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THE OLD CHURCH;

WHAT SHALL WE DO WI TH I T?

BY

THOMAS HUGHES, Q. C. ,

AUTHOR OF * TOM BROWN' S SCHOOL DAYS.

TO

THE RI GHT HON. W. E. FORSTER. M. R

TO ALL OTHER ENGLI SHMEN AND WOMEN,

WHO, WHI LE DI SSENTI NG FROM THE PUBLI C EXPRESSI ON OF THE

NATI ONAL FAI TH AS EMBODI ED I N THE

NATI ONAL CHURCH,

ARE YET UNWI LLI NG THAT ENGLAND SHALL, AS A NATI ON,

ABANDON THE MOST SACRED OF ALL THE MI SSI ONS

ENTRUSTED TO HER.

I N ALL GOODWI LL AND MUCH SYMPATHY BY

THE AUTHOR.

370

CONTENTS.

Page 2 of 132

0*

PAGE

I .

— How THE Ques t i on St ands i

I I .

— Adv ant ages of a Publ i c Chur c h . . . . 23

I I I .

— Es t abl i s hed and Vol unt ar y Chur c hes i n

Cont r as t . 39

I V.

— The Condi t i on and Pr os pec t s of t he

Chur c h of Engl and . . . . . . . 79

v. — The gr eat Ex per i ment of t he pur e Vol un-

t ar y Sy s t em . . . .

• i n

VI .

— To a Chur c h Uni on 141

VI I .

— Cons er v at i s m of Cl er gy , et c 164

VI I I . — Chur c h Congr es s es 202

I X.

— The Body of Chr i s t . 211

THE OLD CHURCH:

WHAT SHALL WE DO WI TH I T?

HOW THE QUESTI ON STANDS.

What s hal l be done wi t h t he Ol d Chur c h? Any -

one who c ar es has no t i me t o l os e i n mak i ng up hi s

mi nd what he want s , and doi ng what he c an t o get i t .

For s ome ans wer wi l l hav e t o be gi v en i n t he nex t

Par l i ament t o t hi s ques t i on. Tr ue, many publ i c men

hav e been t el l i ng us of l at e t hat i t does not pr es s ;

t hat i t i s one f or our c hi l dr en ; t hat at any r at e i t i s

not t o be made a t es t ques t i on at t he nex t el ec t i on.

They s houl d c hange t hei r mood i nt o t he opt at i v e.

What t hey r eal l y mean i s , t hat t hey hope i t won' t be

made a t es t ; t hat whi ps , or i nf l uent i al per s ons of one

ki nd or anot her , wi l l be abl e t o pul l s ome ot her wi r e

t han t hi s at t he l as t moment , s o t hat qui et f ol k may

wor r y t hr ough wi t h a s i l ent bow t o t he es t abl i s hed

aut hor i t i es ov er t he r i ght s houl der , and an as i de t o

t he Li ber at i oni s t s ov er t he l ef t

— " t hat no one i n hi s

sens es woul d t hi nk of es t abl i s hi ng r el i gi on, or any -

2 THE OLD CHURCH.

t hi ng el s e, i n t hes e day s ; t hat t hey hav e onl y t o be

a l i t t l e pat i ent , s uc h a s et t l ement as wi l l meet t hei r

vi ews bei ng onl y a ques t i on of t i me, " and t he l i k e.

A ques t i on of t i me no doubt i t i s , but wer e i t not t hat

we mak e t he wi s h f at her t o t he t hought , we s houl d

Page 3 of 132

al l s ee t hat t hat t i me i s now.

How do I k now t hi s ? Wel l , t hus . I t may not

be al t oget her t r ue i n our pol i t i c s t hat l ook er s - on

see mos t of t he game, but i t c er t ai nl y i s t r ue

t hat publ i c men on t he s hel f s ee mos t of one s i de of

i t , and f r om per s onal ex per i enc e I c an as s ur e al l

doubt er s t hat i n t hi s mat t er t hey ar e dec ei v i ng, or

t r y i ng t o dec ei v e' t hems el v es . Let t hem be wel l

as s ur ed f r om one who has t he v er y bes t r eas on t o

know, t hat no Li ber al wi l l c ont es t a bor ough at t he

nex t el ec t i on wi t hout bei ng f or c ed t o dec l ar e hi ms el f

di s t i nc t l y on t hi s s ubj ec t . The t i me f or s i t t i ng on

t he f enc e i s pas t , and ev er y one of us wi l l hav e t o

j ump down on one s i de or t he ot her .

But I may be r emi nded, t hat i n t he v er y l as t y ear

of t he l as t Li ber al Par l i ament , Mr . Mi al l mov ed,

" That t he es t abl i s hment by l aw of t he Chur c hes of

Engl and and Sc ot l and i nv ol v es a v i ol at i on of r el i gi ous

equal i t y , depr i v es t hos e c hur c hes of t he r i ght of s el f -

gov er nment , i mpos es on Par l i ament dut i es whi c h i t i s

not qual i f i ed t o di s c har ge, and i s hur t f ul t o t he r el i gi ous

and pol i t i c al i nt er es t s of t he c ommuni t y , and t her ef or e

ought no l onger t o be mai nt ai ned, " and was ut t er l y

def eat ed. No doubt t hat mot i on was negat i v ed on

t he i 6t h of May , 1873, by t he gr eat maj or i t y of 295 ;

or 356 agai ns t 61, Mr . Br i ght bei ng t he onl y member

HOW THE QUESTI ON STANDS. 3

of t he t hen Li ber al Gov er nment who v ot ed i n t he

mi nor i t y . Al mos t al l t he ot her Li ber al l eader s v ot ed

i n t hat maj or i t y , and s o dec i ded was t he par t y , t hat

Mr . Gl ads t one hi ms el f r epl i ed at onc e t o Mr . Mi al l , and

t he Hous e woul d l i s t en t o no one af t er war ds , t hough

Si r Wi l l i am Har c our t made an ef f or t t o i mpr ov e t he

oc c as i on by s howi ng t hat , i n addi t i on t o t he ar r ay of

r eas ons c i t ed by t he l at e Pr emi er , t he Ac t of Set t l e-

ment woul d bec ome was t e paper i f t hi s mot i on wer e

car r i ed.

I r emember i t wel l , and t hought at t he t i me what a

mi s t ak e i t was not t o al l ow t he ques t i on t o be pr oper l y

debat ed. The c ons equenc e i s , t hat t he c as e has nev er

been f ai r l y bef or e t he c ount r y wi t hi n t he s hor t s pac e

ov er whi c h pol i t i c al memor y r uns i n t hes e day s : and

t he danger f or us Nat i onal i s t s i s , t hat i t nev er wi l l be

f ai r l y bef or e t he c ount r y , unl es s an ef f or t i s made at

onc e f or t hi s end. I f t hi s be done, I do not s har e t he

f ear s of many of my f r i ends as t o t he r es ul t . I

bel i ev e t hat t her e i s t oo muc h c ommon s ens e l ef t i n

our peopl e t o c ommi t s uc h an ac t of s t upi di t y , and

t hat t he Engl i s h i ns t i nc t t o r ef or m, and not t o

des t r oy , wi l l c er t ai nl y pr ev ai l i n t hi s , as i t has i n

ot her depar t ment s of our nat i onal l i f e.

But t he c as e mus t be s t at ed, or i t i s qui t e l i k el y

t hat j udgment may go by def aul t . For t hos e who

chal l enged t he v er di c t of t he l as t Par l i ament ar e

unt i r i ng i n t hei r ef f or t s t o br i ng t he c ount r y r ound t o

t hei r v i ew. They hav e adopt ed new t ac t i c s , and a

Page 4 of 132

new and f or mi dabl e or gani s at i on i s wor k i ng wi t h and

f or t hem.

B 2

4 THE OLD CHURCH.

I may be wr ong per haps i n s ay i ng t hat t he Li ber a-

t i on Soc i et y and t hei r aUi es hav e adopt ed new t ac t i c s

si nc e 1873, f or t hey hav e al way s wor k ed as apol i t i c al

or gani s at i on. What I mean i s , t hat t hey hav e nev er

bef or e s o di s t i nc t l y av owed t hei r obj ec t s and met hods .

" Fr om t hi s t i me, " i s now t he l anguage of t he s oc i et y ,

* ' t he ques t i on mus t c eas e t o be ar gued f r om t he

Di s s ent er s ' s t andpoi nt . " And t hei r meani ng i s mos t

cl ear l y and aut hor i t at i v el y dev el oped by Mr . R. W.

Dal e i n hi s Br adf or d s peec h, whi c h may be ac c ept ed

as a pr onunc i ament o of t he hi ghes t aut hor i t y . " We

t hi nk , " ar e hi s wor ds , " t hat t he t i me has c ome f or

mak i ng t he di s es t abl i s hment ques t i on par t of t he

pr ogr amme of t he Li ber al par t y ; and no t i me c oul d

be s o f av our abl e as t hi s f or r ai s i ng t he ques t i on of

di s es t abl i s hment t o t he di gni t y of a pol i t i c al ques t i on. "

Thi s , t hen, i s t he di s t i nc t pol i c y of t he Li ber at i on

Soc i et y ; and t hough I muc h ques t i on whet her t hei r

t hi r t y y ear s of l i f e hav e added muc h t o t hei r r eal

st r engt h, t he ex per i enc e gai ned has s i f t ed out , and

br ought t o t he f r ont , abl e and s k i l f ul l eader s , who do

not t ak e s uc h a s t ep as t hi s l i ght l y . The c omi ng

as s aul t , s o f ar as t he Nonc onf or mi s t s ar e c onc er ned,

may , as s ome peopl e t hi nk , be t hat of a f or l or n hope,

hur r i ed on bec aus e t he l eader s f eel t hat t he s uppor t s

ar e mel t i ng away behi nd t hem, and i t i s t hei r l as t

chanc e. But f or l or n hopes s omet i mes t ak e c i t adel s .

Bes i des , i n t hi s c as e i f t hei r ol d s uppor t s i n " t he

denomi nat i ons " ar e mel t i ng away behi nd t he Li ber a-

t i on Soc i et y , new and f or mi dabl e r ec r ui t s f r om t he

sec ul ar wor l d ar e mar c hi ng up. Mr . Dal e may

POSI TI ON OF THE LI BERATI ON SOCI ETY. $

f ai nt l y pr ot es t i n f av our of t he ol der pol i c y ,

and dec l ar e t hat , " we do not des i r e t o wi n t he

t r i umph of our c aus e by any pol i t i c al s t r at agems , "

t hat " we ar e not s eek i ng a s i ni s t er al l i anc e wi t h any

par t y i n t he St at e " ( s peec h at Der by ) . Pos s i bl y he,

l i k e Dr . Par k er , mi ght hav e pr ef er r ed t o go i nt o

ac t i on wi t h t hos e onl y who ar e mov ed by r el i gi ous

zeal . But t he t empt at i on has been t oo s t r ong, and

we f i nd hi m and hi s s oc i et y i n l eague wi t h t hos e

who mean t o wi n by any s t r at agem, and, upon t hi s

ques t i on of di s es t abl i s hment , pr opos e i n f ut ur e " t o

empl oy al l t he mos t moder n r es our c es of s c i ent i f i c

pol i t i c al war f ar e. " * And s o t he uni t ed f or c es ar e

f ai r l y on t he mar c h, and t he c ampai gn has begun,

whi c h, i n t he wor ds of Mr . Chamber l ai n, who c om-

mands t he r i ght wi ng at any r at e i f not t he whol e

ar my , " wi l l r ous e a pas s i onat e di s c or d t hr oughout

t he l engt h and br eadt h of t he l and. "

Page 5 of 132

Her e at l eas t we ar e al l agr eed. Pas s i onat e

di s c or d wi l l as s ur edl y be r ous ed ; but we Nat i onal i s t s

can go i nt o t he f i ght wi t h t he s at i s f ac t i on of f eel i ng

t hat we had no hand i n k i ndl i ng t he f l ame. And i nt o

i t we ar e bound t o go, ev er y man of us who does not

wi s h t o l eav e hi s c ount r y a weak er and poor er pl ac e

t han he f ound i t

I hav e al r eady i ndi c at ed what I meant j us t now by

t he new and f or mi dabl e or gani s at i on whi c h i s wor k i ng

wi t h t he Li ber at i on Soc i et y , and i t i s one whi c h

chal l enges t he s er i ous at t ent i on of al l Engl i s h pol i -

♦ '

The Nex t Ques t i on, ' by J os eph Chamber l ai n.

THE OLD CHURCH.

t i c i ans . The Li ber al As s oc i at i on of Bi r mi ngham i s

pr et t y wel l k nown, I s uppos e, by t hi s t i me t o ev er y

one who i s l i k el y t o r ead t hes e pages . I des i r e t o

speak of i t wi t h al l r es pec t , whi l e I mus t whol l y

dec l i ne at pr es ent t o f ol l ow t he l eader s of my par t y i n

hol di ng i t up as an ex ampl e t o al l who woul d be good

Li ber al s . I l ook upon i t as a v er y f or mi dabl e ex per i -

ment , whi c h has undoubt edl y had gr eat s uc c es s i n

cer t ai n di r ec t i ons , and may f ai r l y c l ai m a pl ac e ( t o

us e Mr . Chamber l ai n' s wor ds agai n) amongs t " t he

mos t moder n r es our c es of s c i ent i f i c pol i t i c al war f ar e. "

But i t i s as y et i n i t s i nf anc y , and has muc h t o do

bef or e i t c an c l ai m al l egi anc e f r om any Li ber al who

r eal l y l ov es l i ber t y .

I n t he bes t ac c ount * I hav e been abl e t o s ee of i t

we ar e t ol d t hat " t he Li ber al As s oc i at i on i s t he

or gani s at i on of t he peopl e t hems el v es f or t he pur pos es

of s el f - gov er nment " and t hat " i t s f or ms per mi t t he

f r ee pl ay of i ndi v i dual c onv i c t i ons " ar ound al l pol i t i c al

ques t i ons . Ver y good. I f t hi s s houl d pr ov e t o be s o

i t wi l l i n due t i me hav e my war mes t s uppor t f or

what t hat i s wor t h. I hav e no admi r at i on f or t he

" hor des of way war d f r ee l anc es " i n pol i t i c s , whi c h i t

i s par t of t he As s oc i at i on' s mi s s i on t o c r us h ; t hough

1 am bound t o s ay t hat I l ook wi t h s ome mi s gi v i ng

on t he ot her hand on t hos e " ar mi es of di s c i pl i ned

men wel l ac c us t omed t o s t and s i de by s i de and mov e

i n unbr ok en bat t al i ons , " who f or m, ac c or di ng t o Mr .

Cr os s k ey , t he f or c es at t he di s pos al of t he Li ber al

* By Mr . Cr os s k ey , Mac mi l l an^ s Magaz i ne ^ v ol . x x x v .

THE, NEW ALLI ANCE. J

As s oc i at i on. Agai n, i f at Bi r mi ngham t he Li ber al

l eader s hav e been abl e t o " t ak e t he par t y as a whol e

i nt o t hei r di r ec t and i mmedi at e c onf i denc e, " s o muc h

t he bet t er ; and i f , by doi ng s o bonaf i de^ t hey hav e

been abl e t o ef f ec t t hei r obj ec t of " s ec ur i ng as a par t y

a wor k i ng maj or i t y i n ev er y r epr es ent at i v e body c on-

Page 6 of 132

nect ed wi t h t he bor ough, " I cannot r ef use my humbl e

meed of admi r at i on f or t hei r pat i ence and execut i ve

abi l i t y. At t he same t i me I must own t hat t he

machi ne seems t o me, even i n a si ngl e bor ough, a

danger ous one t o handl e. The wheel s wi t hi n wheel s

of war d commi t t ee, gener al commi t t ee, execut i ve

commi t t ee, endi ng at l ast , by a compl i cat ed si f t i ng

pr ocess, i n a smal l " management sub- commi t t ee "

of t en or el even member s at t he out si de, must need

so much l ooki ng af t er t o make t hem wor k smoot hl y,

t hat l i t t l e l ei sur e wi l l be l ef t t o any except t he hal f -

dozen sub- commi t t ee- men at t he cent r e t o at t end

t o anyt hi ng but t he oi l i ng. The mi l l may gr i nd wel l

enough, but wi l l t he r ank and f i l e of mi l l er ' s men ever

get a r eal chance of knowi ng bef or ehand what ki nd of

gr i st i s goi ng t o be gr ound } I don' t say t hat t hey

wi l l not . The pr of essi ons of t he l eader s ar e f ai r , and

I have no desi r e t o quest i on t he genui neness of t hei r

i nt ent i ons, or abi l i t y, t o st eer cl ear of t he evi l s of t he

caucus syst em. But human nat ur e i s weak, and

l ust of power st r ong, and one can' t hel p hear i ng

t he echo i n one' s memor y of many t r ansat l ant i c

war ni ngs, when we see t he Li ber al Associ at i on

posi ng as " t he peopl e i n t he act of sel f - gover n-

ment . " For mysel f I conf ess t o deep di st r ust of

8 THE OLD CHURCH.

any appr oach t o a syst em such as t hat i n t he Uni t ed

St at es, when,

* * The el ect gut t he of f i ces down t o t i de wai t er ,

And t he peopl e t ook ski nni ng as mi l d as a t at er ,

Seemed t o choose who t hey want ed t o, f oot ed t he bi l l s.

And f el t ki nd as t ho' t hey wuz hevi n' t hei r wi l l s,

" Whi ch kep ' em as har ml ess and cher f l e as cr i cket s ;

Whi l e al l we i nvest ed wuz names on t he t i cket s :

Wal , t her ' s not hi n' f or f ol ks f ond of l i ber al consumpt i on

Fr ee of char ge, l i ke democr acy t emper ed wi t h gumpt i on. " *

And t he spr ead of t hi s Li ber al Associ at i on poi nt s

di sagr eeabl y i n t hi s di r ect i on.

For , supr eme at home, wi t h a wor ki ng maj or i t y i n

ever y r epr esent at i ve i nst i t ut i on connect ed wi t h t he

bor ough, t he Bi r mi ngham Associ at i on has of l at e

t ur ned i t s at t ent i on t o f or ei gn conquest . What i s

good f or Bi r mi ngham must be good f or ot her pl aces ;

and accor di ngl y a pr opagandi st movement has been

set on f oot , t o spr ead t he bl essi ngs now enj oyed by

t he met r opol i s of har dwar e over t he r est of t he

Engl i sh bor oughs. A conf eder at i on of associ at i ons

on t he Bi r mi ngham model i s spr eadi ng r api dl y over

t he count r y, and adopt i ng, not onl y t he or gani sat i on

but , t he shi bbol et hs of t he par ent associ at i on. Of

t hese t he di sest abl i shment and di sendowment of t he

Nat i onal Chur ch i s t he most vi t al — t hough t he count y

f r anchi se, and r edi st r i but i on of seat s, ar e of t en al l owed

t o occupy t he f or egr ound f or st r at egi cal r easons — and

ever y man who cannot pr onounce t he sel ect ed wor ds

di st i nct l y i s t o be mar ked, and opposed by t he con-

f eder at i on.

Page 7 of 132

I wi l l onl y ment i on one f act t o show how st r ong

♦ Lowel l ' s • Bi gl ow Paper s, ' 2nd Ser i es.

RESULT OF THE NEW ALLI ANCE. 9

t he pr essur e has al r eady become. Wi t hi n a week I

have hear d t hr ee act i ve pol i t i t i ans, al l of whom ar e

or have been M. P. s, admi t t hat t hey expect ed t o have

t o vot e f or di sest abl i shment af t er t he next el ect i on.

They wer e al l men whom I had known t o be opposed

t o t hat pol i cy, and on quest i oni ng t hem I f ound t hat

nei t her of t hem had changed hi s opi ni on on t he mer i t s :

but as a mat t er of par t y expedi ency al l t hr ee wer e

pr epar ed t o humi l i at e t hemsel ves by sacr i f i ci ng t hei r

convi ct i ons. A t hi s r at e, as t he number of possi bl e

candi dat es i s l i mi t ed, we may have t he quest i on

set t l ed bef or e i t ever comes up agai n ser i ousl y f or

debat e i n t he gr eat counci l of t he nat i on.

Whi l e t her e i s yet t i me, t hen, and bef or e we ar e al l

at t he mer cy of a par t y or gani sat i on wi t h a cut - and-

dr i ed bundl e of pl edges t o be swal l owed on pai n of

par t y ost r aci sm, i t i s wor t h whi l e t o chal l enge t he

aut hor i t y of t hose who ar e aski ng us t o " f oot t hei r

bi l l s. " We shal l soon see whet her i t i s t hei r i nt ent i on

t o al l ow t he f ul l pl ay of i ndi vi dual convi ct i on ar ound

t hi s quest i on, or t o f or ce i t on an uni nst r uct ed

publ i c by t he ski l f ul use of t he " most moder n

weapons of sci ent i f i c pol i t i cal war f ar e. "

Meant i me, as a t hor ough- goi ng Li ber al , who was

t r ai ned t hi r t y year s ago i n t he bel i ef t hat democr acy

— not " t emper ed by gumpt i on, " but " f r eed f r om

Jacobi ni sm" — was a cause wel l wor t h t he devot i on

of a l i f e, and who has never consci ousl y been f al se t o

t hat ear l y f ai t h, I woul d ask my br ot her Li ber al s t o

l ook t hi s mat t er f ai r l y i n t he f ace, and j udge i t by

t he t r ue democr at i c, and t her ef or e by t he t r ue Li ber al ,

10 THE OLD CHURCH.

t est . I f t hey r eal l y hol d t hat what our t i me has t o

do as i t s speci al wor k, wi t h si ngl eness of pur pose

and al l i t s mi ght , i s, t o l i f t t he peopl e t o a f ai r and

f ul l shar e of al l t he best t hi ngs of t hi s l i f e, — i t s hi ghest

cul t ur e, hopes, aspi r at i ons, bur dens, as wel l as i t s

l oaves and f i shes — t o set bef or e t hem a t r ul y nobl e

i deal of ci t i zenshi p, and hel p t hem t o at t ai n ' t hat —

t hen I woul d ask t hem t o l ook t hi s " next quest i on "

r ound, and see how i t s deci si on wi l l t el l , not on t hi s

cl ass or t hat cl ass, t hi s par t y or t hat par t y, but on t he

char act er and l i f e of our Engl i sh nat i on.

That at any r at e I hol d t o be t he t r ue wor k of

a Li ber al , i n a Li ber al age. What ever goes beyond

t hat , or besi de t hat , savour s of Jacobi ni sm, f or

t hen comes i n t hat j eal ousy whi ch i s t he bane of

t r ue democr acy. The t r ue democr at has no ol d

Page 8 of 132

scor es t o pay, covet s no man' s good t hi ngs, want s

not hi ng f or hi msel f whi ch i s not open t o hi s nei gh-

bour s, wi l l dest r oy not hi ng whi ch ot her s val ue mer el y

because he doesn' t val ue i t hi msel f , unl ess i t i s

pal pabl y and i ncur abl y unj ust and unr i ght eous. I

need not go on t o cont r ast t he Jacobi n wi t h hi m,

beyond sayi ng t hat t he one i s bef or e al l t hi ngs

const r uct i ve, t he ot her dest r uct i ve. The di f f er ence

bet ween t hem wi l l , I hope, come out cl ear l y enough

i n t hi s di scussi on.

I f t he Nat i onal Chur ch, as we have i t i n Engl and, i s

not , i n i t s i dea and i t s essence a t r ul y popul ar demo-

cr at i c i nst i t ut i on, t hen assur edl y i t must go, and I f or

one woul d not move a f i nger t o pr eser ve i t . But l et

us see how t he case r eal l y st ands, and hear bot h si des,

THE LI BERATI ONI ST SUGGESTI ONS. I I

bef or e we f ol d our hands l azi l y, or l et our voi ces swel l

a cr y, whi ch, come f r om whi ch si de i t may, f r om

Li ber at i oni st s, Ri t ual i st s, or Unbel i ever s, has none

of t he t r ue democr at i c r i ng i n i t .

These ar e t he t hr ee host s whi ch ar e j oi ned f or t he

campai gn, but i t i s onl y t he f i r st who have at t empt ed

as yet t o gi ve any answer t o t he quest i on f r om whi ch

we must st ar t , what shal l we do wi t h t he Ol d Chur ch ?

Let us see what t hat answer i s, i n t hei r own wor ds,

t aken f r om t he ' Pr act i cal Suggest i ons r el at i ve t o

t he Di sest abl i shment and Di sendowment of t he

Chur ch of Engl and, ' publ i shed at t he of f i ce of t he

Li ber at i on Soci et y.

Fi r st , t hen, t he I r i sh Chur ch Act i s not t o be f ol -

l owed i n i t s gover ni ng pr i nci pl e. That Act deal t

at once wi t h t he I r i sh Chur ch as a cor por at e body ;

appoi nt ed a body of " Commi ssi oner s of Chur ch

t empor al i t i es i n I r el and, " f or t he i mmedi at e cust ody

and management of i t s pr oper t y, and cont empl at ed

t he f or mat i on of a " Chur ch body " i n t he f ut ur e, t o

whom t he Commi ssi oner s shoul d t r ansf er t he pr oper t y

r emai ni ng i n t hei r hands af t er t he compensat i ons had

been pai d ; and whi ch woul d become t he successor by

di r ect i nher i t ance of t he Di sest abl i shed Chur ch of I r e-

l and. But , say t he Li ber at i oni st s, t hi s por t i on of t hat

measur e " has been t he subj ect of unf avour abl e cr i t i -

ci sm, " and so t hey pr opose t o depar t bot h i n pr i nci pl e

and det ai l f r om t he I r i sh Chur ch Act . One nat ur al l y

asks. Why . ? and, t hough t hey ar e car ef ul not t o st at e

i t pl ai nl y t hemsel ves, t he r eason st ands out cl ear l y

enough i n t hei r scheme. " I t i s of car di nal i mpor t -

12 THE OLD CHURCH.

ance, " say t he Suggest i ons, " t o r ecogni se t he f act t hat

t he Chur ch of Engl and i s not a cor por at i on. " Thei r

obj ect , i n shor t , i s, by ever y possi bl e pr ecaut i on, t o

pr event t he Epi scopal Chur ch, whi ch, as t hey admi t

must be her eaf t er or gani sed i n Engl and, f r om bei ng,

Page 9 of 132

ei t her i n spi r i t ual or t empor al mat t er s, t he ol d Chur ch

r eor gani sed, or t he l i neal and acknowl edged hei r and

successor t o t he Ol d Chur ch. Whet her t he at t empt

be successf ul or not t her e can be no mi st ake, I t hi nk,

as t o i t s meani ng, whi ch i s, t o make t he t r ansi t i on not

as easy but as di f f i cul t as possi bl e — not t o connect

t he ol d or der wi t h t he new, but t o sever t hem once

and f or ever . The pr oposal shows t he ani mus of t he

pr esent at t ack, whi ch i s si mpl y dest r uct i ve and

Jacobi n. " The I r i sh Chur ch, " say t he Li ber at i oni st s,

" i f i t ever r evi ves, as seems not unl i kel y, wi l l do so

as t he admi t t ed successor of t he Ol d Chur ch, and has

al r eady gai ned st r engt h f r om bei ng abl e t o asser t t hat

posi t i on f or her sel f We di dn' t f or esee t hi s i n t he

case of I r el and, but wi l l t ake car e, now t hat we do

see i t , t o hi nder any such advant age accr ui ng t o t he

Engl i sh Chur ch. " Ther e i s no ot her i nt er pr et at i on

possi bl e of t hi s par t of t he Suggest i ons t hat I can see.

The same j eal ousy comes out i n t he compensat i on

cl auses. The cl er gy i ndi vi dual l y ar e t o be deal t wi t h,

and i n f i xi ng t he amount t o be pai d i n each case,

r egar d i s t o be had t o t he f act t hat " t hei r ser vi ces

wi l l be no l onger r equi r ed. " Thei r par sonages and

gl ebes wi l l vest at once i n Commi ssi oner s, who wi l l

deal wi t h t hem " i n t he same way as wi t h t h e ot her

sur pl us pr oper t y comi ng t o t hei r hands. " But her e

THE LI BERATI ONI ST SUGGESTI ONS. 1 3

even t he Li ber at i on Soci et y f eel t hat " a pr oposal t o

ej ect t he i nmat es of al l t he par sonages i n t he count r y

woul d be r egar ded as a har sh pr oceedi ng, " and t her e-

f or e t he suggest i on i s, t hat exi st i ng i ncumbent s

shoul d be al l owed t o occupy t hei r par sonages, upon

payment of r ent , " so l ong as t hey cont i nue mi ni st er s

of t he chur ches i n whi ch t hey now of f i ci at e : " i n

ot her wor ds, shoul d a par son be el ect ed by t he f ut ur e

congr egat i on ( i f any) t hei r mi ni st er , he wi l l be al l owed

t o st ay i n t he par sonage payi ng r ent f or i t , but , when

he l eaves, i t wi l l i n any case pass t o t he nat i on f or

secul ar pur poses. These pur poses ar e not at pr esent

def i ned ; i t i s onl y i nsi st ed t hat t hey shal l be secul ar .

So much f or t he gl ebes and par sonages. The cat he-

dr al s and abbeys, wi t h t he bi shops' pal aces, and " t he

bui l di ngs i n t he nat ur e of appendages t o t he cat he-

dr al s, " ( i ncl udi ng, I pr esume, deaner i es and canons*

houses, school s and al mshouses bei ng deal t wi t h

separ at el y) , ar e t o be at once at t he di sposal of t he

st at e, and ar e t o be pl aced under nat i onal cont r ol , f or

such uses as Par l i ament may f r om t i me t o t i me

det er mi ne.

I t occur s t o one her e, t hat shoul d Par l i ament det er -

mi ne t hat cat hedr al s and abbeys shal l be mai nt ai ned

f or t he pur poses of wor shi p, t hese " suggest i ons " and

t he whol e l i ber at i on pol i cy, t umbl e at once t o pi eces.

For i f we ar e t o have any publ i c wor shi p conduct ed i n

St . Paul ' s, West mi nst er Abbey, Cant er bur y Cat hedr al ,

&c. , by anybody, under t he cont r ol of Par l i ament , t hat

i s si mpl y r e- est abl i shi ng a Nat i onal Chur ch of some

ki nd. I t i s i mpossi bl e t o suppose t hat such men as

Page 10 of 132

14 THE OLD CHURCH.

Messr s. Dal e and Cr osskey do not see t hi s ; and so

one i s dr i ven t o t he concl usi on t hat t hey do not con-

t empl at e t he cat hedr al s and abbeys bei ng used i n

f ut ur e f or any ki nd of wor shi p, t hough i t does not

of cour se sui t t hei r pur pose t o put t hi s pr omi nent l y

f or war d.

Be t hat as i t may, at any r at e no anal ogous pr o-

vi si on t o t hat above quot ed as t o i ncumbent s i s made

as t o cat hedr al di gni t ar i es. They, i t woul d seem, ar e

not t o be al l owed t o r ent t hei r own houses as l ong as

t hey cont i nue t o per f or m t hei r pr esent dut i es ; f or t he

si mpl e r eason, I pr esume, t hat t hey ar e not i n any

case t o be al l owed t o per f or m t hose dut i es i n t he

f ut ur e.

Let me t hen j ust poi nt out how t he scheme t hus

pr oposed woul d wor k i n a case whi ch i s f ami l i ar , and

I pr esume of some i nt er est , t o ever y Engl i shman.

I n our own day, and speci al l y wi t hi n t he l ast

f i f t een year s, West mi nst er Abbey has been r e-

st or ed and beaut i f i ed wi t h a t hought f ul ness and

r ever ence whi ch have doubl ed i t s val ue t o t he

nat i on. The gr eat Engl i sh memor i es wi t h whi ch i t

i s cul ot t e ( i f I may use t he phr ase wj i i ch best

expr esses my meani ng) have become t he pr oper t y of

t he peopl e as t hey never have been t i l l now. Cr owds

of t hem — f r om r oyal sui t es t o wor ki ng men' s cl ubs

and pauper chi l dr en — vi si t i t at shor t i nt er val s, and

l ear n f r om t he successor t o t he pr oud ol d mi t r ed

abbot s t he st or i es, gl or i ous, pat het i c, t r agi c, humor ous,

but al l f ul l of deepest nat i onal and human i nt er est

and i nst r uct i on, whi ch haunt ever y t omb and col umn

WESTMI NSTER ABBEY. I S

and ni che of t he bui l di ng. Four or f i ve t i mes a

week ( besi des t he or di nar y dai l y ser vi ces) t he f or e-

most schol ar s and or at or s i n t he Nat i onal Chur ch

pr each t her e t o ever - i ncr easi ng cr owds, t i l l t her e i s

no such si ght I i magi ne i n t he wor l d as t he Abbey

congr egat i ons on Sundays and sai nt s' days. Now

appl y t he Suggest i ons, and what happens ?

The Dean, who by t he devot i on of f i f t een year s of

hi s l i f e has per f ect ed t hi s wor k f or t he nat i on, must be

t ur ned out at once wi t h a pensi on, hi s connect i on

wi t h t he Abbey ceasi ng absol ut el y — f or I don' t see

t hat he woul d, under t he " Suggest i ons " scheme, be

even al l owed t o hi r e hi s own house — and al l r el i gi ous

ser vi ces woul d t hencef or t h cease i n t he Abbey.

And what has been goi ng on i n St . Pet er ' s Abbey

has been goi ng on i n ever y cat hedr al i n t he ki ngdom.

They have become t he peopl e' s chur ches i n a sense

whi ch i s as r eal as i t i s ast oni shi ng. And al l t hi s t he

Page 11 of 132

Li ber at i oni st s and t hei r al l i es ar e not onl y wi l l i ng, but

appar ent l y anxi ous t o dest r oy i n t he sacr ed name of

r el i gi ous equal i t y, t o whi ch t hey do ser vi ce wi t h t hei r

l i ps, whi l e i n t hei r hear t s t hey must ei t her hat e or

mi sunder st and i t . To t he aver age Engl i shman, t he

i dea of shut t i ng of f t he ser vi ces of t he Abbey, and

dr i vi ng t he Dean out of t he West mi nst er pr eci nct s

by Act of Par l i ament , wi l l seem t he queer est ki nd of

Li ber al measur e — t he most r emar kabl e boon t o t he

peopl e, and st ep i n t he di r ect i on of t r ue democr acy —

yet suggest ed i n our t i me.

But t he Li ber at i oni st s wi l l t ur n on me and ask,

as t hey have f ul l r i ght t o do. What , t hen, do you

l 6 THE OLD CHURCH.

Nat i onal i st s, Chur ch Ref or mer s, or what ever you

pl ease t o cal l your sel ves, mean t o do i n t hi s mat t er ?

You t al k of a publ i c Chur ch, a nat i onal Chur ch, a

democr at i c Chur ch, f i t t ed f or t he new t i me. You

own t hat t he Chur ch of Engl and as i t st ands t o-

day i s not such a Chur ch. How ar e you goi ng t o

make i t so ?

Wel l , so f ar as met hod goes, we r epl y, by t he same

machi ner y as you woul d use f or i t s dest r uct i on. The

nat i on i n i t s gr eat Counci l must r emodel t he Chur ch,

as i t di d t hr ee hundr ed year s ago : and, much as t he

t ask goes agai nst t he gr ai n, Par l i ament wi l l have t o f ace

i t i n one f or m or anot her , and t hat bef or e l ong. The

sooner al l st at esmen under st and t hat , t he bet t er i t wi l l

be f or us al l . As t o t he pr i nci pl es upon whi ch t he

wor k shoul d be done, I don' t t hi nk t her e wi l l be much

di f f er ence of opi ni on amongst Li ber al Chur chmen,

t hough t he det ai l s wi l l , of cour se, devel op ver y gr eat

di f f er ences. We shoul d al l agr ee, t hen, I t hi nk, t hat

t he Chur ch shoul d be made i n f act , what she i s i n

t heor y, t he Chur ch of t he nat i on. To t hi s end she

shoul d be made wi de enough t o i ncl ude al l Engl i sh

Chr i st i ans who own no human al l egi ance out si de t hei r

own nat i on. Fur t her t han t hi s we cannot go, because

t o do so woul d dest r oy t he nat i onal i dea, t he cor ner -

st one on whi ch, humanl y speaki ng, our Chur ch r est s.

A uni ver sal Chur ch we l ook f or , but onl y as composed

of i ndependent nat i onal Chur ches, and wi t h no human

head. I f t her e ar e gr oups of Engl i sh Chr i st i ans who

st i l l i nsi st on st andi ng apar t , so i t must be. We

cannot hel p i t . Al l t he nat i on can do i s t o make t he

REFORMS. 17

st andi ng gr ound wi de enough i nsi de f or al l who l i ke

t o come t her e.

St ar t i ng f r om t hi s poi nt we can appr oach ever y

vexed quest i on wi t h conf i dence. Let us t r y i t on one

or t wo of t hem. Of t he most not or i ous, t he Bur i al s

Bi l l , i t i s scar cel y wor t h whi l e t o speak her e. Ever y

Li ber al Chur chman i s not onl y wi l l i ng, but anxi ous

Page 12 of 132

t hat Nonconf or mi st s shoul d bur y t hei r dead i n t he

nat i onal gr aveyar ds, wi t h t hei r own ser vi ces, under

such r egul at i ons onl y as wi l l i nsur e r ever ence. By so

doi ng t hey ar e acknowl edgi ng t he nat i onal char act er

at any r at e of Chur ch pr oper t y. Many of us hol d t hat

t hey have t he r i ght al r eady t o what t hey ask i n t hi s

mat t er , wi t hout any al t er at i on i n t he l aw.

But t he chur chyar ds ar e onl y a st ep t o t he chur ches . ' *

Wel l : even shoul d t hi s pr ove t o be so t he ner ves of

Li ber al Chur chmen may endur e t he shock. We do

not desi r e t o be sol di er s hol di ng i nt r enchment s agai nst

enemi es ( unl ess dr i ven i nt o t hat at t i t ude) . We must

acknowl edge t hat t her e i s pl ent y of spar e r oom i n our

f abr i cs, and t hat t he nat i onal ser vi ces l eave much t i me

unoccupi ed. The spi r i t of a nat i onal Chur ch shoul d

not be one of j eal ous excl usi veness, and t he best

t r adi t i ons of our s ar e i n f avour of hospi t al i t y. The

f ugi t i ves f r om Al va' s per secut i ons wer e r ecei ved as

br et hr en, and had par i sh chur ches al l ot t ed f or t hei r

wor shi p, at Col chest er and el sewher e. A chapel i n

Cant er bur y Cat hedr al was set apar t f or t he Fr ench

Huguenot s, af t er t he massacr e of St . Bar t hol omew,

and i s st i l l used by t hei r Pr esbyt er i an descendant s.

We shoul d be pr epar ed t hen t o consi der any such

C

1 8 THE OLD CHURCH.

pr oposal s, i f made, wi t h a si ncer e desi r e t o make al l

concessi ons consi st ent wi t h t he mai nt enance of or der .

We shoul d hai l wi t h pl easur e t he r est or at i on of t he

ol d l i ber t y ( f or i nst ance) of t hr owi ng open Chur ch

pul pi t s t o per sons not i n Angl i can or der s. But t her e

must be no anar chy ; and t her e i s nei t her demand f or ,

nor advant age i n, ext r avagant concessi ons, whi ch woul d

r ai se al ar m amongst Chur chmen, and whi ch Non-

conf or mi st s woul d not wel come.

Wor ki ng on t he same pr i nci pl e i n ot her di r ect i ons,

Li ber al Chur chmen woul d desi r e t o see t he Act of

Uni f or mi t y r epeal ed — t he subscr i pt i on t o t he Ar t i cl es

gi ven up al t oget her . Thei r onl y use now i s a mi s-

chi evous one, i f , as i s sai d, t hey hi nder t he abl est

and most consci ent i ous young men f r om t aki ng or der s,

whi ch t hey woul d be r eady and anxi ous t o do, wer e

t hey onl y r equi r ed t o decl ar e t hat t hey can use t he

Common Pr ayer Book, and conduct publ i c wor shi p

as t her e pr escr i bed, l oyal l y and wi t h a whol e mi nd. I t

wi l l be al so desi r abl e t o r emove gr eat st umbl i ng-

bl ocks, l i ke t he At hanasi an cr eed, f r om t he pl ace t hey

now occupy. The I r i sh Chur ch have al r eady done

t hi s, wi t h t he most benef i ci al r esul t s, so t hat t her e i s

good pr ecedent f or t he change. Ot her modi f i cat i ons

i n t he r ubr i cs and Common pr ayer woul d be necessar y,

upon t he l i ber al and Chr i st i an pr i nci pl e of avoi dmg

of f ence wher ever t hi s can be done wi t hout abandoni ng

essent i al s, or vi ol at i ng pr i nci pl es.

The same l i ber al and t ol er ant pol i cy shoul d be

f ol l owed i n al l mat t er s of di sci pl i ne and r i t ual , and i n

Page 13 of 132

deal i ng wi t h quest i ons of pat r onage and endowment s.

REFORMS. 19

That wi sdom and f or bear ance and pat i ence wi l l be

necessar y i n or der t o wor k out such a r econst r uct i on

i n Par l i ament i s of cour se t r ue : but t hen i t i s equal l y

t r ue of al l i mpor t ant wor k whi ch Par l i ament has t o do,

and I f ai l t o see what i s t he gr eat advant age of our

boast ed met hods of gover nment and l egi sl at i on, i f

t hey ar e unabl e t o deal i n t hi s spi r i t wi t h t he most

i mpor t ant nat i onal concer ns.

I ndeed, as t he nat i on i s i n any case t o be f or ced t o

f ace t hi s quest i on by t hose who admi t t hat i t wi l l

r ouse " passi onat e di scor d f r om one end of t he ki ng-

dom t o t he ot her , " I bel i eve t hat Par l i ament wi l l f i nd

i t qui t e as easy, and cer t ai nl y as wi se and pat r i ot i c,

t o r ef or m and r econst r uct t he ol d f oundat i ons and

super st r uct ur e, as t o make a cl ean sweep and begi n

bui l di ng agai n f r om t he gr ound.

I t woul d be out of pl ace t o dwel l ^ f ur t her her e on

t he det ai l s of t he r ef or ms whi ch may be necessar y t o*

make our Chur ch i n f act what i t st i l l i s, and al ways

has been, i n t heor y, nat i onal and popul ar . Enough,

I hope, has been sai d t o pr ove t hat Li ber al Chur ch-

men wi l l not shr i nk f r om t hat t ask, but wi l l be r eady t o

consi der al l such pr oposal s on t hei r mer i t s, come f r om

what quar t er t hey may. I t does not l i e i n our mout h

t o obj ect t o Mr . Leat ham and Mr . Ri char ds as Chur ch

Ref or mer s. They have j ust as much r i ght as we t o t ake

t hat posi t i on, and we shal l gl adl y hel p t hem ; mer el y

r emar ki ng, i n passi ng, t hat i f t hey had been of t hi s

mi nd i n t he l ast Par l i ament , a l ong st ep mi ght have

been t hen t aken i n t he di r ect i on of Chur ch Ref or m.

But my obj ect now i s, not t o r ai se di scussi on on det ai l s,

C 2

20 THE OLD CHURCH.

but t o asser t a pr i nci pl e. I woul d appeal t o my

count r ymen, especi al l y t o t hose who cal l t hemsel ves

Li ber al s, not t o be sat i sf i ed wi t h t he commonpl aces

whi ch pass must er i n our r anks, but t o l ook a gr eat

quest i on f ai r l y i n t he f ace, and make up t hei r own

mi nds about i t honest l y and i ndependent l y.

