
 'Burial Laws Amendment Act of 1880.' Let me refer to one 
 Church. In a text-book of the Galilean Church — the Church of 
 Bossuet and Feuelon — I find it said that wherever ground is used 
 for the burial of persons of various sects and heresies, calling them- 
 selves Christian, there the Church cannot consecrate such ground. 
 It would be contrary to her conscience to do so. The Consecration 
 of a Burial-ground in which not only the members of all religious 
 sects calling themselves Christian (of wliich there are about 130 in 
 England) may be interred promiscuously, but also in which the 
 ministers and members of every such sect may o'fficiate indiscrim- 
 inateJij, would, I venture to thiuk, be a consecration of the principle 
 of relir/tous indif'erence. 
 
 Besides, this question ought to be argued on the principles of 
 honesty and justice. Since the passing of the " Burials Act," every 
 part of every Cemetery, new or old, belongs as much to our Non- 
 conformist brethren as it does to the Church of Englaivd. 
 
 Some Nonconformists have a conscientious scruple against 
 Consecration. They regard it, not only as an idle and unmeaning 
 thing, but as a superstitious ceremony. What right has a Bishop, 
 let me ask, to go and perform a ceremony — the ceremony of Con- 
 secration — which many call " a relic of Bomish mummery " ; and to 
 perform it in ground which belongs as much to them as it does to 
 the Church ? If he were to do so, might not some of them perhaps 
 meet him at the gate of the Cemetery, and warn him off" the ground ? 
 ]\riglit they not perhaps lorbid him to commit an act of trespass upon 
 it in the name of religion ? 
 
 ^ *
 
 I have no wish to do what seems scarcely fair ; or to come to a 
 l^lace and be allowed to consecrate it only on sufferance ; or to run 
 the risk of being censured for an act of Episcopal aggression. 
 
 In some foreign countries, as is well known, in burial-places 
 which are not consecrated, the Parish Priest, commissioned by the 
 Bishop, uses a form of Benediction over every several ifrave at the 
 time of interment. I am advised by the Chancellor of this 
 Diocese that it would be competent for a Bishop of a Diocese in 
 England to frame and sanction such a form for use in such places 
 in his own Diocese. 
 
 The form of ' Consecration ' which has hitherto been used in 
 Churchyards and Cemeteries in England, may differ in different 
 Dioceses ; and rests solely on the Bishop's authority, and not on 
 that of Convocation or Parliament. 
 
 I am informed that it would be equally in his power to frame 
 and authorize a form of Benediction such as I have now described ; 
 and inasmuch as such form of Benediction would only be used over 
 a grave in a Burial-ground that has not been consecuded, it might 
 be legally introduced into the Burial Service of the Church of 
 England at the grave ; as prayers — authorized by the Bishop — are 
 now introduced into Moiniiig Prayer in a church just before it is 
 consecrated. I propose therefore to authorize a form of Benediction 
 for use in such cases in this Diocese. (See below, Form C, p. 6.) 
 
 It may be as well to add, that burial-places may still be vested 
 in Trustees for interments according to the rites of the Church of 
 England (by 36 and 37 Yict., cap. 50), and such burial-places would 
 be Consecrated. 
 
 At the Meeting, above mentioned, the following SjJccial Forms, 
 A and B and C,* were put forth by me as Ordinary for use in this 
 Diocese ; of which Forms A and B are in accordance Avith the 
 provisions of Sect. 13 of the 'Burial Laws Amendment Act.' 
 
 Form A (in substance the same as recommended by the 
 Convocation of the Province in their Keport to Her Majesty, July 
 4, 1879). 
 
 A. — Form or Service wliicli may be used, in any case, at the request of the 
 rehitivc or friend or legal representative, having charge of, or being 
 responsible for, the bnrial of the deceased. 
 
 The three sentences of tlie Scriptures to be said or sung on meeting the 
 Corpse at the entrance of the Burial-Ground. 
 
 One or both of the following Psalms, 
 
 I's. XXXIX. or xo. 
 
 The Lesson, 1 Cor. xv. 20 ; 
 
 or 1 Thess. iv. 13, to end. 
 
 After the Body is deposited in the Grave, the sentences heginning " ilau 
 
 that is lorn of a woman," &c., ending with the ■a-or( s, "fall from thee," inay 
 
 he said. 
 
 * Copies of these Foiins may be had of JAMES WILLIAMSON, 290, High Street, Lincoln, 
 at One Sliilliiig for 20 copies, or a Half-penny each copy.
 
 Theit shall follov) the icords. 
 
