Christianity in relation to Freethought, Scepticism, and Faith: Three discourses by the Bishop of Peterborough with special replies by Mr. C. Bradlaugh — John Shaqi
Christianity in relation to Freethought, Scepticism, and Faith: Three discourses by the Bishop of Peterborough with special replies by Mr. C. BradlaughBradlaugh, Charles
Religion
Christianity in relation to Freethought, Scepticism, and Faith: Three discourses by the Bishop of Peterborough with special replies by Mr. C. Bradlaugh
SIR,—I am about to ask your kind help in an enterprise undertaken for the
religious welfare of our fellow-citizens, to the success of which your
co-operation may very materially contribute. It has been thought that in
large cities, where sceptical views are often so much disseminated, and
spread so widely among all classes, good might be done, under God’s
blessing, by an annual series of discourses from some competent preacher,
directed against modern forms of infidelity, and afterwards published and
circulated at so low a price as should put them within the reach of all.
It is chiefly with the view of holding such discourses there, that the
Dean and Chapter have recently caused the Nave of the Cathedral Church to
be lighted and furnished with chairs, _all of which_ (except, a very few
reserved for persons engaged in the service, or connected with the
Cathedral) _will be perfectly free_. With the view of giving the
preachers a larger discretion as to time, and of making the whole service
shorter, it is proposed to use before the sermon the Litany only with one
or two hymns. I may add that the whole scheme has the thorough sanction
and concurrence of the Lord Bishop of the Diocese, who has been consulted
on every part of it.
_The Lord Bishop of Peterborough has kindly undertaken to give the first
series of discourses on Tuesday_, _the_ 21_st_, _Tuesday_, _the_ 28_th_,
_Wednesday_, _the_ 29_th_, _and Thursday_, _the_ 30_th_ _of March_, _the
service each evening commencing at_ 8 _p.m._
If you approve of our scheme (and pray observe that _the discourses_,
_having for their object the vindication and establishment of the
Christian faith_, _will in all probability hardly notice the points on
which Christians of various Communions differ_), will you kindly help us,
first, by making known among your workpeople or parishioners the days and
hours of the services, with the name of the preacher, and encouraging
them to attend; secondly, by circulating among them the discourses, when
published, of which I shall be greatly pleased to send you as large a
number as you think you can dispose of? On this last point I shall be
obliged by a communication from you.
The subject of the first series of discourses will be “Free Thought.”
I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant,
E. MEYRICK GOULBURN, D.D.
Dean of Norwich.
The Deanery, Norwich, February 7th, 1871.
CORRESPONDENCE.
Norwich, Feb. 13th, 1871.
REV. SIR,—I received with extreme pleasure your circular letter of 7th
inst., relating to, and defining the objects of the Discourses intended
to be delivered next month in the Cathedral, by the Bishop of
Peterborough, and I am induced to reply to it by the conviction that
great good may result from “the scheme,” if you can be induced to modify
it in some particulars.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account