I shoul d have been gl ad i f I coul d have put what I

have t o say on t he subj ect i n anot her f or m t han t hat

whi ch I have been l ed t o adopt . No one i s mor e

t hor oughl y awar e t han I of t he def ect s i nher ent i n

such addr esses as t hose col l ect ed i n t hi s vol ume, and

i f I had bel i eved t hat I coul d have at t r act ed mor e

r eader s by t hr owi ng my vi ews i nt o a mor e met hodi cal

shape, I woul d gl adl y have gi ven what ever l abour

mi ght have been r equi r ed f or t hat end. But , f or one

man or woman who wi l l t ake t he t r oubl e t o mast er a

car ef ul l y wr i t t en t r eat i se on such a subj ect , such as

Page 14 of 132

t hat of Mr . Har wood, t her e ar e a hundr ed nowadays

( t he mor e t he pi t y) who wi l l r ead a shor t addr ess,

pr i nt ed j ust as i t was spoken : and i t i s number s who wi l l

have t o set t l e t hi s quest i on i n t he end, and t o whom

t he appeal must be made. Besi des, I must r epeat ,

t i me pr esses. " The ci t adel of t he Est abl i shment , " t he

Li ber at or t el l s us, " must be appr oached by mi nes, " and

when peopl e ar e at wor k under mi ni ng t he f oundat i on

of your house, you wi l l not wai t f or a Tol edo r api er

or a Kr upp gun, but cat ch hol d of t he f i r st st i ck

whi ch l i es r eady t o hand. To any who may wi sh

t o st udy t he subj ect mor e car ef ul l y, I can r ecommend

Mr . Har wood' s book, and Dean St anl ey' s Essays on

Chur ch and St at e ; meant i me, I t r ust t hat t he most

THE I RI SH ACT. 21

hast y r eader wi l l , at al l event s, f i nd enough i n t hese

pages t o convi nce hi m t hat , apar t f r om al l hi gher con-

si der at i ons, t he di sest abl i shment of t he Chur ch of

Engl and i s a busi ness, even i n a pol i t i cal poi nt of vi ew,

upon whi ch Li ber al s cannot ent er wi t h l i ght hear t s

and cl osed eyes, i f t hey mean t o be t r ue t o t hei r

pr i nci pl es.

I f t hey di st r ust such appeal s f r om a Chur chman,

l et me ci t e a wi t ness f r om t he f or emost r anks of t he

Li ber at i oni st s t hemsel ves. Mr . Laxt on, who r epr e-

sent s t he pol i cy of t he " Suggest i ons f or Di sest abl i sh-

ment " al r eady r ef er r ed t o, denounces t he I r i sh Chur ch

Act mor e bi t t er l y t han any Epi scopal i an, as t he " most

pr odi gi ous bl under t hat a st at esman ever commi t t ed, "

and decl ar es t hat Mr . Gl adst one " has not l i ber at ed

t he I r i sh Chur ch, but del i ver ed i t up bound hand

and f oot i nt o t he hands of a pr i est l y par t y, " and t hat

* ' r at her t han see t he same t hi ng done i n Engl and, he

woul d vot e t hat t he pr esent connect i on bet ween

Chur ch and St at e, wi t h al l i t s evi l s, shoul d be per -

pet uat ed f or ever . " I f t hi s be so i n t he case of t he

gr een t r ee, what wi l l be done i n t he dr y ? An al i en

Chur ch whi ch had never t aken f ai r r oot i n t he soi l ,

whi ch r emi nded t hr ee- f our t hs of t he peopl e of cr uel

wr ongs, and t he r emai ni ng f our t h of an ascendancy

won and kept by t he swor d, coul d make t er ms whi ch

can wr i ng such a pr ot est f r om abl e and t hor ough

advocat es of t he separ at i on of Chur ch and St at e i n

Engl and. I s i t t he par t of wi se men t o car r y t he

exper i ment f ur t her }

But I am f ar f r om wi shi ng t hat t he i ssue shoul d be

t r i ed on any but t he hi ghest gr ounds, and wi l l st at e i t

22 THE OLD CHURCH.

t her ef or e i n t he wor ds of one of t he st r ongest Li ber al s

and t r uest and br avest EngHshman of t hi s cent ur y —

t he man who was t he f i r st t o open one of our seat s of

t he hi ghest educat i on of Nonconf or mi st s.

" The Chur ch of Chr i st , " Ar nol d wr ot e i n December

Page 15 of 132

183 1, " was or i gi nal l y di st i nct f r om t he nat i onal

soci et y, t o whi ch i t s member s bel onged as ci t i zens

or subj ect s. I t was pr omi sed, t hat t hese Nat i onal

Soci et i es shoul d become Chr i st i an Soci et i es ; and so

t hey have become, but , unf or t unat el y not so ent i r el y

i n spi r i t as i n name. Hence, many good men wi sh

t he t wo soci et i es t o be agai n di st i nct , bel i evi ng t hat

t he Chur ch i s mor e l i kel y t o be secul ar i sed by t he

uni on, t han t he nat i on t o be Chr i st i ani sed. And,

doubt l ess, as t hi ngs ar e and have been, t hi s bel i ef has

t oo much t o war r ant i t . But , on t he ot her hand, as

t hi ngs ought t o be, and as I bel i eve t hey yet may be,

t he happi er al t er nat i ve i s t he one t o be l ooked t o,

namel y, t he car r yi ng f or war d God' s wor k t o i t s

compl et i on — t he maki ng t he ki ngdoms of t he wor l d

become t he ki ngdoms of Chr i st ; not par t i al l y, or

al most , but al t oget her , i n spi r i t and i n t r ut h. I t i s

cer t ai nl y ver y bad t o r emai n as we ar e ; and t o go

back t o t he or i gi nal st at e of t he Chur ch woul d be

most desi r abl e, i f we coul d have no hope of goi ng on

t o t hat gl or i ous st at e of per f ect i on f or whi ch Chr i st

desi gned i t . But t hi s hope i s t oo pr eci ous t o be

l i ght l y abandoned, and our pr esent st at e i s a st ep t o

somet hi ng bet t er , however l i t t l e we have chosen t o

make i t so ; t he means ar e yet i n our hands, whi ch i t

seems f ar bet t er t o use, even at t he el event h hour ,

t han desper at el y t o t hr ow t hem away, "

( 23 )

I I .

ADVANTAGES OF A PUBLI C CHURCH.

[ Repr i nt ed f r om t he Bi r mi ngham Gazet t e^

The f ol l owi ng speech was made at a meet i ng hel d i n

t he Town Hal l of Bi r mi ngham, on t he 7t h of November ,

1872, under t he pr esi dency of J. D. Goodman, Esq.

The Li ber at i on Soci et y had l at el y been hol di ng a

ser i es of meet i ngs i n t hat t own, at whi ch f act s, and

t he vi ews and pr i nci pl es of Chur chmen, had been so

mi sr epr esent ed, t hat i t was consi der ed wi se t o l et t he

ot her si de be hear d. The meet i ng was, I bel i eve,

cal l ed by t he l ocal br anches of t he Chur ch Def ence

and Chur ch Ai d Soci et i es, t o nei t her of whi ch do I

bel ong ; but I was r equest ed t o at t end, and move t he

f ol l owi ng r esol ut i on, and di d so. I shoul d add, t hat

t he meet i ng was speci al l y i nt ended f or wor k- peopl e.

The r esol ut i on was as f ol l ows : —

" Bel i evi ng t hat t her e ar e some mat t er s i n t he

admi ni st r at i on of t he Chur ch whi ch depr ess many of

her f r i ends, and gi ve a handl e t o her adver sar i es, t hi s

meet i ng bel i eves i t t o be t he wi sdom of t he f r i ends of

24 A r UBLI C CHURCH. [ 1872.

Page 16 of 132

t he Chur ch t o endeavour t o car r y out t hose r ef or ms

whi ch may be cal cul at ed t o i ncr ease and ext end her

usef ul ness, such, f or exampl e as t he f ol l owi ng: — ( i )

Ref or m of Convocat i on, so as t o secur e a mor e

adequat e r epr esent at i on of t he Chur ch. ( 2) The

pr ovi si on of some means wher eby t he l ai t y of a

par i sh or congr egat i on may have a voi ce i n Chur ch

wor k. ( 3) The adopt i on of a scheme wher eby al l

t r af f i c i n benef i ces may be abol i shed wi t hout di sr egar d

of exi st i ng r i ght s and i nt er est s. ( 4) The subst i t ut i on

of a l ess obj ect i onabl e pl an i n t he appoi nt ment of

bi shops f or t he cong^ d' di r e. ( 5) The ut i l i sat i on of

cat hedr al endowment s t o a gr eat er ext ent f or spi r i t ual

and pr act i cal wor k i n har mony wi t h t he par ochi al

syst em. ( 6) The uni on of smal l par i shes, and t he

augment at i on of poor l i vi ngs t o a f ai r mi ni mum. "

I ar t ! gl ad t hat t he r esol ut i on you have pl aced i n

my hands r ef er s t o r ef or ms i n t he nat i onal Chur ch.

Def ence apar t f r om r ef or m I coul d not suppor t . I

pr obabl y occupy a ver y di f f er ent posi t i on on t hi s

pl at f or m f r om most of t hose who wi l l speak t o- ni ght

and l ook at t hi s quest i on f r om qui t e a di f f er ent poi nt

of vi ew. I come her e as a Radi cal . I ent i r el y accept

on t hi s quest i on, as on ever y ot her , t he t est of " t he

gr eat est good ( not happi ness) of t he gr eat est number . "

I desi r e t o appl y t hi s t est st r i ct l y, and t o ask, " Wi l l

di sest abl i shment benef i t t he gr eat est number of l i vi ng

Engl i shmen — i s i t l i kel y t o make t hem wi ser , st r onger ,

mor e r i ght eous . ?" I f Mr . Mi al l , or t he Li ber at i on

Soci et y can show me t hat i t wi l l , I wi l l j oi n t hem

18/ 2. ] THE TRUE TEST FOR LI BERALS. 2$

t hen and t her e ; f or I hol d t hat t he Est abl i shed

Chur ch was made f or t he nat i on, not t he nat i on f or

t he Est abl i shed Chur ch.

Now, I wi sh at once t o escape f r om gener al i t i es,

and t o put t he case i n what seems t o me t he most

di r ect and pr act i cal manner . Let us t ake t he f i r st

car pent er , smi t h, l abour er , or ot her poor man we meet

wi t h i n t own or count r y, and ask our sel ves, " What

good wi l l happen t o t hi s man — and t o t hose l i ke hi m

who f or m t he gr eat mass of t he Engl i sh nat i on, and

ar e t her ef or e i n my j udgment ent i t l ed t o t he f i r st con-

si der at i on — by di sest abl i shment ?" I must make one

assumpt i on, however , at st ar t i ng, and t hat i s, t hat t he

Engl i sh nat i on st i l l has a r espect f or Chr i st i ani t y, and

desi r es t o cont i nue Chr i st i an. I do not di sput e, of

cour se, t hat t her e ar e a l ar ge number of per sons,

r angi ng f r om t he Duke of Somer set t o Mr . Br adl augh,

who hol d Chr i st i ani t y t o be a pl ayed out super st i t i on,

and most of whom desi r e ever y t r ace of i t t o be swept

away. But I do bel i eve t hat t hese per sons make a

noi se ent i r el y di spr opor t i onat e t o t hei r number s, or

t hei r wi sdom, and t hat I am r i ght i n assumi ng t hat

t he nat i on i s Chr i st i an, and wi shes t o r emai n so. At

any r at e I have a r i ght t o assume t hi s i n ar gui ng wi t h

t he Li ber at i oni st s, f or i t i s j ust as much a par t of t hei r

case ( as put by Mr . Mi al l and t hei r r ecogni sed l eader s

Page 17 of 132

and or gans) as i t i s of our s. Thi s bei ng so, l et us

r et ur n t o my car pent er .

I n t hi s mont h of November , 1872, t her e i s no

cor ner of t hi s i sl and i n whi ch he wi l l not f i nd an

educat ed cl er gyman, f or whom he, as an Engl i shman,

26 A PUBLI C CHURCH. [ 1872.

has a r i ght t o send, and who i s bound t o come and

mmi st er t o hi m i n al l spi r i t ual t hi ngs, i f he wi l l accept

t he mi ni st r at i on, and i s not l i vi ng i n open si n. I n

ever y cor ner of t he i sl and t her e i s a bui l di ng i n

whi ch gener at i ons of Engl i shmen have wor shi pped

f or hundr eds of year s, and i nt o whi ch he has an

undoubt ed r i ght t o go and wor shi p, wi t hout t he power

i n any per son what ever t o ask hi m a quest i on, or t ake

a penny f r om hi m.

Let me put t he case as I see i t i n anot her f or m.

You i n Bi r mi ngham have of l at e come t o t he concl u-

si on, and have been ur gi ng on your r epr esent at i ves,

t hat a const ant wat er suppl y i s one of t he necessi t i es

of whol esome l i vi ng. I n t hi s I cor di al l y agr ee. Now,

suppose t hat we had a gr eat syst em of r eser voi r s and

aqueduct s i n t hi s i sl and, whi ch had been pr ovi ded and

pai d f or by muni f i cent per sons, or by t he St at e,

hundr eds of year s ago- ^ so l ong ago, i ndeed, t hat t he

best aut hor i t i es di f f er as t o how i t was pai d f or — and

whi ch br ought a const ant suppl y of wat er t o t he door

of ever y cot t age i n t he ki ngdom. Suppose t hat t hi s

suppl y was t hus of f er ed f r ee of al l cost , and t hat ever y

Engl i sh ci t i zen was per f ect l y f r ee t o t ake i t or l et i t

al one, as he pl eased. What woul d my f r i end t he

wor ki ng man t hi nk of pol i t i ci ans who, i n t he name of

advanced Li ber al i sm, wer e t o say t o hi m, " Thi s St at e

wat er suppl y i s a gr oss br each of sani t ar y equal i t y ;

t he St at e has no busi ness t o gi ve us wat er f or not hi ng.

The of f er demor al i ses us. Hel p us t o pul l down t hese

aqueduct s, and bui l d hospi t al s and school s wi t h t he

st ones. Wat er whi ch t he St at e suppl i es f or not hi ng

1872. ] WHAT ARE YOU GOI NG TO GET? 2/

must be bad. Ther e can' t be enough f i xed ai r i n i t .

Tr y our pump! "

I t hi nk t he wor ki ng man woul d be l i kel y t o

answer , when he had l ooked wel l r ound t he pr oposal ,

" Wel l , I don' t use much wat er mysel f ; but t he women

want i t ; and per haps t he chi l dr en may get a t ast e f or

i t . So, on t he whol e, I wi l l l et t he ol d wat er wor ks

al one. The st uf f seems t o have been good enough f or

my gr andf at her , and i f I don' t want i t I needn' t t ake

i t , and at any r at e I don' t pay f or i t . When I seem t o

want mor e f i xed ai r i n my wat er , I wi l l come and buy

my pennywor t h at your pump. " Now, j ust change

t he wor d " wat er , " i nt o " wor shi p and t he mi ni st r at i ons

of r el i gi on, " and you have t he case of t he nat i onal

Chur ch. Her e i n Engl and we have an est abl i shment ,

Page 18 of 132

ent i r el y under t he cont r ol of t he nat i on, by means of

whi ch, what even Messr s. Dal e and Cr osskey wi l l , I

t hi nk, al l ow t o be a not ent i r el y obj ect i onabl e f or m of

Chr i st i an wor shi p, and al l t he mi ni st r at i ons of r el i gi on

ar e f r eel y of f er ed t o ever y Br i t i sh subj ect . Si nce t he

Tol er at i on Act no Br i t i sh subj ect has been obl i ged t o

use t hi s wor shi p. I n our own t i me ever y di sabi l i t y

has been r emoved f r om t hose who wi l l not use i t , or , i f

t her e be any shadow of di sabi l i t i es l ef t , t hese may be

easi l y abol i shed. Whet her we use t hi s wor shi p or l et

i t al one, not a man of us need pay a penny t owar ds

i t s mai nt enance unl ess we l i ke. And al l t hi s bei ng

beyond di sput e, I woul d j ust ask t he wor ki ng man

what he i s l i kel y t o gai n by sweepi ng away t he whol e

syst em ? I n what r espect — spi r i t ual , mor al , or mat e-

r i al — ar e you, my f r i end t he car pent er , goi ng t o be

28 A PUBLI C CHURCH. [ 1872.

t he bet t er f or di sest abl i shment ? I ask t he gr eat mass

of my poor er count r ymen, t o whom t he Li ber at i on

Soci et y has appeal ed, and who, bot h si des admi t , have

no gr eat i nt er est yet i n t hi s cont r over sy, t o answer me

t hi s si mpl e quest i on, f or as yet I have hear d no answer

f r om any quar t er .

Wel l , t hen, i f , as I mai nt ai n, t he exi st ence of t he

est abl i shment ( t hat i s t o say of t he di r ect and avowed

connect i on bet ween t hi s nat i on and Chr i st i ani t y)

f or ces not hi ng on you, and t akes not hi ng away f r om

you ; i f you ar e j ust as f r ee and as wel l of f , whet her

i t cont i nues or whet her i t ceases, j ust l et me ask you

t o t r y t o under st and t he case of t hose t o whom i t has

a ver y deep and r eal meani ng — my case, f or i nst ance,

and t hat of many ot her s, who have al ways endeavour ed

t o gai n f or you your f ai r shar e of pol i t i cal power , of

ment al cul t ur e, and of al l t he good t hi ngs of t hi s

wor l d.

We bel i eve, t hen, i n t he f i r st pl ace, t hat t he connec -

t i on bet ween St at e and Chur ch as i t exi st s i n Engl and

has t hi s i mmense val ue, t hat i t f or ces on t he Legi sl at ur e,

on t he Gover nment , on st at esmen, on al l men engaged

i n publ i c af f ai r s — and so, upon t he nat i onal consci ence

— t he f act t hat t he nat i on i n i t s cor por at e capaci t y has a

spi r i t ual as wel l as a mat er i al l i f e ; t hat i t cannot , even

i f i t woul d, conf i ne i t sel f t o t he pr eser vat i on of mat er i al

t hi ngs, of body and goods. The endeavour t o separ at e

t hi ngs secul ar f r om t hi ngs spi r i t ual i n i ndi vi dual ,

f ami l y, or nat i onal l i f e, i s, we hol d, a gr i evous bl under ,

and cer t ai n t o pr ove bot h mi schi evous and f ut i l e.

The man, t he f ami l y, t he nat i on, must l i ve bot h

18/ 2. ] member shi p: wpi o i s t o def i ne i t ? 29

l i ves. We desi r e t hat t hey may be pl edged as

deepl y as possi bl e t o l i ve t hem accor di ng t o Chr i st i an

st andar ds.

Agai n, t he connect i on of Chur ch and St at e ( i n

Page 19 of 132

Engl and, at any r at e, i f not ever ywher e) i s t he sur est

guar ant ee f or keepi ng t he r el i gi on of t he count r y

br oad and compr ehensi ve. The nat i onal Chur ch i s

accused of l at i t udi nar i ani sm, t hat i t embr aces men

of ver y di f f er ent bel i ef s ; of " mul t i t udi ni sm ; " t hat i t

makes no at t empt t o di st i ngui sh bet ween spi r i t ual

and unspi r i t ual men. One of t he abl est advocat es of

di sest abl i shment ur ges t hi s ar gument i n t hese wor ds ;

" The ear l y Chur ches, l i ke moder n Congr egat i onal

Chur ches, had cl ear l y some means of di st i ngui shi ng

bet ween cat echumens and t he f ai t hf ul , of det er mi ni ng,

t hat i s, t he di st i nct i ve r el i gi ous char act er of i ndi vi dual

men. And i f , as communi t i es of t he f ai t hf ul . Chur ches

ar e t o exi st at al l , t he di st i nct i on must be mai nt ai ned. "

Now i t seems t o me one of t he most pr eci ous char ac-

t er i st i cs of t he nat i onal Chur ch t hat i t makes no such

at t empt , dr aws no such di st i nct i on. What human

power can det er mi ne, or ought t o t r y t o det er mi ne,

what ar e " t he di st i nct i ve r el i gi ous char act er s of i ndi -

vi dual men " ? Let bot h gr ow t oget her t i l l t he har vest .

But , once sever t he connect i on of Chur ch and St at e —

t ake t he Chur ch f r om under t he cont r ol of Par l i ament

and t he l aw cour t s, and who shal l say t hat i t wi l l not

f ol l ow t he exampl e of al l ot her Engl i sh denomi nat i ons,

and set about t hi s wr et ched si f t i ng sect ar i an busi ness ?

I n any case, Chur ch member shi p woul d no l onger

r emai n t he bi r t hr i ght of ever y Engl i shman.

30 A PUBLI C CHURCH. [ 1872.

Agai n, i f you sever t he connect i on you must make

t he Chur ch a cor por at i on, i ndependent of t he St at e.

Ar e we pr epar ed t o do t hi s ? Par l i ament hesi t at es

bef or e t he pr oposal t o al l ow t he amal gamat i on of t wo

gr eat r ai l way compani es. Such a cor por at i on woul d

be t oo power f ul , i t i s sai d. What , t hen, of such a

cor por at i on as our nat i onal Chur ch woul d become, i f

di sest abl i shed } " The Pr ot est ant Chur ch " says Dr .

Newman, i n hi s * Hi st or i cal Sket ches * ( p. 230) , " woul d

be an i mper i um i n i mper i o, consi der i ng t he i mmense

weal t h and power and i nf l uence of i t s const i t uent mem-

ber s, wer e i t i t sel f a cor por at i on. " I t woul d, i ndeed,

be a cor por at i on as power f ul as, not t wo, but al l t he

r ai l way compani es of t he ki ngdom, i f i t hel d t oget her .

Yes, I shal l of cour se be t ol d, " i f i t hel d t oget her , "

but i t wi l l br eak i n pi eces. And t hen, I r epl y, when

i t has br oken, say i nt o t hr ee sect i ons, we ar r i ve at t hi s

r esul t , t hat t her e wi l l be t hr ee mor e denomi nat i ons i n

Engl and — separ at ed onl y by di f f er ences whi ch i t i s

cl ear need not di vi de Chr i st i an men, f or t hey exi st

now si de by si de i n t he nat i onal Chur ch — and ever y

one of us wi l l have l ost hi s r i ght s i n t wo- t hi r ds at l east

of t he ol d nat i onal pl aces of wor shi p. I cannot under -

st and why r el i gi ous men shoul d t hi nk t hi s so gr eat an

i mpr ovement .

But , I may be t ol d, t hese di f f er ences of your s ar e

so gr eat , t hat , as honest men, you ozi ght t o be i n t hr ee

or f our di f f er ent communi t i es. I cannot t hi nk so ; i n-

deed, I do not see why, so f ar as doct r i nal di f f er ences

ar e concer ned, al l t he Pr ot est ant denomi nat i ons shoul d

Page 20 of 132

not be i n t he same communi on, as t hey wer e i n t he

1872. ] THE ACT OF UNI FORMI TY. 3 1

Tudor t i mes. Dean St anl ey' s name f or t he Di ssent i ng

denomi nat i ons, or f r ee Chur ches, as t hey seem now t o

del i ght t o cal l t hemsel ves, " non- conf or mi ng member s

of t he Chur ch of Engl and, " descr i bes accur at el y t he

vi ew whi ch nat i onal Chur chmen shoul d t ake of t hem.

But f or t he Act of Uni f or mi t y t hey mi ght be so now.

That Act , al ways mi schi evous, has become pr act i cal l y

power l ess ; has al r eady been i n par t r epeal ed, and I

t r ust may be whol l y r epeal ed bef or e l ong. " Pi t y, "

sai d Dr . Al l en t o Shel don, when i t was passed i n

1662, " you have made t he door so st r ai t ; " and af t er

t wo hundr ed year s, dur i ng whi ch i t has dr i ven many

of t he best and most zeal ous Chr i st i ans out of t he

nat i onal Chur ch — i n t he l at t er year s of whi ch i t has

been pr act i cal l y i gnor ed, not onl y by ext r eme Ri t ual -

i st s, but by good moder at e Chur chmen — sur el y i t i s

t i me t o get i t bur i ed.

Let me now r emi nd you t hat t he gr eat names i n

t he gr eat t i mes of t he godl y denomi nat i ons wer e i n

f avour of a nat i onal Chur ch. I n t he t i mes of t he

Commonweal t h Dr . Owen, t hei r f or emost r epr esent a-

t i ve i n t he Long Par l i ament , denounced st r ongl y

t hose who mai nt ai ned t hat t he St at e had no concer n

wi t h r el i gi on. Cal amy wi shed t o conf or m ; Baxt er

and Mat t hew Henr y wr ot e st r ongl y i n f avour of a

nat i onal Chur ch, t hough t hey coul d not conf or m ; and

t he f ol l ower s of Wesl ey never pr oposed t o separ at e

f r om t he nat i onal Chur ch t i l l af t er t he deat h of t hei r

f ounder . Our chi ef busi ness seems t o me t o be now^

so t o pr ovi de f or t he f ut ur e t hat no such def ect i ons

as t hose of t he Non- Jur or s and t he Wesl eys can

32 A PUBLI C CHURCH. [ 1872.

possi bl y happen, and t hat , per haps, some of t hose

who have seceded may be l ed back t o t he nat i onal

communi on.

But i f t hi s i s t o be we must consi der what r ef or ms

ar e r equi r ed, f or t he Chur ch must meet t he t i mes as

wel l as al l ot her i nst i t ut i ons. Fi r st , t hen, we ar e bound

t o consi der any gr i evances whi ch Di ssent er s st i l l put

f or war d. These ar e pr act i cal l y r educed, so f ar as I

know, t o t wo. They cannot bur y t hei r dead wi t h

t hei r own ser vi ces i n t he par ochi al gr aveyar ds ; and

t hei r member s ar e st i l l excl uded f r om some of t he

hi ghest post s i n t he nat i onal uni ver si t i es. I t hi nk

t he Chur ch woul d be wi se t o meet t he Di ssent er s

mor e t han hal f - way i n bot h cases. I f i nd i t di f f i cul t

t o be pat i ent wi t h t he spi r i t i n whi ch Mr . Osbor ne

Mor gan' s bi l l i s met i n t he House of Commons

by Mr . Ber esf or d Hope and ot her s, who pr of ess

t o r epr esent t he Nat i onal Chur ch. I t enabl es one t o

under st and, and make al l owance f or , t hat at t i t ude of

wat chf ul j eal ousy whi ch, as Mr . Wi nt er bot ham sai d

Page 21 of 132

t wo year s ago, i s habi t ual wi t h Di ssent er s. I f we

t ake away t hese l ast r emnant s of ascendancy, we

may hope t o see t he " wat chf ul j eal ousy " gi ve pl ace

t o a bet t er f eel i ng, and one mor e i n accor dance

wi t h t he t eachi ng of St . Paul and St . John. For ,

beyond quest i on, a sense of soci al i nf er i or i t y i s at t he

bot t om of much of t he bi t t er ness whi ch f i nds expr es -

si on i n t he Li ber at i on movement . The cl er gy of t he

Est abl i shed Chur ch have, as a r ul e, had educat i onal

advant ages f r om whi ch t he Di ssent i ng cl er gy have

been excl uded, and t r eat Nonconf or mi st mi ni st er s as

18/ 2. ] REFORMS I N CONVOCATI ON. 33

an i nf er i or cast e. When, as I hope soon t o see, t hey

ar e educat ed si de by si de at t he uni ver si t i es, much of

t hi s f eel i ng wi l l di sappear . I ndeed, t he ef f ect whi ch

r ecent l egi sl at i on has had on t he best and most

cul t i vat ed Di ssent er s i s a most hopef ul si gn of what

we may l ook f or when per f ect r el i gi ous equal i t y i n

t hese r espect s has been est abl i shed.

We need not l ook f or per f ect uni f or mi t y, and I ,

f or one, shoul d not car e t o see i t . I n a count r y of

f r ee t hought , i t woul d i ndi cat e an unnat ur al st at e.

We never have had i t i n Engl and, and never can.

Ther e wi l l al ways be a l ar ge mi nor i t y at any r at e of

Engl i shmen, who woul d sooner be bi g f i sh i n a smal l

hol e t han smal l f i sh i n a bi g hol e ; and whi l e t hi s i s

so we must expect t o have Di ssent i ng denomi nat i ons,

or f r ee Chur ches. But t her e i s no r eason why t he

Chur ch and t he Nonconf or mi st s shoul d not wor k

t oget her , si de by si de, at t hei r Mast er ' s busi ness, i f

t hei r of f i cer s had onl y somet hi ng mor e of t hei r

Mast er ' s spi r i t .

But , besi des t hese r emnant s of gr i evance whi ch

Di ssent er s can st i l l al l ege, and by f ar mor e ser i ous, ar e

t he anomal i es whi ch exi st i nsi de t he Chur ch, weaken-

i ng i t s power , and par al ysi ng i t s ener gi es ; and t hese

i t shoul d be t he obj ect of ever y good Chur chman

t o r ef or m. Sever al of t he most pr essi ng of t hese

much- needed r ef or ms ar e r ef er r ed t o i n t hi s r esol ut i on.

I wi l l f ol l ow t he or der i n whi ch t hey ar e pl aced bef or e

you t her e. Fi r st , as t o Convocat i on. No Chur chman,

I bel i eve, woul d now deny t hat t hi s body needs

r adi cal r ef or m. At pr esent i t r epr esent s not hi ng but

D

34 A PUBLI C CHURCH. [ 1872.

t he cl er gy, and t hi s i n an ut t er l y i nadequat e manner .

I n t he Lower House mor e t han t wo- t hi r ds ar e deans,

ar chdeacons, and ot her ex of f i ci o member s. I f i t i s t o

cont i nue i t i s i ndeed necessar y t hat i t shoul d be r e-

f or med, so as t o secur e a mor e adequat e r epr esent at i on

of t he whol e Chur ch. I conf ess, however , t hat I am

not sangui ne as t o t he r ef or m of Convocat i on, and do

not see cl ear l y t he advant age of such a body i n a

Page 22 of 132

t r ul y nat i onal Chur ch, or how any l egi sl at i ve power

can be gi ven t o i t whi ch wi l l not i nt er f er e wi t h t he

aut hor i t y and l essen t he power of t he nat i onal

Legi sl at ur e.

But t her e i s no such di f f i cul t y as t o t he second

pr oposal i n t hi s r esol ut i on, t he pr ovi si on of some mode

wher eby t he l ai t y of a par i sh may have a voi ce i n

Chur ch wor k. Ther e i s no quest i on whi ch has been

mor e t hor oughl y di scussed t han t hi s, and t he concl usi on

i s al most unani mous t hat t he f or mat i on of par ochi al

counci l s i s t he pr oper met hod. Lor d Sandon' s Par o-

chi al Counci l s Bi l l embodi es t hi s r ef or m, and i s t o be

i nt r oduced agai n i n t he comi ng sessi on. I t i s wor t hy

of t he suppor t of al l Chur chmen, and, I t r ust , may

become l aw i n spi t e of t he act i ve opposi t i on of t hose

Chur chmen who oppose al l r ef or m.

Then comes t he quest i on of t he sal e of benef i ces,

t he gr eat scandal of our Chur ch ; and her e, agai n, I

r ej oi ce t o t hi nk t hat t her e i s l i t t l e r eal di f f er ence of

opi ni on. Si mony i n al l i t s f or ms must be abol i shed.

The evi l i s, i ndeed t o some ext ent , cur i ng i t sel f

al r eady i n t he pr esence of t hi s bet t er f eel i ng, f or ad-

vowsons have decl i ned i n val ue t o a poi nt whi ch pr ac-

1872. ] THE BI SHOPS. 35

t i cal l y pr ohi bi t s t hei r sal e. But t her e i s ur gent need

of l egi sl at i on on t he subj ect , and what ever cour se may -

be t aken as t o pat r onage gener al l y, one t hi ng shoul d

be i nsi st ed on. The par i shi oner s t hr ough t hei r counci l

shoul d at l east have a vet o on t he appoi nt ment of

t hei r cl er gyman.

The f our t h r ef or m suggest ed i n t he r esol ut i on r e-

f er s t o t he appoi nt ment of bi shops. No doubt t her e

ar e many obj ect i ons t o t he pr esent syst em. The

cong^ ddi r e i s a cl umsy and obsol et e met hod, but

as yet opi ni on i s not mat ur ed on t hi s quest i on, and

one may si mpl y t ake not e of i t as a mat t er t o be

car ef ul l y consi der ed.

I n t he same way, al t hough i t i s gener al l y agr eed

t hat cat hedr al endowment s shoul d be ut i l i sed t o a

gr eat er ext ent f or some spi r i t ual and pr act i cal wor k i n

har mony wi t h t he par ochi al syst em, no pl an has been

mat ur ed f or t he pur pose. I t wi l l be enough t hat

we shoul d af f i r m t he pr oposi t i on gener al l y, wi t hout

pl edgi ng our sel ves t o any par t i cul ar scheme.

And now we come t o t he l ast , and, I t hi nk, t he

most i mpor t ant of t he r ef or ms r ef er r ed t o i n t hi s

r esol ut i on — t he uni on of smal l par i shes and t he

amal gamat i on of smal l l i vi ngs. The par ochi al syst em

has al ways been, and must cont i nue t o be, t he mai n-

st ay or backbone of a nat i onal Chur ch. But t he

const ant shi f t i ng of popul at i on has t hr own t he ol d

machi ner y out of gear . The pr essi ng need of r ef or m

i n t hi s di r ect i on has l ong been r ecogni sed, and t o a

cer t ai n ext ent met by t he Act whi ch al l ows t he uni on

of nei ghbour i ng benef i ces wher e t he popul at i on does

Page 23 of 132

D 2

36 A PUBLI C CHURCH. [ 1872.

not exceed 1, 500. But t hi s i s mer el y a makeshi f t . A

f r i end of mi ne, an ar dent Chur ch Ref or mer , who has

gone ver y car ef ul l y i nt o t hi s quest i on, br i ngs out t he

f ol l owi ng r emar kabl e r esul t s. Taki ng a popul at i on

of 300 as t he l owest whi ch wi l l pr ovi de wor k f or a

cl er gyman, and ; ^ 200 as t he l owest i ncome whi ch wi l l

pr ovi de hi m wi t h decent mai nt enance, t her e ar e at

pr esent 1, 409 l i vi ngs whi ch pr ovi de nei t her wor k nor

f ood, 1, 141 whi ch pr ovi de f ood but not wor k, 3, 032

whi ch pr ovi de wor k but not f ood, and, of t he l ast

di vi si on, many hundr eds consi st of t he poor est

subur ban popul at i ons of gr eat t owns, t he ver y pl aces

wher e spi r i t ual dest i t ut i on pr evai l s most , and t he

need i s t he sor est . I n t he f ace of such f act s as

t hese i t i s hi gh t i me t hat Chur chmen best i r r ed t hem-

sel ves.

The anci ent Chur ch of t he nat i on must be r ef or med,

and can easi l y be r ef or med i f her chi l dr en ar e wi se i n

t i me, so as t o r emove al l r easonabl e cause of of f ence.

I f she moves st eadi l y i n t hi s di r ect i on, she may

di sr egar d t he i ndi scr i mi nat e at t acks whi ch ar e made

on her , and abi de t he i ssue wi t h conf i dence. Her

best def ence i s r ef or m ; her gr eat est danger t he

t empt at i on t o r et ur n r ai l i ng f or r ai l i ng. I wi sh we

coul d see t he cont r over sy car r i ed on, on one si de at

l east , as car r i ed on i t must be, i n a ver y di f f er ent

spi r i t f r om t hat whi ch pr evai l s i n not a f ew of what

ar e cal l ed Chur ch Def ence or gani sat i ons. I don' t

know how you f eel , my f r i ends, on t hi s subj ect ; but

t o me i t i s a saddeni ng and humi l i at i ng t hought t hat

we shoul d have at t hi s t i me t o f i ght t hi s bat t l e, not

18/ 2. ] A LEGEND OF ST. AMBROSE. 3/

wi t h t hat one- t hi r d of our count r ymen who ( accor di ng

t o your member , Mf . Di xon) ar e not Chr i st i ans at al l ,

but wi t h t he one- t hi r d who beHeve i n and wor shi p t he

same Lor d wi t h us. Not hi ng but t he most ear nest

convi ct i on t hat t he sever ance of t hi s i mmemor i al

connect i on — t hi s at t empt t o r el egat e t he St at e t o

mat er i al t hi ngs, and t o decl ar e t hat t he nat i on as a

nat i on has not hi ng t o say, has no hel p t o gi ve, i n t he

sor e st r uggl es of humani t y t o r i se out of t he mat er i al

t o somet hi ng hi gher — shoul d i nduce me t o t ake par t

i n i t . For I can t ake l i t t l e i nt er est i n t he quest i ons

whi ch di vi de Chr i st i an Chur ches and sect s, can see no

r eason why t hey shoul d not now be wor ki ng si de by

si de t o r edeem our wast e pl aces, and t o make t he

ki ngdoms of t hi s wor l d t he ki ngdoms of our Lor d

and of Hi s Chr i st .

Let me cl ose what I have t o say wi t h a Chur ch

l egend, whi ch seems t o me f ul l of wi sdom f or t hi s

cont r over sy. St . Ambr ose was a hol y man and ex-

Page 24 of 132

ceedi ng zeal ous, even t o sl ayi ng, f or t he one t r ue

cr eed. One day as he was wal ki ng i n deep medi t a-

t i on as t o how t o br i ng al l men t o hi s own mi nd, he

was awar e of a st r eam, and a yout h seat ed besi de

i t . He had never seen so beaut i f ul a count enance,

and sat down by hi m t o speak of t hose t hi ngs on

whi ch hi s mi nd cont i nual l y dwel t . To hi s hor r or he

f ound t hat t he beaut i f ul f ace cover ed a most her et i cal

mi nd, and he spoke i n sor r owf ul anger t o t he yout h of

hi s danger . Wher eupon t he young st r anger pr oduced

si x or seven vases, al l of di f f er ent shapes and col our s,

SS A PUBLI C CHURCH. [ 1872.

and, as he f i l l ed t hem f r om t he br ook, sai d t o t he

sai nt ( as t he l egend i s ver si f i ed by Mr . Lowel l ) —

" Now Ambr ose, t hou maker of cr eeds, l ook her e —

As i nt o t hese vases t hi s wat er I pour ;

One shal l hol d l ess, anot her mor e ;

But t he wat er t he same i n ever y case,

Shal l t ake t he f i gur e of t he vase.

O t hou who woul dst uni t y r each t hr ough st r i f e,

Canst t hou f i t t hi s si gn t o t he Wat er of Li f e?"

When Ambr ose l ooked up, t he yout h, t he vases, and

t he st r eam wer e gone ; but he knew he had t al ked

wi t h an angel , and hi s hear t was changed. I wi sh

t hat angel woul d come and do a gr eat deal of

pr eachi ng t o our Engl i sh Ambr oses.

( 39 )

I I I .

ESTABLI SHED AND VOLUNTARY

CHURCHES I N CONTRAST.

( An Addr ess del i ver ed at St . Andr ew' s Hal l , Nor wi ch, at t he

r equest of t he Chur ch Def ence Associ at i on^ on Monday

eveni ngs May \ i t h^ 1873. )

[ Repr i nt ed f r om t he Nor f ol k Chr oni cl e^

The Meet i ng was a ver y noi sy one, st r ong par -

t i sans on bot h si des bei ng pr esent , so, t o make t he

al l usi ons cl ear , I have been obl i ged t o l eave some

of t he i nt er r upt i ons as t hey wer e r epor t ed, whi l e

st r i ki ng out mer e not i ces of appl ause or di ssent .

Mr . Sher i f f , Ladi es, and Gent l emen. — I t r ust

t hat my f r i ends ar ound me wi l l not t hi nk I am begi n-

ni ng by t el l i ng t al es out of school i f I vent ur e t o

conf i de t o t hi s gr eat meet i ng a l i t t l e secr et . When I

under t ook t o del i ver t hi s addr ess i n your gr eat ci t y,

I of cour se ent er ed i nt o cor r espondence wi t h t he

Page 25 of 132

of f i cer s of t hi s associ at i on. I wr ot e t o t he secr et ar y t o

st at e t hat I shoul d del i ver i t " as a pol i t i ci an. " I con-

f ess, si r , t hat t he r emar ks whi ch have j ust f al l en f r om

you have expl ai ned t o me what I t hought was r at her

40 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH. [ 1873.

unnecessar y al ar m on t he par t of t he gent l emen who

had i nvi t ed me her e when t hat announcement came

t o t hem. But I see now si nce our chai r man' s addr ess

t he gr ounds upon whi ch I was war ned t hat i t was not

as a pol i t i ci an t hat I was expect ed t o appear her e t o-

ni ght . Now, my f r i ends, I see ver y good r eason f or

t hat l i t t l e al ar m. Pol i t i cs, i n t he or di nar y sense of t he

wor d, ar e so mi xed up wi t h t hose par t y squabbl es i n

whi ch I and my hon. f r i end ( Mr . Cl ar e Read) , whom

I am gl ad t o see her e, and who si t s on t he opposi t e

si de of t he House t o mysel f , ar e of t en engaged i n St .

St ephen' s, West mi nst er , t hat I don' t wonder t hat

t hose who ar e conveni ng t hese meet i ngs f or so gr eat

a pur pose as t hat f or whi ch we ar e gat her ed her e t o-

ni ght shoul d wi sh t o abst ai n as much as possi bl e f r om

t he wor d " pol i t i cs. " But j ust l et me expl ai n ver y

shor t l y why i t i s t hat on al l such occasi ons as t hi s I

st and bef or e any audi ence whi ch may come t o l i st en

t o me as a pol i t i ci an. As I under st and t he wor d

" pol i t i ci an, " i t means a man who, what ever hi s ot her

engagement s i n l i f e may be, and however he may ear n

hi s dai l y br ead, f eel s above al l t hi ngs deepl y i nt e-

r est ed, f eel s t hat he i s bound t o be deepl y i nt er est ed,

and t o t ake as act i ve a par t as he can, i n t he publ i c

af f ai r s of hi s count r y. A pol i t i ci an of t hat ki nd i s, I

bel i eve, a speci al l y Engl i sh i nst i t ut i on. I bel i eve t hat

ever y Engl i shman, i f he i s wor t h anyt hi ng at al l , i s

bound t o be a pol i t i ci an, and can' t f or t he l i f e of hi m

hel p t aki ng a deep i nt er est i n t he publ i c af f ai r s of hi s

count r y. My f r i ends, what i s t he obj ect of pol i t i cs i n

t hat sense ? The obj ect of pol i t i cs i s t he wel l - bei ng

1 873- ] THE POLI TI CI AN. 4I

of t he nat i on. [ " That ' s i t . " ] I am gl ad t o hear an

ent husi ast i c f r i end bel ow appl aud t hat sent i ment . I

am qui t e sur e t hat i t wi l l gai n appl ause not onl y f r om

hi m but f r om ever ybody who hear s me t o- ni ght . The

obj ect of pol i t i cs i s t he wel l - bei ng of t he nat i on, or , "

as we hear d i n t hat nobl e l esson whi ch was r ead

yest er day mor ni ng i n our chur ches, t o make " a wi se

and an under st andi ng peopl e. " Now, what ar e t he

means by whi ch a wi se and an under st andi ng peopl e

i s t o be made ? Wel l , of cour se, t he chi ef means of

maki ng a wi se and under st andi ng peopl e i s by t r ai ni ng

t hem up i n wi sdom and under st andi ng. The St at e

want s men who ar e br ave, t r ut hf ul , gener ous ; t he

St at e want s women who ar e pur e, si mpl e, gent l e. By

what means i s t he St at e t o get ci t i zens of t hat ki nd ?