 Lord have mercy, &c. 
 Then The Lord's Prayer. 
 Then The grace of our Lord, &c. 
 
 Note. — This form is not to be used in the cases for which Form B is provided. 
 
 Form B. — Form of Service which may be used, in any case where the Office for 
 the Burial of the Dead in the Book of Common Praj'er may not be used ; 
 nor the Service A, aforesaid. 
 
 After the Body is dc2)0sitcd in the Grave, one or more of the following 
 Psalms, at the discretion of the Minister, may he said : 
 Psalm vi. Psalm xxv. 
 
 ,, xxxviii. cxxx. 
 
 ,, CXLIII. 
 
 Then the sentences in the Burial Service, " JIan that is born of a woman," 
 ending with "fall from thee. " 
 
 Then the foUounng Prayers from the Litany, " Eemember not Lord our 
 offences," ending uith " day of judgment. " 
 
 Then the Minister may "proceed to the Prayers in the Litany, " That it 
 may please Thee to give u,s true repentance," &c., ending with "Neither 
 reward us after our iniquities." 
 
 Then he may proceed to the words in the Litany, "From our enemies 
 defend us Christ," a7id go on to the end of the Litanj'. 
 
 Form C. — A Form of Benediction at a Grave, in an unconsecrated Burial- 
 Grouud ; which may be said before the body is laid in the Grave. 
 
 O Merciful God, Avith Whom the death of Thy Saints is precious, and "VVho 
 hast taught us in Thy Holy Word that the bodies of the faithful are 
 members of Christ and temples of the Holy Ghost, and that, having been sown 
 in weakness, they will be raised in power ; we humbly beseech Thee to sanctity 
 this Grave to be a peaceful resting-place for the mortal remains of our dear 
 brother here departed ; and grant, O Lord, that we, with all those that are 
 departed this life in Thy true faith and fear, and are fallen asleep in Christ, 
 may attain to the resunection of the just, and may have the full fruition of 
 perfect bliss and everlasting gloiy, both in bod}' and soul, in Tliy heavenly 
 kingdom, throiigh Him WIio is the Eesurveetion and the Life, Who died, and 
 was buried, and rose again for us, and Who now liveth and reigneth with Thee 
 and the Holy Ghost, One God, world without end. Amen. 
 
 You will observe that the use of these Forms is in no case 
 obligatory, but oxAj jjei missive. 
 
 At the same Meeting (held Oct. 22nd), I was rec[uested to 
 communicate with all the Kural Deans of the Diocese, and to 
 desire them to take counsel Avith their respective Euridecanal 
 Chapters, so that every Clergyman in the Diocese might have an 
 opportunity of e.Npressing his opinion on the following points, and 
 to report to me the result. 
 
 Accordingly on Oct. 26th, I addressed the folloAving letter to all 
 the Eural Deans : — 
 
 In accordance with a Kesolution adopted at a Meeting of Archdeacons, 
 Pural Deans, Canons Residentiary and JS'on-iesidentiary, held at the Bishop's 
 Hostel, on Fiiday, October 22nd, 1 lequest you to have the goodness to take 
 counsel with jour huridecaiial Chaiiteron the following questions arising from 
 the ''Burial Lav's Amendment Act, ISSU " : — 
 
 1. As to the expediency of the allowance — or non-allowance — of Funerals 
 on Suiulays.
 
 2. As to the tollincj of the Bdl of the Parish Clnirch at funerals other 
 
 than those conducted by the Clergy with the Services of the Church. 
 
 3. As to the registration of such funerals. 
 
 4. As to the Section 9 of the Act. How can it best be worked ? 
 
 I would thank you to communicate to me the result of your deliberations 
 on these questions as soon as convenient. 
 
 It need hardly be said, that iinifonnily of practice with regard to them 
 throughout the Diocese is very desirable. 
 
 I have now received returns from almost all the Eural Deaneries, 
 and am enabled, after having ascertained the opinions of the Clergy, 
 and, after -weighing them Avell, to declare my own judgment on the 
 several questions proposed to them. 
 
 1. Funerals on Sundays are to be discouraged ; and only to 
 be allowed in exceptional cases, and for special and urgent reasons. 
 
 2. The tnUhuj of the hell of the Parish Church is not to be 
 allowed at such burials as are to take place in Chuiclnjanls, and are 
 not to be conducted by the Clergy with the Services of the Church. 
 
 I have restricted the prohibition to funerals in Churchyards, 
 because I observe in one Deanery, in a large town, there is a general 
 concurrence of the Clergy in favour of conceding the use of the bell 
 in all cases ; but this is Avhere the funerals do not take place in a 
 Churchyard, but in a Cemeiery or Cemeteries distant from the 
 Church. 
 
