Part 1 (1/2)
Church Reform.
by Richard Carlile.
PREFACE.
CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE BISHOP OF LONDON, IN 1833, ON THE SUBJECT OF A REFORM IN THE CHURCH.
”To the Right Reverend Father in G.o.d, the Lord Bishop of London.
”62, Fleet Street, November 18,1833.
”My Lord,
”I have long and deliberately thought, that the state of the Country, the state of the Church, and the state of the Public Mind in relation to the Church, calls upon me to offer myself for an interview with your Lords.h.i.+p, as my Diocesan, that your Lords.h.i.+p may hear from me what I have to advance against the present state and condition of the Church, and what I have to propose as an immediately necessary and proper Reform.
”I offer to wait on your Lords.h.i.+p, with your Lords.h.i.+p's consent; and promise, that my conversation shall be altogether courteous and reasonable.
”I am one of your Lords.h.i.+p's scattered sheep, wis.h.i.+ng for the fold of a good shepherd,--(which is Christ Jesus),--
”RICHARD CARLILE.”
”P. S.--I may add, my Lord Bishop, that I am altogether a Christian; save the mark at which superst.i.tion has been planted upon Christianity.”
”Fulham, November 20,1833.
”Sir,
”I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, in which you propose an interview with me, for the purpose of making known to me your opinions respecting the present state of the Church.
”I beg to say, that I shall be ready to receive, and to give all due consideration to any communication which you may think proper to make me in writing; as being, on many accounts, a more convenient method than that of personal conference.
”I remain, Sir,
”Your obedient Servant,
”C. J. LONDON.”
”To the Right Reverend Father in G.o.d, the Lord Bishop of London.
”62, Fleet Street, November 24,1833.
”My Lord Bishop,
”In answer to my proposal to meet your Lords.h.i.+p in conversation, on the state of the Country, the state of the Church, and the state of the Public Mind with relation to the Church, your Lords.h.i.+p has encouraged me to write what I have to say, and has promised to receive it and to give it due consideration. I write as early as my circ.u.mstances have afforded me the necessary leisure and composure of mind.
”The first point to which I beg leave to call your Lords.h.i.+p's attention is--that there is a very numerous degree of dissent from the Established Church among the people of this country.