Such a pol i t i ci an, t hen, l ooki ng ar ound hi m and

seei ng how t he nat i onal consci ence i s t o be t ouched —

f or unl ess t he nat i onal consci ence be t ouched you

Page 26 of 132

can never r ai se ci t i zens of t hat ki nd — f i nds t hat t he

gr eat power whi ch al one can do i t , i n t hi s as i n ot her

f r ee count r i es, i s t hat whi ch goes by t he name of

r el i gi on. He f i nds al so t hat t he Chr i st i an r el i gi on

pr evai l s i n t hi s count r y, and t hat i t i s by means of t hi s

Chr i st i an r el i gi on t hat al l t he ci vi l i sat i on and al l t he

pr ogr ess of t he nat i on has been hi t her t o at t ai ned.

What does he f i nd next } He f i nds al l over t hi s

count r y, i n ever y par i sh and i n ever y gr eat t own and

i n ever y cor ner of t hi s l and, a number of magni f i cent

bui l di ngs — cat hedr al s, chur ches, school s— al l bel ongi ng

t o t hi s r el i gi on, whi ch i s t he r el i gi on of t he Engl i sh

nat i on — t he r el i gi on of Engl and. [ A Voi ce : " What

42 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH. [ 1873.

about Rome ?" and i nt er r upt i on. ] He f i nds a r egul ar

or gani sat i on exi st i ng al l over t he count r y of per sons

— pr of essi onal per sons — engaged i n t hi s speci al wor k of

t ouchi ng t he nat i onal consci ence, educat i ng t he boys

and gi r l s, t he men and women, and maki ng t hem mor e

mor al and wi ser and bet t er t hr ough t he i nst r ument al i t y

of t hi s r el i gi on.

He sees next t hat , spr ead al l over t he count r y, t her e

ar e many ot her r el i gi ous soci et i es — many di f f er ent

communi t i es of Chr i st i ans engaged i n wor k of t he

same ki nd — yet t hat t hi s one soci et y al one, whi ch i s

by f ar t he l ar gest , by f ar t he most power f ul , by f ar

t he r i chest , has been f or mor e t han a t housand year s

— i n f act ever si nce t hi s nat i on coul d be cal l ed a

nat i on at al l — i nt i mat el y connect ed wi t h t he gover n-

ment of t he nat i on and under t he cont r ol of t hat

gover nment . He f i nds t hat i n t hi s l ar gest , r i chest ,

and gr eat est of r el i gi ous communi t i es al l t he chi ef

of f i cer s ar e appoi nt ed by t he gover nment f or t he t i me

bei ng — t hat i s t o say, by t he nat i on ; t hat i t s di s -

ci pl i ne, i t s r i t ual , i t s doct r i ne ar e al l under t he cont r ol

of t he nat i on, and t hat t hi s i nt i mat e connect i on has

been kept up, as I have sai d bef or e, f or upwar ds of a

t housand year s.

He f i nds, f ur t her mor e, t hat t hese ot her r el i gi ous

soci et i es, al t hough t hey ar e not so l ar ge, al t hough

har dl y any of t hem have exi st ed f or mor e t han 200

year s, yet t hey, al t hough not connect ed wi t h t he St at e,

ar e under t he pr ot ect i on of t he St at e, ar e pr ot ect ed by

t he l aws, and have a posi t i on — an est abl i shed posi t i on —

under t he l aws of t he count r y t o do t he wor k t hey

1873. ] ESTABLI SHED DENOMI NATI ONS. 43

have got t o do i n t he count r y. I f t her e ar e any

gent l emen f r om Nonconf or mi ng communi t i es her e t o-

ni ght , as I t r ust t her e may be, I suppose t hat t hey

wi l l pr ot est agai nst my usi ng t he wor d " est abl i shed "

i n connect i on wi t h t hem. Al l I have t o say i s t hat

t he wor d i s not mi ne, but t hat t he connect i on bet ween

t hem and t he St at e has been l ai d down t o be an

Page 27 of 132

^^ est abl i shed' ' connect i on by one of t he gr eat est

l awyer s who has ever sat on t he Bench of Engl and.

I am al l udi ng now t o t he gr eat j udgment of Lor d

Mansf i el d, f r om whi ch I wi l l gi ve you a f ew wor ds t o

show you t he r eal posi t i on whi ch t hese Nonconf or mi ng

communi t i es occupy i n t hi s count r y i n t he eye of t he

l aw. The case t o whi ch I r ef er — and I dar esay many

of my Nonconf or mi st f r i ends i f t hey ar e her e, know i t

as wel l as I do — i s t he gr eat case of 1767, t he Ci t y

of London v. Evans.

Mr . Evans was an emi nent ci t i zen of London. He

was a Nonconf or mi st , and on bei ng el ect ed t o t he

of f i ce of Sher i f f he sai d — " I won' t be t he Sher i f f of

London. You cannot have a man as Sher i f f of London

unl ess he has t aken t he Sacr ament accor di ng t o t he

r i t es of t he Chur ch of Engl and wi t hi n a year f r om t he

t i me of hi s appoi nt ment . I have never done t hi s, I

never mean t o do i t , and I won' t ser ve t he of f i ce of

Sher i f f . " What di d t he Cor por at i on of London do ?

They sat i n counci l and t hey f i ned hi m a heavy f i ne.

He went i nt o t he cour t s of l aw t o see whet her t hey

coul d enf or ce t hat f i ne agai nst hi m or not . Hi s

def ence was t hat he was a Nonconf or mi st ; t hat

accor di ng t o t he Tol er at i on Act he had a r i ght t o

44 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH. [ 1873.

be a Nonconf or mi st and not t o r ecei ve t he Sacr ament

accor di ng t o t he r i t es of t he Chur ch of Engl and ; t hat

not r ecei vi ng i t he was not l i abl e t o be made Sher i f f ,

and t he f i ne coul d not be i mposed upon hi m. What

sai d Lor d Mansf i el d ? He deci ded ent i r el y i n hi s

f avour . He sai d t hat t he Tol er at i on Act had f r eed

al l Nonconf or mi st s f r om t he l i abi l i t y t o ser ve. I want

par t i cul ar l y t o cal l your at t ent i on t o hi s wor ds,

because t hey j ust i f y me i n t he use of t he wor d " est ab-

l i shed " wi t h r egar d t o Nonconf or mi st s : " The Di s -

sent er s' way of wor shi p i s not onl y exempt ed f r om

puni shment , i t i s r ender ed i nnocent and l awf ul ; i t i s

est abl i shed ; i t i s put under t he pr ot ect i on, and not

mer el y under t he conni vance of t he l aw. "

Thi s i s t he st at us and posi t i on of t hose ot her com-

muni t i es t o whi ch I have r ef er r ed, and t her ef or e, t hey

shoul d consi der bef or e t hey use t he wor d " Est abl i sh-

ment " as a ki nd of sneer wi t h r egar d t o t he nat i onal

Chur ch of Engl and.

Now, f r om t hi s bi r d' s- eye vi ew, as I may say, of

t he posi t i on of t hi ngs i n Engl and, on t hi s ver y gr eat

subj ect , what ar e t he concl usi ons whi ch an or di nar y

pol i t i ci an wi shi ng f or t he wel l - bei ng of hi s count r y

woul d dr aw ? I t appear s t o me t hat t he f i r st con-

cl usi on he woul d dr aw woul d be, t hat t hi s ar r ange-

ment whi ch . has exi st ed as r egar ds t he Est abl i shed

Chur ch f or mor e t han a t housand year s, as r egar ds

t hese Nonconf or mi st soci et i es f or mor e t han t wo

hundr ed year s, must be an ar r angement whi ch must

meet ver y f ai r l y some par t i cul ar need of t hi s Engl i sh

nat i on. I t hi nk we must concl ude, t oo, t hat t hi s

Page 28 of 132

1873. ] THE pol i t i ci an' s DI FFI CULTI ES. 45

ar r angement has wor ked wel l as r egar ds t hi s count r y,

because I don' t suppose t hat anybody who i s a ci t i zen

of t hi s count r y i s not pr oud of bei ng a ci t i zen, — I

don' t suppose t hat t her e i s any one i n t hi s l ar ge

assembl y, ei t her man or woman, who woul d change

hi s or her Engl i sh ci t i zenshi p f or t hat of any ot her

count r y i n t he wor l d. And I t hi nk he wi l l al so come

t o t he concl usi on, l ooki ng ar ound hi m on what i s

happeni ng i n t he ot her nat i ons of t he wor l d about t hi s

t i me, r egar di ng t he quest i on f r om t he poi nt of vi ew

t hat I have i ndi cat ed, t hat t hi s i s not qui t e t he t i me

t o be over t ur ni ng ol d f oundat i ons wi t hout some ver y

good r eason. At such a t i me as t hat i n whi ch we l i ve

we shoul d not r ashl y cut of f any of our ol d l i nks wi t h

t he past wi t hout t r yi ng ver y st eadi l y, and t est i ng ver y

sever el y, whet her t hey won' t st and t he st r ai n of t he

pr esent — whet her t hey ar e not bet t er f or t hi s t i me

t han anyt hi ng we shoul d be l i kel y t o make under

new ci r cumst ances }

Wel l , t hen, havi ng come so f ar , my f r i end, t he pol i -

t i ci an, — i . e. , I , mysel f , — hol di ng t he vi ews whi ch I have

expl ai ned, has got t o meet cer t ai n ot her f act s ; t he

concl usi ons t o whi ch he has come ar e met wi t h

cer t ai n f act s whi ch, of cour se, at t he f i r st bl ush

di st ur b t hem ver y much. For what does he f i nd . ?

He f i nds t hat al l t hose, or al most al l t hose, ot her

Chr i st i an communi t i es of whi ch I have spoken, whi ch

ar e not di r ect l y i n connect i on wi t h t he St at e, ar e

wi shi ng and st r i vi ng t o sever t hat connect i on bet ween

t he St at e and r el i gi on whi ch exi st s bet ween t he St at e

and t he Est abl i shed Chur ch. These ar e not per sons

46 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH. [ 1873.

who ar e i r r el i gi ous. Remember , al l t hose Noncon-

f or mi st s who ar e t r yi ng t o sever t he connect i on

bet ween t he St at e and t he Est abl i shed Chur ch wi l l

t el l you t hey bel i eve j ust as hear t i l y as we do i n t he

par amount need and i mpor t ance of r el i gi on t o t he

St at e. And yet t hey t el l us t hat al t hough t hey bel i eve

i n t he par amount need and i mpor t ance of r el i gi on t o

t he St at e, t he ver y best way t hey can t hi nk of t o get

Chr i st i ani t y, t o get r el i gi on known and honour ed i n

t hi s count r y, i s t o abol i sh al l nat i onal r ecogni t i on of i t .

[ " Oh, oh, " and i r oni cal cheer s. ] Wel l , t hat i s t o me, I

conf ess— [ I nt er r upt i on by SCURLL f r equent l y r epeat -

i ng, " Take away t he money. " ] I f my noi sy f r i end

down t her e wi l l have t he goodness j ust t o wai t , we

shal l come t o t he money i n pl ent y of t i me. But t hi s

quest i on i s a mat t er so ser i ous, and r equi r es such ver y

t emper at e st at ement , and such ver y car ef ul consi der a-

t i on, t hat I si ncer el y t r ust you won' t i mpor t i nt o i t

any of t hose noi sy ebul l i t i ons whi ch one expect s i n

an or di nar y pol i t i cal meet i ng, but whi ch I must say

ar e not i n pl ace at a meet i ng cal l ed f or so sol emn a

pur pose as t hat f or whi ch we ar e met t o- ni ght .

Page 29 of 132

Then, when I f i nd Chr i st i ans f or whom I mysel f

have t he gr eat est r espect mai nt ai ni ng t hi s, of cour se,

I , as a pol i t i ci an, am obl i ged t o l ook ver y car ef ul l y

over t hose concl usi ons t o whi ch I have come, and I

am bound t o consi der ver y car ef ul l y t he ar gument s of

t hose who oppose t hem.

Thi s br i ngs me t o anot her poi nt . I t ol d you t hat I

st ar t ed as a pol i t i ci an, and now I st and bef or e you as

a Li ber al pol i t i ci an. Let me expl ai n my i dea of a

1 873- ] THE LI BERAL POLI TI CI AN. 4/

Li ber al pol i t i ci an. A Li ber al pol i t i ci an i s a man who

l ooks t o t he f ut ur e and not t o t he past ; he l ooks f or

pr ogr ess ; he desi r es t o see t he whol e nat i on r ai sed ;

he desi r es i t t o go on f r om bet t er t hi ngs t o bet t er

t hi ngs, and he i s not af r ai d of new t hi ngs ; he hol ds

t hat ever y i nst i t ut i on must be t r i ed by i t s wor t h and

i t s val ue t o t he nat i on ; — he hol ds above al l t hi ngs

t hat t her e shoul d be equal i t y bef or e t he l aw f or ever y

i nst i t ut i on, f or ever y soci et y, and f or ever y i ndi vi dual

ci t i zen. Wel l , t hen he comes r i ght upon t he quest i on

t hat pr esses upon us al l i n consi der i ng t hese subj ect s

— he comes upon t he quest i on. What i s r el i gi ous

equal i t y ?

I have had t o t hi nk a gr eat deal upon t hi s subj ect

f or my own gui dance i n publ i c l i f e, and I wi l l t el l you

what I t hi nk ar e t he r eal t est s of r el i gi ous equal i t y.

I n t he f i r st pl ace, i f t her e i s t o be r el i gi ous equal i t y

ever y Engl i shman must be f r ee wi t hi n cer t ai n l i mi t s

( whi ch I wi l l expl ai n di r ect l y) t o set up, and t o en-

j oy, any f or m of r el i gi on t hat he pl eases. Thi s i s, I

t hi nk, t he f i r st r equi si t e of r el i gi ous equal i t y. The

second r equi si t e of r el i gi ous equal i t y i s t hi s — t hat no

ci t i zen shal l be bound t o cont r i but e t o a r el i gi on

whi ch he does not bel i eve i n. The t hi r d r equi si t e I

t ake t o be t hi s — t hat ever y man shal l be f r ee t o use

or t o l et al one t hose r el i gi ous appl i ances whi ch t he

St at e has t o of f er t o hi m. I n or der t o make a per f ect

and exhaust i ve di vi si on of t he subj ect , I t hi nk t her e i s

a f our t h, and t hat i s t hat ever y man shal l be f r ee t o

t r y t o al t er t he condi t i ons on whi ch t he St at e of f er s

i t s r el i gi ous appl i ances t o t he peopl e of t he count r y.

48 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH. [ 1873.

Now t hen, my f r i ends, j ust t r y t hi s quest i on of

r el i gi ous equal i t y as r egar ds t he nat i onal Chur ch by

ever y one of t hese t est s. I n t he f i r st pl ace, i s ever y

man i n Engl and f r ee t o set up and t o enj oy any f or m

of r el i gi on t hat he pl eases ? You per f ect l y wel l know

— and i n st at i ng what i s done uni ver sal l y i n Engl and

I shal l be abl e t o show you wher e t he hand of t he

St at e comes i n, and wher e t he peopl e ar e st opped

i n t hi s mat t er — you know per f ect l y wel l t her e ar e

Mor mon congr egat i ons i n t hi s count r y, t hat Mor mons

ar e per f ect l y f r ee t o assembl e and wor shi p as t hey

pl ease. But t he St at e si mpl y st eps i n and says t hat

Page 30 of 132

Mor mons shal l not i n t hi s count r y be al l owed t o mar r y

t wo wi ves ; i f a man mar r i es t wo wi ves he i s i ndi ct ed

f or bi gamy, but so l ong as he desi r es onl y t o wor shi p

i n t he Mor mon f or m, what ever t hat may be, he i s not

pr ohi bi t ed doi ng so her e.

Wel l , i n London t her e have been a number of

gent l emen — some of t hem have l ef t t he Chur ch of

Engl and, and some have l ef t ot her communi t i es —

who have been set t i ng up a pur el y secul ar r el i gi on ;

and nobody has hi nder ed t hem, because t hey may

set up any wor shi p t hey pl ease, pr ovi ded t hey don' t

br eak t he l aw. I wi l l gi ve you one mor e i nst ance,

because, so f ar as I know, t hat par t i cul ar body i s

conf i ned t o t he east er n count i es. I don' t know

whet her you have any i n Nor wi ch, but I know t hey

ar e scat t er ed about i n t he east er n count i es ; and

t hey ar e t he peopl e who cal l t hemsel ves " t he Pecul i ar

Peopl e. " Now, t he Pecul i ar Peopl e ar e per f ect l y f r ee

i n t hi s count r y t o wor shi p j ust as t hey pl ease, but

1873. ] FREEDOM OF WORSHI P. 49

one of t hei r t enet s i s, t hat i t i s wi cked t o use medi -

ci ne, and so t hey l et t hei r chi l dr en di e because t hey

won' t al l ow t hem t o be at t ended by any medi cal man.

The l aw st eps i n t hen and says, " We can' t al l ow t hi s ;

have any r el i gi ous wor shi p or bel i ef you pl ease, but

you must at t end t o your chi l dr en, and shal l not al l ow

t hem t o di e f r om t he want of medi cal at t endance. "

As I have sai d, t he f i r st t est of r el i gi ous equal i t y

i s t hat ever y man shal l be f r ee t o set up and t o enj oy

any wor shi p he pl eases, and so f ar at l east no one

can deny t hat we have per f ect r el i gi ous equal i t y i n

Engl and.

The second t est i s, t hat no man shal l be cal l ed

upon t o pay f or a f or m of wor shi p whi ch he does not

appr ove. Now, no man i n t hi s count r y i s cal l ed upon

t o pay a si ngl e penny si nce Chur ch- r at es — [ cheer s,

and noi se i n f r ont of t he pl at f or m] — I say t hat i t i s

t he second condi t i on of r el i gi ous equal i t y t hat no

man shal l be cal l ed upon t o pay f or a r el i gi on he does

not bel i eve i n, and si nce t he abol i t i on of Chur ch- r at es

no man has a si ngl e penny t o pay t o t he Chur ch

unl ess he pl eases. Thi s i s t oo l ong a busi ness t o go

i nt o ; but i f al l my f r i ends i n t hi s r oom wi l l j ust t hi nk

and consi der f or t hemsel ves, t hey wi l l f i nd t hat t hey

have not had t o pay a si ngl e penny t owar ds t he Est ab-

l i shed Chur ch, unl ess t hey chose t o do i t vol unt ar i l y,

— t o put i t i nt o t he pl at e at chur ch, or t o subscr i be

i t t o some chur ch char i t y.

My t hi r d poi nt i s, t hat ever y man shal l be f r ee t o

use such r el i gi ous appl i ances as t he St at e has t o

gi ve hi m, or t o l et t hem al one. Now, ever y man and

E

Page 31 of 132

50 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH. [ l ^ 73-

woman i n t hi s r oom i s per f ect l y awar e t hat t hey have

t he r i ght t o go t o chur ch i f t hey pl ease, i n t hei r own

par i sh, and nobody can hi nder t hem ; whi l st , on t he

ot her hand, i f t hey don' t l i ke, t hey can go t o any

ot her pl ace of wor shi p ; or , i f t hey pr ef er i t , t hey need

not go t o any pl ace of wor shi p at al l . They ar e

per f ect l y f r ee, wi t hout any i nt er f er ence f r om, t he

Chur ch or t he St at e, t o go or not t o go t o chur ch j ust

as t hey pl ease. Wel l , you can' t get near er equal i t y

t han t hat . My f our t h t est i s, t hat i f a man i s not con-

t ent ed wi t h t he use t hat t he St at e makes of t hose

r el i gi ous appl i ances whi ch i t has t o of f er t o al l t he

ci t i zens of t he count r y, he shoul d have t he r i ght t o

change t hem. So he has. What i n t he wor l d am I

sent t o Par l i ament f or , or what do you send my f r i end

Mr . Cl ar e Read t o Par l i ament f or — i f i t i s not t o l ook

af t er t hese t hi ngs f or you ? I f you Nonconf or mi st s

ar e st r ong enough t o say t hat t he way i n whi ch t he

St at e deal s wi t h t hat gr eat r el i gi ous i nher i t ance whi ch

i t has i nher i t ed f r om t he t i me of Al f r ed and bef or e,

does not pl ease you, you have not hi ng t o do but t o set

t o wor k and el ect men who wi l l go and r epr esent you

and t r y and get t hese t hi ngs changed. I t i s per f ect l y

wi t hi n your r i ght t o do t hi s : and i f you can do i t , and

i f t hose ot her t hi ngs whi ch I have j ust been advanci ng

ar e t r ue — and I am cer t ai n t hat no man i n t hi s r oom

i s abl e t o r ef ut e t hem — t hen I say so f ar as r el i gi ous

equal i t y goes t her e i s per f ect r el i gi ous equal i t y, at t hi s

t i me, i n t hi s count r y.

I know t he answer t hat wi l l be made t o me by

my f r i ends among t he Nonconf or mi st s. They wi l l say,

1873. ] PROPERTY. 51

" How about t he pr oper t y; how about t he endow-

ment s ; you have been t al ki ng about di sest abl i shment ,

but you have l ef t out di sendowment al t oget her . " I

have not l ef t i t out al t oget her ; I am comi ng t o i t , and

I hope t o sat i sf y you — I don' t know whet her I shal l

sat i sf y my f r i end bel ow t her e, but at any r at e I i nt end

t o make ver y cl ear t o hi m — what I mysel f t hi nk on

t hi s quest i on of Chur ch endowment s.

The f i r st quest i on I wi sh t o ask my Nonconf or mi st

f r i ends, and I have no doubt my f r i end bel ow i s one

of t hem, i s t hi s — Ar e t hey r eady t o t ake any par t

of t he Chur ch endowment s ? [ SCURLL : " No. " ] No ;

t hat i s pr eci sel y what I t hought . I am not mysel f

agai nst i t — I t el l you pl ai nl y t hat I don' t obj ect t o

what i s cal l ed concur r ent endowment . I shoul d not

par t i cul ar l y obj ect t o i t ; I shoul d not obj ect i f t he

r evenues of t he nat i onal Chur ch wer e appl i ed t o t he

hel pi ng of ot her r el i gi ous bodi es whi ch own al l egi ance

t o no ear t hl y head out si de t he nat i on. That i s my

pr i vat e opi ni on. I t i s one r at her unusual . At any

r at e, i t i s one whi ch i s i nt ensel y unpopul ar wi t h Non-

conf or mi st s. What have t hey been doi ng ? When

t he Tor i es a f ew year s ago — I beg t hei r par don, I wi l l

say Conser vat i ves i f t hey l i ke i t bet t er — when t he

Page 32 of 132

Conser vat i ves pr oposed a f ew year s ago i n I r el and

what i s cal l ed concur r ent endowment , my Noncon-

f or mi st f r i ends i n t he House and i n t he count r y sai d,

" No, no ! what ever el se we have we wi l l not have con-

cur r ent endowment ; not a bi t of i t . " Consequent l y,

concur r ent endowment we di d not have, and t he f i r st

ar t i cl e of t he cr eed of t he Li ber al par t y, especi al l y of

E 2

52 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH. [ 1873.

t he Nonconf or mi st par t of t he Li ber al par t y, i s " No

concur r ent endowment , on any t er ms. "

Wel l ! No concur r ent endowment ! but how about

t hi s Chur ch pr oper t y and al l t hese gr eat endowment s ?

You say you don' t want t hem, you won' t have any

par t of t hem. You say i t i s a gr eat weakness t o any

r el i gi ous body t o have endowment s ; you say i t i s

sur e t o make t hat body degener at e, and t o make i t

weak, and not abl e t o hol d i t s own agai nst i nde-

pendent bodi es. Al l t hi s i s a gr eat di sadvant age, and

you must f eel t hat i f t her e be any i nequal i t y t he

i nequal i t y i s on t he si de of t he Chur ch. We ar e

wei ght ed wi t h al l t hese dr eadf ul endowment s, and

how i n t he wor l d we manage t o bear t hem, and how i t

i s t hat wei ght ed as we ar e we yet manage on t he

whol e t o hol d our own pr et t y wel l , i s t o me a per f ect

wonder .

But , however , I pass f r om t hi s poi nt , whi ch I hope

my Nonconf or mi st f r i ends wi l l t ur n over , and j ust

ask t hemsel ves, i f t hey don' t want t hese endowment s

t hemsel ves and woul d not have t hem at any pr i ce,

whet her i t i s bet t er t o l eave t hem f or r el i gi ous uses,

or bet t er t o t ur n t hem i nt o t he pocket s of t he l and-

l or ds } [ SCURLL : " Anywher e r at her t han t he

Chur ch. " ] That i s pr eci sel y t he f eel i ng. My f r i end

does not f eel t hat t he wor k whi ch we ar e al l doi ng,

whi ch t he Chur ch i s doi ng as wel l as t he Noncon-

f or mi st communi t y t o whi ch he bel ongs, i s al l one and

t he same wor k, — t hat we ar e wor ki ng i n t he same l i ne

t hough wi t h di f f er ent met hods ; and hi s hat r ed t o t he

name of t he Chur ch i s so st r ong t hat t hough he won' t

1873. ] FREE THOUGHT. 53

have t hese endowment s, and t hough he t hi nks t hat

t he Chur ch may make use of t hem f or r ehgi ous

pur poses, yet he so di sl i kes t he Chur ch t hat he says,

" Do anyt hi ng el se you l i ke wi t h t hem — t hr ow t hem

i nt o t he hor se- pond, t hr ow t hem i nt o t he r i ver , — but

don' t l et t he Chur ch have t hem. "

The next ar gument of my Nonconf or mi st f r i ends

— I have a gr eat many amongst t hem and I have

a gr eat r espect f or t hem, f or I t hi nk t hey have done a

gr eat deal of good i n t he count i y — t hei r next ar gu-

ment i s t hat t hese endowment s and t he Est abl i shment

Page 33 of 132

ext i ngui sh t he spi r i t ual l i f e of t he Chur ch. Do t hey }

I know my f r i end t her e hol ds t hi s bel i ef st r ongl y.

Now, l et me ar gue wi t h hi m f or a moment or t wo.

What i s t he si gn of t he ext i ngui shi ng of spi r i t ual

l i f e . ? Wel l , t he f i r st way t hat spi r i t ual l i f e expr esses

i t sel f i s by t he voi ce — by publ i shed wor ks, by i t s

speech. What , t hen, has been t he speech of t he

nat i onal Chur ch t o t he count r y } How do t hose

bel ongi ng t o i t speak . ? What i nf l uence has i t had on

moder n t hought i n t hi s wonder f ul t i me i n whi ch we

l i ve ? What cont r i but i ons have t he member s gi ven —

I won' t even say i t s member s, but what cont r i but i ons

have i t s of f i cer s, t he cl er gy, gi ven — t owar ds t he

act i vi t y of moder n t hought and t he gui dance of

Engl and i n t hat wonder f ul l abyr i nt h of di f f i cul t soci al

and ot her quest i ons whi ch we have come upon i n

our day }

We wi l l t ake t he act i vi t y i n l i t er at ur e. Let me

ment i on a f ew names of men I have mysel f known

— and my l i f e i s not a ver y l ong one — l et me j ust

54 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH. [ l ^ 73-

ment i on t he act i vi t y I have known i n men of my own

per sonal acquai nt ance si nce I was a boy. Ther e i s no

depar t ment of human t hought i n whi ch such act i vi t y

has been exhi bi t ed as i n t he st udy of hi st or y dur i ng

t hat t i me. Let us l ook at t he names whi ch of f i cer s of

t he Chur ch of Engl and have cont r i but ed t owar ds t he

hi st or y of t hi s count r y and t he devel opment of hi st or i -

cal knowl edge. Ther e ar e Mi l man, Mer i val e, Ar nol d,

and Thi r l wal l , f our gr eat names among t he moder n

hi st or i ans of Engl and, and al l of t hem cl er gymen of

t he Est abl i shed Chur ch. Take mor al phi l osophy and

met aphysi cs, t he hi ghest subj ect on whi ch human

t hought can wor k, and t hi nk of such men as Maur i ce,

Mansel l , Pr of essor Gr ot e, and Pr of essor Whewel l .

Then i n gener al l i t er at ur e, t her e i s a name whi ch

shoul d be ver y dear i n t hi s t own, Dean St anl ey.

Look, agai n, at Canon Ki ngsl ey, who has l at el y

t hr own t he whol e of t he cat hedr al machi ner y of

Chest er , so f ar as he has command of i t , i nt o t he

di r ect i on of , as he cal l s i t , weddi ng sci ence wi t h t he

Chur ch. Look at ot her names. Ther e ar e Rober t -

son, t he t wo Har es, Canon LI ddon, Bi shop Templ e,

Pr of essor Jowet t , Mr . LI . Davi es, and I mi ght name

t went y ot her s. I have named men f r om some of

whom I di f f er much mor e t han I do f r om my Noncon-

f or mi st f r i ends, but t hey ar e al l Chur ch cl er gymen

whom I have known i n my own l i f e- t i me. So f ar ,

t hen, f r om t he Est abl i shment ext i ngui shi ng spi r i t ual

l i f e, pr eci sel y t he cont r ar y i s t r ue ; and t he ver y f act

of bei ng of f i cer s of t hat St at e Chur ch whi ch many of

my f r i ends hat e so much, has j ust gi ven a st i mul us

1 873- ] I NTELLECTUAL FREEDOM. 55

and a f r eedom t o t hose men whi ch has l ed t hem t o

di st i nct i on i n t hese di f f er ent st udi es.

Page 34 of 132

No one r espect s mor e t han I do a gr eat many

of t he Nonconf or mi st mi ni st er s and l eadi ng men of

Nonconf or mi st bodi es ; but t r y t hem by t hi s t est .

You say t hat spi r i t ual l i f e, and t hat i nt el l ect ual l i f e, i s

ext i ngui shed by t he St at e Chur ch. What names of

Nonconf or mi st s can you t hi nk of t o put besi de t hose

f i f t een or si xt een names t hat I t ook as t he f i r st I

t hought of i n t he Chur ch of Engl and. Ther e i s one

gr eat Nonconf or mi st name t hat wi l l occur t o us al l , —

t hat of a nat i ve of Nor wi ch, Mr . Mar t i neau : but

al t hough t her e ar e many excel l ent wr i t er s and mi ni s-

t er s among t he Nonconf or mi st bodi es, t her e has not

been one except Mr . Mar t i neau who has cont r i but ed

i n t he same measur e as t hese Chur chmen t o al l t hat

new t hought t hat has come f l oodi ng i nt o r el i gi ous

mat t er s, i nt o hi st or i cal mat t er s, i nt o met aphysi cs, i nt o

al l br anches of knowl edge.

Thi s l eads me nat ur al l y on t o t he ot her si de of t he

ar gument , as t o t hat f r eedom whi ch t he Li ber at i oni st s

wi sh t o best ow upon us. I t i s qui t e cl ear we don' t

want f r eedom i n t hat di r ect i on ; t hat wi t h al l t he

gaggi ng whi ch t he St at e must necessar i l y ( accor di ng

t o t hei r t heor i es) put on t he Chur ch, t he l i t er at ur e of

t he Chur ch has been mor e power f ul t han t hat of any

ot her por t i on of t hi s Br i t i sh nat i on.

But we ar e t o be set f r ee i n ot her r espect s. Now

I hol d t hat i f we wer e not f r eer t han any ot her por t i on

of t he communi t y so f ar as r el i gi on i s concer ned, t he

r esul t t hat I have st at ed coul d not have happened.

56 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH. [ 1^ 73-

But I f ancy t hat my Nonconf or mi st f r i ends woul d

account f or i t i n t hi s way. They woul d say, " Yes,

but you have had pecul i ar advant ages ; you have had

t he Uni ver si t i es, whi ch have not been open t o us. "

And t hi s was t r ue unt i l l at el y, so f ar as r egar ds

Oxf or d and Cambr i dge. But j ust r emember t hat t he

Li ber al s, and amongst ot her s a ver y l ar ge maj or i t y

of Chur chmen, have now t hr own t hose Uni ver si t i es

ent i r el y open t o you Nonconf or mi st s. Ever y i nt el -

l ect ual advant age of t he Uni ver si t i es of Oxf or d and

Cambr i dge, as you know, i s j ust as open t o ever y

Nonconf or mi st who chooses t o go and avai l hi msel f

of t hem as t hey ar e t o me.

Then, agai n, I say besi des, t hat al t hough, dur i ng

t hat t i me, t he Nonconf or mi st s have not had Oxf or d

and Cambr i dge open t o t hem, yet t hey have al ways

had t he Uni ver si t y of London, whi ch wi t h i t s af f i l i at ed

col l eges i s a gr eat educat i onal i nst i t ut i on, and f or al l

pur poses i s j ust as abl e t o t r ai n men t o t ake t he

l ead i n t he i nt el l ect ual act i vi t y of t hi s count r y as t he

ol der Uni ver si t i es. But i n any case, t hat obj ect i on has

passed away now, f or , as I say, al l Nonconf or mi st s

have been pl aced i n pr eci sel y t he same condi t i on as

Chur chmen wi t h r espect t o t he cul t ur e of t he Uni ver -

si t i es. [ " Can a par i sh get r i d of a cl er gyman. ?"

f r equent l y ej acul at ed by SCURLL. ] I f my ver y

Page 35 of 132

vi gor ous and excel l ent f r i end wi l l mer el y l et me go

on my own way, I t hi nk he wi l l pr obabl y f i nd t hat

I shal l t ouch al l t he poi nt s on whi ch he wi shes t o be

i nst r uct ed bef or e t he end of my t al k.

Now, l et me say t hat t he r eason by whi ch I account

1 8/ 3- ] A TRUSTEE OF NATI ONAL PROPERTY. 5/

f or t hi s gr eat di f f er ence bet ween t he i nt el l ect ual act i vi t y

i n t he hi ghest r egi ons of t hought of t he Chur ch of

Engl and, and t hat of Nonconf or mi st communi t i es, i s

t hi s — i t i s because t he cl er gy of t he Chur ch ar e i n a

f r eer at mospher e, because t he nat i on, whi ch gover ns

t he Chur ch of Engl and, whi ch has a speci al connect i on

wi t h t he Chur ch of Engl and, i s a f ar gr eat er and f r eer

body t han any por t i on of i t can possi bl y be. Ther e i s

a ver y wi se sayi ng of a Fr ench st at esman cal l ed Tal -

l eyr and, t hat " t her e i s one per son who i s wi ser t han

anybody, and t hat i s ever ybody " — and i t i s t he whol e

Br i t i sh nat i on as r epr esent ed i n t he r egul ar const i t u-

t i onal Gover nment of t he count r y whi ch i s r esponsi bl e

f or , and whi ch i s connect ed wi t h, t he Chur ch of

Engl and. And t hi s I t hi nk i s t he r eason why i t i s i n

a f r eer at mospher e, and i s much mor e i nt el l ect ual l y

and spi r i t ual l y act i ve i n my opi ni on, t han t hose com-

muni t i es, of one of whi ch I have no doubt my f r i end

bel ow i s a ver y ar dent and ent husi ast i c member .

Then t he Li ber al pol i t i ci an f i nds t hat t he Chur ch, as

i t st ands now i n our t i me, i s t he t r ust ee f or t he nat i on

of a gr eat number of spl endi d bui l di ngs — cat hedr al s,

chur ches i n ever y par i sh, school s, and par sonages. I n

ever y par i sh i t has got one of i t s own of f i cer s on

dut y, and bui l di ngs dedi cat ed t o r el i gi ous pur poses,

whi ch ar e open t o ever y ci t i zen, and t o ever y man,

who chooses t o t ake advant age of t hem. And what do

my Nonconf or mi st f r i ends pr opose t he St at e shoul d do

wi t h t hese . ? They pr opose t hat t he St at e shoul d t oss

t hat al l over and have not hi ng what ever t o do wi t h i t ,

and I , as a Li ber al pol i t i ci an, don' t i nt end, i f I can

58 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH. [ 1873.

hel p i t , t o al l ow t he St at e t o make such a f ool of

i t sel f . Mi nd you — and I speak as a Li ber al — we ar e

not asked by t hem t o i mpr ove and adapt , but we ar e

asked si mpl y t o dest r oy ! I say i t i s not t he par t

of a wi se nat i on t o do t hat .

Just t o gi ve an i l l ust r at i on of i t : Suppose t hat t hi s

nat i on, hundr eds of year s ago, l ong bef or e any of us

wer e bor n, bef or e any of us coul d have any exact

evi dence of how i t had come about , became possessed

of gas wor ks : t hat ever si nce t he St at e had owned

t hose gas wor ks : and t hat i n ever y t own and vi l l age of

Engl and gas was st i l l car r i ed t o t he door of ever y man.

And suppose t hat a gr eat number of bodi es i n t hi s

count r y wer e t o r i se up and say, " We obj ect t o t hi s

gas ; we t hi nk t hat pet r ol eum oi l and t al l ow candl es

Page 36 of 132

ar e much bet t er t hi ngs t han gas, and we won' t al l ow

you ( t he St at e) t o br i ng t hat gas ( as you br i ng t he

ser vi ces of t he cl er gyman and t he use of t he par i sh

chur ch) t o ever y man' s door . " He can, you see, use

t he gas i f he pl eases, or he can l et i t al one i f he pl eases,

and yet my f r i ends come and say, " Oh ! but t hi s i s

abomi nabl e t yr anny ; why shoul d al l t hese peopl e

have gas ? We won' t have i t , so why shoul d he ?

Pul l down t he gas wor ks ; l et ever ybody l i ght t hem-

sel ves by pet r ol eum oi l and t al l ow candl es, — and l et

t hese ol d gas wor ks, and al l t hat bel ongs t o t hem, be

car t ed away and sol d, and t he money di st r i but ed i n

t he r el i ef of t he r at es, or anyhow you pl ease. " Woul d

t hat be a r easonabl e cont ent i on ? [ " No, no, " and

ej acul at i ons by Scur l l , r ender ed i naudi bl e by cr i es of

* * Tur n hi m out . " ]

1 873- ] THE CURE OF BODI ES AND SOULS. 59

The Sher i f f ( addr essi ng Scur l l ) sai d — " I must beg

of you t o be si l ent . You ar e br eaki ng your cont r act

wi t h t he commi t t ee — [ " hear , hear " ] — f or you wer e

onl y admi t t ed on a t i cket pl edgi ng your sel f t o submi t

t o t he chai r . "

Mr . Hughes cont i nued — Wel l , i f my f r i end does

not l i ke t hat i l l ust r at i on I wi l l gi ve hi m anot her . He

may say t hat gas i s a mat er i al t hi ng, and t hat he

woul d l i ke an i l l ust r at i on f r om a l ear ned pr of essi on.

I wi l l t ake t hen a pr of essi on whi ch i s most anal ogous

t o t he pr of essi on of a cl er gyman, t o t he cur i ng of soul s.

I n ever y par i sh i n Engl and my f r i end and anybody

who l i kes, what ever hi s r el i gi ous opi ni ons ar e, has a

r i ght t o send f or t he par son of t he par i sh : and t he

par son of t he par i sh i s bound t o come and mi ni st er t o

hi m, and t o cur e al l hi s spi r i t ual ai l ment s i f he can.

Suppose t hat t he St at e f r om anci ent t i mes had en-

dowment s under whi ch i t kept a doct or i n ever y

par i sh, and by whi ch i t had command of al l t he gr eat

hospi t al s of t he count r y. Now you know t hat t her e

ar e a number of di f f er ent school s of medi ci ne i n t hi s

count r y. At pr esent t he school of medi ci ne whi ch has

t he command of al l t he hospi t al s, and of t he medi cal

pr of essi on i n t hi s count r y, i s what i s cal l ed t he al l o-

pat hi c syst em. I won' t say whet her I am an al l opat hi st ,

but at any r at e whet her I am a nonconf or mi st i n t hi s

mat t er of medi ci ne or not , t her e ar e a gr eat many

nonconf or mi st s who have somet hi ng t o say : homceo-

pat hi st s, hydr opat hi st s, mesmer i st s, and advocat es of

hal f - a- dozen ot her f or ms of di sest abl i shed medi ci ne.

Now, suppose t hat t he St at e owned al l t he hospi t al s i n

6o THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH. [ 1873.

t he count r y, and had a medi cal of f i cer i n ever y par i sh

of t he count r y, who was bound t o mi ni st er t o ever y

man who chose t o go t o hi m, and t he homoeopat hi st s

wer e t o say, " Thi s wi l l never do ; t hi s i s not medi cal

equal i t y ; l et us pul l down t hese hospi t al s ; we won' t

have t hese hospi t al s ; oh ! t hi s connect i on bet ween t he

Page 37 of 132

St at e and t he doct or s i s dr eadf ul ; l et us abol i sh al l

t he hospi t al s ; down wi t h t hem ! " [ " No. " ] But t hat i s

what t he demand of t he Nonconf or mi st s i s. They

say, " Let us abol i sh t he Est abl i shment al t oget her . "

Now, shoul d you t hi nk i t woul d be wi se of t he St at e,

i n case i t had such appl i ances as t hese f or t he cur i ng

of t he bodi es of t he peopl e, t o act upon t he suggest i on

of t he homoeopat hi st s and t he hydr opat hi st s ? The

case of t he Chur ch i s pr eci sel y anal ogous. I t i s

si mpl y a quest i on i n t he one case of t he doct or s of t he

body ; i n t he ot her case i t i s t he doct or s of t he soul .

I t hi nk I have suf f i ci ent l y expl ai ned what t he Non-

conf or mi st s want , and what t he Li ber at i on Soci et y,

i f i t had i t s way, woul d t ake away f r om t he peopl e of

t hi s count r y. As I say, t he peopl e of t hi s count r y

at pr esent have a r i ght i n ever y par i sh t o t he par i sh

chur ch, have a r i ght t o t he mi ni st r at i ons of t he of f i cer

of r el i gi on ; t hey may use t he chur ch or not , as t hey

l i ke, and t hey need not send f or t he mi ni st r at i ons of

t he cl er gyman i f t hey don' t l i ke. Thi s i s what t hey

wi l l have t o gi ve up i f t hi s di sest abl i shment movement

i s successf ul .

Now, what do t he Nonconf or mi st s pr opose t o gi ve

t hem i n exchange ? and t hi s br i ngs me t o t he pr o-

posal s of t he Li ber at i oni st s as I under st and t hem.

1 873- ] NONCONFORMI ST PROPOSALS. 6 1

The f i r st of t hei r pr oposal s i s t o adopt somet hi ng l i ke

t he I r i sh pl an. The pl an of di sest abl i shment whi ch

has been adopt ed i n I r el and, as you per f ect l y wel l

know, has l ef t t he cat hedr al s, t he par i sh chur ches, t he

manses, and a consi der abl e por t i on of t he endowment s

i n t he hands of t he cl er gy and t he pr esent Synod of

t he I r i sh Chur ch. Wel l , supposi ng t hat pl an adopt ed

her e, ever y non- Chur chman i n t he f i r st pl ace woul d

be depr i ved of hi s bi r t hr i ght . My f r i end down t her e

and t he Nonconf or mi st s woul d have no l onger any r i ght

t o ent er t he par i sh chur ch ; he woul d have no l onger a

r i ght t o t he mi ni st r at i ons of any cl er gyman i n t he

count r y ; he woul d have no r i ght t o any of t hose ap-

pl i ances t o whi ch he and hi s f at her s have had a r i ght

ever si nce t he nat i on was a nat i on. Thi s many

Engl i shmen per haps woul d not obj ect t o ver y much,

but as a Chur chman and a pol i t i ci an I do obj ect t o

any such cour se as t hat bei ng adopt ed wi t h r egar d t o

t he Engl i sh peopl e.