 The fact seems to be, that, waiving the questions arising from the 
 Canons of 1603, Canons 67 and 88 (Phillimore, p. 1756), Avhich 
 contemplated only such Services as those of the Church of England, 
 it is unhappily too evident that a great danger to which she is now 
 exposed is this, that, her Chtirchyards having been thrown open to 
 different religious services, her Chinches may also be diverted from 
 the holy uses to which they have long been dedicated, and be given 
 up to all who desire to hold their services in them, whatever those 
 services may be. The belfries of many of our Churches are only 
 accessible through the Church itself, and unseemly strifes may occur 
 if when the Church is once opened for the tolling of the bell at a 
 funeral, it is not allowed to remain open for the performance of the 
 funei-al service M'ithin it. And when funeral services, other than 
 those of the Church of England, are allowed to be performed in our 
 Churches, it does not require much foresight to perceive that a claim 
 will be soon set up for the performance of other services in them. 
 
 We shall never, I hope, be provoked by a sense of wrong 
 to give way to other feelings than those of Christian charity in matters 
 like these. But we must also remember that we owe piety and 
 reverence to God, and to holy things and places, as well as charity 
 to men ; and also that we owe a debt of charity, not only to our 
 dissenting brethren, but also to the members of the church, especially 
 to those entrusted to our spiritual charge ; and that it is not charity 
 to our people, nor even is it charity to dissenters, to betray what we 
 have received as a solemn trust, and what we ought to defend.
 
 8 
 
 It is not charity to tempt anyone to imagine that unity in the 
 truth is not prescribed hj God, or that schism and false doctrine are 
 not displeasing to Him. It is not charity to flatter some in sin, and 
 to discourage others who desire to hold the truth, and '^•ho look to us 
 for help and guidance to do so. 
 
 On the whole therefore I hope that the Clergy of the Diocese 
 will unite in giving efl^ect to that which is the opinion of the great 
 majority of their brethren, and in not allowing the use of the Church 
 Bell for Funerals in a Churchyard other than those conducted by 
 the Clergy. 
 
 3. I concur fully in the almost unanimous opinion of the Clergy 
 that all burials should be registered by the Minister in charge of the 
 Parish, and I would recommend the adoption of the following form 
 of registration of burials, other than those solemnized by a Clergyman; 
 
 Page 
 
 BUKIALS SOLKMXIZKD IN THE PARISH OF 
 
 Lincoln, in the Year 18S0. 
 
 IN THE County of 
 
 I^amc. 
 
 Abode. 
 
 JJ'hcn Euriid. 
 
 Age. 
 
 By irhom the Cereuioni/ 
 icas jHi'JO'/incd. 
 
 A. B. 
 
 As certified 
 No. 
 
 Holbeach 
 under the 
 
 1880, Nor. 10 
 " Burial Laws 
 
 76 
 Amen 
 
 dmeiitActl880,"b}'C.D. 
 
 4. The opinions of the Clergy vary considerably as to the 
 application of Sect. 9. On the whole I incline to the opinion of 
 those who think that what the Act gives to Parishioners should not 
 be denied to !Xon-Parishioners Avhose relatives are buried in the 
 Churchyard. But inasmuch as the Churchyard is the freehold of 
 the Clergyman in trust for the Parishioners, and inasmuch as the 
 Parishioners, Avho are members of the Church of England, have alone 
 contributed to the accpiisition, and also still contribute to the 
 maintenance, of the Churchyard, I do not think that they who 
 contribute nothing to it, and whose free access to it might soon fill 
 the Churchyard, and thus cause inconvenience and expense to the 
 Parishioners, ought to be allowed an unrestricted use of the Church- 
 5'^ard, and therefore 1 would limit the use of it to those non- 
 Parishioners whose relatives are buried in it. 
 
 On the Observance of Eogation Days and Ascension Day. 
 
 The present dei)ressed state of the Agricultural interest in this 
 Diocese, and throughout England, leads us to raise our eyes upwards 
 and to seek for help by prayer. This distress may be regarded as
 
 9 
 
 a divine Visitation desianed by Almighty God to call us to examine 
 ourselves and to humble ourselves before Him, and to confess our 
 sins and the sins of our Country to Him, and to amend our lives, 
 and to pray to Him for mercy and blessings spiritual and temporal ; 
 and the Church having appointed certain days called Rogation Days 
 (viz., the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday before Ascension Day) 
 for supplication to Almighty God, and for the deprecation of Divine 
 Judgments, and for intercession on behalf of the Church and Realm, 
 I would earnestly desire you to make the best use you can of this 
 appointment and opportunity. 
 
