Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 561, 8 March 1870, Page 2

Local and General.

, 7?ro:v__.nare Ball. — The weekly assembly at the Canterbury Music Hall, last night, was iri every sense as successful as its predecessors.

Art Exhibition-.— There were about 200 visitors to the Exhibition yesterday, which was very satisfactory, indeed, considering the attractions elsewhere. Theatre Royal. — There was again a 1 capital attendance at the Theatre last evening, and the performances were as loudly applauded as before. The operetta entitled , the " Swiss Swains," the farce of " Which i*Y Which," and the capital burlesque of •j The Two Kings," will be repeated to-night. '"il Non- Attendance off a Jukor. — The /pisi Prius sittings of the Supreme Court commenced at eleven o'clock this morning. A juror, named Henry Virgo Morgan, of Mount Pleasant, farmer, was not in attendance, and had therefore to show cause why he should nofc be fined £10. Mr Morgan subsequently appeared, and stated that he had . missed the first train from Lyttelton. His Honor allowed the excuse.

Knight's Town. — The leading friends of Wesleyan Methodism in St. Albans met last evening, to take into consideration the propriety of erecting a church in Knight's Town. After a free conversation, expressive of the utmost unauimity of feeling, ifc was determined to erect, at once, a neat and comfortable place of worship iv that locality. A sub-committee was appointed to see the resolution carried out,

Canterburt Becls, A.O.F. — The brethren of the above order are reminded that the subscription list for the purchase of a bell (to ' c called the " Foresters' Bell") towards the contemplated Christchurch peal of bells, is now open ; members are requested to forwai'd their subscriptions to any one of the committee, which is composed of the officers for the time being. His Honor the Superintendent was last evening duly initiated in'.o the forms and ceremonies of the order.

Handsome Present. — At the City Council meeting last night, Councillor Anderson notified the arrival and readiness for erection of a handsome ornamental drinking fountain, surmounted by a gas lamp, which he has imported from Glasgow with the express intention of presenting to the Corporation of the city. The intention to ra-ke this gift was first conveyed to the Council during Councillor Anderson's Mayoralty, aud, of course, it will be regarded as a memento of his connection with the city during that period. It was selected by his eldest son, now at college in Glasgow, aud is a very handsome specimen of the mechanical art. The structure consists of four columns, from the capitals of which consoles with griffin terminals, unite with arches formed of decorated mouldiugs encircling ornamental shields. On two of the sides, provision is made for receiving an inscription, whilst on the o'her two sides is the useful monition "Keep the pavement dry." Surmounting this is an open and highly enriched dome, the apex being occupied by a crown from which springs the upright for a handsome lamp. Under the canopy, and iv the centre of the four columns, stands the font, with basin two feet six inches in diameter, and surmounted by a pelican. The height of the whole structure is nine feet six inches, and tlie space occupied by the base will be about four fest squave. During the conversation which followed the announcemeut of the presentation several sites were discussed by the Council ; the one appearing to receive the most favour being the east side of the roadway through Cathedral Square. A remark was made, however, that there should, if possible, be two, one at each end of the semi-circle formed by the roadway ; aud his Worship the Mayor (Mr A. Duncan) intimated that he would be happy to provide the second one. It is very probable, therefore, that this suggestion of sites will be carried into effect.

A Sign of the Times is England. — The Rev. W. G. Clark, vice-master of Trinity College, Cambridge, and late public orator of the University, has determined to retire from holy orders. Mr Clark was for several years tutor of his college, and by his extensive learning, and the straightforwardness of his character won for himself a great and deserved influence. Outside the University Mr Clark is known a3 an able critic aud philologer. He was one of the editors of the Cambridge Shakespeare, and, the chief founder of the Revieio. However much Mr Clark's determination may be regretted, his fearlessness and honesty will be respected. It is to be ho; ed that Mr Clark will feel ifc his duty to explain at length the reasons which have induced him to take this step. His explanations, though they might not convince, could not fail to be a valuable additioii to the stock of biblical criticism. We subjoin the letter in wliich Mr Clark has aunouuced his intention to his diocesan:—" My Lord,— lt is my duty to make to you, as my diocesan, and the successor of the prelate who ordained me, a communication which I fear will cause you pain. Slowly and reluctantly I have been driven to conclusions incompatible with the declarations which I made at my ordination. For instance, in the ' Ordering "of Deacons,' a candidate is asked whether he ' unfeignedly believes all the Canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments.' This question, taking the words in their natural sense, I could not now conscientiously answer in the affirmative. In the ' Ordering of Priests,' several of the questions addressed by the bishop to the deacons evidently assume the infallibility of the Scriptures. The same doctrine is implied iv the 6th and Bth Articles, and in the a 6th Canon I no longer think it tenable. Some portions of the • Canonical Scriptures' now seem to me to be of doubtful genuineness, and others to contain erroneous statements in history, and questionable teaching in theology and morals. There are passages in the Liturgy which I cannot now repeat with full assent. I cannot stand beside the altar and say in the face of the congregation, ' God s'pa'ie these words,' when I am convinced that He did not speak them. Under these circumstances, I beg to signify to you my desire to relinquish the position of a clergyman and assume that of a layman. Whatever law, written or unwritten, may prevent me from doing this, I protest against as iniquitous and immoral, because it conflicts with the natural right and bounden duty of every man, all his life long, to search for and proclaim the truth. I am, my lord, your lordship's obedient servant, W. G. Clark. To the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Ely."