For mysel f I say, t hat i f t he Chur ch hel d t oget her ,

as I si ncer el y t r ust i t woul d, i t woul d become f ar t oo

power f ul , — i t woul d become an i mper i um i n i mper i o

t hat woul d be ver y danger ous t o any ci vi l gover nment .

No gover nment t hat came i nt o power woul d be abl e

t o st i r hand or f oot unt i l i t had made t er ms wi t h t he

di sest abl i shed Chur ch. We shoul d have a di sest ab-

l i shed Chur ch whose r oot s wer e i nt er t wi ned wi t h t he

whol e pol i t i cal and soci al l i f e of t he count r y, and whose

power woul d be danger ous t o t he ci vi l gover nment .

I f i t wer e t o br eak up i nt o sect i ons — i nt o t wo or t hr ee

di vi si ons — t hen we Chur chmen i n our t ur n shoul d l ose

Page 38 of 132

62 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH. [ ^ ^ 73-

our bi r t hr i ght . For we coul d not bel ong t o mor e t han

one of t he sect i ons i nt o whi ch t he Chur ch was spl i t

up, and we shoul d l ose our r i ght i n t wo- t hi r ds of t he

par i sh chur ches of Engl and. The par i sh chur ches

woul d bel ong t o t hose sect i ons of t he Chur ch and not

t o us, and we shoul d no l onger have t he r i ght whi ch

we i nher i t ed f r om our f at her s t o use t hose chur ches

and t o cal l upon t he cl er gymen who ser ve i n t hem t o

mi ni st er t o us. Ther ef or e, I obj ect t o di sest abl i shment

on t hi s gr ound. Whet her t he Chur ch r emai ned t o-

get her or br oke up i nt o sect i ons, mat t er s l i t t l e t o my

mi nd. I n ei t her case t he nat i on, and I , ar e l oser s.

Then, t her e i s a second pr oposal whi ch I don' t t hi nk

I need dwel l upon, al t hough i t i s f ar mor e consi st ent

— t hat i s, t o sel l t he cat hedr al s and chur ches t o t he

hi ghest bi dder s, and appl y t he whol e of t he endow-

ment s t o pur el y secul ar pur poses. I qui t e f eel t hat I

need not dwel l upon t hi s subj ect her e. I was t al ki ng

i t over wi t h a t hor ough- goi ng di sest abl i shment man

onl y t he ot her day, i n t he House of Commons. I sai d,

* * What ar e you goi ng t o do wi t h West mi nst er Abbey

and St . Paul ' s ?" He r epl i ed t hat i n West mi nst er

Abbey t her e wer e a gr eat many monument s, and

per haps i t was f i t f or a pi ct ur e and scul pt ur e gal l er y,

whi l st St . Paul ' s mi ght be bought f or a gr eat auct i on

mar t . Ar e you pr epar ed — i s my f r i end bel ow pr epar ed

— t o go t hat l engt h ? Now, you have, I must say, t he

ugl i est t er mi nus t hat I ever saw t o your r ai l way i n

t hi s t own. Suppose t hat di sest abl i shment had t aken

pl ace, and t he cat hedr al s wer e t o be put up by publ i c

auct i on, and suppose t he Gr eat East er n Rai l way

1 8/ 3- ] OPEN CHURCHES. 6^

Company wer e t o be t he hi ghest bi dder s f or your

cat hedr al : woul d you l i ke t o see t hem t ur n t hat bui l d-

i ng i nt o a t er mi nus f or your r ai l way ? I am qui t e sur e

you woul d not . You f eel t hat t he cat hedr al s and

chur ches t hr oughout t he count r y have been used f or

500 year s f or t he hi ghest possi bl e pur poses f or whi ch

any bui l di ngs can be used i n t hi s wor l d, and you woul d

not have t hem degr aded, any mor e t han Chur chmen

woul d, t o any pur poses l ess hi gh.

Ther e i s a t hi r d pr oposi t i on, t o t hr ow t he chur ches

open t o al l r el i gi ous communi t i es. I shoul d not obj ect .

But t hen comes i n t he t r oubl e, t hat i s not hi ng l ess t han

concur r ent endowment , or j ust pr eci sel y t he t hi ng

t o whi ch Nonconf or mi st communi t i es have pl edged

Par l i ament on no consi der at i on what ever t o consent .

And, even supposi ng t he chur ches and cat hedr al s wer e

t o be t hr own open t o al l t he r el i gi ous communi t i es of

t he count r y, you don' t get out of t he di f f i cul t y. Ther e

must be some hands t o hol d t hem, — some or gani sat i on

t o deal wi t h t hem, — you cannot l eave t hem t her e f or

t he sever al congr egat i ons t o f i ght over : f or one t o mar ch

Page 39 of 132

i n at one door , and anot her t o mar ch i n at t he opposi t e

door . I see my f r i end i s ver y r easonabl e ; he shakes

hi s head ; he sees t hat t hi s woul d be ut t er l y i mpossi bl e.

What , t hen, i s t he onl y al t er nat i ve } I t i s, t o ar r ange

some hands i n whi ch t hey shoul d be hel d ; and I t hi nk i f

you consi der t he mat t er you wi l l f i nd t hat t hey coul d

not be hel d by anybody who woul d exer ci se t hat

t r ust mor e f ai r l y, or mor e f or t he good of t he nat i on,

t han t hose t o whom t hey ar e at pr esent conf i ded.

Agai n, amongst t he ot her ar gument s whi ch I shoul d

64 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH. [ 1873.

wi sh t o put bef or e t hi s meet i ng i s t hi s — t hat t he

cer t ai n t endency of r el i gi ous communi t i es not i n con-

nect i on wi t h t he St at e i s, nar r owness. What has kept

t he Chur ch of Engl and so br oad as i t i s at pr esent . ?

I bel i eve i t i s si mpl y i t s connect i on wi t h t he St at e.

[ SCURLL : " We agr ee t her e. " ] Exact l y. My f r i end

does not t hi nk i t necessar y t o have a communi t y

br oad. I t hi nk i t desi r abl e t o have i t as br oad as

possi bl e. I shoul d be gl ad t o wor shi p wi t h my f el l ow

Chr i st i an bel ow ( I don' t know what f or m he bel ongs

t o) because I am a St at e Chur chman : but he, ' si t t i ng

t her e as a Nonconf or mi st , I dar esay woul d l ook t hr ee

or f our t i mes bef or e he woul d wor shi p wi t h me. I

say t hat t he br eadt h of t he Chur ch of Engl and has

been mai nt ai ned by i t s connect i on wi t h t he St at e.

Let me r emi nd you of what has happened dur i ng our

l i f et i me. You r emember t her e have been t hr ee gr eat

cr i ses i n t he Engl i sh Chur ch, and i n each one of t hese

some one par t y has r i sen up and st r i ven t o cast out

anot her par t y f r om t he Chur ch. The f i r st case was

t he cel ebr at ed case i n whi ch t he l at e Bi shop of Exet er ,

wi t h t he Hi gh Chur ch par t y behi nd hi m, t r i ed t o cast

out Mr . Gor ham. They wer e unsuccessf ul . The case

went bef or e cal m l awyer s who wer e gr eat l y bot her ed

— t her e i s not hi ng t hat j udges so much di sl i ke as t o

have eccl esi ast i cal quest i ons bef or e t hem, but , when

t hey ar e t her e, t hey br i ng t r ai ned i nt el l ect s and cal m

mi nds, and al l t he wi sdom t hat t hey have gai ned f r om

l ong pr act i ce of t hei r pr of essi on, t o bear upon t hese

quest i ons, — and, as you r emember , Mr . Gor ham was

not t ur ned out . Then came t he cel ebr at ed case of t he

1 873- ] CASTI NG OUT TARES. 6$

* Essays and Revi ews. ' I n t he same way a sect i on of

t he Chur ch r ose up and sai d, " These men have been

wr i t i ng t hi ngs cont r ar y t o t he doct r i ne of t he Chur ch

of Engl and ; l et us cast t hem out . " But t he St at e

st epped i n and sai d, " No no ! t hey have been wr i t i ng

t hi ngs whi ch per haps we cannot appr ove : t hey have

been wr i t i ng t hi ngs whi ch i t may be di f f i cul t t o

r econci l e wi t h cer t ai n por t i ons of t he cr eeds of t he

Chur ch of Engl and : but st i l l , as t hey can be i nt er pr et ed

i n such a way as t o be not cl ear l y i ncompat i bl e wi t h

t hose cr eeds, you shal l not cast t hem out . " Then,

what happened t he ot her day } The t i me of t r i al came

Page 40 of 132

f or t he Hi gh Chur ch par t y. Ther e was t he case agai nst

Mr . Bennet t . The pr i vy Counci l sai d, " We ver y much

r egr et what t hi s gent l eman has wr i t t en ; we don' t

t hi nk i t at al l r i ght t hat a cl er gyman of t he Chur ch of

Engl and shoul d have wr i t t en t hese t hi ngs ; but we see

t hat t hey can be i nt er pr et ed i n a way whi ch i s not

necessar i l y i ncompat i bl e wi t h t he doct r i nes of t he

Chur ch of Engl and. " Ther ef or e, t he St at e hol ds an

equal and f i r m hand bet ween al l school s wi t hi n t he

Chur ch and says, " Gent l emen, your dut y i s t o l i ve

t oget her as Chr i st i an men, and not t o be cast i ng one

anot her out of t he i nher i t ance of your f at her s. " My

f r i end down t her e evi dent l y t hi nks t hi s i s a di sgr ace

t o t he Chur ch. [ SCURLL : " I do. " ] My f r i end says he

does. But t hen, you see, i f he t hi nks i t i s a gr eat t hi ng

t o be abl e t o cast out t he t ar es and t o keep t he wheat ,

he does not agr ee wi t h t he Aut hor of our r el i gi on, or

wi t h t he Apost l es. They sai d t hat t he t ar es and t he

wheat wer e t o gr ow t oget her unt i l t he har vest , and

F

66 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH. [ 1873.

t hat i t was not f or human j udgment t o go and r oot

up t hose whom we pl ease t o cal l t ar es, and t o t i e

t hem up i n bundl es t o bur n t hem, upon mer e human

j udgment .

Let me now l ook f or a moment at t he di f f er ent way

i n whi ch t hese r el i gi ous communi t i es act . Wi t hout i n

t he l east wi shi ng t o t hr ow any di spar agement upon

t he body of whi ch I am goi ng t o speak, I wi l l t ake

t he br oadest of t he Nonconf or mi st communi t i es, t he

I ndependent s. Thei r gover nment i s a sel f - el ect ed

and absol ut e commi t t ee. What has happened wi t hi n

t he l ast f ew year s } We al l r emember t hat t wo or

t hr ee year s ago t he Rev. Mr . Br ewi n Gr ant was cast

out of t hat Chur ch f or I don' t r eal l y know what .

But I wi l l speak of a mor e r ecent case. Ther e was

t he Rev. Mr . Webst er , of Ecki ngt on, near Chest er -

f i el d, who had been a mi ni st er i n t he I ndependent

Chur ch f or mor e t han f i f t een year s. I t appear s t hat

i n t hi s communi t y t her e i s t he * Congr egat i onal

Year Book, ' and t hat i t i s necessar y t hat t he names

of al l t he mi ni st er s shoul d appear i n t hat book ever y

year . He f ound i n t he year 1871 t hat hi s name had

not been i nser t ed among t he mi ni st er s. He wr ot e t o

t he edi t or of t he * Year Book ' t o ask why hi s name had

not been r et ur ned, and t he edi t or , t he Rev. Mr . Asht on,

made hi m no answer . Then he r ef er r ed t he edi t or

t o a bye- l aw of t he soci et y, i mposi ng upon t he edi t or

t he dut y of i nf or mi ng t he mi ni st er whose name was

omi t t ed. He got no answer . Then he wr ot e t o t he

secr et ar y of t he Congr egat i onal Uni on. He got an

answer , t hat i f t he secr et ar y of t he Count y Uni on

1 873- ] I NDEPENDENT LI BERALI TY. 6/

does not send t he name i n, no hel p can be gi ven.

Page 41 of 132

Then he wr ot e t o t he secr et ar y of t he Count y Uni on,

and he was t ol d t hat t he secr et ar y of t he Count y

Uni on coul d gi ve hi m no i nf or mat i on. Then he made

an appl i cat i on st r ai ght t o t he commi t t ee of t he Con-

gr egat i onal Uni on, and t hey expr essed r egr et t hat

t hey had no power t o act . Thus t he name of t hat

cl er gyman was qui et l y shunt ed out by an i r r esponsi bl e

commi t t ee : and t he consequence was, t hat wi t hout

havi ng t he oppor t uni t y of def endi ng hi msel f , or havi ng

hi s case hear d by any t r i bunal , he l ost hi s shar e of

t he si ck f unds t o whi ch he had subscr i bed al l t hose

year s : he l ost t he pr i vi l ege of sendi ng hi s chi l dr en t o

school at a l ower r at e of payment , whi ch ever y I nde-

pendent cl er gyman has ; . he l ost t he advant age of

t he Past or ' s I nsur ance Soci et y t o whi ch he was al so

ent i t l ed ; and I appr ehend t hat by t hi s t i me, i n con-

sequence of t he di sappear ance of hi s name f r om

t he ' Congr egat i onal Year Book, ' he i s no l onger a

member of t he I ndependent communi t y.

Cont r ast t he di f f er ence bet ween t hi s t r eat ment of

t he mi ni st er s of one of t he l ar gest , and by f ar t he most

l i ber al ( so f ar as I know) of t he Nonconf or mi st com-

muni t i es wi t h t he t r eat ment whi ch Chur ch of Engl and

cl er gymen get ! Ther ef or e, I say agai n, t he connect i on

wi t h t he St at e makes t he posi t i on of a cl er gyman

much mor e f r ee, much mor e i ndependent , t han t hat of

t he mi ni st er of any ot her r el i gi ous communi t y. I onl y

ci t ed t hat case j ust t o pr ove t hi s poi nt . As a Li ber al

pol i t i ci an, I bel i eve t hat t he pr i nci pl e of excl usi on i s

i l l i ber al , and t hat t he pr i nci pl e of i ncl usi on i s l i ber al .

F 2

68 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH. [ l ^ TS'

The one i s t he i dea of r el i gi ous communi t i es out si de

t he Chur ch; t he ot her i s t he i dea of t he nat i onal

Chur ch ; and I as a Li ber al , i nt ensel y pr ef er t he

pr i nci pl e of t he Est abl i shed Chur ch t o t hat pr i nci pl e

of sel ect i on and excl usi on whi ch i s t he pr i nci pl e of

Nonconf or mi st communi t i es.

Agai n, t her e i s anot her t endency of Nonconf or mi st

communi t i es whi ch I shoul d be ver y sor r y i ndeed t o

see come i nt o t he Chur ch of Engl and, and i t seems

t o be qui t e i nevi t abl e i n t he case of communi t i es

not i n connect i on wi t h t he St at e. That i s t he t endency

t o spl i t up. The ot her day I r ead i n a book of ver y

consi der abl e aut hor i t y, t hat i n t he communi t y of Bap-

t i st s t her e ar e i n Engl and 550 congr egat i ons whi ch

ar e unat t ached, and whi ch owe no al l egi ance t o t he

cent r al or gani sat i on. I don' t know whet her t hat i s

t r ue — at any r at e i t i s st at ed by t hose who wr i t e

wi t h some knowl edge, — but I do know t hat i n

* Gut hr i e' s Conver sat i ons, ' whi ch i s a wor k of aut ho-

r i t y i n Amer i ca, wher e t he Bapt i st s ar e much mor e

ext ended t han i n Engl and, t her e i s t he f ol l owi ng l i st

of sect s i nt o whi ch t he Bapt i st s have spl i t up : — *

Regul ar , Campbel l i t es, Fr ee- wi l l Sevent h Day, Si x

Pr i nci pl es Wi nnebr unni ans, Ant i - Mi ssi on Chr i st i ans,

Dunker s, and ot her s. I shoul d be ver y sor r y i ndeed

Page 42 of 132

t o see t he chance of havi ng t he Chur ch of Engl and

spl i t up i n t hat manner .

I wi l l not onl y t ake t he Bapt i st s, but t ake t he most

r ecent of al l Nonconf or mi st communi t i es, f or whi ch I

have gr eat r espect — t he Wesl eyan communi t y. You

r emember t hat John Wesl ey up t o t he end of hi s l i f e

1873. ] WESLEYAN UNI TY. 69

consi der ed hi msel f a Chur chman. He sai d, " I have

uni f or ml y gone on f or f i f t y year s, never var yi ng f r om

t he doct r i ne of t he Chur ch at al l . " But even i n hi s

t i me t he Met hodi st s had spl i t up i nt o t hr ee por t i ons.

Lady Hunt i ngdon and Whi t ef i el d went of f wi t h t he

Cal vi ni st i c por t i on, anot her sect i on went of f wi t h

I ngham and Gambol d, and t hen t her e was t he Chur ch

sect i on whi ch r emai ned wi t h John and Char l es Wesl ey.

I n t he year 1795 t her e was a f or mal secessi on of t he

Met hodi st s. Two year s af t er war ds, i n 1797, came

t he f i r st spl i t among t hem. The New Connexi on was

f or med. [ SCURLL : " They want ed f r eedom. " ] That

was an at t empt t o get t he l ay member s i nt o t he

Conf er ence. Then came 18 10, when t he Pr i mi t i ve

Met hodi st s went of f on some quest i on of pr eachi ng i n

t he open ai r . [ SCURLL : * * Fr eedom agai n. " ] Now, i f

t hey had been of t he Est abl i shed Chur ch connect ed

wi t h t he St at e, t he St at e woul d have sai d, " You

Chr i st i ans need not quar r el about t hese t hi ngs ; go and

do your own wor k i n your own way ; you ar e per f ect l y

at l i ber t y t o hol d al l t hese t hi ngs wi t hi n t he pal e of

t he Chur ch. " I n 181 5 t he Bi bl e Chr i st i ans br oke of f ,

and t hen f ol l owed i n 1835 t he Wesl eyan Met hodi st

Associ at i on. And so you see wi t hi n t he f i r st f or t y

year s of t he di sest abl i shment of Met hodi sm, f r om t he

t i me t hey wer e r el eased f r om St at e cont r ol , t her e wer e

no l ess t han f i ve secessi ons and spl i t s up. [ Scur l l :

" The r esul t of f r eedom. " ] I f my f r i end t hi nks i t

desi r abl e t o have no r el i gi ous or gani sat i on t hr oughout

t he count r y, and t o have ever y communi t y spl i t t i ng

up i nt o a hundr ed di f f er ent par t s, of cour se he has a

70 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH. [ 1873.

per f ect r i ght t o hi s opi ni on ; but I don' t . Ther e he

and I ent i r el y di sagr ee.

Now, I dar esay my f r i end down t her e has never

l ooked i nt o t hi s par t of t he subj ect ; but I wi l l ask —

what have t he gr eat est Nonconf or mi st s who have ever

l i ved sai d on t hi s quest i on ? I have t he gr eat est

possi bl e r espect f or Nonconf or mi st s now l i vi ng, but

as I have sai d, wi t h one except i on, t her e ar e no men

of t he f i r st f l i ght of i nt el l ect ual gr eat ness among t he

Nonconf or mi st s i n Engl and at t he pr esent t i me. But

t hat was not t he case 200 year s ago, i n t he gr eat days

of Nonconf or mi t y ; and you shal l hear what t hose

men t hought about Di sest abl i shment and Di sendow-

ment . Fi r st , l et us have Ol i ver Cr omwel l , whom al l

wi l l al l ow t o have been a pr et t y di st i ngui shed Non-

Page 43 of 132

conf or mi st . Ther e was no man mor e angr y t han he

at t he suggest i on t o spl i t up t he Chur ch. He sai d,

* ' Ever y man sai t h, ' O ! gi ve me l i ber t y, ' but gi ve i t t o

hi m and ( t o hi s power ) he wi l l not yi el d i t t o anybody

el se. We ar e a peopl e who have been unhi nged

t hese t wel ve year s ; as i f scat t er i ng, di vi si on, and

conf usi on came upon us l i ke t hi ngs t hat we desi r ed.

These whi ch ar e t he gr eat est pl agues t hat God or di -

nar i l y l ays on nat i ons f or si n. " Ol i ver woul d not

st and t hese spl i t t i ngs up. He appoi nt ed Tr i er s, who

went r ound t o see t hat ever y Chur ch was pr oper l y

ser ved, and t hat peopl e di d not spl i t up and make

di vi si ons. The consequence was t hat a gr eat number

of I ndependent and Pr esbyt er i an mi ni st er s accept ed

l i vi ngs i n t he Chur ch of Engl and as Nonconf or mi st

mi ni st er s. Let us come t o John Bunyan, al most t he

1 873- ] THE GREAT NONCONFORMI STS. / I

gr eat est of Nonconf or mi st s, and not f ar f r om t he

gr eat est of Engl i sh wr i t er s. What does he say ? " I

woul d be, and hope I am, a Chr i st i an ; but as f or t hese

f act i ous t i t l es of Anabapt i st s, I ndependent s, Pr esby -

t er i ans, or t he l i ke, I concl ude t hat t hey came not

f r om Jer usal em or Ant i och, but r at her f r om hel l and

Babyl on. For t hey nat ur al l y t end t o di vi si ons. ; you

may know t hem by t hei r f r ui t s. " Now comes anot her ,

one of t he gr eat est and abl est of al l Nonconf or mi st s,

and al most of al l Engl i shmen of hi s t i me. What does

Mat t hew Henr y say i n hi s comment ar y on t he 45t h

chapt er of Ezeki el } " I t i s t he dut y of r ul er s t o t ake

car e of r el i gi on, and t o see t hat t he dut i es of i t be

r egul ar l y and car ef ul l y per f or med by t hose under t hei r

char ge. Let us gi ve God pr ai se f or t he nat i onal

est abl i shment of our r el i gi on wi t h t hat of our peace

and ci vi l l i ber t y. " Then he says, " Chr i st i ani t y i s

t wi st ed i n wi t h t he ver y const i t ut i on of our Gover n-

ment . " The t i me i s get t i ng l at e, and I wi l l gi ve you

onl y one mor e quot at i on. Thi s shal l be of anot her

emi nent Nonconf or mi st of t hat t i me — Dr . Owen,

Cr omwel l ' s br ot her - i n- l aw — whom al l of you who st udy

t hi s quest i on know t o have been one of t he l eadi ng

men i n t he Long Par l i ament . A mot i on f or di sest ab-

l i shment came on t hen, j ust l i ke t he mot i on whi ch

Mr . Mi al l i s goi ng t o br i ng on next Fr i day i n t he

House of Commons. Dr . Owen was one of t he l eader s

of t he r el i gi ous par t y i n t he House of Commons at

t hat t i me, and what does he say ? ' ^ I f i t comes t o

t hi s, and you say you have not hi ng t o do wi t h r el i gi on

as t he r ul er s of t he nat i on, God wi l l ver y soon have

72 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH. [ 1873.

not hi ng t o do wi t h you as r ul er s of t he nat i on. " Wel l ,

I hope t hat I have pr oved t hat i n t he ver y gr eat est

t i me of t he Nonconf or mi st s t hi s i dea of di sest abl i sh-

ment , of sever i ng al l connect i on bet ween t he St at e and

r el i gi on, had never occur r ed at al l t o t he gr eat est and

best of t hem. I qui t e admi t t hat t hey want ed t o put

t hei r Chur ch over t he St at e, and I am as happy t hey

Page 44 of 132

f ai l ed i n t hat as I am happy t hat t hey succeeded i n

st oppi ng ot her s f r om sever i ng t he connect i on.

I am t ol d by many Nonconf or mi st f r i ends, " I t i s

ver y t r ue what you say about t he opi ni ons of t he ol d

Nonconf or mi st s, and about our opi ni ons now ; but you

wi l l pl ease t o under st and i t i s not onl y we Noncon-

f or mi st s who cr y out f or di sest abl i shment ; t her e i s a

l ar ge par t y i n your own Chur ch whi ch i s cr yi ng out f or

di sest abl i shment . " [ " No, no. " ] I am gl ad t o hear t hat i n

Nor wi ch t hi s i s not so, and I hope i t may not be t r ue

i n ot her par t s of t he count r y. But i f i t be t r ue t hat

a por t i on of t he Chur ch of Engl and i s cr yi ng out f or

di sest abl i shment , i s i t Li ber al Chur chmen, i s i t Br oad

Chur chmen, i s i t men who want al l aut hor i t y t o be

obeyed, who wi sh t he bi shops t o keep t hei r di oceses

i n or der , who wi sh t o go on t he ol d l i nes i n whi ch t he

Chur ch of Engl and has gone f or 300 year s ? I t i s not .

The onl y por t i on of t he Chur ch wi t hi n i t s pal e who

have made any ef f or t s f or i t s di sest abl i shment ar e j ust

t hose who won' t obey t he bi shops — who want t o

br eak up t he or der of t he Chur ch, who want t o do

away wi t h t hose t hi ngs whi ch we and our f at her s have

hel d t o f or 300 year s, and who wi sh t o i nt r oduce con-

f essi on and a number of ot her t hi ngs. [ SCURLL:

1873. ] LI BERALI TY I N ROMANI SM. 73

" That ' s i t . " ] My f r i end cr i es out " That ' s i t . " Wel l ,

i s he pr epar ed t o go i nt o al l i ance wi t h t hem ?

[ SCURLL : * * No. " ] But he must do, because t hey ar e

t he onl y per sons i n t he Chur ch who, l i ke hi m, wi sh

f or i t s di sest abl i shment . Now, I say t hat al l St at e

Chur ches ar e l i ber al , and t hat al l vol unt ar y Chur ches

ar e i l l i ber al . I wi l l gi ve you anot her pr oof of t hi s.

As you ar e awar e, t he Chur ch of Rome, af t er a

counci l whi ch sat i n Rome t wo or t hr ee year s ago,

have set t l ed t hat t he Pope i s i nf al l i bl e. Who wer e

t hose who suppor t ed t he pr et ensi ons of t he Pope t o

i nf al l i bi l i t y ? Why, t hey wer e al l t he f r ee Chur ches —

t he vol unt ar y Chur ches. Hi s gr eat suppor t er s wer e

t he vol unt ar y Romi sh Chur ch of Engl and, t he vol un-

t ar y Romi sh Chur ch of I r el and, t he vol unt ar y Romi sh

Chur ch of Amer i ca. Ar chbi shop Manni ng and al l

who f ol l ow hi m wer e t he gr eat advocat es of Papal

i nf al l i bi l i t y. Who wer e t he per sons who opposed i t ?

The member s of St at e Chur ches. The member s of t he

St at e Chur ch of Ger many, t he member s of t he St at e

Chur ch of Hungar y, t he member s of t he St at e Chur ch

of Fr ance. Ther e never was a case i n whi ch t he

pr i nci pl e came out mor e cl ear l y t han i n t he most

sear chi ng or deal t hat has been bef or e our gener at i on

— t hat quest i on of t he i nf al l i bi l i t y of t he Pope, on

whi ch pr obabl y t he ver y cont i nuance of t he gr eat

Romi sh Chur ch, or her esy, whi ch ever you pl ease t o

cal l i t , t ur ned ; and upon t hat quest i on t he gr eat

suppor t er s of t he Pope' s monst r ous cl ai ms wer e t he

t hr ee vol unt ar y Chur ches, and hi s gr eat opponent s

wer e t he t hr ee St at e Chur ches.

Page 45 of 132

74 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH. [ 1873.

I n concl usi on, I wi l l j ust say a f ew wor ds t o my

f r i ends t he Nonconf or mi st s and t o my f r i ends who si t

ar ound me, and who have i nvi t ed me down her e. I

woul d say t o t he Nonconf or mi st s, t hat I hol d t hei r

wor k has been necessar y, has been of i mmense val ue

t o t he r el i gi ous l i f e of t hi s count r y, and t hat i t i s

l i kel y t o be necessar y i n t he f ut ur e. I al so hol d

t hat t hey have ever y r i ght t o t he posi t i on whi ch t hey

occupy, and I si ncer el y t r ust t hey may mai nt ai n i t ,

but I wi sh t hey woul d mai nt ai n i t i nsi de t he Chur ch

i nst ead of out si de. Let me r emi nd my f r i ends of one

or t wo f act s. Bef or e t he Act of Uni f or mi t y t her e

wer e Nonconf or mi ng member s of t he Chur ch of

Engl and. I n t he year 1602 who was i t car r i ed t he

Mi l l enar y pet i t i on t o Ki ng James l . > Why 800

Nonconf or mi ng mi ni st er s of t he Chur ch of Engl and.

As I have t ol d you, Ol i ver Cr omwel l put i nt o chur ches

number s of men who wer e Nonconf or mi st s, and who

di d not accept t he doct r i nes of t he Chur ch of Engl and.

Ther e i s not t he l east r eason why t hey shoul d not

now pur sue t hei r own vi ews, desi r i ng and pr ef er r i ng

t hei r vol unt ar y or gani sat i on t o t hat of t he Est abl i shed

Chur ch : but why shoul d t hey not accept openl y what

t hey cannot hel p, because t hey ar e Nonconf or mi ng

member s of t he Chur ch of Engl and, whet her t hey

l i ke i t or not ? Why shoul d t hey not say, " As we

cannot get out of you, we wi l l r ef or m you. Ther e

ar e many ways i n whi ch we shoul d l i ke you t o

r ef or m. We wi l l j oi n al l your own best men i n

hel pi ng t o r ef or m t hat Chur ch whi ch has been handed

down t o us f or a t housand year s, and make i t a nobl e

1 8/ 3- ] TO CHURCHMEN. 75

t empl e i n whi ch al l Chr i st i ans i n t hi s count r y who

ar e wi l l i ng t o acknowl edge no supr emacy out si de t he

count r y may j oi n i n one gr eat body. "

To my f r i ends t he Chur chmen, who I suppose ar e

t he gr eat maj or i t y i n t hi s r oom, I wi l l j ust say a ver y

f ew wor ds. I f di sest abl i shment i s t o come i n t hi s

count r y i t wi l l be ver y much your own f aul t . I

hear some peopl e say t hat t he day of our vi si t at i on

has come, and i s past . I shoul d be ver y sor r y i ndeed

t o bel i eve i t , and I bel i eve i t woul d be a ver y sad day

f or Engl and i f t hat wer e t r ue. But i n or der t hat i t

may never come, I t r ust t hat Chur chmen wi l l r e-

member t hat t hi s st r uggl e i s not t o be car r i ed on by

any ki nd of i nt emper ance, or of i nt ol er ance, or of

nar r owness. We shoul d r emember t hat t r ut h i s

many si ded ; t hat al l t r ut h comes f r om one sour ce.

Ther e i s onl y one sun i n t he heavens, yet , as you

know, t her e ar e many beaut i f ul col our s, al l whi ch

come f r om t he one sun. You cannot say t hat t he

r ed i s bet t er and t r uer t han t he bl ue, or t hat t he bl ue

i s bet t er and t r uer t han t he yel l ow. You may pr ef er

one t o t he ot her ; you may see t hat one col our i s mor e

uni ver sal , mor e appl i cabl e f or di f f er ent pur poses t han

anot her , but t her e i s t r ut h i n each. I n t he same way

t her e i s onl y one ear t h, but t her e ar e a gr eat many

Page 46 of 132

di f f er ent t r ees whi ch gr ow out of i t , and whi ch der i ve

t hei r nour i shment f r om i t : and al t hough t he oak may

be ver y much bet t er sui t ed t o Engl and and t he f i r t o

Nor way, yet we admi t t hat t her e i s t r ut h i n each ;

t hat one i s j ust as good and t r ue a t r ee as t he ot her .

Ther ef or e, l et us who ar e apt t o t hi nk i n t he Chur ch

^6 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH. [ 1873.

and ot her r el i gi ous communi t i es t hat we have got al l

t he t r ut h our sel ves, r emember t hat t r ut h i s wi der

t han can be compr ehended by any body of human

bei ngs, and l et us be t ol er ant t o one anot her , not

f or get t i ng t hat t hose who ar e not i n t he same com-

muni t y wi t h us hol d t hei r si de of t he t r ut h as st r ongl y

as we do our s.

Each r el i gi ous communi t y has wi t nessed, and i s

wi t nessi ng, t o some si de of t he t r ut h. Rel i gi ous

communi t i es ar e not per f ect i n t hemsel ves l i ke t r ees

or f l ower s, but f or t hat ver y r eason i t i s al l t he mor e

necessar y t hat t he member s of t hem shoul d be t ol er ant ,

and shoul d make t he gr eat est ef f or t t o under st and

t hose of ot her r el i gi ous bel i ef s. I f our Chur ch, as I

hol d and as I bel i eve, i s t he br oadest , and t her ef or e

i n t hat sense t he t r uest and gr eat est of t hose com-

muni t i es, i f i t be a cat hol i c body, i t can do t wo

t hi ngs. I t can, i n t he f i r st pl ace, concede mor e easi l y

t han ot her bodi es, and i n t he next i t can assi mi l at e

bet t er . And I say t hat t he dut y of Chur chmen i n

t hi s day of our s i s, t o concede ever yt hi ng t hat can be

f ai r l y conceded t o ot her r el i gi ous communi t i es. We

Chur chmen ar e ver y f ond of r esi st i ng ever y change,

however smal l i t be, on t he ol d unwi se pr et ence of

not l et t i ng i n t he t hi n end of t he wedge. Now l et

me r ead t o you an ext r act f r om one whom you wi l l

al l admi t , whet her you agr ee wi t h hi m or not , t o be a

gr eat st at esman, and whose name wi l l be honour ed i n

any assembl y of l i vi ng Engl i shmen. I am goi ng t o

quot e t o you f r om Lor d Russel l ' s * Hi st or y of t he

Chr i st i an Rel i gi on, ' p. 185. I t i s t he wi sest sent ence

1873. ] ASSI MI LATI ON. ^ J

i n t he whol e book. " Ther e i s no doubt t hat con-

cessi on gi ves r i se t o demands f or f r esh concessi on,

— [ * Hear , hear ' f r om t he pl at f or m] — and i t i s r i ght

t hat i t shoul d be so. " [ Laught er . ] Then comes t he

poi nt t o whi ch I wi sh speci al l y t o cal l t he at t ent i on of

my f r i ends behi nd : — " The t r ue l i mi t i s, t hat al l i t i s

j ust t o concede shoul d be conceded ; al l t hat i t i s t r ue

t o af f i r m shoul d be af f i r med ; but t hat whi ch i s unj ust

shoul d be r ej ect ed, and t hat whi ch i s f al se shoul d be

deni ed. " Besi des t hi s power of concessi on, whi ch she

has i n a much gr eat er degr ee t han any ot her r el i gi ous

body, t he Chur ch, i f she be a cat hol i c Chur ch, as she

pr et ends t o be, has al so gr eat er power of assi mi l at i on.

Let her not be af r ai d of t hose si des of t he t r ut h whi ch

have been most pr omi nent l y put f or war d by ot her

r el i gi ous communi t i es. She can assi mi l at e t hem i f

Page 47 of 132

she pl eases, and i t i s her dut y t o assi mi l at e what ever

i s t r ue i n t hem. Her mi ssi on i n t hi s wor l d i s not t o

hol d her own i n t he sense of r esi st i ng al l r ef or m, of

r esi st i ng al l concessi on, but her dut y and mi ssi on i s

t o go t o t he l ost peopl e of our count r y, and of ever y

count r y wher e she i s est abl i shed or wher e she exi st s,

and t o dr aw t hose t oget her i nt o her f ol d who cannot

get i nt o t hat of ot her r el i gi ous bodi es, whi ch have

such l i mi t s as I have been speaki ng of t o bar t he

gat es of admi ssi on. Her gr eat mi ssi on i s t o seek and

save t hose whi ch ar e l ost i n ever y communi t y. The

hi ghest t i t l e of her mi ni st er s i s Ser vi ser vor um Dei

( t he ser vant s of t he ser vant s of God) , and, i f she

r emember s t hi s hi gh mi ssi on, i f she endeavour s by

her l i f e t o exempl i f y her Mast er ' s Spi r i t and t o

78 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH. [ 1873.

i l l ust r at e Hi s l i f e, she never need be af r ai d i n t hi s

count r y, or i n any ot her count r y, of di sest abl i shment

or di sendowment . What di d t he gr eat est of Chur ch-

men who ever l i ved say on t he poi nt of peopl e car -

r yi ng on t hose mi ser abl e squabbl es t hat ar e di vi di ng

us i n t hi s day ? They wer e sayi ng, " We ar e of

Paul , " " We ar e of Apol l os, " " We ar e of Pet er , " and

he sai d, " Who i s Paul ? Who i s Apol l os ? Who i s

Pet er ? " I f you onl y under st and what an i nher i t ance

you ar e cal l ed t o, " al l t hi ngs ar e your s, whet her

Paul , or Apol l os, or Pet er , or t he wor l d, or l i f e, or

deat h, or t hi ngs pr esent , or t hi ngs t o come, al l ar e

your s, f or ye ar e Chr i st ' s, and Chr i st i s God' s. "

( 79 )

I V.

THE CONDI TI ON AND PROSPECTS OF

THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND.

{ Del i ver ed at Si on Col l ege, Mar ch \ Zt h, 1877. )

I THI NK t hat many of t hose whom I am about t o

addr ess i n t hi s col l ege on t he condi t i on and pr ospect s

of our nat i onal Chur ch, may ver y pr obabl y be aski ng

t hemsel ves at t hi s moment what possi bl e cl ai m I can

have t o do so, or what possi bl e good can come of

anyt hi ng I may say. I , at any r at e, ver y r eadi l y

admi t t hat such quest i ons woul d be most r easonabl e,

so per haps a f ew pr el i mi nar y wor ds of expl anat i on

may not be out of pl ace.

I t was some mont hs ago, bef or e t he l at e occur r ences

at Hat cham and al l t hat has f ol l owed on t hem, t hat

t he pr oposal was made t o me. Even t hen I had

ser i ous doubt as t o accept i ng, and ul t i mat el y di d so

wi t h some r el uct ance. The doubt ar ose f r om a

Page 48 of 132

genui ne bel i ef t hat I had much mor e t o l ear n f r om

t han t o t each t he member s of Si on Col l ege on such a

subj ect . I t i s t r ue t hat I had been asked t o speak

or l ect ur e on t he Chur ch quest i on at Bi r mi ngham,

Nor wi ch, and el sewher e ; but t hose addr esses wer e

8o THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH. [ i S/ / .

del i ver ed t o popul ar audi ences, t o whom I had been

asked t o speak as a pol i t i ci an, and at t i mes when t hi s

gr eat cont r over sy was i n a ver y di f f er ent phase. But

i n t hi s pl ace I knew t hat I shoul d be addr essi ng an

audi ence of exper t s, t he met r opol i t an r epr esent at i ves

of t he gr eat pr of essi on ( or " cal l i ng, " t o use t he bet t er

wor d) of or dai ned mi ni st er s of t he nat i onal Chur ch —

a ver y di f f er ent and much mor e ser i ous mat t er .

Hence my doubt .

My r el uct ance ar ose f r om a di sl i ke t o st i r st i l l

wat er s, and r ai se di scussi on upon gr ave mat t er s at a

t i me when t her e seemed no pr essi ng need f or act i on

or deci si on wi t h r egar d t o t hem. And I own t hat

t he ear l i er par t of t he past year appear ed t o me t o

bear many si gns of such a t i me ; f or t he usual

mot i ons, poi nt i ng t o a sever ance of Chur ch and

St at e, or t o r econst r uct i on or r ef or m of one ki nd or

anot her , had not been made i n t he House of Commons.

I n t he addr esses of member s and candi dat es t o con-

st i t uenci es l ast aut umn, when r ef er ence was made t o

t he Chur ch quest i on, i t was gener al l y t r eat ed as a

ki nd of neut r al t er r i t or y i n pol i t i cs, even advanced

Li ber al s, l i ke Mr . Leonar d Cour t ney, decl ar i ng, t hat

t hough t hey wer e t heor et i cal l y i n f avour of t he ent i r e

sever ance of Chur ch and St at e when t he pr oper

t i me mi ght come, yet t hey saw no si gn of i t s comi ng,

and depr ecat ed any at t empt t o f or ce i t . On t he

ot her hand, one most i mpor t ant Chur ch r ef or m, t he

f ul l meani ng of whi ch has never been popul ar l y

appr eci at ed, — I mean t he subdi vi si on of di oceses and

t he appoi nt ment of suf f r agan bi shops who shoul d not

1 877- ] THE NEW CRI SI S. 8 1

be peer s of Par l i ament , — had made gr eat pr ogr ess,

al most wi t hout opposi t i on f r om t he nonconf or mi ng

bodi es or t he Li ber at i on Soci et y. Thus f ar t he t i me

seemed one f or l et t i ng wel l al one : and I shoul d

cer t ai nl y have desi r ed t o do so t hen, but f or t he

smoul der i ng di scont ent al r eady t oo appar ent i n one

ext r eme wi ng of t he nat i onal cl er gy. I n vi ew of

t hi s, however , i t seemed t o me possi bl y wor t h whi l e t o

put f or war d at Si on Col l ege a l ay vi ew of t he mat t er s

whi ch wer e causi ng such di scont ent amongst a sect i on

of Chur chmen. So wi t h t hi s vi ew I over came my

r el uct ance, never dr eami ng t hat bef or e I shoul d

addr ess you her e, t hi s smoul der i ng f i r e woul d have

bur st i nt o a bl aze ; t hat we shoul d have, on t he one

hand, t he Chur ch Uni on publ i cl y denyi ng t he r i ght

of t he nat i on t o cont r ol t he cl er gy, and cl er gymen

decl ar i ng t hat t hey " wi l l l abour ni ght and day t o

Page 49 of 132

set t he Chur ch of Engl and f r ee f r om a per secut i ng

St at e; " on t he ot her hand, t he Li ber at i oni st s, r e-

assur ed at hear i ng t hei r own war - cr i es i ssui ng f r om

wi t hi n what t hey ar e used t o r egar d as t he host i l e

camp, openl y pr epar i ng f or a campai gn whi ch t hey

seem t o t hi nk may be t he f i nal one.

Had I been abl e t o f or esee such a st at e of t hi ngs,

I candi dl y conf ess t hat I shoul d have decl i ned t hi s

i nvi t at i on. The pr ospect i s t o me al t oget her t oo sad

and t oo conf usi ng, and t he i ssues ar e at pr esent so

undef i ned, and t he f or ces on ei t her si de so unde-

vel oped, t hat I woul d ver y gl adl y have been si l ent , at

any r at e t i l l I coul d see mor e cl ear l y how t he gr eat

cont r over sy was shapi ng i t sel f , and what i t behoved

G

82 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH. [ i S/ / -

one t o say or do i n t hi s mat t er , who l ooks upon t he

connect i on of Chur ch and St at e — of t he spi r i t ual and

t empor al l i f e of t he nat i on, as i t exi st s, and has

exi st ed i n Engl and ever si nce we wer e a nat i on — as a

par t of our nat i onal i nher i t ance whi ch i t woul d be

a gr i evous mi sf or t une, and an i r r epar abl e mi sf or t une,

t o l ose.