 I would suggest that in their Sermons on the Sunday before 
 Ascension Day the Clergy should call the attention of their con- 
 gregations to this subject, and should direct their thoughts to our 
 glorified Lord and King, to whom all power in heaven and earth is 
 given, our Great High Priest in Heaven, Who ever liveth to make 
 Intercession for us. 
 
 In the Homilies set forth by authority in the year 15G3 (copies 
 of which may be had of S.P.C. K. and of the Prayer Book and 
 Homily Society), are four Sermons on the proper observance 
 and use of the Rogation Days. 
 
 Any of the following Psalms may be uoed, at the discretion of 
 Minister :— Psalm 4, :^3, 34, 37, 6:^,^65, 107, 126, 144, 147, 148. 
 
 The following Proper Lessons : — Fiist Lesson, Genesis viii. ; 
 Deuteronomy viii., xxviii. 1 to 15 ; I. Kings viii. 22 to 54 ; I. Kings 
 xvii. to 17 ; Job i. ; Proverbs iii. ; Jeremiah v. ; Joel ii. 15 ; Habak- 
 kuk iii. — Second Lesson, Matthew vi. 24 to vii. 13 ; Luke xviii. 1 
 to 15 ; II. Corinthians ix. ; James iv. 13 to end of chap. v. 
 
 Tlie following Prayers may be used : — 
 
 PRAYERS FOR A GOOD HARVEST. 
 
 OGOD, heavenly Father, whose gift it is that the rain doth fall, 
 beasts increase, and fishes do multiply, we beseech Thee to 
 give and preserve to our use the kindly fruits of the earth ; and 
 grant that we, receiving Thy bountiful liberality, may use the same 
 to Thy glory, the relief of those that are in need, and our comfort, 
 through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 LORD, we beseech Thee mercifully to hear us in our troubles 
 and adversities, and to turn from us those evils which we 
 most righteously have deserved ; and of Thy great goodness to give 
 us fair weather, fruitful seasons, plenteous harvests, and contrite and 
 thankful hearts, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 The Collects in the Book of Common Prayer for the Second 
 Sunday after Epiphany, the fifth, fifteenth, sixteenth, and twenty- 
 second Sundays after Trinity, or any of them may be used ; also tiie 
 Prayer of Unity. 
 
 Portions of the Commination Service may bo used.
 
 10 
 
 HjTuns for the Rogation Days may be found in " Church 
 Hymns " of S.P.C.K. and in " Hymns Ancient and Modern " ; and 
 in other Hymn Books. 
 
 For information concerning the institution and use of Rogation 
 Days, reference may be made to BiiY^hixm's Antirjiuties, Book XIII., 
 Chapter 1., Book XXL, Chapter 2 ; Bruus Cuncilia, TI., page 165 ; 
 Nelson's Fasts and Festivals, page ■426 ; George Herbert's Country 
 Parson, Chapter XXXV, ; Wlaeatley on The Common Prayer, chap, 
 v., Section XX. 
 
 Let me take this opportunity of thanking you for your ready 
 compliance with the wish expressed by me in a former Pastoral 
 Letter for the better observance of Ascen'sion Day, whicli I trust 
 is now generally kept, with Divine Service, Sermon, and Holy 
 Communion, in almost all Parishes of the Diocese. 
 
 Day of Ixtercession for Missioxs. 
 
 I need not repeat what was said by me in a Pastoral Letter 
 addressed to you a few weeks ago. Let me only express an earnest 
 hope that in ail Parishes (and they are a great majority in this 
 Diocese) where Rogation Tuesday or one of the seven days after it 
 (except Ascension Day) is not convenient for the purpose, St. 
 Andrew's Day, November 30th, or one of the seven days after it 
 may be observed as a day of Intercession for the Missions of the 
 Church. 
 
 Proposed New See of Southwell. 
 
 1. The Diocese of Lincoln is the largest in territorial area 
 among aU the Dioceses of England and Wales. It is in extent 
 more than two millions and a quarter of a million of acres, and 
 consists of the two Counties of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, 
 and contains more than 800 Benefices, and more than 1,000 
 Clergy. It therefore ought to he divided. 
 
 2. The County of Lincoln — extending over more than a 
 million and three-quarters of a million of acres, and containing 
 about 600 Benefices, and more than 700 Clergy, is quite suficient 
 to form a separate Diocese. 
 