I am her e, however , t o speak t o you on t he subj ect ,

and must do so t o t he best of my abi l i t y, gl ad at any

r at e t hat you wi l l hear t he vi ews, f r ankl y expr essed, of

what I bel i eve t o be a much l ar ger pr opor t i on t han i s

gener al l y supposed of or di nar y Engl i sh Chur chmen —

l aymen who have no st r ong bi as f or or agai nst any

par t y i n t he Chur ch ; who have nei t her t i me nor t ast e

f or t he l ament abl e par t y wr est l i ng- mat ches got up by

t he ( so- cal l ed) r el i gi ous pr ess and soci et i es, but onl y

desi r e t o use t hemsel ves i n peace, and t o hand down

t o t hei r chi l dr en, t he oppor t uni t i es f or Chr i st i an wor -

shi p and Chr i st i an l i vi ng, whi ch have ser ved t hei r

f or ef at her s f or so many gener at i ons, i mpr oved and

r ef or med t o sui t t he needs of a new t i me, but st i l l an

i nal i enabl e par t of t he bi r t hr i ght of ever y Engl i sh

chi l d. I r epeat t hat I bel i eve, — and, as one who has

had much i nt er cour se wi t h al l cl asses of our soci et y,

and has f or year s been much exer ci sed by t hi s

quest i on, have good gr ounds f or my bel i ef , — t hat

t hi s cl ass i s a f ar l ar ger one t han i s commonl y

al l owed. And i t woul d be a gr eat mi st ake t o sup-

pose, because t hey make no st r i f e or f uss about t hei r

r el i gi on, t hat t hey do not r eal l y car e about i t . I t i s

of t en assumed, nowadays, t hat t he bul k of our Chur ch

1 877- ] A COMMON ERROR. 83

l ai t y ar e mer e f or mal i st s, suppor t i ng r el i gi on because

t hey bel i eve t he par son t o be t he most power f ul ki nd

of pol i ceman ; and r eady t o wel come what ever f or m

of new wor shi p, or no- wor shi p, may come next , when

cr i t i ci sm and sci ence shal l have deal t f i nal l y wi t h t he

Page 50 of 132

super nat ur al and Chr i st i ani t y, so l ong onl y as some

f or m or ot her be l ef t t o keep t he common f ol k i n

or der , and t hei r own wi ves and chi l dr en qui et . On

t he cont r ar y, we ( f or I must r ank mysel f i n t hei r

number ) ar e t hor oughl y sat i sf i ed t hat Chr i st i ani t y i s

i n no mor e r eal danger now t han i t was a hundr ed

and f i f t y year s ago, when Dean Swi f t , and many ot her

gr eat er wi t s t han we have amongst us nowadays,

t hought and sai d t hat i t was doomed. We hol d i n

per f ect good f ai t h, t hat t he good news our Lor d

br ought i s t he best t he wor l d wi l l ever hear ; t hat

t her e has been a r evel at i on i n t he Man Jesus Chr i st ,

of God t he Cr eat or of t he wor l d as our Fat her , so . t hat

t he humbl est and poor est man can know God f or al l

pur poses f or whi ch men need t o know Hi m i n t hi s

l i f e, and can have Hi s hel p i n becomi ng l i ke Hi m, t he

busi ness f or whi ch t hey wer e sent i nt o i t : and t hat

t her e wi l l be no ot her r evel at i on, t hough t hi s one wi l l

be, t hr ough al l t i me, unf ol di ng t o men mor e and mor e

of i t s unspeakabl e dept h, and gl or y, and beaut y, i n

ext er nal nat ur e, i n human soci et y, i n i ndi vi dual men.

That , I bel i eve t o be a f ai r st at ement of t he posi t i ve

r el i gi ous bel i ef of aver age Engl i shmen, i f t hey had t o

t hi nk i t out and t o put i t i n wor ds ; and al l who hol d

i t must of cour se l ook upon Chr i st ' s Gospel as t he

gr eat pur i f yi ng, r ef or mi ng, r edeemi ng power i n t he

G 2

84 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH. [ 1^ 77-

wor l d, and desi r e t hat i t shal l be f r ee t o wor k i n t hei r

own count r y on t he most f avour abl e condi t i ons whi ch

can be f ound f or i t .

On t he ot her hand, t her e ar e a number of mat t er s

whi ch have been commonl y i nsi st ed upon i n Engl and

as par t of Chr i st i ani t y, as t o many of whi ch t he ki nd

of Engl i shmen I am speaki ng of have come t o have

no bel i ef at al l , one way or t he ot her . They have no

t i me t o spar e f or such subj ect s, and do not f eel i t

needf ul f or t hei r hi gher l i f e t hat t hey shoul d make up

t hei r mi nds, f or i nst ance, as t o t he exact qual i t y of

t he i nspi r at i on of Scr i pt ur e, t he or i gi n of evi l , t he

met hod of t he At onement , t he nat ur e and ef f ect of

sacr ament s, j ust i f i cat i on, conver si on, and ot her much-

debat ed mat t er s. As t o anot her cl ass of eccl esi ast i cal

subj ect s, such as apost ol i cal successi on, and al l t he

pr i est l y and medi at or i al cl ai ms whi ch ar e f ounded on

i t , t hey have i ndeed made up t hei r mi nds t hor oughl y,

and bel i eve t hem t o be men' s f abl es, mi schi evous and

mi sl eadi ng t o t hose who t each and t hose who l ear n —

t o pr i est s and peopl e al i ke.

Pr obabl y many of my hear er s wi l l consi der such a

bel i ef as t hi s t oo vague t o be of any pr act i cal val ue ;

but at any r at e, as a f act , t her e i t i s, and i t has t o be

acknowl edged and account ed wi t h as a f act i n deal i ng

wi t h t hi s Chur ch quest i on. And, as a r ul e, whi l e i t

hi nder s t hose who hol d i t f r om at t achi ng any exagge-

r at ed or super st i t i ous i mpor t ance t o one f or m or

anot her of Chur ch or gani sat i on, i t i ncl i nes t hem t o

Page 51 of 132

r espect and val ue t hat whi ch t hey f i nd t o have been

t hought out and beat en out by successi ve gener at i ons,

1877. ] ^ l ayman' s r easons. 85

and t o have br ought t he nat i on saf el y at l east , and

not wi t hout honour , so f ar . Such a man i s t her ef or e

gener al l y an at t ached, t hough not an ent husi ast i c

nat i onal Chur chman, and i n t he mai n f or t he f ol l owi ng

r easons : —

Fi r st , t he hi st or i cal . Our t i me i s not one i n whi ch

any i nst i t ut i on i s abl e t o st and on i t s pedi gr ee onl y :

but i t i s al so one i n whi ch we ar e bound t o be speci al l y

car ef ul of any whol esome l i nks whi ch bi nd us t o t he

past , and make our hi st or y one of st eady and con-

nect ed l i f e and pr ogr ess. And f r om t hi s poi nt of

vi ew t he nat i onal Chur ch i s beyond al l quest i on t he

most vener abl e of our i nst i t ut i ons, and as i nt i mat el y

bound up wi t h t he nat i onal l i f e as t he monar chy or

t he Houses of Par l i ament . The l at est and best

hi st or i an of t he Conquest descr i bes t he Engl and of

1066 as " a l and wher e t he Chur ch and nat i on wer e

but di f f er ent names f or t he same communi t y ; a l and

wher e pr i est s and pr el at es wer e subj ect t o t he l aw l i ke

ot her men ; a l and wher e t he ki ng and t he wi t an gave

away t he st af f of t he bi shop; " addi ng t hat " such a

l and was mor e danger ous i n t he eyes of Rome t han

one of Jews or Sar acens. "

And t hr ough t he l ong f our hundr ed year s' st r uggl e

wi t h t he Papacy, t he same descr i pt i on hol ds good ;

and i n ever y gr eat cr i si s t he Chur ch and nat i on has

hel d t oget her as one communi t y. When a Becket

backed t he Pope' s cl ai m t o make Chur ch cour t s

supr eme over t he cl er gy, and t o exempt t hem f r om

t he nat i onal t r i bunal s, t he ki ng answer ed by t he

Const i t ut i ons of Cl ar endon, whi ch decl ar ed t he Chur ch

S6 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH. [ i S/ / .

t o be par t and par cel of t he nat i on, and t he cl er gy -

amenabl e t o t he ci vi l l aw l i ke al l ot her ci t i zens ; and

t hose Const i t ut i ons wer e suppor t ed by cl er gy and

l ai t y al i ke.

When t he Ki ng, backed by t he Pope, r ef used t he

demands of t he nat i on f or t he Gr eat Char t er , i t was

Ar chbi shop Langt on who headed t he bar ons. Two

of t he t hr ee sur et i es t o whom John was bound f or i t s

f ul f i l ment wer e bi shops, and t he f i r st ni ne names ar e

t hose of Chur ch di gni t ar i es. Agai n and agai n t he

i dent i t y of t he Chur ch of Engl and wi t h t he nat i on

was uphel d ; somet i mes by bi shops, as when Rober t

Gr ost et e f l at l y r ef used t o i nst i t ut e I nnocent I V. ' s

Genoese nomi nee t o an Engl i sh benef i ce ; somet i mes

by t he Ki ng or hi s cour t s of l aw, as when t he Ki ng' s

Bench out l awed t he member s of t he assembl y of

cl er gy, who had come t oget her wi t hout t he Ki ng' s

wr i t , and, i n def er ence t o a Papal Bul l , pr oduced by

Page 52 of 132

Ar chbi shop Wi nchel sea, r ef used t o gr ant a subsi dy t o

Edwar d I . f or hi s Scot ch campai gn. The st at ut es of

mor t mai n, of pr ovi sor s, of pr ohi bi t i on, of pr aemuni r e,

al l ai med at some encr oachment of Rome on t he

nat i onal char act er of t he Engl i sh Chur ch, wer e al l

passed wi t h t he assent and by t he hel p of t hat Chur ch

whi ch, by i t s ver y di vi si ons i n such cr i ses, pr oved i t s

nat i onal char act er . I t i s not necessar y t o f ol l ow t he

hi st or y si nce t he Ref or mat i on, f or i t i s par t of t he case

of t hose of t he cl er gy who seek t o sever t he connect i on

t hat i t has exi st ed i n f ul l f or ce f r om t hat t i me. Even

when epi scopacy was abol i shed dur i ng t he Common-

weal t h and Pr ot ect or at e, t he nat i onal pr i nci pl e was

1877. ] SUPPOSED COMPACT. 87

uphel d, and t he est abl i shed Pr esbyt er i an Chur ch was

even mor e i nt i mat el y al l i ed wi t h t he St at e t han i t s

pr edecessor had been. Cr omwel l had no mor e t hought

of sever i ng t he connect i on t han Edwar d or Henr y,

but desi r ed t o make t he Chur ch as br oad and t ol er ant

as possi bl e.

And so t he Chur ch has cont i nued t o our own day

i n t heor y, and st i l l i s t o a ver y gr eat ext ent i n f act , t he

nat i on or gani zed f or spi r i t ual pur poses, and i n st r i ki ng

sympat hy wi t h and f ai t hf ul l y mi r r or i ng t he nat i on i n

al l i t s var yi ng moods — at t i mes no doubt per secut i ng,

apat het i c, unf ai t hf ul — but on t he whol e f ai t hf ul t o her

g^ eat mi ssi on, and exer ci si ng a nobl e and pur i f yi ng i n-

f l uence on t he nat i onal consci ence and t he nat i onal l i f e.

I f t hi s i s at al l a t r ue vi ew of t he hi st or y of t he

Chur ch of Engl and, t he f al l acy of t he mai n ar gument

of t he Engl i sh Chur ch Uni on at r ecent meet i ngs

becomes cl ear . Appeal i s made t o some supposed

compact bet ween t he St at e and t he Chur ch, and i t i s

cont ended t hat t he Chur ch never conceded t o t he

St at e t he r i ght of cont r ol i n spi r i t ual mat t er s when

t hat compact was made. Thi s assumes t hat t he St at e

and t he Chur ch i n Engl and wer e at some t i me t wo

di st i nct cor por at e bodi es, i n par t at l east composed of

di f f er ent per sons, and capabl e of cont r act i ng wi t h one

anot her . But t her e never was such a t i me i n Engl and ;

St at e and Chur ch never st ood i n such r el at i ons t o

each ot her ; t her e never was any such f or mal cont r act

bet ween t hem as t he Chur ch Uni on ar gument st ar t s

f r om. Bet ween t he of f i cer s of t he Chur ch f or t he t i me

bei ng and t he St at e, t her e can of cour se be, and

88 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH. [ l 877-

al ways has been, a cont r act of ser vi ce, as t her e i s

bet ween t he of f i cer s of t he ar my and t he St at e. But

i t i s pl aci ng mat t er s on a f al se i ssue t o r epr esent t he

Chur ch of Engl and as a power bound by t r eat y or

compact wi t h t he St at e of Engl and f or cer t ai n

def i ni t e pur poses, and compet ent t o annul t hat t r eat y

when she pl eases. A Chur ch wi t h t he pr et ensi ons

of Rome, or a vol unt ar y Chur ch, such as t he Met hodi st s,

Page 53 of 132

i f t he nat i on wer e t o come t o t hem now t o make t er ms,

mi ght assume such an at t i t ude and make such cl ai ms,

but t hey cont r adi ct t he ver y i dea of our nat i onal

Chur ch, as t hose wor ds have al ways been under st ood

i n Engl and.

Bef or e qui t t i ng t he hi st or i cal gr ound I woul d j ust

r emi nd you t hat t hi s moder n cr y f or di sest abl i shment ,

or t he absol ut e sever ance of t he St at e f r om r el i gi on,

has r eal l y no Engl i sh t r adi t i on at al l behi nd i t , at any

r at e si nce t he Long Par l i ament . I n t hat cel ebr at ed

assembl y i t was i ndeed moot ed, but wi t h no success.

Dr . Owen, t he br ot her - i n- l aw of Cr omwel l , and a

f amous Nonconf or mi st mi ni st er , was i t s most vi gor ous

opponent , and evi dent l y expr essed t he sense of t he

House and t he count r y when he pr ot est ed i n t he

most sol emn and ear nest wor ds agai nst t he not i on

t hat t hey, as r ul er s of t he nat i on, had not hi ng t o

do wi t h r el i gi on. Fr om t hat t i me t o our own t he

ef f or t has never been r epeat ed, whi l e t he gr eat est

names amongst t he Nonconf or mi st s may be ci t ed as

suppor t er s of t he di r ect and avowed connect i on of t he

St at e wi t h r el i gi on. Thus Mat t hew Henr y t hanks

God " f or t he nat i onal est abl i shment of our r el i gi on

1877. ] SECULAR AND RELI GI OUS. 89

wi t h t hat of our peace and ci vi l l i ber t y, " and Bunyan,

Wesl ey, Baxt er , may al l be quot ed on t he same si de.

Even t he l eadi ng Nonconf or mi st s and r ef or mer s of

t he ver y l ast gener at i on had no such pol i cy. Mr .

Gr ot e, who may be t aken as t hei r r epr esent at i ve man

on t hi s quest i on, i n t he f i r st Ref or med Par l i ament ,

advocat ed i ndeed sweepi ng and st r i ngent r ef or ms

wi t hi n t he Chur ch, but , so f ar as I am awar e, never

hi nt ed at sever i ng t he connect i on bet ween t he Chur ch

and t he ci vi l gover nment . I need not say t hat t he

cr y f r om wi t hi n t he Chur ch her sel f f or t hi s di vor ce i s

of even mor e r ecent or i gi n.

I t may of cour se be r epl i ed t o al l t hi s, t hat however

st r ong t he hi st or i cal ar gument may be, i t i s af t er al l

mai nl y a sent i ment al one, whi ch can be al l owed l i t t l e

wei ght i n t he changed and changi ng condi t i ons and

ai ms of our t i me. And I woul d not pr ess i t beyond

t hi s, t hat i f t hi r t y gener at i ons of Engl i shmen, who

have gi ven us our count r y as we enj oy i t , have

i nsi st ed on a nat i onal pr of essi on of Chr i st i ani t y by t he

St at e, t hose who now oppose i t shal l at l east gi ve us

some gr ounds f or bel i evi ng t hat t he nat i on wi l l become

nobl er and bet t er f or r enounci ng t hat pr of essi on.

The second r eason f or whi ch such men as I am

speaki ng of val ue t he connect i on, may al so possi bl y

be cal l ed a sent i ment al one, but has I bel i eve a ver y

i mpor t ant pr act i cal si de t o i t . I t i s t hat t hat connec -

t i on i s a const ant and power f ul pr ot est agai nst t he

desi r e and ef f or t t o di vi de human l i f e shar pl y i nt o t wo

par t s, one of whi ch i s concer ned wi t h t he vi si bl e, and

t he ot her wi t h t he i nvi si bl e : or , as t he commoner

Page 54 of 132

90 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH. [ 1^ 77-

phr ase goes, one wi t h secul ar , t he ot her wi t h r el i gi ous

af f ai r s. Not wi t hst andi ng t he exper i ence of many-

f ai l ur es, t hat desi r e and ef f or t wer e never mor e act i ve

t han i n our t i me. And, however f i r ml y convi nced

we may be f r om t he exper i ence of our own l i ves, and

f r om our obser vat i on of al l t hat i s goi ng on ar ound us,

t hat no such sever ance i s possi bl e, — t hat t he t wo

r eal ms wi l l asser t t hei r i nt er dependence sooner or

l at er , what ever r ul es we may l ay down f or keepi ng

t hem apar t , — st i l l t he mer e at t empt t o sever t hem

wi l l al ways wor k mi schi ef , and we cannot af f or d

t o par t , or t o t amper wi t h, any wi t ness t hat t hey have

been j oi ned t oget her f r om t he begi nni ng of t i me, and

wi l l r emai n so j oi ned t o t he end, by a l aw whi ch man

cannot set asi de. And t he connect i on of Chur ch and

St at e i s a st andi ng wi t ness t o t hi s l aw i n t he hi ghest

pl aces, a pr ot est agai nst t he not i on t hat t he nat i on

can r epudi at e i t s hi ghest f unct i ons and dut i es, any

mor e t han one of i t s own ci t i zens can do so. Wer e

t he pr esent connect i on sever ed, t he onl y r esul t woul d

be, t hat , sooner or l at er — pr obabl y af t er much nat i onal

det er i or at i on and humi l i at i on — t he l aw woul d have

t o be r easser t ed, and t he dut y accept ed agai n by

t he nat i on under new condi t i ons. Ther ef or e, t hose

i n whom t he l ove of t hei r count r y i s deepest and

st r ongest , shoul d be f or emost i n i nsi st i ng t hat we shal l

not gi ve up t he hi ghest nat i onal i deal because we f i nd

i t har d t o r eal i ze.

I t i s scar cel y possi bl e t o cont end t hat t hat i deal

i s not l ower ed by sever ance of t he connect i on. An

abandonment of i mpor t ant f unct i ons may be ex-

1877. ] RELI GI ON I N POLI TI CS. 9 1

pedi ent , or conveni ent , or even necessar y, but i t must

r emai n a pr oof of a mor e st unt ed and nar r ower l i f e.

And, wi t hout dwel l i ng on t he many ways i n whi ch

such an abandonment mi ght pr obabl y act i n Engl and,

I t hi nk no one wi l l deny t hat , i n any case, i t i s cer t ai n

t o l essen t he i nt er est whi ch r el i gi ous men t ake i n

pol i t i cs and publ i c l i f e. Ther e i s, I know, a school of

pol i t i ci ans, not want i ng i nf l uent i al r epr esent at i ves i n

t he pr ess, who wi l l excl ai m at once, " What a bl essi ng !

How smoot hl y publ i c busi ness woul d r un on i n f ut ur e

i f we coul d onl y get r i d of t hem al t oget her ! They

ar e t he bane of publ i c l i f e, at l east , j ust so f ar as t hey

wi l l i nsi st on br i ngi ng r el i gi ous consi der at i ons t o bear

on i t . A nat i on t o be gr eat and pr osper ous can' t

af f or d t o keep a r el i gi ous consci ence. " But I vent ur e

t o t hi nk not wi t hst andi ng, f r om al l I have seen of

publ i c l i f e i n Engl and, t hat pr eci sel y t he cont r ar y i s

t r ue, t hat men who ar e avowedl y r el i gi ous ar e t he

best pol i t i ci ans, and t hat i t i s of t he hi ghest moment

f or t he nat i onal char act er , and t her ef or e i n t he end

f or nat i onal pr osper i t y, t hat t hey shoul d be kept

i nt er est ed i n pol i t i cs. I t i s not easy t o do t hi s now,

and I am at a l oss t o see how i t wi l l become easi er

when we decl ar e t hat hencef or t h t he nat i on wi l l t ake

Page 55 of 132

no cogni zance of , and wi l l cease i n i t s cor por at e

capaci t y t o have anyt hi ng t o do wi t h, r el i gi on. I f i t

i s r epl i ed by some sect i ons of Li ber at i oni st s ( as I

pr esume some at l east of t he nonconf or mi ng bodi es

woul d r epl y) t hat t hi s i s not t hei r meani ng — t hat t hey

never i nt ended t o br i ng about such a r esul t , and t hey

do not bel i eve t hat di sest abl i shment wi l l ef f ect i t — I

92 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH. [ i S/ / .

can onl y ask, how t hey pr opose t o aver t i t ? By what

machi ner y can t he nat i onal super vi si on and cont r ol

of r el i gi on be made l ess i r ksome t o t hem t han t he

pr esent ar r angement ?

Agai n, such a man f i nds hi msel f bor n t o a cer t ai n

r el i gi ous i nher i t ance as an Engl i shman. He can go

and set t l e i n any r emot est haml et of t hi s i sl and of

our s, and t her e he shal l f i nd pr ovi ded f or hi m and hi s

f ami l y a publ i c pl ace of wor shi p, an of f i cer of t he

St at e, and al l t he machi ner y necessar y f or enabl i ng

hi m t o enj oy ever y of f i ce and mi ni st r at i on of r el i gi on,

i f , and so f ar onl y as, he desi r es t hem. Thi s, I say, i s

par t of hi s and of my bi r t hr i ght , and of ever y man' s

bi r t hr i ght as an Engl i shman, i n t hi s year 1877. I

have t he r i ght t o al l t hese t hi ngs, not because I hol d

any par t i cul ar r el i gi ous opi ni ons, but si mpl y because

I am an Engl i shman, and cl ai m t hem. I f I am t oo

poor or t oo mi ser l y t o pay f or t hem, I can cl ai m t hem

wi t hout payment .

Now, t o put i t no hi gher , t hi s par t i cul ar por t i on of

our bi r t hr i ght can do us no har m, f or t hi s i f f or no

ot her r eason, t hat we need not use i t unl ess we pl ease.

I f we do not want t o wor shi p God our sel ves, or t o be

bapt i zed, mar r i ed, bur i ed, consol ed, ai ded, i nst r uct ed

— i f we want none of t hese t hi ngs f or our wi ves and

chi l dr en — t her e i s no compul si on what ever upon us i n

t he mat t er . I t i s not easy, t her ef or e, t o see how we

or our f ami l i es can be i nj ur ed by t hi s opt i on, and by

no means cl ear how any one el se can be.

Agai n, anot her r eason why such men as I am

t r yi ng t o descr i be ar e at t ached t o and desi r e t o mai n-

1 877- ] THE CHURCH OF THE POOR. 93

t ai n t he connect i on bet ween Chur ch and St at e, as

t he r el i gi ous condi t i on of t hi ngs most f avour abl e t o

nat i onal l i f e, i s t hat t hey see t hat t he pr i nci pl e whi ch

under l i es t he Nat i onal Chur ch i s i ncl usi veness.

Ever y Engl i shman bor n i s assumed t o be a member ,

and cont i nues t o be so wi t hout quest i on, unt i l he

l eaves i t by hi s own act , of hi s own f r ee wi l l . Wher eas

t he pr i nci pl e whi ch under l i es al l vol unt ar y chur ches i s

excl usi veness — t hey ar e essent i al l y a sect i on gl eaned

out of t he nat i on ; and wher eas an Engl i shman cannot

get out of t he nat i onal , he cannot get i nt o any

vol unt ar y Chur ch, wi t hout an ef f or t of wi l l . I t

f ol l ows, or at any r at e i s t he f act , t hat t he nat i onal

Page 56 of 132

Chur ch i s t he most l i ber al i n spi r i t ; f or by i t s ver y

nat ur e and const i t ut i on i t i s bound t o pr ot est agai nst

t he sect ar i an spi r i t , t he spi r i t of di vi si on. Whenever

t he Nat i onal Chur ch i s not bear i ng t hi s pr ot est f ai t h-

f ul l y, i t i s unt r ue t o i t sel f . The wi de di ver gences of

opi ni on al l owed wi t hi n i t s r anks, so t r i umphant l y

ci t ed i n some quar t er s as si gns of weakness, seem

t o such men pr oof s of st r engt h.

They see al so t hat t he nat i onal i s t he onl y

or gani sat i on by whi ch t he Gospel can be car r i ed t o

t he ver y poor and t he out cast s — t o t hose, i n shor t who

need i t most , but who do not val ue i t , and cannot or wi l l

not pay f or i t . For vol unt ar y Chur ches cannot l i ve i n

t he poor est di st r i ct s, but must f ol l ow t hose who can

mai nt ai n t hem, and ar e onl y bound t o mi ni st er t o t hese.

They see, l ast l y, t hat t he Nat i onal Chur ch i s best

adapt ed t o t he t one and ci r cumst ances of t he peopl e of

Engl and, as i s pr oved by t he f act t hat t he vol unt ar y

94 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH. [ i S/ / .

Chur ches ar e al l i mi t at i ng her i n so many ways — by

usi ng mor e and mor e of her Li t ur gy, by copyi ng her

ar chi t ect ur e and musi c, t i l l i t i s of t en di f f i cul t t o t el l

as you pass a pl ace of wor shi p whet her i t i s nat i onal

or Nonconf or mi st — by even adopt i ng f or t hei r mi ni st er s

t he t i t l es by whi ch t he nat i onal cl er gy have al ways

been; di st i ngui shed.

I have had t o dwel l at some l engt h, t hough I t r ust

so as not t o wear y you, on t he sor t of vi ews whi ch ar e

hel d by a l ar ge number of qui et l ay Chur chmen who

t hi nk about such subj ect s at al l . And now, i f t her e

be t he l east gr ound of t r ut h i n my pi ct ur e, i f I am

not dr eami ng when I say t hat such men ar e numer ous

i n Engl and, I woul d ask any cl er gyman her e t o t r y

t o put hi msel f i n t he pl ace of such a l ayman, and

consi der how he woul d r egar d t he doi ngs of t he l ast

f ew mont hs wi t hi n t he Chur ch, and t he posi t i on whi ch

a sect i on of t he cl er gy ar e t aki ng up and t he l anguage

t hey ar e usi ng — I say a sect i on of t he cl er gy, not

meani ng f or a moment t o deny t hat t hey have a

f ol l owi ng of l aymen ( not r eal l y so numer ous as t hey

suppose, but genui ne as f ar as i t goes) wi t h t hem, but

onl y t o pl ace t he bur t hen on t he r i ght back. No

l ai t y woul d be t her e but f or t hem. I t i s i dl e t o t al k of

of f ences comi ng mai nl y f r om t he newl y ar oused zeal

of boys and gi r l s. I t i s a sect i on of t he nat i onal

cl er gy who ar e r esponsi bl e, and must answer f or , t he

pr esent st at e of t hi ngs, be i t f or good or f or evi l .

Now t hi s ext r eme sect i on ar e del i ber at el y br eaki ng

t he l aw, and, t o our ast oni shment , ar e appl auded and

uphel d i n doi ng so, not onl y by newspaper s and

1 877- ] SUFFERI NG FOR CONSCI ENCE. 95

uni ons f r om whi ch not hi ng bet t er coul d be expect ed,

Page 57 of 132

but by consi der abl e number s of t hei r br et hr en upon

whom we had been accust omed t o l ook wi t h r espect

as honest and f ai t hf ul mi ni st er s, however much we

mi ght di f f er f r om t hem. They do not i ndeed pr et end

t o agr ee wi t h t he ext r eme Ri t ual i st s, but t hey suppor t

t hem openl y and war ml y, on t he pl ea t hat t hey ar e

suf f er i ng f or consci ence sake. Wel l , l et t he pl ea pass

— admi t t hat t hey ar e maki ng t hese t hi ngs mat t er s

of consci ence — but we must be al l owed t o ask, as

Engl i shmen, whet her t hi s i s t he ki nd of consci ence

whi ch we desi r e t o cul t i vat e i n our sel ves, or t o see

cul t i vat ed i n t hi s nat i on. Poor consci ence ! t o what

pi t i f ul uses i s t hat sacr ed name t ur ned ! The st ol i d

Essex peasant , one of t he Pecul i ar Peopl e, l et s hi s

chi l d di e because he wi l l not al l ow i t t o t ake medi ci ne,

and bel i eves hi msel f t o be suf f er i ng f or consci ence

sake because he i s summoned bef or e a magi st r at e t o

answer f or i t s l i f e. And he has f ar mor e r eason on

hi s si de t han t hese Ri t ual i st mar t yr s. I desi r e nei t her

t o speak nor t hi nk scor nf ul l y or bi t t er l y of t hem, but

t hi s at l east I must say, t hat men who can make

mat t er s of consci ence of such t r i vi al i t i es as t he shape

and col our of vest ment s, t he bur ni ng of candl es and

i ncense, t he posi t i on of t abl es, and t he l i ke, and i n

def ence of t hese t hi ngs ar e pr epar ed t o def y aut hor i t y,

and br eak what t hey know t o be t he l aw of t hei r

count r y, ar e not f i t t o be t r ust ed wi t h t he spi r i t ual

gui dance of any por t i on of our peopl e. Thi s nat i on

has a gr eat wor k st i l l t o do i n t he wor l d, f or whi ch

she needs chi l dr en wi t h qui t e ot her ki nd of consci ences

96 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH. [ i S/ / .

t han t hese — consci ences whi ch shal l be si mpl e, manl y,

obedi ent , qual i t i es whi ch must di sappear under such

exampl es and t eachi ng as t hese men ar e gi vi ng. I t

i s wi t h r el uct ance t hat one has t o come t o such a

concl usi on, but t her e i s no use i n bl i ndi ng our sel ves

any l onger as t o t hei r meani ng. They have r esol ved

t o t r y t hei r st r engt h wi t h t he nat i on ; t o t hr ow of f al l

ci vi l cont r ol as wel l as t o di sobey and def y t hei r

spi r i t ual super i or s : and t hey wi l l have t o abi de t he

consequences, whi ch wi l l assur edl y be t hat t hey wi l l

not be al l owed t o mi ni st er any l onger i n t hat Nat i onal

Chur ch, whi ch t hey ar e doi ng al l t hey can t o dest r oy.

Wer e i t onl y a quest i on of t hese ext r eme men, t her e

woul d be smal l cause f or anxi et y, but , as al r eady

st at ed, t hey have been backed — at any r at e, ever

si nce t he j udgment i n t he Hat cham case — by a l ar ge

number of Hi gh Chur ch cl er gy f r om whom we had a

r i ght t o l ook f or ver y di f f er ent t hi ngs. I have hear d

f r i ends of my own speaki ng of t hese men as mar t yr s,

and echoi ng t he cl ap- t r ap cr i es of t he ( so- cal l ed)

r el i gi ous pr ess, such as t hat of " The i nt er f er ence of

t he St at e wi t h t he Chur ch has i ncr eased, i s i ncr easi ng,

and ought t o be di mi ni shed. " A mar t yr I have

al ways under st ood t o be one who suf f er s wi l l i ngl y, f or

hi s f ai t h. I t i s abusi ng an al most sacr ed wor d t o appl y

i t t o such suf f er i ng as i s possi bl e her e i n Engl and

nowadays f or any opi ni on ( I wi l l not speak of f ai t h)

about what post ur es of t he body, or shape or col our

of gar ment s, have been i n use i n chur ches si nce

Page 58 of 132

Edwar d t he Si xt h' s t i me. And as t o i nt er f er ence of

t he St at e havi ng i ncr eased, i t i s not or i ousl y unt r ue i n

* 1 8/ 7- ] PLEAS OF THE DI SAFFECTED. 9/

any sense except t hat of f ences agai nst t he l aw have

i ncr eased, and so t hat l aw has had t o be ( wi t h ext r eme

r el uct ance) enf or ced by t he heads of t he Chur ch agai nst

t he of f ender s.

I wi l l i ngl y admi t , however , t hat t hey have mor e

r easonabl e ar gument s t han t hese. They ur ge, f or

i nst ance, t hat ( apar t f r om t he ext r eme Ri t ual i st s,

whose pr oceedi ngs t hey do not appr ove) t hey have

been t he movi ng power of t he gr eat Chur ch r evi val of

our t i me, t he evi dences of whi ch l i e br oadcast over

t he whol e count r y, i n r est or ed cat hedr al s and chur ches,

f r equent and r ever ent ser vi ces, and t he wi despr ead

zeal f or al l soci al r ef or m and phi l ant hr opi c ef f or t ,

whi ch has become t he honour abl e and di st i ngui shi ng

char act er i st i c of t he nat i on i n our day. I n r et ur n f or

t hese ser vi ces t hey have met wi t h abuse, di st r ust ,

mi sr epr esent at i on : and now at l ast ar e t he subj ect s of

di r ect at t ack on t he par t of t he nat i on, bot h i n t he

Law Cour t s and i n Par l i ament , t he cr owni ng act of

aggr essi on bei ng t he Publ i c Wor shi p Regul at i on Act

whi ch has been ai med at t hem, and at t hem onl y.

Now even t hose who di st r ust t he Hi gh Chur ch

par t y most , must admi t t hei r pl ea as t o t he zeal ous,

and i n many r espect s admi r abl e, wor k whi ch t hey

have done si nce t he r evi val begun by t he * Tr act s f or

t he Ti mes ' f or t y year s ago. They have deser ved

wel l of t he nat i on i n many ways, and have possi bl y

some gr ounds f or t hei r compl ai nt s as t o t he suspi ci on

wi t h whi ch t hey have, no doubt , been al ways r egar ded,

t hough t hey have cer t ai nl y t aken no pai ns t o avoi d i t .

But i t i s i mpossi bl e t o admi t t hat t hey have any

98 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH. [ l ^ 77-

r eason t o compl ai n of har sh or unj ust t r eat ment ,

ei t her f r om t he nat i onal execut i ve, or f r om t he l egi s -

l at ur e. The j udgment i n Mr . Bennet t ' s case shows

how f ar t he Law Cour t s have been di sposed t o go i n

const r ui ng t hei r obl i gat i ons i n t he l ar gest and wi dest

sense. I t i s onl y when t her e has been an obvi ous

and scandal ous di sr egar d and def i ance of t he l aw ( as

i n t he case of Mr . Pur chas and Mr . Toot h) t hat i t has

been enf or ced agai nst any of t hei r number . I ndeed,

anot her pr oof of t he advant age of t he nat i onal pr i n-

ci pl e may be f ound i n t he r el uct ance wi t h whi ch t he

cour t s have i nt er vened ; and t he st eadi ness wi t h

whi ch t hey have uphel d t he pr i nci pl e of a l ar ge

t ol er at i on and i ncl usi veness i n t he f ace of st r ong

popul ar exci t ement .

Agai n, as r espect s t he l egi sl at ur e : so f ar f r om

showi ng any r eadi ness or eager ness t o f ol l ow t he

popul ar cr y, i t has been onl y when t he open def i ance

Page 59 of 132

of t he l aw had become a publ i c scandal t hat Par l i a-

ment coul d be i nduced t o i nt er f er e at al l , and t hen by

an Act whi ch I vent ur e t o t hi nk has been gr eat l y

mi sunder st ood and mi sr epr esent ed.

Let me j ust r emi nd you of a f act or t wo wi t h

r espect t o t hi s Act . I n t he f i r st pl ace, r emember i t was

a Chur ch measur e. Wher eas t he cust om had pr e-

vai l ed f or year s, unt i l i t had al most become a r ul e,

t hat such Bi l l s shoul d be i nt r oduced by t he gover n-

ment of t he day i n consul t at i on wi t h t he bi shops,

t hi s bi l l was not a gover nment measur e. I have

never hear d why i t was t hat t he r ul e was br oken, but

br oken i t was, and i t was not unt i l af t er t he Bi l l had

1877. ] THE PUBLI C WORSHI P ACT. 99

passed t he Lor ds, and been debat ed f or t hr ee l ong

ni ght s i n t he Commons, t hat i t was at l engt h adopt ed

by t he Gover nment .

I t was i nt r oduced by t he Ar chbi shop of Cant er -

bur y, and r ecei ved t he gener al suppor t of t he whol e

bench, t hough t he Bi shops of Li ncol n and Oxf or d

t ook some obj ect i ons t o smal l mat t er s of det ai l .

At t he end of t he l ong and abl e debat e i n t he

Commons, t he f eel i ng of t he House, and of t he nat i on,

had been so cl ear l y expr essed t hat t he second r eadi ng

was car r i ed wi t hout a di vi si on.

I scar cel y r emember a quest i on whi ch has st i r r ed

t he House or t he count r y mor e deepl y i n t he l ast

t went y year s. I t was di scussed al l over t he count r y,

i n meet i ngs hel d chi ef l y, I bel i eve, under t he auspi ces

of t he Chur ch Associ at i on and t he Chur ch Uni on ( as t o

whi ch bodi es t he Bi shop of Li chf i el d has t o my mi nd

wel l sai d, t hat t her e wi l l be no peace i n t he Chur ch

t i l l t hey cease t o exi st ) . I woul d onl y ask any f ai r

man who i s i ncl i ned t o j oi n i n t he at t empt t o t ake

t he Chur ch f r om under st at e cont r ol , t o compar e t he

speeches i n Par l i ament and t hose of t he member s of

t hese eccl esi ast i cal or gani sat i ons, dur i ng t he spr i ng

and summer of 1874, and t hen say whi ch yoke ( as t he

phr ase goes) he woul d honest l y desi r e t o be under .

As f or t he Act i t sel f , i t was wel l sai d by Mr .

Goschen — hi msel f I bel i eve a Hi gh Chur chman — t hat

i t woul d pr ove ei t her a smal l or a l ar ge measur e ;

a smal l one i f t he cl er gy meant t o obey i t , ot her wi se

most l i kel y a l ar ge and sear chi ng one.

By i t s pr ovi si ons t he cl er gy of ever y school ar e

H 2

100 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH. [ i S/ / .

pr ot ect ed agai nst any mal i ci ous or ar bi t r ar y use of

t he Act , by t he i nt er posi t i on of t he chi ef of t hei r own

Page 60 of 132

body i n t he di ocese i n whi ch i t i s sought t o put i t i n

mot i on, whose l eave must be obt ai ned bef or e t he

i nst i t ut i on of pr oceedi ngs. The bi shop pr act i cal l y

becomes an ar bi t er i n t he case, i f bot h par t i es ar e

wi l l i ng t o accept hi m : i f not , an i mpar t i al t r i bunal

i s pr ovi ded f or t he deci si on of t he quest i ons at i ssue.

I t r ust t her e ar e even yet hopes t hat i t may pr ove

a smal l act , f or I cannot bel i eve t hat , i n spi t e of al l

goadi ng of t he r el i gi ous pr ess, and of t he semi - eccl e-

si ast i cal soci et i es, a body of hi gh- pr i nci pl ed Engl i sh

gent l emen wi l l cont i nue t o mai nt ai n t he at t i t ude of

def i ance t o t he l aw, and t o t he cl ear l y expr essed wi l l

of t he nat i on.

The of t en r epeat ed cr y t hat t he Act i s one- si ded,

and ai med agai nst one par t y onl y i n t he Chur ch, may

ser ve t he pur pose of exci t ed speaker s, but wi l l not

bear exami nat i on. For i t makes no al t er at i on i n t he

l aw, but onl y si mpl i f i es and cheapens t he pr ocesses

by whi ch t he l aw i s admi ni st er ed. What ever was

l awf ul i n t he f abr i c or ar r angement of consecr at ed

bui l di ngs, or i n vest ment s, post ur es, or decor at i ons,

r emai ns st i l l l awf ul — what ever was r equi r ed bef or e

t he passi ng of t he Act i s st i l l r equi r ed, t he negl ect t o

use t hat whi ch i s pr escr i bed st andi ng i n pr eci sel y t he

same cat egor y as t he use of t hat whi ch i s f or bi dden.

I f i t be one- si ded, ever y ef f i ci ent l aw i n t he

St at ut e Book i s one- si ded, f or ever y such l aw i nf l i ct s

penal t i es, not on t hose who keep wi t hi n, but on t hose

who br eak i t .

1877. ] RI TUALI ST AI MS. 10 1

The obj ect i on t o t he const i t ut i on of t he Cour t

whi ch t akes cogni zance of t hese of f ences, when t he

par t i es wi l l not submi t t o t he bi shop, can scar cel y be

r egar ded as ser i ous. I t i s sai d t hat t he aut hor i t y

of t hi s Cour t " i s not der i ved f r om t he r i ght f ul r oyal

supr emacy exer ci sed ' under God, ' but of t he Sover ei gn

i n counci l by aut hor i t y of Par l i ament . " But sur el y

t hose who make t hi s pr ot est ar e awar e t hat t he Queen

has no aut hor i t y by vi r t ue of her mer e supr emacy t o

const i t ut e any cour t apar t f r om Par l i ament . .

On t he whol e, i t i s not easy t o see how, i f or der

i s t o be pr eser ved, and t he l aw enf or ced at al l i n t he

Nat i onal Chur ch, any mor e moder at e or f ai r met hod

coul d have been f ound t han t hat adopt ed by t he Act

i n quest i on.

But l et us pass f r om t he l at e Act t o t he r emedi es

f or t he pr esent st at e of t hi ngs, whi ch have been sug-

gest ed by t hose who ar e t aki ng par t i n t hi s agi t at i on.

These ar e not at pr esent ver y def i ni t e. They ar e

i ndeed vaguel y pl edgi ng t hemsel ves t o " wor k ni ght

and day t o set t he Chur ch of Engl and f r ee f r om a

per secut i ng St at e ; " but we ar e not t ol d wi t h any di s -

t i nct ness, what t hey desi r e t o subst i t ut e f or t he yoke

of t he nat i on. I f t he wor ds of some of t hei r number

ar e t o be t aken l i t er al l y, i t woul d seem as t hough our

Page 61 of 132

hi st or y of seven hundr ed year s had been r ol l ed back,

and t hat Engl and i s agai n f ace t o f ace wi t h t he monks

who f ol l owed a Becket i n hi s at t empt t o sever

t he cl er gy f r om t he nat i on, and set t hem up as a

cast e out si de and above t he l aw of t he l and. I do

not of cour se mean t hat t he pr esent cont ent i on i s t hat

102 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH. [ 1877.

t he cl er gy shal l not be amenabl e t o t he l aw f or

ci vi l of f ences, l i ke al l ot her ci t i zens ; but appar ent l y

t her e i s a sect i on of t hem who do cl ai m, t hat as r egar ds

al l mat t er s connect ed wi t h t hei r posi t i on and f unct i ons

as cl er gy, t hey shal l be subj ect t o Chur ch cour t s onl y.

And by Chur ch cour t s t hey cannot mean any cour t s

const i t ut ed i n our nat i onal manner , and under t he

j ur i sdi ct i on of Par l i ament ; f or t hen t hei r gr i evance

comes t o not hi ng. I t i s r educed t o a mer e quest i on

of names, and i t does not mat t er a st r aw by what

name t he Cour t s whi ch t r y eccl esi ast i cal causes ar e

known, i f t hey ar e const i t ut ed, and t hei r j udges

appoi nt ed, by t he head of t he St at e, on t he advi ce

of r esponsi bl e Mi ni st er s, and under t he cont r ol of

Par l i ament . One i s dr i ven t her ef or e t o t he concl usi on

t hat t hey mean a t r i bunal i ndependent of St at e

cont r ol , t he j udges of whi ch ar e el ect ed by, and

r esponsi bl e t o, t he cl er gy, or some pur el y eccl esi ast i cal

or gani sat i on. Ther e was some st r engt h and meani ng

i n a Becket ' s pr oposal , because he had t he Pope t o

put i n t he pl ace of Ki ng and Ki ng' s Counci l , as t he

head and f ount ai n of aut hor i t y f or t he Cour t s whi ch

he pr oposed t o subst i t ut e f or t he nat i onal Cour t s.

But , as t he Ri t ual i st s have not t hat r esour ce, t hey

shoul d ei t her cease beat i ng about t he bush and make

t hei r demands cl ear and pr eci se, t el l i ng us who i s t o

be t he f ount ai n on ear t h of eccl esi ast i cal aut hor i t y, or

l eave t he nat i onal Chur ch, and set up a sect of t hei r

own, i n whi ch t hey may pl ace t hemsel ves as pr i est s i n

what ever posi t i on t hey pl ease, as t hey f i nd t hemsel ves

unabl e t o accept t he gr andest of al l posi t i ons, t hat of

1 877- ] RI TUALI ST AI MS. I O3

si mpl e ci t i zens, cal l ed and appoi nt ed t o mi ni st er t o

t he nat i on, whose sons t hey ar e, i n spi r i t ual t hi ngs.

Ther e i s anot her cour se advocat ed by many Hi gh

Chur chmen as an escape f r om our pr esent di f f i cul t i es,

whi ch i s advanced t emper at el y and r easonabl y, and

has t he publ i c sanct i on of at l east one bi shop. I

t hi nk I shal l st at e i t most f ai r l y per haps i n hi s

wor ds : " I am of opi ni on, " t he Bi shop of Li ncol n

wr i t es, " t hat f or t he sake of t he St at e, as wel l as f or

t hat of t he Chur ch, much mor e l i ber t y ought t o be

gi ven, and much mor e wei ght at t ached, t o t he j udg-

ment of t he spi r i t ual i t y i n eccl esi ast i cal causes, and t o

t he act i on of t he Chur ch of Engl and i n her synods,

di ocesan and pr ovi nci al . " I am gl ad t o be abl e t o

quot e hi s f ur t her wor ds of war ni ng : " But we shal l

never obt ai n t hose benef i t s by vi ol ent r esi st ance t o

Page 62 of 132

const i t ut i onal aut hor i t y ; on t he cont r ar y, we shal l

pr ovoke vi ol ent r epr i sal s, and shal l gr eat l y i nj ur e t he

cause we desi r e t o mai nt ai n. "

I pr esume t hat t hese wor ds poi nt t o i nvest i ng

Convocat i on wi t h some l egi sl at i ve power s i n eccl e-

si ast i cal af f ai r s ; and wi t h ever y desi r e t o concede

what ever can be conceded f or t he sake of peace, I am

bound t o say pl ai nl y t hat I do not t hi nk i t can be

f ound i n t hi s di r ect i on. Convocat i on has now f or

some year s been si t t i ng, and di scussi ng al l quest i ons

upon whi ch l egi sl at i on i s needed, or whi ch ser i ousl y

af f ect t he r el i gi ous condi t i on of t he nat i on. But I f ear

t hat t he r epor t s of t he debat es i n bot h Houses have

not had a r eassur i ng ef f ect on t he count r y ; i ndeed,

t hey have been char act er i sed by t i mi di t y and nar r ow-

I 04 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH. [ l ^ ??-

ness, and an appar ent want of appr eci at i on of t he

f or ces whi ch ar e wor ki ng i n t he out si de wor l d, whi ch

has di sappoi nt ed t hose who l ooked most hopef ul l y

t owar ds t hi s exper i ment . I am not awar e of any

r ecommendat i on of pr act i cal val ue whi ch has as yet

come f r om t hat body. I ndeed, i t seems t o me, t hat

t he mai n r esul t of t he r ecent r evi val of Convocat i on

has been, t o st r engt hen t he convi ct i ons of al l t hose who

val ue t he nat i onal char act er of t he Chur ch, t hat t hat

char act er cannot be mai nt ai ned i f i t s di r ect i on and

gover nment i s t o be ent r ust ed t o any eccl esi ast i cal

body. I t may be sai d t hat t he pr oposal i s t o r ef or m

Convocat i on by t he admi ssi on of t he l ai t y. But t hi s

woul d not r emove t he obj ect i on. Such l aymen as

woul d have a chance of el ect i on woul d not r epr esent

t he nat i on, besi des whi ch t hey woul d be power l ess

i n such a body. When pr of essi onal s and amat eur s

meet , we know whi ch si de i s l i kel y t o go t o t he wal l .

Convocat i on was no doubt t wo hundr ed year s ago

a sor t of f our t h est at e of t he r eal m, r epr esent i ng not

t he Nat i onal Chur ch but t he cl er gy, even f or pur poses

of t axat i on. I t was at t hei r own r equest t hat f or

t hose pur poses t hey wer e mer ged i n t he nat i on, and

t axed by t he same machi ner y as t he l ai t y. Fr om

t hat t i me Convocat i on was pr act i cal l y wi t hout f unc-

t i ons, and when summoned, as i n 1698, t he di sput es

bet ween t he Low Chur ch bi shops appoi nt ed by t he

Cr own and t he Jacobi t e cl er gy, r an so hi gh as t o

cr eat e scandal and r ender t hei r debat es f r ui t l ess ; and

f r om 17 17 t i l l our own day, t hough f or mal l y sum-

moned, t hey wer e al ways at once pr or ogued.

1877. ] REFORM OF CONVOCATI ON. I 05

But even i f t he t r adi t i ons of Convocat i on wer e

f ar mor e sat i sf act or y, t he chi ef obj ect i on r emai ns, t hat

t o hand over t he cont r ol of t he Chur ch t o t hat body -

woul d be an i nf r i ngement of t he nat i onal pr i nci pl e,

and an i mi t at i on of t he pr act i ce of t he sect s, wi t hout

any compensat i ng advant age. For what gr ound f r om

Page 63 of 132

r ecent exper i ence have we f or bel i evi ng t hat t he

var i ous par t i es i n t he Chur ch woul d agr ee bet t er i n

Convocat i on t han t hey di d i n 1698 ?

To gi ve t he power s t hat ar e cl ai med t o Convoca-

t i on woul d be a cer t ai n st ep t owar ds a sever ance of al l

connect i on wi t h t he St at e, and consequent l y ( i n wor ds

pr obabl y f ami l i ar t o many her e) woul d i nevi t abl y

l ead t o t hat " degr adat i on whi ch by an al most

uni ver sal l aw over t akes r el i gi on when, even whi l e

at t ai ni ng a pur er f or m, i t l oses t he vi vi f yi ng and

el evat i ng spi r i t br eat hed i nt o i t by cl ose cont act

wi t h t he gr eat hi st or i c and secul ar i nf l uences, whi ch

act l i ke f r esh ai r on a cont r act ed at mospher e, and

ar e t hus t he di vi ne ant i sept i cs agai nst t he spi r i -

t ual cor r upt i on of mer el y eccl esi ast i cal communi t i es"

( Dean St anl ey) .

I am not awar e of any ot her pr oposal t o whi ch t he

same obj ect i on does not at t ach. They ar e one and

al l ai med at f ur t her sever ance of t he cl er gy f r om t he

Chur ch and f r om t he nat i on ; wher eas what we need i s

pr eci sel y t he r ever se of t hi s — t hat t he cl er gy shoul d

be br ought i nt o cl oser cont act wi t h t he nat i on, and

shoul d l ear n t o f eel mor e and mor e t he wor t h and

nobl eness of t hei r ear t hl y ci t i zenshi p.

That t hey have a hi gher ci t i zenshi p i s of cour se

I 06 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH. [ l ^ / / .

t r ue, but onl y i n t he same sense i n whi ch i t i s t r ue of

ever y one of t hei r l ay br et hr en. That Chr i st i s t he

onl y Head of t he Chur ch i s al so t r ue, but i s He not

al so t he onl y Head of t he nat i on ? He i s no mor e

vi si bl e t o t he Chur ch t han t o t he nat i on, t o t he pr i est

t han t o t he cr ossi ng- sweeper . They hol d t hei r com-

mi ssi on f r om Hi m no doubt , but t hey must r ecei ve i t ,

wi t h some vi si bl e seal , f r om some human hands ;

and what seal can be so wor t hy, so nobl e, as t hat of

t he nat i on whose chi l dr en t hey ar e ?

But i f none of t he suggest i ons yet made seem t o

of f er r el i ef , what i s t he out l ook ? Dar k enough I

admi t , but st i l l by no means so dar k as i t has of t en

been bef or e : f or al l t hese st r uggl es and cont r over si es

ar e, af t er al l , but t he si gns of a vi gor ous l i f e. Al l t hat

i s needed — and sur el y Engl and wi l l not now f or t he

f i r st t i me need i t i n vai n — i s some smal l shar e of t he

sel f - r est r ai nt , t he pat i ence, and t he cour age, whi ch

have never yet f ai l ed her under God' s bl essi ng. That

t her e must be a gr eat r ef or m i n our nat i onal Chur ch

i s cl ear , but she i s st r ong enough t o bear i t . What

has been done i n our day i n t hi s di r ect i on shoul d be

encour agi ng i nst ead of depr essi ng t o any one who

wi l l l ook at i t st eadi l y and f ai r l y ; but i t i s onl y a

f r act i on of what i s needed.

The r eadj ust ment of Chur ch pr oper t y, t he est abl i sh-

ment of t he Eccl esi ast i cal Commi ssi on, t he abol i t i on

of t est s, t he r el axat i on of subscr i pt i on, t he r eor gani -

sat i on of par i shes, t he appoi nt ment of bi shops wi t h-

Page 64 of 132

out seat s i n t he House of Lor ds, t he subdi vi si on of

di oceses, t he Chur ch Di sci pl i ne Act s, t he r evi si on of

1877. ] CHANCE OF REFORMS. I 07

t he Bi bl e, and l ast l y, t hi s Publ i c Wor shi p Act , , ar e

al l measur es passed wi t hi n my own memor y. And

sur el y such a l i st ( and i t mi ght be doubl ed) may wel l

gi ve hear t of gr ace t o t he most despondi ng : f or t hese

r ef or ms have been made i n a t i me pecul i ar l y un-

f avour abl e t o t he devel opment of t he Chur ch. The

commer ci al spi r i t , wi t h i t s ut i l i t ar i an and mat er i a-

l i st i c Gospel , has been i n t he ascendant , wi t h t he

r esul t t hat t he f r i ends of t he nat i onal Chur ch have

been af r ai d of t ouchi ng a br i ck of t he ol d f abr i c l est

t he whol e shoul d come about t hei r ear s, whi l e her

enemi es hav e l ook ed upon ev er y ef f or t f or r ef or m

wi t h wat c hf ul j eal ous y , f ear i ng l es t i t s houl d s t r engt hen

t he ol d wal l s and f oundat i ons . No one c an hav e

been i n t he Hous e of Commons wi t hout bec omi ng

awar e of t he s t r engt h of t hes e t wo ant agoni s t f or c es ,

bot h howev er wor k i ng i n t he s ame di r ec t i on, t hat of

mak i ng any r es ol ut e ac t i on i n Chur c h r ef or m al l but

i mpos s i bl e. And y et al l t hes e t hi ngs I hav e j us t

r ef er r ed t o hav e been done i n s uc h a t i me.

Why , t hen, s houl d we des pai r of gr eat er and

bet t er t hi ngs , when a t i me has c ome i n whi c h t her e

ar e unmi s t ak eabl e s i gns t hat , what ev er t he c ont r ol l i ng

spi r i t may pr ov e t o be, i t wi l l not be t he ut i l i t ar i an, or

mat er i al i s t i c ? I f t he Chur c h has emer ged f r om s uc h

a t i me as t he one whi c h i s ex pi r i ng, f ul l er t han ev er of

spi r i t ual l i f e and z eal , and wi t hout hav i ng as y et l os t

any t hi ng of her nat i onal c har ac t er , what f ear i s t her e

t hat s he wi l l be f al s e t o her own and her c ount r y ' s

hi s t or y i n t he t i me whi c h i s c omi ng } I t was i n a

cr i s i s i n s ev er al r es pec t s as s er i ous as t he pr es ent t hat

I 08 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH. [ l ^ ??-

a wi s e and obs er v ant , and c er t ai nl y one of t he bes t -

i nf or med of f or ei gn c r i t i c s of our nat i onal habi t s and

i ns t i t ut i ons , wr ot e :

— " To t hi s c ount r y bel ongs t he

honour of hav i ng, s o f ar as t he St at e i s c onc er ned,

suc c eeded i n t he mi ght y t as k of r ec onc i l i ng i n-

di v i dual l i ber t y wi t h al l egi anc e and s ubmi s s i on t o t he

wi l l of t he c ommuni t y , whi l s t ot her nat i ons ar e s t i l l

wr es t l i ng wi t h i t ; and I f eel per s uaded t hat t he s ame

ear nes t z eal and pr ac t i c al wi s dom whi c h hav e made

her pol i t i c al c ons t i t ut i on an obj ec t of admi r at i on t o

ot her nat i ons wi l l , under God' s bl es s i ng, mak e her

Chur c h al s o a model t o t he wor l d " ( Pr i nc e Al ber t ) .

I t i s i n t hi s hope, and wi t h t hi s bel i ef , t hat I hav e

vent ur ed t o s peak t o y ou t hi s ev eni ng. I k now t hat

I mus t hav e s ai d t hi ngs whi c h may hav e r ous ed

pai nf ul , and pos s i bl y i ndi gnant , f eel i ngs i n t he mi nds

of per s ons f or whom i ndi v i dual l y , and f or muc h of

whos e wor k , I s houl d des i r e onl y t o ex pr es s r es pec t

and gr at i t ude. I f t her e s houl d be any s uc h her e, I

Page 65 of 132

can onl y as k t hem t o bel i ev e t hat i t i s f r om l ov e t o

t he Chur c h, of whi c h we ar e al l member s , not l es s

si nc er e, I t r us t , or l oy al t han t hei r own — f r om an

es t i mat e not l ower , at any r at e, t hough i n s ome

r es pec t s di f f er i ng f r om t hei r s , of t he mi s s i on of t hat

Chur c h, and of t he wor k s he has been c al l ed t o do

f or t he nat i on, and f or t he wor l d — t hat one i s c on-

st r ai ned t o be per f ec t l y out s pok en, and not t o i gnor e

or ex pl ai n away f ac t s , or t o c al l t hi ngs by any ot her

t han t hei r pl ai nes t names at s uc h a t i me as t hi s .

Ther e i s no danger f or our Chur c h t hat I c an s ee

ex c ept f r om her own c hi l dr en, i ndeed f r om her own

1 877- ]

CHANCE OF REFORMS. I O9

of f i c er s . Ther e i s no deeper f eel i ng on t hi s s ubj ec t

of di s es t abl i s hment i n t he Hous e of Commons t han

i r r i t at ed j eal ous y , hav i ng i t s r oot i n s oc i al and pol i -

t i c al s oi l , and i t s ex pr es s i on i n c l ev er f l i ppanc y and

bi t t er nes s : and t he Hous e i n t hi s mat t er v er y f ai r l y

r epr es ent s t he peopl e. Thos e out s i de t he Chur c h who

r epr es ent any t hi ng mor e s er i ous ar e, I t hi nk , c ons t ant l y

f i ndi ng i t mor e and mor e di f f i c ul t t o per s uade t hem-

sel v es , or any one el s e, t hat t hey ar e wor k i ng f or t he

hi ghes t good of t he c ount r y , and wi t h a s i ngl e v i ew

of pl ac i ng r el i gi on under t he abs ol ut el y bes t c ondi -

t i ons f or doi ng t he nat i on' s wor k . I t i s onl y wi t hi n t he

Chur c h' s own r ank s t hat t her e i s z eal and f i r e enough

t o be danger ous .

Bef or e goi ng f ur t her on t hes e new and per i l ous

way s , t he di s c ont ent ed i n her own r ank s s houl d at

l eas t c ount t he c os t mor e c ar ef ul l y t han t hey s eem y et

t o hav e done. Can any one of t hem s ay del i ber at el y

t hat i n hi s c ons c i enc e he bel i ev es t he c ondi t i ons and

pr os pec t s of t he r el i gi ous l i f e of t hi s nat i on wi l l be

i mpr ov ed by t he wi t hdr awal of r el i gi on al t oget her

f r om t he c ogni s anc e and c ont r ol of t he nat i on ? I f t hey

can ans wer " y es , " t her e i s no mor e t o be s ai d, and t her e

can be nei t her peac e nor ev en t r uc e pos s i bl e bet ween

us . I f not , t her e i s s c ar c el y any l engt h s hor t of t he

i nt r us i on of f or ei gn i nf l uenc e i n t he nat i onal Chur c h, or

di s obedi enc e t o t he l aw, t o whi c h Nat i onal i s t s woul d

not go t o hel p t hem. We wi l l j oi n t hem i n ef l br t s t o

obt ai n t hor ough Chur c h r ef or m, t he deeper and wi der

t he bet t er . We hav e no f ear of t ouc hi ng f or mul ar i es ,

or c anons , or r ubr i c s , or l i t ur gi es ; i ndeed ar e anx i ous

no THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH. [ l ^ 77*

t hey s houl d be t ouc hed, i nas muc h as t hey ar e i n not

a f ew r es pec t s , obs ol et e and unf i t t ed t o our t i me.

Whenev er t he c l er gy ar e pr epar ed f or t hi s nec es s ar y

wor k , whi c h c annot be l ong def er r ed — t hough i n t he

mi ds t of t he pr es ent agi t at i on i t i s di f f i c ul t t o s ee

how or by whom i t c an be t ak en i n hand — t hey wi l l

f i nd l ay Chur c hmen c or di al and s t r enuous hel per s .

Al l we as k of t hem i s , t hat i n one of t he gr eat c r i s es

of t he wor l d — t he day s of t he Lor d, as t hey ar e s o wel l

Page 66 of 132

cal l ed — t hey at any r at e shal l not want onl y dest r oy

t hat exampl e of t he condi t i ons on whi ch t he Gospel

and t he nat i ons can l i ve t oget her , whi ch, wi t h al l i t s

f aul t s, i s t he best hi t her t o seen i n t he wor l d, and t he

onl y one whi ch gi ves us even a di st ant hi nt of how,

i n God' s good t i me, t he ki ngdoms of t hi s wor l d may

become t he ki ngdoms of our Lor d and of Hi s Chr i st .

( I I I )

V.

THE GREAT EXPERI MENT OF THE PURE

VOLUNTARY SYSTEM.

Some year s ago I was i nvi t ed by an emi nent Non-

conf or mi st t o meet t wo Congr egat i onal i st mi ni st er s

f r om t he Uni t ed St at es. The par t y consi st ed of t hese

gent l emen, one ot her Chur chman besi des mysel f , and

some t en or t wel ve of our l eadi ng Nonconf or mi st s,

amongst t hem t he l at e Dr . Bi nney. The conver sa-

t i on t ur ned al most excl usi vel y on t he pr ospect s of

Chr i st i ani t y i n t he t wo count r i es, whi ch wer e di scussed

wi t h si ngul ar candour and f ai r ness, and I was pl eased,

as wel l as sur pr i sed, t o f i nd t hat most of t hose pr esent

wer e di sposed t o admi t t hat t he hi ghest and nobl est

i deal was t hat of a Chr i st i an nat i on, i n whi ch t he dut y

of pr ovi di ng f or publ i c wor shi p and t he suppor t of

r el i gi on shoul d be acknowl edged. Onl y i t was ur ged

t hat i n Chr i st endom as we have i t , such an i deal had

become i mpossi bl e, and t hat , as mat t er s st ood, f r ee

vol unt ar y chur ches, as exi st i ng i n t he Uni t ed St at es,

wer e a bet t er al t er nat i ve t han t he Engl i sh, or any

ot her Est abl i shed Chur ch. I pr ot est ed agai nst gi vi ng

112 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

up t he i deal , and ar gued t hat t her e was no need t o do

so, at any r at e i n Engl and, wher e i n t heor y at l east

we had i t st i l l ; and was not a l i t t l e del i ght ed t o f i nd

t hat t he pat r i ar ch of Engl i sh di ssent was i n sympat hy

wi t h me. We met agai n on sever al occasi ons bef or e

hi s deat h, and on each of t hese he r ecur r ed t o t he sub-

j ect , and dwel t on t he hope of a possi bl e f ut ur e — f ar

of f , and of whi ch he shoul d never see t he dawn — but

whi ch mi ght yet , by God' s bl essi ng, kni t t oget her

our chi l dr en i n one communi on and f el l owshi p, a

Chr i st i an nat i on i n deed and t r ut h, as wel l as i n name.

I n anot her and ver y di f f er ent soci et y an even mor e

si gni f i cant r esul t came under my not i ce. The subj ect

of t he connect i on of Chur ch and St at e was chosen

f or di scussi on some t i me si nce at t he Wor ki ng- men' s

Col l ege, and debat ed f or many eveni ngs. To t he

gr eat er number of t hose who t ook par t i n t he di s -

cussi on t he subj ect was pr act i cal l y new, and t hey

appr o. ached i t wi t h no st r ong bi as one way or t he

Page 67 of 132

ot her : but a consi der abl e mi nor i t y wer e st r ong

Li ber at i oni st s, whi l e not mor e t han t wo, or per haps

t hr ee, wer e, at t he st ar t , i n f avour of mai nt ai ni ng t he

connect i on. At t he end of t he di scussi on ( whi ch was

a t hor ough one, not car r i ed on by set speeches, but as

i t wer e i n commi t t ee, by quest i on and ar gument at i ve

conver sat i on) I wi l l not say t hat t her e r emai ned no

di f f er ence of opi ni on amongst us, but none such as t o

l ead t o a di vi si on : and, I t hi nk I may say, we wer e

pr act i cal l y unani mous, t hat f r om t he democr at i c poi nt

of vi ew i t woul d be mor e pat r i ot i c, not t o sever , but t o

mai nt ai n t he connect i on.

THE COLONI ES. 113

These t wo st and out i n my memor y pr omi nent l y

amongst t he exper i ences whi ch gi ve me conf i dence,

t hat i f onl y pl ent y of l i ght and ai r ar e al l owed t o

pl ay r ound t he quest i on — as t he Bi r mi ngham Associ a-

t i on desi r e — we shal l f i nd candi dat es r egai ni ng t he

cour age of t hei r convi ct i ons, and r ef usi ng t o f ol l ow

t he Bi r mi ngham l ead. My obj ect , however , i n ci t i ng

t hem her e i s, t hat t hey l ead nat ur al l y t o an i mpor t ant

si de of t he quest i on, I mean t hat of t he r el i gi ous

condi t i on of t he Uni t ed St at es, and our col oni es, as

compar ed wi t h t hat of t he mot her count r y. I do not

pr et end t o speak wi t h any conf i dence her e, because

I have had no suf f i ci ent per sonal exper i ence. But I

have done my best t o use such oppor t uni t i es as have

been open t o me, and what f ol l ows i s t he r esul t . I

gi ve my vi ews as near as I can i n t he shape i n whi ch

t hey wer e put bef or e t he member s of t he Col l ege.

Dur i ng t hi s di scussi on, our col oni es and t he Uni t ed

St at es have mor e t han once been ci t ed by t hose who

ar e i n f avour of t he separ at i on of Chur ch and St at e,

as exampl es of t he success of t hat exper i ment amongst

peopl e of our r ace. I am not , however , awar e t hat

anyt hi ng has been advanced beyond gener al st at e-

ment s f ounded on hear say. Nor do I pr et end t o be

abl e mysel f t o speak wi t h any conf i dence on t hi s par t

of t he quest i on. I have onl y vi si t ed one of our gr eat

col oni es, and my st ay i n Canada was t oo shor t t o

enabl e me t o f or m any t r ust wor t hy opi ni on f r om per -

sonal obser vat i on as t o t he condi t i on and pr ospect s

of t hat spl endi d and vi gor ous sci on of our st ock i n

mat t er s eccl esi ast i cal . I n passi ng, however , I may say,

I

114 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

t hat t he one t hi ng whi ch di d st r i ke me was, t he gr eat

and domi nant posi t i on whi ch t he Roman Cat hol i c

Chur ch seems t o occupy, not onl y i n t he Pr ovi nce of

Quebec, but i n Ont ar i o, wher e cer t ai nl y I was not

pr epar ed, by anyt hi ng I had r ead or hear d, f or such

a st at e of t hi ngs. I was not sur pr i sed t o f i nd t he

pr act i cal ascendancy of t hat Chur ch deci dedl y ex-

pr essed i n t he t own of Quebec. But t wo hundr ed

Page 68 of 132

mi l es f ur t her west , i n t he gr eat cent r e of commer ci al

act i vi t y and ent er pr i se, Mont r eal , t he bui l di ngs whi ch

at once st r i ke a st r anger and gi ve char act er t o t he

ci t y, ar e most l y Roman Cat hol i c ; whi l e he cannot

t ake up any l ocal j our nal at hi s hot el , or wal k f or an

hour i n t he st r eet s, wi t hout f eel i ng t hat i t i s not onl y

i n br i cks and mor t ar , and t he possessi on of t he f i nest

si t es, t hat t he power and act i vi t y of t hat Chur ch ar e

maki ng t hemsel ves f el t .

Cr oss t he bor der and you wi l l f i nd much t he same

st at e of t hi ngs i n t he Pr ot est ant pr ovi nce. Roman

Cat hol i ci sm seemed t o me al most as much i n evi dence

at Tor ont o and Hami l t on, as at Mont r eal ; but , as I

have al r eady sai d, t he f i r st i mpr essi ons of a st r anger

ar e r eal l y of smal l val ue, and t he possessi on of t he

cent r al t own- l ot s and t he pr omi nent bui l di ngs may

mean ver y l i t t l e. I t r ust t hat i t may pr ove t o be so,

and t hat t he nat i ve f r ee chur ches may be abl e t o hol d

t hei r own agai nst t hei r power f ul r i val , not onl y i n t he

Domi ni on, but i n t he Aust r al i as, wher e, however ,

f r om al l one hear s t he out l ook i s by no means en-

cour agi ng. •

Of t he Uni t ed St at es I have somewhat mor e conf i -

THE UNI TED STATES. I I 5

dence i n speaki ng, as I spent t hr ee mont hs t her e, and

l ost no oppor t uni t y of obser vi ng, and i nf or mi ng my -

sel f upon t hi s quest i on. I wi l l gi ve you some of my

i mpr essi ons as shor t l y as possi bl e, f or what t hey ar e

wor t h.

I n t he f i r st pl ace I was st r uck by one mar ked con-

t r ast i n t he ent er t ai nment of a st r anger , wi t h what

woul d occur i n l i ke ci r cumst ances i n Engl and. The

Amer i cans, besi des bei ng t he most hospi t abl e of man-

ki nd, ar e speci al l y anxi ous t o show you ever yt hi ng

t hat t hey t hi nk wi l l i nt er est you, and make you ap-

pr eci at e t hei r gr eat count r y. I vi si t ed many ci t i es,

l ar ge and smal l , and was t aken by ki nd f r i ends t o

di ver s t own- hal l s, hospi t al s, school s, banks, museums,

par ks, and al l manner of publ i c i nst i t ut i ons, but i n no

si ngl e i nst ance t o a chur ch. I don' t pr et end t o ac -

count f or , or ar gue f r om t hi s f act ; but so i t was : and

so f ar as I coul d j udge, t he r eason seemed t o be, t hat

t hey never t hought of t hei r chur ches as publ i c bui l di ngs,

whi ch coul d r ef l ect ei t her cr edi t or di scr edi t on t he

nat i on.

Then agai n t he habi t of f ami l y wor shi p seems t o be

t he r ar e except i on i n t he St at es, even i n t he houses

of deci dedl y r el i gi ous peopl e. I t woul d be i mper t i -

nent t o go about quest i oni ng why t hi s i s so, and I

cer t ai nl y di d not t ake t hat means of endeavour i ng t o

sat i sf y my cur i osi t y ; but , f r om t he best obser vat i on

I coul d make, I t hi nk t hat t he st r engt h of t he f eel i ng

t hat r el i gi on i s a st r i ct l y pr i vat e concer n, f or each

i ndi vi dual man and woman, has much t o do wi t h i t .

I n t hi s mat t er al so I t hi nk t hat t he exi st ence of a

Page 69 of 132

I 2

I l 6 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

publ i c or Nat i onal Chur ch i n Engl and may ver y pr o-

babl y account f or t he di f f er ence whi ch cer t ai nl y exi st s

i n t hi s r espect bet ween t he t wo count r i es. Why el se

t he nat i onal habi t shoul d hol d i n t he one, and not i n

t he ot her — why one shoul d be of t en ast oni shed i n

Engl and at f i ndi ng i t , and i n Amer i ca at not f i ndi ng

i t , i t i s not ot her wi se easy t o see.

I had t he pl easur e and advant age of st ayi ng on

t er ms of i nt i macy wi t h al l sor t s of peopl e, pr of essor s,

l awyer s, par sons, mer chant s, sol di er s, pol i t i ci ans, bot h

i n New Engl and and i n ot her east er n, and sever al

west er n. St at es, and amongst al l of t hese who t r oubl ed

at al l about t he quest i on, I can onl y r ecal l one who

was sat i sf i ed wi t h t he condi t i on and pr ospect s of

r el i gi on i n hi s count r y. I r emember r eadi ng wi t h

much i nt er est t he st or y of Mr . Ger r i t Smi t h' s cr usade

agai nst t he sect s, and hi s at t empt t o est abl i sh a

chur ch on Apost ol i c l i nes. The r esol ut i ons whi ch

f or med t he consi t ut i on of hi s New Jer usal em may be

f ai r l y sampl ed as f ol l ows : —

" Wher eas t he Bi bl e t eaches t hat t he uni on of

Chr i st i ans i s i mpor t ant . Resol ved, t her ef or e, t hat

t he di vi si on of Chr i st i ans i nt o r i val sect s or par t i es,

i s unscr i pt ur al and wi cked. " And, " Resol ved t hat

t he Gospel of Jesus Chr i st makes abundant pr ovi si on

f or t he cl oser and cl oser uni on of hi s di sci pl es wi t h

each ot her , but makes none at al l f or t hei r sepa-

r at i on f r om each ot her , et c. "

So t he st aunch but eccent r i c Abol ut i oni st hel d t hat

t he Chr i st i ans i n each l ocal i t y const i t ut ed t he Chur ch,

and t hat al l sect s shoul d be at once and f i nal l y abo-

GERRI T smi t h' s CHURCH. 11/

l i shed: and accor di ngl y cal l ed on al l hi s own nei ghbour s

t o come and j oi n hi m i n t he Chur ch of Pet er bor ough.

He denounced not onl y sect s, but " t heol ogi es, " as t he

cur ses of manki nd : and so was nat ur al l y i n hi s t ur n

denounced as one who " made war upon t he Chur ches

of God ; " and t hough I bel i eve he st r uggl ed on t i l l

hi s deat h, a year or t wo ago, wi t h a smal l f ol l owi ng

of t he br oadest ki nd of Chr i st i ans, hi s exper i ment

never t ook hol d of any l ar ge number of hi s count r y -

men ; and, i ndeed, i s scar cel y known at al l except t o

t he cur i ous i n such mat t er s. Pr obabl y ni ne out of t en

of my Amer i can f r i ends, i f t hey had ever car ed t o gi ve

an hour ' s at t ent i on t o Ger r i t Smi t h and hi s cr ot chet ,

woul d have sai d he was cr azy ; but , f or al l t hat , most

of t hem t o a gr eat ext ent agr eed wi t h hi s f undament al

doct r i nes when you came t o t al k i t out wi t h t hem.

They al l t hought Sect ar i ani sm as i t exi st s i n t hei r

own count r y a qui t e unsat i sf act or y st at e of t hi ngs.

Most of t hem hel d t hat t he j eal ousy bet ween t he

Page 70 of 132

var i ous sect s kept t hei r bel i ef nar r ow, and expr essed

t hemsel ves al most as st r ongl y as Ger r i t Smi t h hi m-

sel f agai nst " t he t heol ogi es. " Thi s nar r owness, t hey

admi t t ed, i s by no means abat i ng, and makes Chur ch

Member shi p i n t he St at es a r eal di f f i cul t y. I ndeed,

I f ound t hat sever al of t he best and abl est men I met

bel onged t o no Chur ch at al l i n any sense, beyond

r ent i ng si t t i ngs. They r egr et t ed t hat i t shoul d be so,

but had no hope of anyt hi ng bet t er . One of t hem,

however , who had l i ved a good deal i n Engl and,

vol unt eer ed t o me t hat , f or hi s par t , he wi shed t hey

had some such ar r angement as we had. I was

t aken by sur pr i se t o hear so st r ong a pr ot est agai nst

I l 8 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

t he excl usi veness of sect s i n Amer i ca, as I had t i l l

t hen bel i eved t hem t o be mor e t ol er ant and l i ber al

t han wi t h us. Mr . R. W. Dal e, i n hi s * Eccl esi a/

makes i t a mat t er of boast t hat a per son desi r i ng f ul l

member shi p i n our Nonconf or mi st communi ons, must

be exami ned ; must " nar r at e t he st or y of hi s awaken-

i ng t o spi r i t ual consci ousness " ; and " t he i nwar d

conf l i ct s t hr ough whi ch he had f or ced hi s way t o t he

ki ngdom of God. " My Amer i can f r i end descr i bed an

anal ogous st at e of t hi ngs t her e wi t h sor r ow, not un-

mi ngl ed wi t h bi t t er scor n. What he val ued, on t he

ot her hand, i n our syst em, was ver y much t hat whi ch

i s so st r ongl y denounced by Li ber at i oni st s — I mean,

t he chur ch member shi p whi ch comes t o ever y ci t i zen

as hi s bi r t hr i ght , and whi ch he i s assumed t o possess

wi t hout any ef f or t of hi s own, unl ess he di st i nct l y

r epudi at es i t af t er he has gr own up. What seemed

t o st r i ke hi m most was, t hat he and hi s f ami l y had

been al l owed, as a mat t er of cour se, and wi t hout any

quest i on what ever , t o wor shi p and communi cat e i n

t he Engl i sh par i shes i n whi ch he had l i ved, al t hough

he was not a member of t he Epi scopal Chur ch i n hi s

own count r y, and of cour se not of t he Engl i sh Chur ch.

Thi s, he gave me t o under st and, coul d not have

happened i n t he Uni t ed St at es. Whet her he was

r i ght or not i n t hi s I cannot say, but on t he mai n

poi nt , t hat t her e i s di ssat i sf act i on wi t h t he pr esent

condi t i on of t hi ngs — unr est and uneasi ness mor e t han

i s mer el y i nci dent al i n al l human ar r angement s — I

t hi nk cannot be doubt ed. So f ar as I coul d j udge,

t he t est i mony was pr act i cal l y unani mous.

Wi t h mor e pl aces of wor shi p i n pr opor t i on t o

AMERI CAN CHURCHES. I I 9

number s t han i n Engl and, t her e i s f ar mor e spi r i t ual

dest i t ut i on and negl ect t han wi t h us. The number of

chur ches t o whi ch no mi ni st er i s at t ached i s ver y l ar ge.

I n t he Repor t of t he Amer i can Tr act Soci et y of t wo

year s ago i t was put at t wel ve t housand. The pr o-

por t i on of per sons bel ongi ng t o no r el i gi ous com-

muni t y i s even l ar ger . I t was st at ed i n t he same

Page 71 of 132

Repor t t hat * * one- t hi r d of our peopl e, or f r om ei ght t o

t en mi l l i ons, ar e unr eached by t he or di nar y means of

gr ace " : whi l e not mor e t han one- si xt h even pr of ess

t o be member s of any Chr i st i an Chur ch. Then agai n

t her e i s anot her si gni f i cant di f f er ence whi ch st r uck

me. The chur ches and chapel s t her e ar e f ar mor e

comf or t abl e i n t hei r f ur ni shi ng and ar r angement s

t han wi t h us. When I r emar ked t hi s t o Mr . Rober t

Col l i er of Chi cago wi t h r espect t o hi s own f i ne chur ch

( bur nt t o t he gr ound I am sor r y t o say i n t he gr eat

f i r e) , i n whi ch t he seat s wer e t he most l uxur i ousl y

comf or t abl e, and t he car pet s t he r i chest , I had ever

seen i n a pl ace of wor shi p, he assur ed me t hat hi s

congr egat i on was mai nl y composed of peopl e l i vi ng

by weekl y wages, who never t hel ess i nsi st ed on goi ng

t o t hi s expense.

And I t hi nk t hi s cost l i ness as t o ar r angement s f or

t he comf or t of i ndi vi dual s, r at her t han on t he f abr i c —

a l avi shness i n cushi ons and car pet s, war mi ng and

vent i l at i on, r at her t han on pai nt ed wi ndows and

ar chi t ect ur al or nament — i s a char act er i st i c of t he

Pr ot est ant pl aces of wor shi p i n t he St at es as com-

par ed wi t h our s i n Engl and. At any r at e i t was so

i n t hose whi ch I vi si t ed. I t may be t hat t hi s di f f er -

120 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

ence, i f i t exi st s gener al l y, i s onl y an i ndi cat i on of t he

pr act i cal char act er of t he peopl e, an asser t i on ( ver y

much needed i n Engl and) , t hat war mt h and l i ght , and

good ai r and comf or t , ar e as val uabl e i n chur ches as

i n houses. I t seemed t o me at any r at e suf f i ci ent l y

mar ked t o make i t wor t hy of not i ce i n compar i ng t he

ext er nal f eat ur es of r el i gi ous l i f e i n t he t wo count r i es,

as t hey st r i ke an Engl i sh Chur chman. I t i s of cour se

onl y t hese ext er nal f eat ur es upon whi ch a mer e vi si t or

can f or m any opi ni on at al l , and even as t o t hese he

shoul d be ver y caut i ous i n gener al i si ng. I am f ar

f r om pr esumi ng t o do so, and onl y gi ve you t hese f i r st

i mpr essi ons on mat t er s of no gr eat moment i n t hem-

sel ves, but bear i ng, I t hi nk, on t he di scussi on we have

i n hand.

Let me now t ur n t o evi dence of a mor e wei ght y

ki nd. Ther e i s of cour se no count r y i n t he wor l d

wher e al l t he chur ches, and t he f ai t h of whi ch t hey ar e

mani f est at i ons, have been so ent i r el y f r ee t o devel op

nat ur al l y as i n t he Uni t ed St at es, and t o t r y what ever

exper i ment s i n gover nment , di sci pl i ne, or gani sat i on,

mi ght seem good t o t hem. And I admi t at once, t hat

t he br oad f act s of t hei r hi st or y seem at f i r st si ght t o

t el l heavi l y i n f avour of a compl et e sever ance of Chur ch

and St at e. For , compar i ng t he st at e of t hi ngs now

and a hundr ed year s ago, when t he connect i on wi t h

t he mot her count r y was sever ed, we f i nd t hat est abl i sh-

ment of one ki nd or anot her was t hen t he r ul e t hr ough-

out t he col oni es. I n ever y one of t hem, except New

Yor k, t he r ecogni t i on and suppor t by t he St at e of

publ i c wor shi p i n some f or m was accept ed as an

Page 72 of 132

PURI TAN PRI NCI PLE OF STATE SUPPORT. 121

essent i al dut y. John Adams' cont empt uous say-

i ng, t hat you mi ght as wel l expect t o change t he

sol ar syst em as t o get New Engl and t o abandon t he

cont r ol of her own r el i gi ous l i f e, di d not exagger at e

t he t hen pr eval ent opi ni on. To- day t he connect i on

has ceased ; ever y t r ace of i t has been swept away, so

f ar as enact ment s and decl ar at i ons can do t hi s ; and

f r om Mai ne t o Texas an over whel mi ng publ i c opi ni on

has deci ded, t hat t he St at e shal l be kept a pur el y

pol i t i cal or gani sm, deal i ng onl y wi t h secul ar af f ai r s.

Thi s ver y r emar kabl e change was i n pr ogr ess as ear l y

as 1787, when t he t hor oughl y and advi sedl y secul ar

char act er gi ven t o t he Feder al const i t ut i on no doubt

l ent a st r ong i mpul se t o t he separ at i st movement .

But even as l at e as 1833 t r aces of t he ol d Pur i t an

pr i nci pl e of st at e suppor t t o publ i c wor shi p l i nger ed

i n Massachusset s. I n t hat year t he Ol d Bay St at e

wi ped her st at ut e- book cl ear of t hem, and pr oved

John Adams a mi st aken pr ophet . The sol ar syst em

r emai ned, but Massachusset s had del i ber at el y gi ven

up, as a sover ei gn st at e, al l r ecogni t i on of r el i gi on.

A pr ot est was hear d her e and t her e such as t hat of

Judge St or y, who mai nt ai ned, t hat " i t yet r emai ned

a pr obl em t o be set t l ed i n human af f ai r s whet her any

f r ee gover nment can be per manent wher e t he publ i c

wor shi p of God and t he suppor t of r el i gi on const i t ut e

no par t of t he pol i cy or dut y of t he St at e. " But , on

t he whol e, t he ver di ct may be t aken as pr act i cal l y

unani mous — t he del i ber at e and unquest i oned voi ce of

t he Amer i can nat i on.

And what has t he r esul t been ? So f ar as st at i st i cs

122 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

go, a mar ked success. At t he end of t he war of

l i ber at i on t he popul at i on of t he t hi r t een col oni es

st ood at t hr ee and a hal f mi l l i ons, suppor t i ng about

1950 chur ches of al l denomi nat i ons, or one f or ever y

1700 of t he peopl e. The l ast census showed t hat

whi l e t he popul at i on had i ncr eased t o 38, 000, 000

t he chur ches number ed upwar ds of 72, 000, or one

f or ever y 529 per sons. Let f ul l wei ght be gi ven t o

t hi s f act , whi ch, even i f we deduct t he 12, 000 whi ch

have no mi ni st er , i s a ver y t el l i ng one. I t i s t r ue t hat

t he mul t i pl i cat i on of pl aces of wor shi p i s onl y a

negat i ve pr oof of heal t hy r el i gi ous l i f e i n a nat i on.

But i t i s undoubt edl y one of t he essent i al condi t i ons ;

f or t her e can be no such heal t hy l i f e wher e i t does

not exi st .

The same evi dence ( of t he l ast census) seems al so

t o conf ut e t he common bel i ef t hat t he gover ni ng

t endency of Amer i can Chr i st i ani t y i s, t o spl i t up i nt o

i nnumer abl e sect s. The name of t he sect s i s i ndeed

Legi on, but t he census shows never t hel ess t hat t he

nat i on i s gat her i ng mor e and mor e i nt o a f ew l ar ge

denomi nat i ons, whi ch r ank i n t he f ol l owi ng or der :

Met hodi st s, Bapt i st s, Pr esbyt er i ans, Roman Cat hol i cs,

Page 73 of 132

Congr egat i onal i st s, and Pr ot est ant Epi scopal i ans.