 3. The population of the Count}^ of Nottingham has nearly 
 tiebted itself since the year 1801, and is rapidly increasing; and 
 the population of the County of Derby has also nearly trebled itself 
 since the year 1801, and is likewise rapidlj' increasing; and the 
 united population of these two Counties will probably soon be nearly 
 a million of souls. These two Counties therefore would amply suffice 
 to form a separate Diocese. 
 
 4. The Dioceses of Lincoln and Lichfield have no prospect of 
 being relieved except by the union of the Counties of Nottingham 
 and Derby in one Diocese with an Episcopal See at Southwell 
 M'ith independent Episcopal authority, jurisdiction, and patronage, 
 and this union has received the sanction of the Lefiislature.
 
 11 
 
 5. Southwell, with its ancieut Episcopal Palace, and other 
 Ecclesiastical buildings, especially its noble Collegiate Church, with 
 its interesting Christian associations and traditions, of twelve 
 hundred years, and formerly the Mother Church of JSTottinghamshire, 
 has strong claims to be the See of the new Diocese. The Ecclesias- 
 tical Commmissioners, in whom the property of the suspended 
 prebends or canonries is vested, are restoring the Church at South- 
 well, which will, ere long, be equal in grandeur and beauty to most 
 English Cathedrals. 
 
 6. This is not a personal question. More than twenty-five years 
 ago my predecessor in the See of Lincoln, — in the prime of life 
 and vigour, — stated in a letter to the Cathedral Commissioners his 
 opinion that the Episcopal work of this Diocese was too great for 
 any one man, and that it ougtit to be divided, with a new See at 
 Southwell. It is not necessary for me to say that his successor, — • 
 in his 74th year — is quite unequal to the physical exertion required of 
 a Bishop of Lincoln, even with the valuable help of a Suffragan. But 
 he does not mention this for his own sake, — (except with a view of 
 asking your indulgence and forbearance) — but for that of the Diocese. 
 He pleads on its behalf with the Clergy and Laity; and earnestly 
 entreats them to co-operate in a work which will confer great good 
 on the two Dioceses of Lichfield and Lincoln, and thus promote the 
 divine glory and the welfare of immortal souls. 
 
 Earnestly asking for the help of your prayers, and heartily com- 
 mending you and your Parishes to the blessing of Almighty God, 
 
 I am, Rev. and Dear Brethren, 
 
 Yours alfectionately, 
 
 C. LINCOLN. 
 
 P.S. — The sum now required for the endowment of the new See 
 at Southwell is about £3(5,000. The building and grounds for the 
 residence of the future Bio-hop have been provided by the generosity 
 of the Bishop Suffragan of JN'ottingham, wlio has purchased the 
 ancient Archiepiscopal Palace at Southwell for this purpose. Sub- 
 scriptions may be paid to the Yen. the Archdeacon of Nottingham, 
 Farndon Yicarage, Newark ; the Rev. C. ^V. Maukham, Saxby 
 Rectory, Barton-on-Humber ; the Rev. Arthur E. Sutton, or 
 F. H. Stenton, Esq., Southwell, Notts. ; or contributions may be 
 paid to the account of the Southwell Bishopric, at the " Additional 
 Home Bishoprics Endowment Fund," at the London and AYest- 
 minster Bank, No. 1, St, James's Square, London, W., or to the 
 Rev. Arthur J. Ingram, Hon. I'inance Secretary, 7, AVhitehall, 
 London, S.W.
 
 12 
 
 A Prater for the Increase of the Episcopate. 
 
 OLOIID JESU CHRIST, the Shepherd and Bishop of our 
 soxils, "Who didst continue all night in prayer, and then didst 
 choose Thine Apostles, and hast bidden us pray the Lord of the 
 harvest to send forth labourers into His harvest to gather fruit to 
 life eternal, and hast promised to be with Thine Apostles ahvay even 
 unto the end of the world ; we beseech Thee to quicken and bless • 
 the endeavours and offerings of Thy people for an increase of Bishops 
 in Thy Church [especially in this Diocese'], and to raise up faithful 
 men for the work of the Apostleship, in spreading forth Thy Gospel, 
 in dispensing Thy "Word and Sacraments, in laying on of hands in 
 Confirmatio2i, in ordering of Priests and Deacons, in ministering 
 sound docrtrine and godly discipline by driving away error and by 
 defence of Thy truth ; and in watchful oversight, wise and loving 
 guidance, and good government of Thy Church ; and to all who are 
 called to that holy office give Thy grace and heavenly benediction, 
 that they may faithfully serve before Thee to Thy honour and glory, 
 "Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, One 
 God, blessed for ever. Amen. 
 
 James Willianisou, Printer, Higli Street, Liiicolu.