But t hese f act s bei ng gr ant ed, we ar e onl y at t he

begi nni ng of t he r eal quest i on. What we need t o be

sat i sf i ed of i s, t hat t he pur el y vol unt ar y syst em i s

doi ng t he wor k of Chr i st i ani t y bet t er f or t he St at es

t han our publ i c Chur ch f or Engl and.

I n consi der i ng t hi s quest i on our at t ent i on shoul d,

I t hi nk, be mai nl y f i xed on t hr ee poi nt s : whet her t he

TESTS OF VOLUNTARYI SM. 1 23

poor and t he car el ess ( t hat i s t o say, pr eci sel y t hat

por t i on of t he peopl e who need i t most , ) ar e r eached

by t he vol unt ar y Chur ches ; whet her t hese Chur ches

ar e wor ki ng t owar ds uni on, and devel opi ng any mor e

Cat hol i c adapt at i on of t he Gospel of Chr i st t o t he

needs of manki nd, t han i s t he case wi t h us; and

l ast l y, whet her t hey exer ci se a hi gher and deeper

i nf l uence on publ i c l i f e and t he nat i onal char act er .

As t o t he f i r st poi nt , I have al r eady t ol d you t hat ,

so f ar as my own per sonal obser vat i on and enqui r y

ar e concer ned, t he st at e of t hi ngs i s, t o- say t he l east ,

as bad i n Amer i ca as i n Engl and. And t hi s i mpr es-

si on has been conf i r med by r epor t s and of f i ci al docu-

ment s wi t hout number . Ther e, as her e, t her e i s a sad

conf essi on on al l hands, t hat t he spi r i t ual machi ner y

does not r each t hose who need i t most . But t her e

t he nat i on st ands on one si de, as t hough t hi s wer e

not i t s concer n, and i t mat t er ed not hi ng t o t he Uni t ed

St at es t hat t he means by whi ch t he evi l mi ght be

encount er ed r emai n i nadequat e and power l ess. Her e

t he wor k of maki ng t he means adequat e t o t he

need i s st i l l at any r at e acknowl edged as a nat i onal

dut y, and, so l ong as t hat i s t he case, t her e i s hope

t hat t he nat i onal consci ence may be r oused t o i t s

f ul f i l ment .

On t he second poi nt I pr ef er t o gi ve you Amer i can

t est i mony, and i t shal l be of t he hi ghest cl ass. I n

Januar y 1876, t he * Nor t h Amer i can Revi ew ' devot ed

i t s cent enni al number t o t he pr ogr ess of t he Uni t ed

St at es dur i ng t he cent ur y ; and t he f i r st ar t i cl e deal t

wi t h r el i gi ous pr ogr ess i n a manner qui t e wor t hy of

124 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

t he subj ect . The f ol l owi ng passage bear s di r ect l y on

t he poi nt now under consi der at i on.

* ' The t endency so cl ear l y r eveal ed of Amer i can

Chr i st i ani t y t o aggr egat e i t sel f i n a f ew gr eat denomi -

nat i onal f ami l i es, st r enuousl y af f i r mi ng t heol ogi cal or

eccl esi ast i cal t enet s t hat ar e mut ual l y excl usi ve, de-

ser ves speci al at t ent i on i n i t s bear i ng upon t he pr o-

spect i ve devel opment of a t r ul y Cat hol i c t ype of

Chr i st i ani t y. I t mi ght have been supposed t hat t he

cont act , upon a per f ect l y equal f oot i ng, of so many

Page 74 of 132

Chr i st i an bodi es, each zeal ousl y asser t i ng i t s di st i nc -

t i ve f ai t h, woul d have pr ovoked such mut ual com-

par i son as woul d gr adual l y have br ought i nt o cl ear

r el i ef t he essent i al t r ut hs whi ch al l wer e agr eed i n

r ecogni si ng. Pr of essi ng t o r ecei ve t he same Gospel ,

i t mi ght have seemed t hat somewher e t her e must

have exi st ed subst ant i al har mony ; but no such r esul t

has f ol l owed. I t i s amazi ng t o not e how sl i ght has

been t he r eci pr ocal i nf l uence whi ch t hese bodi es have

exer t ed. They seem t o have pur sued t hei r separ at e

pat hs, comi ng i nt o cont act wi t h each ot her ' s opi ni ons

onl y t o cont r over t t hem. Wi t h i ndi vi dual s, of cour se,

changes of opi ni on have been f r equent ; but , so f ar as

concer ns t he f or mal af f i r mat i ons of t he l eadi ng r el i -

gi ous bodi es, wi t h t he sol e except i on of t he Congr e-

gat i onal i st s, t her e has not been t he sl i ght est change.

Wi t h most of t hese bodi es no modi f i cat i on has been

t hought of ; i n one or t wo cases, wher e t he r el axat i on

of some di st i nct i ve denomi nat i onal f eat ur e has been

suggest ed, i t has dr awn f or t h a st or m of i ndi gnat i on.

The i r r el i gi ous wor l d has l aughed at t he spect acl e of

NATI VE TESTI MONY. I 25

an emi nent phi l ant hr opi st act ual l y br ought t o t r i al on

t he at r oci ous char ge of si ngi ng hymns wi t h Chr i st i ans

of anot her name. I t i s evi dent t hat our l eadi ng r e-

l i gi ous or gani sat i ons have done not hi ng i n t he way of

pr omot i ng any ext er nal Chr i st i an uni t y. Ther e ar e

many t o whom t hi s st at e of t hi ngs i s not r epugnant ,

who def end t he * denomi nat i onal ' t ype of Chr i st i ani t y

as t he nat ur al ef f l or escence of t he Ref or mat i on, and

r est cont ent wi t h i t as t he ul t i mat e achi evement of

Pr ot est ant Chr i st i ani t y. On t he ot her hand, t her e

have been some who have pr ot est ed agai nst t he

* evangel i cal ' her esy t hat t he nor mal st at e of t he

Chur ch uni ver sal i s a st at e of schi sm. Fr om many

quar t er s have come el oquent expr essi ons of t he con-

vi ct i on, t hat t he sect ar i an syst em, however much i t

may st i mul at e zeal , does not f ur ni sh t he condi t i ons of

t he f i nest and nobl est Chr i st i an cul t ur e. But no

adequat e r emedy has t hus f ar been pr oposed, and

Amer i can Chr i st i ani t y seems hopel essl y commi t t ed

t o t he denomi nat i onal exper i ment . "

I n a l at er par t of t he same essay t he wr i t er deal s

wi t h t he posi t i on whi ch t he Roman Cat hol i c Chur ch

i n Amer i ca has t aken up wi t h r espect t o educat i on,

by whi ch, t o use hi s wor ds, i t " i s i r r evocabl y com-

mi t t ed t o conf l i ct wi t h a par t of our publ i c syst em

whi ch, by t he gr eat maj or i t y of our peopl e, i s r egar ded

as absol ut el y essent i al t o t he per pet ui t y of f r ee i nst i -

t ut i ons. " He i s not one of t hose who r egar d t he

Roman Cat hol i cs i n t he Uni t ed St at es as enemi es of

democr at i c pol i t i cal i nst i t ut i ons ; but r at her gi ves

t hem cr edi t f or appr eci at i ng t he f ul l advant ages of a

126 The est abl i shed chur ch.

syst em under whi ch i n t he hundr ed year s whi ch have

Page 75 of 132

passed si nce t he Decl ar at i on of I ndependence, f r om

t he l ast t hey have r i sen t o t he f our t h pl ace i n number s,

and t o t he second i n weal t h, amongst r el i gi ous de-

nomi nat i ons. He sees cl ear l y t hat t hei r st and as t o

t he cont r ol of educat i on i s not onl y l ogi cal , but t hat

i t i s a mer e r e- occupat i on of t he gr ound whi ch t he

Pur i t ans of New Engl and — t he f ounder s of t he publ i c

school s syst em — def ended so st out l y, dur i ng t he

cent ur y and a hal f i n whi ch t hey r ef used t o r egar d

human l i f e as di vi ded i nt o t wo di st i nct spher es of

act i on, and i nsi st ed t hat t he spel l i ng- book and cat e-

chi sm shoul d go t oget her . He acknowl edges - f ai r l y

t hat t he r emedy pr oposed by t he Roman Cat hol i cs —

t he appor t i oni ng t he amount r ai sed f or school pur poses

by t axat i on r at eabl y amongst t he sever al r el i gi ous

bodi es — i s not hi ng mor e t han t he pr eci se ar r ange-

ment whi ch used t o pr evai l i n Massachusset s. And

t hus st ep by st ep he i s dr i ven, as a f ai r and candi d

man, t o t he concl usi on t hat * ' t he pr obl em of t he r e-

l at i ons of r el i gi ous and pol i t i cal soci et y i s l ess si mpl e

t han our pol i t i ci ans hal f a cent ur y ago supposed. "

For , i f t hi s t heor y of t wo di st i nct spher es be t he t r ue

one, i t woul d be di f f i cul t t o def end t he pr esent syst em

of publ i c educat i on : wher eas, on t he ot her hand, " i f

i t be t he r i ght and dut y of t he St at e t o enf or ce t he

suppor t of publ i c educat i on f r om a cl ass of t he popu-

l at i on consci ent i ousl y debar r ed f r om shar i ng i t s advan-

t ages, t hen our cur r ent t heor y r espect i ng t he nat ur e

and f unct i ons of t he St at e st ands i n need of consi de-

abl e r evi si on. "

CHURCH PROPERTY AND TAXATI ON. 12/

And i n t hi s di l emma, f r om whi ch escape i s by

no means easy, he l eaves t hi s par t of t he subj ect ,

and pr oceeds t o t he consi der at i on of anot her bur n-

i ng quest i on, t he exempt i on of Chur ch pr oper t y

f r om t axat i on. " By t he i mmemor i al t r adi t i ons of al l

Chr i st i an count r i es, " he wr i t es, " such pr oper t y has

been exempt ed f r om t axat i on. When t he Chur ch

was a publ i c i nst i t ut i on, and when t he benef i t of

i t s mi ni st r at i ons was f r eel y open t o r i ch and poor

al i ke, a suf f i ci ent r eason exi st ed f or such exemp-

t i on. But , i t i s ar gued, t he ef f ect of our vol unt ar y

syst em has been t o r ender t he moder n Pr ot est ant

Chur ch l i t t l e mor e t han a r el i gi ous cl ub, wher e

Chr i st i ans i n easy ci r cumst ances, by payi ng an annual

assessment , may l i st en once a week t o r easonabl y

good musi c, and t o such pr eachi ng as i t pl eases t he

Lor d t o send. The por t i on of t he popul at i on debar r ed

by pecuni ar y i nabi l i t y f r om enj oyi ng t hi s soot hi ng

Sunday r el axat i on i s not i nconsi der abl e ; a st i l l l ar ger

number decl i ne t o at t end f or ot her r easons. The

enor mous i ncr ease of our publ i c bur dens, di r ect i ng as

i t has i ncr eased at t ent i on t o t he pr i nci pl es on whi ch

equi t abl e t axat i on shoul d be adj ust ed, has r ai sed t he

quest i on whet her t hose who der i ve no benef i t f r om

publ i c wor shi p shoul d be i ndi r ect l y t axed f or i t s

suppor t . That exempt i on i s such i ndi r ect suppor t , and

t hat so f ar i t t ends t o t hr ow an addi t i onal bur den upon

ot her pr oper t y, t her e needs no ar gument t o show. I t

onl y di f f er s f r om di r ect suppor t i n f ur ni shi ng t he

Page 76 of 132

most l i ber al assi st ance t o t hose who need i t l east .

And, concedi ng t he gener al benef i t s t hat accr ue t o

128 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

soci et y f r om t he posi t i ve i nst i t ut i ons of r el i gi on, t he

quest i on st i l l r emai ns, Why shoul d a ' pur el y pol i t i cal

or gani sm ' gi ve even an i ndi r ect suppor t t o r el i gi ous

wor shi p ?

" The manner i n whi ch t hi s subj ect has been handl ed

af f or ds st r i ki ng evi dence of t he conf used and unset t l ed

st at e of publ i c opi ni on wi t h r ef er ence t o t he r el at i ons

of t he spi r i t ual and t empor al power . Mr . Br ownson

cl ai ms t hat nei t her i n pol i t i cs nor i n r el i gi on i s i t t he

dest i ny of t he Uni t ed St at es t o r eal i se any t heor y

what ever . What t he f ut ur e may have i n st or e f or us

i t woul d be beyond t he scope of t hi s paper t o pr edi ct ,

but a r evi ew of our past hi st or y shoul d i ncl i ne us t o

pl ace a modest est i mat e on our success.

* Ti me dot h t r ansf i x t he f l our i sh set on yout h. '

He cer t ai nl y woul d be a ver y bol d or a ver y t hought -

l ess man, who woul d vent ur e t o af f i r m t hat t he i deal

of Cat hol i c uni t y has been r eached i n our syst em of

* st r enuousl y compet i ng sect s/ or t hat t he pr obl em of

Chur ch and St at e has r ecei ved a f i nal sol ut i on i n

r emi t t i ng publ i c wor shi p t o vol unt ar y suppor t . At

t he cl ose of a cent ur y we seem t o have made no

advance what ever i n har moni si ng t he r el at i ons of

r el i gi ous sect s among t hemsel ves, or i n def i ni ng t hei r

common r el at i on t o t he ci vi l power . "

Now I have ci t ed t hi s wi t ness at some l engt h

because he seems t o me t o be t he ver y best whom

we coul d cal l f or our pur poses. He i s no par t i san,

but t he man who was chosen by t he conduct or s of t he

l eadi ng r evi ew i n t he Uni t ed St at es t o sum up t he

CONCLUSI ONS FROM AMERI CAN REVI EW. 1 29

r esul t s as r egar ds r el i gi on of t he f i r st cent ur y of a

nat i onal l i f e of unpar al l el ed vi gour . He i s t hor oughl y -

l oyal t o hi s own count r y, and pr oud, as al l Amer i cans

ar e, and have good r i ght t o be, of t he ast oni shi ng

pr ogr ess she has made ; and he i s f ul l of hope as t o her

f ut ur e. And yet you have hear d hi m f r ankl y acknow-

l edge, t hat no pr ogr ess has been made i n t he Uni t ed

St at es t owar ds t he sol ut i on of t he gr eat pr obl em of

t he r el at i ons of Chur ch and St at e — t hat t he chur ches

and sect s under a pur el y vol unt ar y syst em do not

show si gns of comi ng t oget her , but ar e r at her i ncl i n-

i ng t o i nsi st , as essent i al s, on t he di st i nct i ons whi ch

separ at e t hem — t hat t he vol unt ar y Chur ches have not

succeeded i n r eachi ng t hat por t i on of Amer i can soci et y

whi ch st ands i n t he gr eat est need of t he message

whi ch t hey have t o del i ver .

I do not ask you t o i nf er t hat we i n t he mot her

Page 77 of 132

count r y ar e i n a hi gher , or mor e sat i sf act or y, r el i gi ous

condi t i on t han our Amer i can ki nsmen, or t hat t hey

may not wor k out t he pr obl em i n t hei r own way at

l east as wel l as we shal l i n our s. But I do ask you t o

wei gh evi dence of t hi s ki nd agai nst t he l oose decl ama-

t or y asser t i ons of t he Li ber at i oni st s, t hat no such

di vi si ons bet ween Chr i st i ans exi st i n Amer i ca as we

have at home.

We wi l l now t ur n t o t he t hi r d poi nt , t he i nf l uence

of r el i gi on i n Amer i ca on publ i c l i f e, and t he

nat i onal char act er , under t he pur el y vol unt ar y syst em.

I t wi l l not be di sput ed I suppose, t hat t he sever -

ance of r el i gi on f r om pol i t i cs i s i nt ended, i n f act as

wel l as i n name, t o keep t he t wo spher es apar t

K

I JO THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

and t o pr ovi de, as f ar as may be, t hat i n t he

r eal m of pol i t i cs — of t he deal i ngs of t he nat i on as a

nat i on, wi t h t he l i ves, pr oper t y, and dest i ni es of i t s

ci t i zens — i t i s best f or t he peopl e t hat ot her st andar ds

and sanct i ons shoul d be accept ed, and shoul d pr evai l ,

t han t hose r ecogni sed i n t he chur ches. Of cour se i t i s

ver y di f f i cul t t o est i mat e wi t h anyt hi ng l i ke pr eci si on

t he ef f ect whi ch t hi s pol i cy has had on Amer i can

pol i t i cs, or how f ar i t i s answer abl e f or t he pr esent

st at e of t hi ngs. I t has al ways seemed t o me t hat t he

t r i umph of Jef f er son and hi s par t y at t he begi nni ng of

t he cent ur y — gai ned as i t was by dr essi ng Jacobi ni sm

i n cheap phi l osophi cal r obes, and pr of essi ng t o f al l

down and wor shi p " t he gr eat voi ce of t he peopl e, "

" t he gr eat hear t of t he peopl e" — t ur ned t he nat i on out

of t he r i ght r oad, and i s mai nl y r esponsi bl e f or t he

degr adat i on of publ i c l i f e i n Amer i ca. Thei r doct r i nes

wor ked wi t h subt l et y and success amongst a peopl e

gr owi ng r api dl y i n al l mat er i al pr osper i t y, t o whom,

i n t hei r gr and new count r y, t he bl under s whi ch have

sober ed ol der communi t i es wer e t r i f l es t o be l aughed at .

Why shoul d t hey not bel i eve t he l eader s who t ol d

t hem t hat exper i ence was an ol d- wor l d del usi on, not

appl i cabl e t o t he new condi t i ons of t he new wor l d —

t hat t hey, who wer e goi ng ahead f ast er t han any peopl e

had ever done bef or e, had t hus pr oved t hemsel ves f i t t o

deci de al l quest i ons, and t o manage al l af f ai r s ? They

di d bel i eve : and t he bel i ef t hat one man i s as good as

anot her bor e f r ui t i n t he el ect i on of j udges by popul ar

vot e, r ot at i on i n of f i ce, j eal ousy of , mani f est i ng i t sel f i n

meanness t o, al l hi gh of f i ci al s. The st and made by

AN AMERI CAN DOCTOR' S SPECI FI C. 13I

John Qui ncey Adams i n hi s pr esi dency onl y showed

how t he spl endi d sel f - r el i ance of t he nat i onal char act er

had been mani pul at ed by pol i t i ci ans, t i l l " t he voi ce

of t he peopl e " had come t o mean any cr y whi ch t he

wi r e- pul l er s t hought mi ght pr ove popul ar . Adams

r ef used t o use t he gover nment pat r onage f or par t y

Page 78 of 132

ends, and so Gener al Jackson became pr esi dent , and

" t he spoi l s t o t he vi ct or s " t he l aw, i n t he gover nment

of t he Uni on. For f i f t y year s Jef f er soni an democr acy

has had f ul l swi ng, and, t hough t he consci ence and

i nt el l ect of t he nat i on has r i sen agai n and agai n i n

pr ot est agai nst i t , st i l l hol ds i t s own wi t h t he t enaci t y

of a Br i ar eus, ever y new and popul ar cr y and del usi on

gi vi ng a new gr i p t o some one of i t s hundr ed cl aws.

Let me agai n cal l uni mpeachabl e nat i ve evi dence

t o show t hat I am not gi vi ng my own vi ew, as seen

t hr ough Engl i sh gl asses. I n 1873, Dr . Thompson, an

Amer i can cl er gyman, whi l e r esi di ng i n Ger many,

submi t t ed t o Pr i nce Bi smar ck a st at ement of t he

sol ut i on of t he pr obl em of t he r el at i ons of Chur ch

and St at e whi ch had been ar r i ved at i n t he Uni t ed

St at es, and whi ch ( t he Doct or appar ent l y t hought )

mi ght be usef ul i n Ger many. The book was r e-

publ i shed i n Bost on, under t he t i t l e of ' Chur ch and

St at e i n t he Uni t ed St at es, ' and at t r act ed a good

deal of not i ce and comment . I wi l l quot e t o you t hat

of t he Nat i on, a paper whi ch f or abi l i t y and i ndepen-

dence st ands deser vedl y at t he head of Amer i can

j our nal i sm. Af t er admi t t i ng t he cor r ect ness of Dr .

Thompson' s pr esent at i on of t he f act s, t he wr i t er goes

on, " t he st at ement of our t heor y of t he r el at i on

K 2

1- 32 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

bet ween Chur ch and St at e i s a ver y si mpl e mat t er . I t

i s a si mpl e negat i on of any r el at i on at al l , and we

have appl i ed t hat t heor y posi t i vel y t o separ at e t hem i n

ever y r espect . We r egar d ever y cont act and r el at i on-

shi p bet ween t hem wi t h suspi ci on, and we go so f ar

( at l east t hi s i s t he popul ar f eel i ng, whi ch i s r e- echoed

i n t he pr ess) as t o vi ew wi t h suspi ci on any ci t at i on of

r el i gi ous pr i nci pl e, or mot i ve, or sanct i on, i n pol i t i cal

af f ai r s. Even t hi s does not exhaust t he pr esent

t endency i n t hi s mat t er . Whi l e we have cer t ai n

r el i gi ous ci r cl es who bel i eve i n t he per sons who ar e

t echni cal l y cal l ed * Chr i st i an st at esmen, ' we have

anot her l ar ge cl ass who meet t he appl i cat i on of

even mor al pr i nci pl e t o pol i t i cs wi t h cont empt . Thi s

l at t er cl ass i s gr owi ng. The downf al l of some of t he

emi nent Chr i st i an st at esmen has st r engt hened t hi s

par t y and i ncr eased t hei r number ; f or t he popul ar

mi nd i s not car ef ul t o r ef l ect , t hat t he downf al l of t he

Chr i st i an st at esmen pr oves no mor e agai nst Chr i s-

t i ani t y t han agai nst st at esmanshi p. "

" Such bei ng t he st at us and t endency of f eel i ng

amongst us i n r egar d t o t he r el at i on of Chur ch and

St at e, and a l ar ge par t of t he best t hi nker s of t he count r y

bei ng pr of oundl y convi nced t hat what i s needed above

al l el se i n our pol i t i cs i s mor al pr i nci pl e, and mor al

st ami na, whet her based on r el i gi ous sanct i ons or not ,

i t woul d appear t hat our exper i ence i s not so cl ear

and posi t i ve a pr oof of our t heor y t hat we can go

bef or e t he wor l d wi t h i t as a f i nal sol ut i on of t hi s

di f f i cul t pr obl em. Hesi t at i on i s suggest ed al so by

Page 79 of 132

anot her consi der at i on. I t appear s f r om our ex-

POLI TI CAL CHURCHES. 133

per i ence t hat t he mor e we popul ar i se gover nment ,

t he mor e i mpossi bl e i t i s t o keep any publ i c i nt er est

* out of pol i t i cs. ' I t i s ver y cer t ai n t hat our r el i gi ous

f ai t hs, of what soever f or m or gr ade, have ver y l i t t l e

ef f ect at t he pr esent moment on our publ i c l i f e. Has

t he separ at i on of Chur ch and St at e l ed t o t hi s — t hat

our mor al pr i nci pl e and consci ence ar e al l i n t he

Chur ch, and our pr act i cal l i f e al l i n t he St at e — and

have t hey t hus become per manent l y sunder ed ? St i l l

f ur t her , have t hey separ at ed t he popul at i on i nt o t wo

gr oups — t he honest , consci ent i ous, and r el i gi ous on

t he one si de, and t he i nt r i gui ng, unscr upul ous, and

pol i t i cal on t he ot her ? The act ual sever ance of t he

sober , conser vat i ve, and r ef l ect i ve par t of our popul a-

t i on f r om pr act i cal pol i t i cs i s an undi sput ed f act . I t

has as yet gi ven r i se t o no mi sgi vi ngs i n t he popul ar

mi nd as t o t he f i nal i t y of our sol ut i on of t he Chur ch

and St at e pr obl em : but , i f t he pr oposi t i on be t r ue

whi ch i s al r eady begi nni ng t o at t r act t he f ai t h of t he

best pol i t i cal t hi nker s, t hat no publ i c i nt er est ( t aki ng

publ i c i nt er est i n t he wi dest sense) can be sever ed

f r om pol i t i cs under our syst em of popul ar gover nment ,

t hen even t he separ at i on of Chur ch and St at e may

t ur n out t o be onl y a happy compr omi se, a gr eat

advance at t he t i me i t was made, but not a f i nal i t y.

I t has been a gr eat success i n our hi st or y on t he

whol e, but we f i nd t hat i t s ul t i mat e appl i cat i ons i n-

vol ve gr eat di f f i cul t i es. We have succeeded i n put t i ng

t he mor al i nf l uence of t he Chur ch at a di st ance f r om

pol i t i cs, but t he pol i t i cal power of t he Chur ch, whi ch

can cont r ol a consol i dat ed vot i ng power , i s a not or i ous

134 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

f act . I n vi ew of t hi s, t her e i s r oom t o pause and

hesi t at e, bef or e we of f er our t heor y t o t he wor l d as

concl usi ve and f i nal . "

The wr i t er goes on t o ar gue, t hat i t i s t he soci al

ci r cumst ances, and t he popul ar f ai t hs and t r adi t i ons

of Amer i ca, whi ch have made t hei r sol ut i on of t he

quest i on a possi bi l i t y, and a success. The soci al

ar r angement s and popul ar t r adi t i ons of Ger many

bei ng ent i r el y di f f er ent , he doubt s whet her t he sol u-

t i on suggest ed by hi s ent husi ast i c count r yman t o

Pr i nce Bi smar ck, and hi s col l eagues, wi l l be of much

pr act i cal val ue t o t hose br i l l i ant st at esmen. And,

whi l e he never hi nt s at any r econsi der at i on of t he

quest i on i n Amer i ca, or chal l enges t he success of

what t he Uni t ed St at es have done, he does doubt

" whet her i f we had t o meet t he quest i on wi t h our

Soci et y so f ar sol i di f i ed as i t now i s, and wi t h a

number of chur ches accust omed t o St at e subsi di es,

we coul d deci de i t i n t hi s way our sel ves. ' *

I wi l l cal l one mor e wi t ness f r om Amer i ca. I n

Page 80 of 132

December , 1873, t he si st er Congr egat i onal Chur ches

of Br ookl yn r emonst r at ed wi t h Pl ymout h Chur ch on

t he subj ect of eccl esi ast i cal di sci pl i ne, whi ch t hey

consi der ed t o be t oo l ax, and not accor di ng t o Con-

gr egat i onal usage, i n t hat communi t y. At Mr .

Beecher ' s suggest i on t he r emonst r ance was di sr e-

gar ded, and Pl ymout h Chur ch accept ed, af t er debat e,

hi s yi ew, t hat i t i s no busi ness of t he Chur ch what

a member ' s way of l i f e i s. I t s door s shoul d be " as

wi de as humani t y f or ent r ance, " " as wi de as necessi t y

f or depar t ur e. " Thi s deci si on of Pl ymout h Chur ch

THE CASE OF PLYMOUTH CHURCH. 1 35

cr eat ed some scandal , and no l i t t l e ast oni shment and

r emonst r ance, of whi ch I wi l l agai n t ake t he Nat i on

as t he abl est spokesman I can f i nd.

Thi s deci si on, i t ar gued, put i n pl ai n l anguage means,

t hat Pl ymout h Chur ch i s not hi ng but " an assembl age

of per sons t aki ng an i nt er est i n spi r i t ual t hi ngs and

desi r i ng t o hear Mr . Beecher pr each. " I t i s an

abandonment of t he ol d t heor y " whi ch has pl ayed so

l ar ge a par t i n Engl i sh and Amer i can hi st or y, t hat

t her e i s a r eal di st i nct i on, di spl ayi ng i t sel f i n out war d

mar ks, bet ween member s of Congr egat i onal chur ches

and t he wor l d out si de. Accor di ng t o t hi s t heor y, t he'

Chur ch was composed of a body of per sons, who had

not onl y embr aced cer t ai n bel i ef s wi t h r egar d t o

Chr i st ' s char act er and mi ssi on, but had, as a conse-

quence or accompani ment of t hose bel i ef s, under gone

cer t ai n changes of hopes, desi r es, t ast es, and ai ms,

i mpl i ed i n t he t er m * conver si on ' or * change of

hear t / whi ch cr eat ed a r eal l i ne of demar cat i on,

and a r eal di f f er ence of st andar ds, bet ween t hem

and t hei r non- r el i gi ous nei ghbour s ; and t hi s change,

and t hi s al one, const i t ut ed f i t ness f or par t i ci pat i on

i n t he sacr ament i n t he Lor d' s Supper " . . . . and

" Thi s t heor y i s not t hat of t he Congr egat i onal i st s

al one. I n t he Pr esbyt er i an, Bapt i st , and Met hodi st

Chur ches al so, member shi p i mpl i es an out war d and

vi si bl e si gn of an i nwar d change, af f ect i ng not onl y

opi ni ons but conduct . I n Engl and t he case i s wi del y

di f f er ent . Ther e ever y one i s i n t heor y a member

of t he Nat i onal Chur ch, what ever hi s char act er or

bel i ef s may be, and t he t ol er ant vi ew of what

136 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

const i t ut es a Chr i st i an l i f e whi ch t hi s has br ed, has, not

unnat ur al l y but under wi del y di f f er ent ci r cumst ances,

been per pet uat ed by t he Epi scopal Chur ch her e. " But

t he Pl ymout h Chur ch deci si on cannot of cour se be

t aken as an adopt i on of t he Engl i sh Chur ch t heor y.

" Some one has sai d, " t he Nat i on concl udes, " t hat

t hi s i s put t i ng t he Chur ch on * a democr at i c basi s, ' whi ch

i s t r ue ; but t hen, i t i s by i nt r oduci ng i nt o t he Chur ch

or gani sat i on t hat f eat ur e of democr acy whi ch gi ves

cause f or a ver y l ar ge par t of what ever appr ehensi on

Page 81 of 132

exi st s as t o t he f ut ur e of moder n soci et y. One of t he

gr eat est hel ps t o conduct — whi ch, as Mat t hew Ar nol d

says, i s t hr ee- f our t hs of l i f e — i n t he anci ent and

medi aeval wor l d, was t he cl ose dependence of men on

each ot her , cr eat ed by var i ous ar t i f i ci al ar r angement s.

Ever ybody was a member of some smal l or gani sat i on,

whose i nt er est s t ook hi s t hought s of f hi msel f , of whose

honour he was j eal ous, and whose opi ni on st i mul at ed

hi m i n any cour se of act i on whi ch i t s code pr escr i bed

as best . He bel onged t o a smal l t r i be, or st at e, or

gui l d, or commune, or or der , i n whi ch he was ever y

day r emi nded of hi s dependence on hi s f el l ow- men ;

i n whi ch he l i ved under cont i nual obser vat i on, whi ch

exact ed of hi m cont i nual sacr i f i ce of sel f , and whose

concent r at ed censur e he dar ed not f ace. The r esul t

was t hat , i n spi t e of bar bar i sm and i nsecur i t y, gr eat

i deal s wer e kept al i ve, and gr eat t ypes of char act er

wer e pr oduced i n ever y age. I n t he moder n wor l d,

al l t hese have di sappear ed. The onl y or gani sat i on

t he moder n man bel ongs t o i s t he nat i on, and when

nat i ons cont ai n t hi r t y mi l l i ons of per sons, each one' s

THE OLD NEW ENGLAND CHURCH I DEA. 1 3/

sense of obl i gat i on t o i t i s apt t o be ver y sl i ght

Publ i c men have ceased t o be r esponsi bl e t o anybody

but * t he peopl e, ' and t he peopl e i s so vast and busy

t hat r esponsi bi l i t y t o i t i s har dl y mor e bur densome

t han r esponsi bi l i t y t o Post er i t y, or t he Tr ue, or t he

Good. Publ i c opi ni on, t oo, i s expr essed t hr ough so

many or gans, and i s di st r act ed by so many obj ect s,

and i s made up of so many i nf l uences, t hat i t i s al l

but i mpossi bl e t o concent r at e i t wi t h any f or ce on any

one man' s deeds or mi sdeeds. Soci et y ever y day

comes near er t o a pr omi scuous cr owd, each i ndi vi dual of

whom suppl i es hi s own t est s of conduct , and hi s own

ai ms i n l i f e, and l et s t he ot her s go t hei r way. The

one i nst i t ut i on whi ch has come down t o our t i me as

an ar t i f i ci al check on wr ong- doi ng, or st i mul us t o

decent behavi our , i s t he Chur ch as t he Pur i t ans set

i t up. I t i s ( i f we except t he Quaker s) t he onl y

or gani sat i on whi ch has pr of essed t o exact mor e t han

common decency of men engaged act i vel y i n t he

busy wor k of l i f e, and exposed dai l y t o i t s t r i al s and

t empt at i ons. I t t ook t he best mor al opi ni on of t he

day, and br ought i t t o a f ocus, so t hat i t was f el t ,

not si mpl y by soci et y at l ar ge, but by A and B, and

opposed a pr act i cal and vi si bl e obst acl e t o t hei r

cheat i ng, and l yi ng, and l i cent i ousness, by maki ng t he

di sgr ace of i t pr ompt and t angi bl e. Ther e i s nobody

who has f ai r l y consi der ed t he t empt at i ons of our

t i me but must r egr et deepl y t hat t he pr ocess of soci al

di si nt egr at i on, whi ch has al r eady wor ked so much

mi schi ef , and has even at t acked t he f ami l y, shoul d

have r eached r el i gi ous or gani sat i ons, and di ssol ved

138 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

one of t he most successf ul . What has occur r ed i n

Br ookl yn wi l l be t aken, however , as a f r ank conf essi on,

Page 82 of 132

t hat what so many men of t he wor l d have mai nt ai ned,

i s t r ue — t hat chur ch- member shi p was no guar ant ee of

pur i t y of char act er . Per haps i t was not ; per haps i t

was f ol l y f or any t r i bunal t o si t on t he condi t i on of a

man' s hear t ; but t hi s i s har dl y a r eason f or r esol vi ng

i t sel f i nt o a si mpl e publ i c meet i ng. I t mi ght , i f i t

cannot exact hol i ness, at l east exact , and successf ul l y

exact , decency of l i f e, by j udgi ng and cast i ng out

sl ander er s, cheat s, f or ger s, bl ackmai l er s, adul t er er s,

and peddl er s of wor t hl ess secur i t i es. The St ock

Exchange does somet hi ng of t hi s ki nd, and so do

most cl ubs ; can i t be t hat we ar e about t o wi t ness a

f or mal conf essi on by r el i gi ous bodi es, not onl y t hat

we ar e al l si nner s, but t hat i n democr at i c communi t i es

one si nner i s j ust as bad as anot her , and t hat t he

di f f er ence bet ween r obber y and pet ul ance i s not

wor t h a Chr i st i an man' s not i ce ? "

I have dwel t on t hese mat t er s at some l engt h

because t he ar gument f r om t he r el i gi ous condi t i on of

Amer i ca i s t he st r ongest shaf t i n t he Li ber at i oni st

qui ver . I t was cer t ai nl y t he one whi ch wei ghed most

wi t h me unt i l I had been i n t he count r y, and had

done my best t o l ear n t he opi ni ons of t he abl est and

most t houghf ul Amer i cans t hemsel ves. Havi ng done

so I can f i nd not hi ng i n t hei r hal f - a- cent ur y exper i -

ment of t he vol unt ar y syst em t o make me wi sh t hat

Engl and shoul d f ol l ow i t .

Dur i ng t hat hal f cent ur y, however , t her e has been

one her oi c per i od, whi ch r ai sed not t hi s or t hat se. ct i on,

CONCLUSI ONS. 139

but t he nat i on, above t he or di nar y r ecogni sed spher e

of pol i t i cs, and has not onl y l ef t behi nd i t gl or i ous

memor i es, but has st r engt hened men' s f ai t h i n a nobl er

pol i t i cal f ut ur e. I need not say t hat I r ef er t o t he

st r uggl e f or t he abol i t i on of sl aver y, cul mi nat i ng i n t he

el ect i on of Abr aham Li ncol n, and t he ci vi l war . But ,

l et me r emi nd you t hat t hi s per i od was her oi c j ust

because t he t wo spher es whi ch t he Jef f er soni an woul d

keep absol ut el y di st i nct became her e hopel essl y mi xed

i n Amer i can pol i t i cs. Men, who, as t he pol i t i ci ans

pr ot est ed, ought t o have known and r espect ed t he

r ul es of t he game, got up i n Congr ess wi t h bi bl e-

t ext s and ar gument s i n t hei r mout hs, appeal i ng t o

st andar ds and sanct i ons, whi ch, as al l pol i t i ci ans wer e

agr eed, shoul d be kept f or t he pul pi t . So t hey had

t o be assaul t ed i n t he House, and ost r aci sed i n

soci et y ; t o what pur pose, t he t r i umph of t he cause

f or whi ch t hey cont ended has shown.

But what do I i nf er f r om al l t hi s, even i f my vi ews

be accept ed as t r ue } Do I mean t hat i f t he Uni t ed

St at es had kept an Est abl i shed Chur ch t hey woul d

have had a j udi ci ar y appoi nt ed f or f i t ness, a per -

manent ci vi l ser vi ce, no Ki ng Caucus, and woul d have

abol i shed sl aver y a gener at i on sooner ?

No, I mean not hi ng of t he ki nd. My case doesn' t

need i t . Al l I have t o show i s, t hat t he absol ut e

Page 83 of 132

sever ance of t he t wo spher es — t he r esol ut e at t empt t o

keep pol i t i cs and r el i gi on cl ear of one anot her — i n t he

Uni t ed St at es, has not i n ei t her spher e pr oduced

r esul t s whi ch we i n Engl and shoul d desi r e t o at t ai n.

I f t hen, as I hol d, t he ot her r el i gi ous bodi es i n t he

I 40 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

St at es ar e not br oader or mor e t ol er ant t han wi t h us,

whi l e t he Pr ot est ant Epi scopal Chur ch i s cer t ai nl y

l ess so t han t he mot her Chur ch, whi ch st i l l r emai ns

nat i onal — i f t hei r syst em has managed t o bani sh t he

best men f r om pol i t i cs, and t hei r pol i t i cal l i f e i s

al l owed by t hemsel ves t o be i n a t hor oughl y unsat i s-

f act or y, i f not i n a danger ous, condi t i on — my case i s

pr oved. The " sever ance of Chur ch and St at e " may

r emai n i n Engl and a Li ber al Shi bbol et h, but as a

pol i cy i t cannot be f ai r l y suppor t ed by t he exampl e

of t he Uni t ed St at es.

( 141 )

VI .

TO A CHURCH UNI ON.

{ Par t s of an Addr ess del i ver ed at Hul l , December 1876. )

I t seems a somewhat hopel ess t ask j ust now t o speak

i n such an I nst i t ut i on as t hi s of any subj ect but t hat

most cr i t i cal one whi ch i s absor bi ng ( and r i ght l y

absor bi ng) t he t hought s and ener gi es of ever y Engl i sh

ci t i zen who car ^ s f or t he good name and t he honour

of hi s count r y. I say r i ght l y absor bi ng, because no

l ess a st ake t han t he good name and honour of

Engl and i s at i ssue i n t hi s East er n Quest i on. Put t i ng

asi de al l mi ser abl e par t y squabbl es and r ecr i mi nat i ons,

al l consi der at i ons of whet her Tor y, Whi g, or Radi cal

ar e t o gai n i n our i nsul ar st r uggl es f or power , by t he

answer whi ch must be gi ven wi t hi n t he next f ew weeks

t o t he quest i on, What shal l be done now i n t hese

wi nt er mont hs of 1876, wi t h t he unhappy nat i ons

who i nhabi t t he f ai r est cor ner of Eur ope ? one t hi ng

r emai ns per f ect l y cl ear , and t hat i s, t hat t he deci si on

of t hi s East er n Quest i on pr act i cal l y r est s wi t h t hi s

count r y. We have seen wi t hi n t he l ast f or t ni ght , si nce

142 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

Engl and' s Pl eni pot ent i ar y has been maki ng t he t our

of Eur opean Cour t s, and conf er r i ng wi t h t he st at esmen

who f or t he moment cont r ol t he dest i ni es of t he gr eat

power s, t hat , one af t er anot her , Fr ance, Ger many,

Aust r i a, I t al y, st and del i ber at el y asi de, and gi ve

pl ace i n t hi s mat t er t o our r epr esent at i ve. He i s t o

pr esi de at t he conf er ence at Const ant i nopl e, and i t i s

Page 84 of 132

he, and t her ef or e, Engl and, who, l i ke t he Ambassador

of Rome bef or e t he senat e of Car t hage, hol ds peace

or war i n hi s mant l e, and can gi ve whi ch he wi l l . I t

mat t er s not how t hi s has come about , i t boot s not

now t o i nqui r e whet her by ot her act i on i n May or

i n August — when t he Andr assy Not e or t he Ber l i n

Memor andum wer e open t o our accept ance — we

coul d have shar ed t hi s t r emendous r esponsi bi l i t y wi t h

ot her s. May and August ar e as f ar behi nd us i n t hi s

mat t er as l ast cent ur y. What mi ght have been, may be

l ef t t o our pol i t i cal l eader s t o f i ght over , when t hei r

t i me comes, as come i t sur el y wi l l ; what i s, and shal l

be, i s st i l l , l et us hope, i n t he nat i on' s power ; and I

f or one r ej oi ce t her ef or e t o f eel , t hat ever y man and

ever y woman who l ove t he l and t hat gave t hem bi r t h,

can t hi nk of not hi ng, and wor k f or not hi ng i n t hi s

her gr eat hour of need, but t he mai nt enance of her

good name unsul l i ed, and t he vi ndi cat i on of her ol d

r enown f or good f ai t h and j ust deal i ng amongst t he

nat i ons.

I f , t hen, I coul d t hi nk t hat our subj ect of t hi s

eveni ng woul d l ead you of f t he scent , or t hat t he

hour t o be gi ven t o t hi s quest i on of Chur ch pr ospect s

at home, woul d abat e t he i nt er est , or sl acken t he zeal

THE EASTERN A NATI ONAL CHURCH QUESTI ON. I 43

of any one her e i n t he East er n Quest i on, I woul d ask

you even now t o hear me on t hat subj ect , or t o r et ur n

t o your homes. But , bel i evi ng as I do t hat t he t wo

subj ect s ar e at any r at e so f ar i n t ouch t hat we can

scar cel y t hi nk ser i ousl y on t he one whi ch i s j ust now

i n t he backgr ound, wi t hout gai ni ng st r engt h and

cl ear ness i n deal i ng wi t h t he one whi ch cal l s f or

pr ompt deci si on and act i on, I can go on and say my

say wi t h a cl ear consci ence. For I , at l east , hol d, and

have al ways hel d, t he Chur ch quest i on t o be one

al t oget her out si de of , and above par t y pol i t i cs, one

whi ch we ar e bound as good ci t i zens t o appr oach

wi t hout any t hought how i t s sol ut i on i n one di r ect i on

or anot her wi l l bear upon t he par t i es or t he gover n-

ment of t o- day or t o- mor r ow. And i f t hi s be so, and

we can t o- ni ght get our sel ves t o t hi nk, and exami ne,

t o t he best of our abi l i t y, not how chur ch or chapel ,

or t hodoxy or di ssent , can be st r engt hened or humi -

l i at ed, but under what condi t i ons t he Chr i st i an Gospel

— t he good news of Chr i st — can be most ef f ect ual l y

of f er ed t o ever y man woman and chi l d i n t hese r eal ms,

we shal l f i nd our sel ves i n a bet t er f r ame of mi nd t o

deci de i n t he mor ni ng how we woul d have Engl and

act wi t h r egar d t o her f el l ow Chr i st i ans i n t he East ,

and t hei r Tur ki sh mast er s. The ef f or t t o r ai se

our sel ves t o t he t r ue st andpoi nt i n t he one case wi l l

hel p us i n t he ot her , t hough t her e may be no di r ect

or obvi ous connect i on bet ween t hem.

Tur ni ng t hen t o our subj ect , we ar e met on t he ver y

t hr eshol d wi t h t he quest i on whi ch our age i s aski ng

ver y eager l y, mor e eager l y and sear chi ngl y t han any

Page 85 of 132

144 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

whi ch has gone bef or e i t : " What i s t he use of t al ki ng

about Chur ch pr ospect s ? Has what you cal l t he

Chur ch, whi ch must mean some f or m or ot her of

Chr i st i ani t y, any pr ospect s at al l ? Ther e i s no

Chr i st i an Chur ch or sect whi ch does not st and upon a

super nat ur al f oundat i on, and has not t hat f oundat i on

al r eady cr umbl ed t o pi eces bef or e moder n sci ent i f i c

i nqui r y ? Ther e i s no Chr i st i an Chur ch or sect whi ch

does not hol d t he Bi bl e t o be i n some speci al sense

a Di vi nel y i nspi r ed book. Has not Bi bl i cal cr i t i ci sm

f i nal l y r educed your sacr ed books t o t he l evel of

or di nar y human l i t er at ur e ?" I t woul d not be honest

t o pass t hese quest i ons by, and I am t he l ast man

t o wi sh t o do so. But even i f a popul ar l ect ur e wer e

t he met hod, t hi s i s not t he pl ace, f or deal i ng wi t h t hem.

We ar e met i n a Chur ch I nst i t ut e, t he exi st ence of

whi ch assumes t hat you, i t s member s, ar e sat i sf i ed ( or

I pr esume you woul d not bel ong t o i t ) t hat , however

sever e t he shocks may be whi ch Chr i st i ani t y has

sust ai ned, and may have t o sust ai n i n t he f ut ur e, i t

wi l l sur el y r i se above t hem, and hol d i t s own her eaf t er

as a l i vi ng r el i gi on, t he onl y power whi ch can, and

assur edl y wi l l , i n t i me, r edeem t he wor l d out of t he

dept hs of mi ser y and wr et chedness i n whi ch i t st i l l

wel t er s. At any r at e, t hat i s my own deepest convi c -

t i on. I have no doubt what ever t hat t he Chr i st i an

f ai t h wi l l sur vi ve t he deep unr est of our day, and come

f or t h al l t he st r onger and pur er f r om t he f i r e, what ever

of i t s ol d t r appi ngs and envi r onment s may per i sh i n

t he pr ocess, as much of t hem undoubt edl y wi l l per i sh.

And i n t hi s convi ct i on I can honest l y speak t o you on

NATI ONALI SM OF CHURCH OF ENGLAND. 145

t he subj ect of our Chur ch pr ospect s, and ask you t o

consi der wi t h me t o- ni ght not onl y what t hese ar e,

but what t hey may be made.

I n or der t o cl ear t he gr ound t hen, l et me say at

once i n what sense I am usi ng t he wor d Chur ch.

Wi l l i ngl y and t hankf ul l y acknowl edgi ng, as I do, t hat

wi dest and hi ghest meani ng, whi ch embr aces al l

Chr i st i an or gani sat i ons, and al l i ndi vi dual s who accept

t he name " Chr i st i an" t hough t hey may bel ong t o no

Chur ch or sect , I do not pr opose t o use i t i n t hat

sense t o- ni ght . I wi sh t o speak of t he Chur ch, as t hat

wor d i s commonl y used and under st ood i n Engl and,

and as you, who ar e member s of t hi s Soci et y, use i t ,

t hat i s t o say, as t hat par t i cul ar f or m i n whi ch

Chr i st i ani t y has been del i ber at el y accept ed, est ab-

l i shed, and uphel d by t he Engl i sh nat i on. Thi s one

car di nal f act i s t he f i r st upon whi ch t he at t ent i on

of ever y one who comes t o t he ser i ous consi der at i on

of t hi s gr eat subj ect shoul d be f i xed. We have her e

i n t he mi dst of us a r el i gi ous nat i onal or gani sat i on,

ol der t han t he nat i onal ci vi l gover nment , f or , bef or e

t he Saxon ki ngdoms wer e uni t ed under t he ki ngs of

Wessex, a t housand year s ago, t he Chur ch — ver y much

what i t i s now, i n al l essent i al s, except i t s r el at i ons

Page 86 of 132

wi t h Rome — was al r eady or gani sed and at wor k i n

ever y Engl i sh par i sh. I t was, i n f act , nat i onal , bef or e

our ancest or s knew t hat t hey wer e a nat i on, and has

r et ai ned t hi s nat i onal i t y as i t s l eadi ng char act er i st i c

f r om t hat day t o t hi s. The Pope cl ai med, i ndeed,

supr emacy her e as el sewher e, and was of t en ver y near

maki ng hi s cl ai m good. But he never di d make i t

I .

146 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

good. Papal supr emacy was al ways i l l egal i n

Engl and, and deni ed and r esi st ed by Nor man and

Pl ant aganet ki ngs and t hei r Par l i ament s as f i r ml y as

by t he Tudor pr i nces, under whom t he f i nal separ at i on

was ef f ect ed : and no one of t he gr eat Engl i shmen who

bor e a par t i n t he f i nal wor k ever dr eamt of est abl i sh-

i ng a new Chur ch or a new f ai t h, but onl y of r ef or mi ng

and pur i f yi ng t he Chur ch and t he f ai t h whi ch had

come down t o t hem.

The Engl i sh nat i on at t he t i me of t he Ref or mat i on

never ent er t ai ned a doubt t hat t he St at e was bound t o

concer n i t sel f wi t h ot her mat t er s besi des t he pr eser va-

t i on of body and goods. The men of t hat day knew

t hat t he r el i gi on of a nat i on has mor e i nf l uence on i t s

char act er t han al l ot her causes put t oget her . They

had a hi gh i deal of what a St at e shoul d be, and t her e-

f or e cl ai med f or t hei r own St at e t he r i ght , and t he dut y,

of di r ect i ng and cont r ol l i ng t he r el i gi on of t he Engl i sh

peopl e as i t s hi ghest f unct i on. I t t ook some t wo hundr ed

year s of f i er ce st r i f e t o convi nce t he nat i on t hat t hi s

cl ai m had been put t oo hi gh. I nch by i nch, and wi t h

t he gr eat est unwi l l i ngness, t he gr ound was abandoned.

The nat i on l ear ned, t hr ough bi t t er exper i ence, t hat

t her e coul d be no peace i n t he l and t i l l men wer e l ef t

f r ee i n t hi s hi ghest mat t er t o f ol l ow t he gui dance of

t hei r consci ences, i n what ever di r ect i on t hese mi ght

l ead t hem. Thi s nat i onal conf essi on was made, and

t he f i r st st ep t owar ds l i ber t y of consci ence t aken,

i n t he f i r st year of t he r ei gn of Wi l l i am of Or ange,

when t he Tol er at i on Act was passed exempt i ng al l

Di ssent er s who woul d t ake t he oat h of al l egi ance and

ABANDONMENT OF COERCI ON. 147

si gn t he decl ar at i on agai nst Poper y f r om t he penal t i es

of El i zabet h' s Act of Obedi ence, and Char l es I I . ' s Act

of Uni f or mi t y. But t he ol d t heor i es wer e st i l l st r ong,

and i t was onl y as i t wer e i nch by i nch t hat t he gr ound

was won upon whi ch we now st and so f i r ml y. I t was

not t i l l t he r ei gn of Geor ge I I I . t hat , i n Hal l am' s

wor ds, " such a genui ne t ol er at i on as Chr i st i ani t y and

phi l osophy al i ke demand had a pl ace i n our st at ut es. "

I n t hat r ei gn Act s wer e passed f or pr ot ect i ng Di s -

sent i ng chapel s, and ext endi ng t he Tol er at i on Act

t o Uni t ar i ans. I n t he r ei gn of Wi l l i am I V. t he good

wor k made l ong st r i des. Di ssent i ng chapel s wer e

pl aced on a l evel wi t h t he par i sh chur ches, so f ar as

Page 87 of 132

exempt i on f r om Chur ch and poor r at es coul d do t hi s ;

t he Test and Cor por at i on Act s wer e r epeal ed, t he

Cat hol i c Emanci pat i on Act was passed. But i t was

not t i l l t he pr esent r ei gn t hat t he bat t l e f or r el i gi ous

l i ber t y was f i nal l y won when t he Act of 1846 was

passed, r epeal i ng al l st at ut es and par t s of st at ut es

whi ch i mposed any penal t i es on r el i gi ous bel i ef .

But whi l e t he Engl i sh nat i on has t hus f i nal l y and

f or ever abandoned al l cl ai m t o cont r ol t he r el i sf i ous

bel i ef s of any sect i on, or of any i ndi vi dual amongst i t s

ci t i zens, i t has never abandoned t he r i ght , or di scl ai med

t he dut y, of mai nt ai ni ng t he connect i on bet ween t he

St at e as a ci vi l , and t he St at e as a r el i gi ous, or gani sa-

t i on, but has, on t he cont r ar y, hi t her t o del i ber at el y

mai nt ai ned t hat connect i on, whi ch r emai ns pr act i cal l y

what i t al ways has been. Bef or e passi ng, t hen, t o t he

consi der at i on of how f ar t hi s nat i onal or gani sat i on f or

r el i gi ous pur poses i s i n accor d wi t h t he moder n

L 2

148 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

democr at i c spi r i t of t he t i mes i n whi ch we l i ve, l et

us f ai r i y r ecogni se t he f act f or what i t i s wor t h, t hat

t hi s r el i gi ous or gani sat i on of t he nat i on whi ch we

cal l t he Chur ch of Engl and, has been uphel d by

our f or ef at her s f or t hi r t y gener at i ons. Thi s may be

no r eason why we shoul d cont i nue t o uphol d i t , i f ,

af t er t he most ear nest consi der at i on, we f i nd t hat i t i s

no l onger i n sympat hy wi t h t he nat i on, and t hat i t s

cont i nued exi st ence out r ages t he nat i onal consci ence.

But i t i s a r eason f or pausi ng, and i nsi st i ng on t he

most del i ber at e act i on i n t hi s mat t er . Thi s i s no t i me

f or cut t i ng, i n l i ght ness of hear t , or i nt el l ect ual i m-

pat i ence, any of t he l i nks whi ch bi nd us t o t he past .

I t has not been by such met hods t hat our f or ef at her s

have pr eser ved, and handed down t o us, t hat gr eat

i nher i t ance of whi ch t he Chur ch i s a par t . Thi r t y

gener at i ons of Engl i shmen have vi gor ousl y asser t ed,

or assent ed t o, t he pr i nci pl e, t hat i t i s best f or t he

nat i on t hat t he out war d or gani sat i on of r el i gi on shoul d

r emai n under t he same cont r ol , what ever t hat may be,

as t he ot her or gani sat i ons whi ch t oget her make up

Engl and. I t i s no l i ght t hi ng t o r ever se t hei r j udgment .

And now, t ur ni ng t o consi der t he quest i on of how

f ar t he Chur ch of Engl and i s i n har mony wi t h t he

moder n democr at i c spi r i t , l et us f i r st r emar k t hat i t i s,

i n i t s nat i onal char act er , a cr eat i on of t he peopl e

t hemsel ves. I t has not been f or ced on t hem by f or ei gn

pr el at es or pr i nces, i t i s not a soci et y apar t — i n t hem

but not of t hem — i t i s t hey who have t he ul t i mat e

cont r ol over i t , t hey gover n i t t hr ough and by t he

same machi ner y whi ch t hey use f or car r yi ng on t hei r

THE DEMOCRATI C SPI RI T. I 49

ci vi l busi ness. Thr ough t hat machi ner y t hey can

make i t what t hey pl ease, di st r i but e i t s r evenues, al t er

Page 88 of 132

i t s di sci pl i ne, pr escr i be i t s dut i es. Of what ot her

r el i gi ous or gani sat i on can t hi s be sai d ?

But t hi s moder n spi r i t i s bef or e al l t hi ngs an equal -

i si ng spi r i t , cl ai mi ng t hat t he good t hi ngs of t hi s wor l d

shal l be mor e wi del y di st r i but ed, pr ot est i ng agai nst

pr i vi l ege and excl usi veness i n t empor al and spi r i t ual

mat t er s ; and i t i s of t en used as an ar gument agai nst

t he Nat i onal Chur ch t hat her exi st ence of f ends agai nst

t hi s spi r i t . Even i f i t wer e so, t he answer i s agai n, * * t he

r emedy i s i n our own hands. I f t he Chur ch i s not

democr at i c enough, make i t mor e so. " But l et us l ook

at t he mat t er a l i t t l e cl oser . I n t he f i r st pl ace t her e i s

no wi der basi s possi bl e f or a Nat i onal Chur ch t han t he

nat i on — a t r ui sm, no doubt , but one whi ch i t i s not

super f l uous t o i nsi st on — and t hi s i s t he one upon

whi ch our Chur ch st ands. Thus, i n ever y cent r e and

i n ever y r emot est cor ner of t hi s l and al i ke, t he nat i on

of f er s wi t h open hand al l t he mi ni st r at i ons of r el i gi on

t o ever y one of her chi l dr en. Ther e i s no except i on

what ever made by her . The dwel l er i n any Engl i sh

vi l l age has t he r i ght t o t he use of t he nat i onal bui l di ngs

and t he ser vi ces of t he mi ni st er . These ar e a par t of

hi s bi r t hr i ght of whi ch he can onl y be depr i ved by hi s

own vol unt ar y act . He need not t ake up hi s bi r t h-

r i ght , but t her e i t i s f or hi m i f he wi l l ; and t he cl er gy^

as of f i cer s of t he nat i on, ar e bound not onl y t o gi ve t he

of f i ces of r el i gi on t o al l who ask f or t hem, but t o of f er

t hem t o t hose who do not . Thi s i s of t he ver y essence

of t he Chur ch as t he Engl i sh nat i on has est abl i shed i t .

150 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

The nat i on hol ds t hat t hese t hi ngs ar e good f or al l ;

t hat t hose who accept and use t hem r i ght l y wi l l be t he

best ci t i zens. Accor di ngl y, t hey ar e pr ovi ded f or al l ;

ever y per son bor n i n t hese r eal ms or of Engl i sh par ent s

bei ng, I n t heor y at any r at e, a member of t he Chur ch.

I t t akes an exer ci se of t he wi l l t o become a member of

any of t he sel f - gover ned Chur ches and sect s whi ch

exi st amongst us ; wher eas, i t t akes an exer ci se of t he

wi l l not t o be a member of t he Nat i onal Chur ch. Thi s

i s a vi t al di st i nct i on, and one whi ch i t seems t o me of

t he ut most i mpor t ance t o get cl ear about i n our own

mi nds. The ot her Chr i st i an bodi es i n t hi s count r y ar e

by t hei r const i t ut i on l i mi t ed t o t hose who have been

conver t ed, or who accept some t est s whi ch make t hem

member s, and by t hei r const i t ut i on i t cannot be ot her -

wi se. But sur el y t hi s i s a ver y l ow i deal f or t he

Chr i st i an Chur ch, whose pr i nci pal wor k shoul d be wi t h

t hose who have not come i n, who ar e out si de t he f ol d.

Pr act i cal l y i t may be sai d t hat t he sel f - gover ned

chur ches and sect s ar e engaged i n mi ssi onar y wor k

amongst us as wel l as t he Chur ch of Engl and, but , i n

t hei r case, i t I s a wor k of super er ogat i on, whi l e i t i s an

essent i al par t of her dut y. " We see t hi s di f f er ence, "

says an abl e wr i t er , once hi msel f a Nonconf or mi st , " i f

we consi der t hat t he mi ni st er of a Di ssent i ng chapel i s

not expect ed t o at t end t o any but hi s own congr ega-

t i on, whi l st t he cl er gyman i s bound t o be at t he cal l of

ever y per son i n hi s par i sh ; al t hough, of cour se, ot her s

ar e wel come, t he ser vi ces of a chapel cannot be j oi ned i n

Page 89 of 132

as of r i ght , except by i t s member s, whi l st t hose of t he

Chur ch ar e open t o al l t hose who choose t o come. I t

ELASTI CI TY OF ORGANI SATI ON. 151

i s one t hi ng f or wor k t o be done or not as we choose,

and anot her f or i t t o be a par t of our dut y. I f t he

Nat i onal Chur ch does not do i t s dut y pr oper l y, i t

shoul d be made t o do so. But t he dest r uct i on of t hat

Chur ch woul d be a gr eat bl ow t o t he f ut ur e spr ead of

Chr i st i ani t y, f or t hen t her e woul d be l ef t no or gani sa-

t i on bound t o mi ni st er t o t he unconver t ed as wel l as

t o t he conver t ed. " ( G. Har wood' s ' Di sest abl i shment . ' )

Thi s goi ng out i nt o t he hi ghways and hedges i s at

once t he speci al gl or y and t he r ai son d' et r e of t he

Nat i onal Chur ch — t hi s car r yi ng t he of f i ces and con-

sol at i ons of r el i gi on t o t he ver y door s of t hose who

have no wi sh f or t hem, who woul d sooner be wi t hout

t hem — and i t i s a wor k whi ch t he vol unt ar y Chur ches

seem qui t e unabl e t o per f or m. And f or t hi s si mpl e

r eason, t hat sel f - suppor t i ng r el i gi ous bodi es, as a r ul e,

cannot exi st i n t he poor est quar t er s of gr eat t owns,

or i n r emot e count r y di st r i ct s, t he pr eci se pl aces i n

whi ch t hey ar e most needed. Thi s i s no r epr oach

ei t her t o congr egat i ons or mi ni st er s. The mi ni st er

must l i ve, however gr eat hi s zeal may be, and, i n or der

t o l i ve, he must f ol l ow t hose of hi s congr egat i on who

hol d t he pur se- st r i ngs, and who wi l l not l i ve i n poor

and cr owded di st r i ct s. But i t i s a gr eat gai n t hat t he

nat i on has r eady made t o i t s hand a r el i gi ous or gani -

sat i on whi ch can meet t he new condi t i ons of l i f e of

our t i me, whi ch can and does bear t he st r ai n whi ch

our r api dl y changi ng i ndust r i al l i f e i s t hr owi ng upon

i t by t he accumul at i on of our peopl e i n t he out ski r t s

of our gr eat ci t i es and manuf act ur i ng t owns, and can

meet cr i me, and vi ce, and mi ser y, i n t hei r own haunt s

152 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

wi t h a st eady and per mament f r ont . I am not f or a

moment suggest i ng t hat t hi s wor k i s ef f ect ual l y done,

or t hat t her e ar e not gr eat ar r ear s t o be made up, but

I do say t hat t her e i s no hope or chance of i t s ever

bei ng done at al l except by a nat i onal or gani sat i on,

and t hat t he Chur ch has been r oused t o t he par amount

necessi t y of doi ng i t , and i s pr ovi ng i t sel f year by

year mor e equal t o t he t ask. Ther e i s anot her cha-

r act er i st i c of t he Nat i onal Chur ch whi ch cannot be

val ued t oo hi ghl y i n t i mes l i ke our s, and whi ch i s, as

I bel i eve, di r ect l y due t o i t s connect i on wi t h t he St at e,

whi ch we ar e t ol d so nar r ows and cr i ppl es i t — of al l

r el i gi ous or gani sat i ons i t i s t he one whi ch al l ows and

can bear t he gr eat est f r eedom of r el i gi ous t hought .

And i t i s pr eci sel y because i t i s nat i onal , because i t i s

under t he f i nal cont r ol , i n al l quest i ons of member shi p,

of t he ci vi l power , because t he cal m, di spassi onat e and

t r ai ned i nt el l ect s of l aymen ar e br ought t o bear upon

t he passi onat e di f f er ences of t heol ogi ans, t hat t hi s

wi se l at i t ude i s possi bl e. Does any one suppose f or a

moment , t hat i n t hese l ast t hi r t y year s, i n whi ch t her e

Page 90 of 132

has been so vi vi d an awakeni ng of spi r i t ual l i f e

amongst us, t her e woul d have been no r endi ng of

t he Chur ch i n f r agment s, no gr eat schi sm l i ke t hat of

t he Fr ee Ki r k i n Scot l and, had such a body as Con-

vocat i on been t he ul t i mat e cour t of appeal , and t he

gover ni ng power i n t he Chur ch . ' *

Rest l ess spi r i t s, not a f ew, chaf e under t hi s nat i onal

cont r ol and ar e t empt ed f r om t i me t o t i me t o t hr ow

i t of f . I t i s made a subj ect of r epr oach agai nst t he

Chur ch of t he nat i on by t hose of ot her communi ons.

TENDENCY TO DI SI NTEGRATI ON I N ALL SECTS. 1 53

But , sur el y, al l t hose who bel i eve t hat Chr i st i ani t y was

i nt ended t o be t he common i nher i t ance of al l men —

t hat i t s mi ssi on i s not t o separ at e men, but t o br i ng

t hem t oget her , not t o bui l d up, but t o br eak down

wal l s of par t i t i on — must i n t hei r best moment s r ej oi ce

t hat i n our count r y t her e i s one r el i gi ous or gani sat i on

so t ol er ant , so el ast i c, or , i f you wi l l , so l at i t udi nar i an.

The di sease of t hi s same t i me amongst our ot her

r el i gi ous or gani sat i ons has been t he const ant t endency

t o spl i t up, and i t i s abundant l y cl ear t hat t he Chur ch

woul d have suf f er ed f r om i t as sever el y as any ot her

body, but f or t hat cont r ol of t he nat i on whi ch i s sai d

t o be her weakness, and f r om whi ch she i s so l oudl y

cal l ed t o f r ee her sel f .

Ther e i s anot her r eason why I t hi nk t hat t hi s l ar ge

t ol er ance wi t hi n t he Chur ch of whi ch I have been

speaki ng i s of i mmense nat i onal val ue. Ther e i s a

l ar ge cl ass of t he most cul t i vat ed and i nt el l ect ual

peopl e of t hi s count r y, of excel l ent mor al char act er ,

who ar e qui t e cont ent ed t o r emai n member s of t he

Nat i onal Chur ch, usi ng i t s of f i ces and mi ni st r at i ons

habi t ual l y, but who assur edl y woul d not be admi t t ed,

or desi r e t o be admi t t ed, i nt o any ot her communi on.

The best known per haps of t hese i s Mr . Mat t hew

Ar nol d, who, i n hi s l at er wr i t i ngs, has expl ai ned t hat ,

i n hi s vi ew, t he Chur ch i s " a Nat i onal soci et y, f or t he

pr omot i on of goodness. " An ent i r el y i nadequat e

vi ew, no doubt , most of us woul d say, but one whi ch

expr esses par t of t he t r ut h ; and whi ch i t woul d be

t he hei ght of f ol l y, i n t he i nt er est s of t he nat i on, and of

r el i gi on, t o r un t he r i sk of dest r oyi ng i n men' s mi nds.

154 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

Taki ng, t hen, t hese poi nt s whi ch have been not i ced,

I woul d ask you t o consi der whet her a r el i gi ous

or gani sat i on whi ch i s open t o t he whol e nat i on, wi t hout

any di st i nct i on, whi ch i s speci al l y devot ed t o t he out -

cast s and t he poor , whi ch no one need use unl ess he

pl eases, whi ch can and does r et ai n i n communi on men

of vi ews as wi del y di f f er ent as t hose of t he Ri t ual i st s

and Mr . Mat t hew Ar nol d, and whi ch i s under t he

cont r ol of t he St at e, and of no pr i vat e body of ci t i zens,

i s not , i n t heor y, mor e i n har mony wi t h t he moder n

spi r i t t han any ot her r el i gi ous or gani sat i on wi t h

Page 91 of 132

whi ch we ar e acquai nt ed, or any of whi ch we can at

pr esent f or m any i dea ? I f i t i s not so i n pr act i ce i t i s

t he f aul t of t he peopl e ; and t he r emedy i s i n t he

hands of t he peopl e, who can appl y i t i n t he same way

and t hr ough t he same machi ner y, as t hey woul d use

t o r ef or m any ot her par t of t hei r i nst i t ut i ons. That i n

one sense i t i s not democr at i c, may be r eadi l y admi t t ed ;

but t hen, no mor e i s t he Engl i sh nat i on, and when t he

nat i on changes we have ever y gr ound f or bel i evi ng

t hat t he Chur ch wi l l change al so. I t i s compet ent

f or t he nat i on t o change t he f or m of i t s gover nment

i nt o t hat of a r epubl i c, and f or t hose Engl i shmen who

desi r e such a change t o wor k f or i t . When t hat t i me

comes, doubt l ess t he nat i onal or gani sat i on of r el i gi on

wi l l be modi f i ed i n a si mi l i ar di r ect i on ; meant i me

what we have t o consi der i s, whet her t he Chur ch does

or does not f ai r l y r epr esent t he nat i on i n i t s pr esent

phase, and i n maki ng up our mi nds upon t hi s poi nt

i t i s onl y f ai r t o bear i n mi nd t hat what ar e commonl y

cal l ed t he gr eat pr i zes i n t he Nat i onal Chur ch ar e

SEVERANCE NECESSARI LY DESTRUCTI ON. 1 55

absol ut el y open t o al l . Ther e i s no pr of essi on mor e

democr at i c i n t he t r ue sense of t he wor d t han t hat of

t he mi ni st r y of t he Nat i onal Chur ch, and none i n

whi ch a l ar ger pr opor t i on of t hose who have st ar t ed

i n l i f e wi t h no advant ages what ever have r i sen t o t he

hi ghest pl aces. * * * * .

I t must be bor ne i n mi nd t hat t o sever t he connect i on

bet ween t he St at e and t he Nat i onal Chur ch must

dest r oy t he Chur ch. I t i s not i t s Epi scopal const i t u-

t i on, or i t s possessi on of t he cat hedr al s, chur ches,

gl ebe and t i t hes, or i t s Thi r t y- ni ne Ar t i cl es, or even i t s

Pr ayer Book, or i t s gr and hi st or y and t r adi t i ons, whi ch

make t he Chur ch of Engl and t he Nat i onal Chur ch. I t

mi ght r et ai n al l t hese, and l ose i t s nat i onal char act er ;

or , on t he ot her hand, i t mi ght l ose i t s endowment s,

and change i t s const i t ut i on, and yet r et ai n i t s nat i onal

char act er . For t hi s consi st s i n i t s nat i onal cont i nuance,

as an i nt egr al par t of t he const i t ut i on of t he count r y —

as t he or gani sat i on of i t s hi gher l i f e whi ch t he nat i on

appr oves and of f er s t o i t s peopl e, and keeps under i t s

own cont r ol . Shoul d Engl and, t hr ough wear i ness or

i mpat i ence, or f r om any ot her cause, ever agr ee t o t he

di vor ce, apar t f r om ot her danger s, t hi s one woul d

most assur edl y conf r ont us. That i ndi f f er ence t o

r el i gi on, as a mat t er wi t h whi ch pr act i cal men have no

need t o t r oubl e t hemsel ves — al r eady so wi de spr ead

at bot h pol es of our ci vi l i sat i on, amongst our cul t i vat ed

cl asses, under t he i nf l uence of t he avowed agnost i ci sm

of many of t he most abl e of our sci ent i f i c l eader s ;

amongst t he masses of our poor , under t he i nf l uence

of t he gr i ndi ng st r uggl e f or exi st ence i n our compet i t i ve

wor l d — wi l l gai n t enf ol d st r engt h. I f t he nat i on shal l

156 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

sol emnl y decl ar e t hat i t has no l onger any concer n

Page 92 of 132

wi t h t he r el i gi on of i t s peopl e — t hat i t can and wi l l f or

t he f ut ur e get on wi t hout an ef f or t t o pr ovi de anyt hi ng

beyond pr ot ect i on of l i f e and pr oper t y — what i nf er ence

can be dr awn, but t hat obvi ous one, t hat t hese ar e t he

onl y essent i al mat t er s about whi ch good ci t i zens need

concer n t hemsel ves. I t woul d be a vi r t ual abandon-

ment by Engl and of t he st r uggl e whi ch she has mai n-

t ai ned ever si nce she became a nat i on, an admi ssi on of

f ai l ur e i n t he hi ghest spher e of human endeavour , a

conf essi on t hat , so f ar as she i s concer ned, t he i nspi r i ng

pr ophecy t hat one day t he ki ngdoms of t hi s wor l d

shal l become t he ki ngdoms of our Lor d and of Hi s

Chr i st , i s a f ond dr eam.

But , i f t he Engl i sh nat i on st r i kes i t s f l ag and abandons

t he st r uggl e, t her e i s a power whi ch assur edl y wi l l not

do so. The Chur ch of Rome has made pr ogr ess of l at e

i n Engl and, whi ch, whi l e r ousi ng us t o wat chf ul ness,

need per haps as yet cause us l i t t l e anxi et y. But l et

t he nat i on once openl y pr of ess t hat t he r el i gi on of t he

peopl e i s no l onger t he af f ai r of t he St at e, and decl ar e

t hat a Nat i onal Chur ch i s hencef or t h i mpossi bl e, and

an i mpet us wi l l be gi ven t o t he act i on, and a sup-

por t t o t he cl ai ms, of t he Chur ch whi ch pr of esses t o

be uni ver sal , whi ch t he St at e wi l l f i nd i t sel f unabl e t o

meet , except wi t h weapons whi ch have never pr oved

of much val ue i n t hi s war f ar e. I f t he St at e wi l l not

r ul e t he Chur ch, t he Chur ch wi l l r ul e t he St at e, and

our chi l dr en may have t o f i ght over agai n t he bat t l es

whi ch we have been wont t o bel i eve had been won

f or al l t i me.

The pr ogr ess whi ch t he Romi sh Chur ch i s maki ng

PROCESS OF DI SI NTEGRATI ON. 1 5/

her e and i n t he Uni t ed St at es, i n spi t e of t he l at e

Vat i can decr ees, i s a subj ect upon whi ch no t hought -

f ul man wi l l speak l i ght l y. But , i t may be sai d,

t hat t he Chur ch of Engl and, even af t er she had been

separ at ed f r om t he St at e, t hough no l onger car r yi ng

t he pr est i ge of nat i onal aut hor i t y, woul d be st r ong

enough t o hol d her own. To me i t seems i dl e t o hope

t hat t hi s woul d be so. She woul d t hen be not hi ng but

a Rel i gi ous Soci et y, di f f er i ng onl y i n si ze and pr est i ge

f r om t he ot her Chr i st i an Pr ot est ant sect s. She woul d

be gover ned by a Synod, composed chi ef l y of

eccl esi ast i cs, and, keen as al l such bodi es must be

t o scent her esy, and t o magni f y doct r i nal di f f er ences,

t her e i s t oo much r eason t o bel i eve t hat she woul d

speedi l y spl i t up i nt o f r agment s, and so add sever al new

r ecr ui t s t o t he di sgr acef ul war of " st r enuousl y com-

pet i ng sect s. " But , assumi ng t hat she wer e t o r emai n

unbr oken, and wer e t o pr ove abl e t o hol d her own

agai nst Rome and t he compet i ng sect s, t hen anot her

and most ser i ous danger woul d ar i se t o t he nat i on.

For , t hough she woul d be no doubt depr i ved of

much of her pr oper t y bef or e bei ng t ur ned adr i f t , t her e

ar e cer t ai n por t i ons whi ch no one who under st ands

Engl and wi l l f or a moment suppose can be t aken

away f r om her . She woul d r et ai n t he cat hedr al s,

par i sh chur ches, par sonages, and pr obabl y t he gl ebes,

Page 93 of 132

and weal t h enough besi des t o suppor t her machi ner y

i n wor ki ng or der , unt i l t he t i de of gi f t s and bequest s

( whi ch woul d pour i nt o her cof f er s i n even gr eat er

abundance t han i n t hese l ast chur ch- bui l di ng year s,

when such cont r i but i ons must be r eckoned by mi l l i ons)

158 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

had mor e t han made up f or al l t hat she had l ost .

Wi t h her r oot s st r uck deep i n ever y f ami l y and ever y

par i sh, her ener gi es t hor oughl y r oused by t he st r uggl e

t hr ough whi ch she had been passi ng, and eager t o

l ose no j ot of her i nf l uence and pr est i ge ; she woul d

be l ef t f ace t o f ace wi t h t he ci vi l gover nment , i n no

f r i endl y mood wi t h t he power whi ch had cast her

adr i f t . Unl ess a gr eat and ver y i mpr obabl e change

wer e t o come over her spi r i t i n t he meant i me, t he

power over t hi s gr eat r el i gi ous or gani sat i on woul d

pass i nt o t he hands of t he Hi gh Chur ch par t y, whose

vi ews as t o t he pr oper r el at i ons of t he t empor al and

spi r i t ual power scar cel y di f f er f r om t hose of Romani st s.

Who can doubt t hat such power i n such hands woul d

pr ove a ser i ous danger t o ci vi l and r el i gi ous l i ber t y }

We Engl i sh mi ght escape t he cl ut ches of gi ant Pope,

f or her e woul d be a spi r i t ual power compet ent t o keep

hi m at bay. But , sai d Lut her , " ever y l i t t l e pr i est ,

however humbl e, car r i es a l i t t l e pope under hi s

cassock " ; and we shoul d f al l i nt o hands whi ch we

shoul d scar cel y l i ke bet t er t han t he Pope, and of

whi ch i t woul d be mor e di f f i cul t t o l oosen t he hol d on

t he pol i t i cal and soci al l i f e of t he nat i on.

Chur ch pr ospect s, t hen, you wi l l see by t hi s t i me,

seem t o me t o be of t he gl oomi est char act er , i f t hi s

r evol ut i onar y change shoul d be made i n our con-

st i t ut i on. On t he ot her hand, i f , and so l ong as, t he

pr esent r el at i onshi p cont i nues bet ween Chur ch and

St at e, i n spi t e of many ser i ous dr awbacks, I can l ook

hopef ul l y t o t he f ut ur e.

' * These ar e anxi ous days f or r el i gi on, " says t he

THE POSSI BI LI TI ES OF NATI ONALI SM. 1 59

aut hor al r eady quot ed mor e t han once, " such as shake

t he f ai t h of i t s t i mi d f r i ends, and even make t hose sad

who have unswer vi ng conf i dence i n t he omni pot ence

of God, and i n t he ul t i mat e and uni ver sal t r i umph of

a r el i gi on whi ch has al ways come vi ct or i ous out of

danger s whi ch seemed i nf i ni t el y gr eat er . The ol d,

si mpl e, manl y, pr act i cal Chr i st i ani t y whi ch t he Bi bl e

t eaches, and whi ch has been t he f ai t h f or so many

gener at i ons of t he best of our f or ef at her s, i s goi ng out

of f ashi on, and t he Chr i st i an wor l d seems t o be di vi di ng

i t sel f up bet ween pr i est l y domi nat i on on t he one hand,

and on t he ot her wor l dl y i ndi f f er ence or ant agoni st i c

scept i ci sm. The t or ch of pur e r el i gi on, l i t by t he

Lor d Hi msel f wi t h t he f i r e of Heaven, i s bei ng t r odden

out under t he cont endi ng f eet of f anat i cs and un-

bel i ever s. I t can onl y be pi cked up and bor ne onwar ds

Page 94 of 132

by t he hand of a Chur ch whi ch i s pr act i cal as wel l as

spi r i t ual , human as wel l as Di vi ne, Nat i onal as wel l as

Chr i st i an. Pr ot est ant r evi val i sm, l i ke Roman Cat ho-

l i ci sm, set s t he ot her wor l d agai nst and above t hi s,

and t o Nat i onal i sm i s r eser ved t he t ask of pr oper l y

r econci l i ng t he t wo ; of j oi ni ng pr act i cal i t y and

spi r i t ual i t y, l i f e wi t h r el i gi on, ear t h wi t h heaven ;

of maki ng Chr i st i ani t y a sensi bl e r eal i t y as wel l as a

devout ent husi asm. Can t her e be a nobl er wor k, or

one mor e needed t han t hi s whi ch l i es especi al l y bef or e

t he Nat i onal Chur ch of Engl and ? No bet t er mot t o

can be chosen as a gui de t o success t han t hat whi ch

i s at t r i but ed t o Baxt er : " I n necessar y t hi ngs, uni t y ;

i n doubt f ul t hi ngs, l i ber t y ; i n al l t hi ngs char i t y. "

But t o appr oach t he wor k of t he f ut ur e wi t h t he

l 60 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

power , and i n t he spi r i t her e i ndi cat ed, t he Chur ch has

t o do much i n t he way of r ef or m of her own const i t u-

t i on on t he one hand, and of change i n t he spi r i t i n

whi ch she has but t oo of t en deal t wi t h f el l ow Chr i st i ans

not of her own communi on, and wi t h t he poor , on t he

ot her . The nat i on wi l l make no move i n t hi s wor k

unt i l i t sees t hat t he Chur ch i s t hor oughl y i n ear nest ,

Par l i ament di sl i ki ng t o be cal l ed upon t o deal wi t h

quest i ons of Chur ch r ef or m mor e t han wi t h any ot her

busi ness. And t he aut hor i t i es wi t hi n t he Chur ch, i t must

be owned, have shown a caut i on and t i mi di t y whi ch

woul d seem t o i mpl y t he exi st ence of t hat di st r ust

t hey have been so of t en accused by enemi es of f eel i ng,

t he bel i ef t hat , i f one pl ank or st one wer e t ouched,

t he whol e bui l di ng woul d come cr ashi ng about t hei r

ear s. They must get r i d of t hese f ear s and doubt s

and set t o wor k t o over haul t he bui l di ng. Mr . Ar nol d

t el l s us, as a f act wi t hi n hi s own knowl edge — and t he

exper i ence of al l men I know who have t he means of

f or mi ng an opi ni on on t he subj ect bear s hi m out — t hat

t her e ar e number s of abl e young men r eady t o ent er

t he ser vi ce of t he Nat i onal Chur ch, wer e i t not f or t he

. pr of essi ons whi ch ar e st i l l r equi r ed of t hem bef or e

t hey can be admi t t ed t o ser ve. And who can wonder

at t hi s, when we r et ai n t he def i ni t i ons and f or mul as of

t hr ee hundr ed year s ago, as t he expr essi on of t he

nat i onal f ai t h of t o- day ? I n t he f ace of t he wi der and

l ar ger knowl edge whi ch sci ence and Bi bl i cal cr i t i ci sm

have opened t o our gener at i on, i t i s hopel ess t o expect

t hat men of cul t i vat i on and abi l i t y can sol emnl y pl edge

t hemsel ves, even i n t he gener al f or m now r equi r ed, t o

PRESSI NG REFORMS. l 6l

t he pr oposi t i ons cont ai ned i n t he Thi r t y- ni ne Ar t i cl es,

or t o use t he At hanasi an Cr eed i n t he Chur ch Ser vi ce.

Nor i s t her e t he l east need why t hi s shoul d be r equi r ed

of t hem. The ar t i cl es ser ved t hei r pur pose i n t hei r

own day, and cont i nue admi r abl e st at ement s upon

cont r over si es, whi ch wer e t hen l i vi ng, but have l ong

si nce been dead and bur i ed. I t i s good t o t r eat t hem

wi t h r espect ; but t o keep t hem al i ve any l onger , as

Page 95 of 132

t est s of t he bel i ef s of young men who have gr own up

i n t he pr esent hal f cent ur y, i s t o put a whol l y un-

necessar y i mpedi ment i n t he way of candi dat es f or

hol y or der s, and t o encour age di shonest y, and sel f - *

decept i on, i n t he ver y pl aces wher e, bef or e al l ot her s,

t her e shoul d be t r ut hf ul ness, and cl ear ness of si ght .

I n speaki ng on t hi s subj ect , Mr . M. Ar nol d says : " The

Or di nat i on Ser vi ce i t sel f , on a man' s ent r ance i nt o

or der s, and t he use of t he Chur ch Ser vi ces af t er war ds,

ar e a suf f i ci ent engagement on t he par t of t hose who

desi r e t o t ake ser vi ce i n t he Nat i onal Chur ch. " And

Mr . Ar nol d i s per f ect l y i n t he r i ght her e. I t i s t he

most cr yi ng need of t he Chur ch t o have t hese necessar y

r ef or ms car r i ed t hr ough, t hat she may no l onger be

hamper ed wi t h t he t r appi ngs and gar ment s of t hr ee

hundr ed year s ago. " I t was a pr emat ur e deci si on on

t he det ai l s of Chur ch gover nment and doct r i ne, i n t he

absence of a br oad l eadi ng pr i nci pl e, " Pr i nce Al ber t

wr i t es, i n hi s Memor andum on t he Chur ch Cr i si s i n

1 85 1, " and t he f act of t hei r bei ng f i nal l y set t l ed f or

post er i t y by t hose i nt o whose hands t he conduct of

t he Ref or mat i on f el l , whi ch pr event ed t he Chur ch of

Engl and f r om par t i ci pat i ng i n t hat const ant and f r ee

M

l 62 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

devel opment whi ch t he St at e has been abl e t o der i ve

f r om t he br oad pr i nci pl es of Magna Char t a. "

He had no f ear of t ouchi ng f or mul ar i es whi ch have

been wi t h us an obj ect of al most super st i t i ous r egar d

f or so l ong, but bel i eved t hat new l i f e and st r engt h

woul d spr i ng up under bol d but r ever ent handl i ng.

The const i t ut i on of t he Chur ch he knew r equi r ed

r ef or m, and was st r ong enough t o bear i t . He ur ged

t hat i t shoul d be begun i n t i me, hol di ng t hat t he most

opposi t e opi ni ons mi ght exi st as t o det ai l s, but t hat

t hese mi ght wel l be l ef t t o t i me and publ i c di scussi on

t o set t l e by degr ees ; and t hat " t he same r espect f or

hi st or i cal t r adi t i on and vest ed r i ght s, whi ch has mar ked

t he pr ogr ess of t he Br i t i sh Const i t ut i on, added t o a

hi gh sense of t he sacr ed nat ur e of t he wor k t o be

per f or med, v/ i l l not f ai l t o at t end t hi s devel opment . "

But hi s advi ce and war ni ngs have f al l en on unwi l l i ng

ear s, and t he r ef or ms whi ch he pl eaded f or ar e scar cel y

yet commenced. Meant i me, t he most mar ked i ncr ease

has occur r ed i n t he i mpat i ence of sect ar i an di f f er ences

and di sput es i n t he mi nds of al l t hi nki ng men who

ar e not engaged i n t he st r i f e of r el i gi ous par t i es.

Especi al l y has t hi s been t he case wi t hi n t he Chur ch.

When shal l we hear l ess of t hese t heol ogi cal j angl i ngs

and hai r - spl i t t i ngs and mor e of t he Gospel , whi ch, af t er

al l , we al l hol d i n common } I t i s sai d, however , by

some, as I t hi nk, unwi se def ender s of t he f ai t h, t hat a

col our l ess Chr i st i ani t y i S no Chr i st i ani t y at al l , t hat

you can have no Chur ch wi t hout a def i ni t e cr eed. To

t he f i r st I woul d r epl y t hat , af t er al l , t he br i ght whi t e

l i ght i s, i n i t s pur i t y, bet t er t han al l col our . To t he

Page 96 of 132

PRI NCE ALBERT' S ADVI CE. 1 63

i second, I admi t t hat ever y Chur ch must have a

def i ni t e cr eed, but t he mor e si mpl e and br oad t hat

cr eed i s t he bet t er . I t i s onl y t he si mpl est cr eed

whi ch can gi ve us t he uni t y, or t he t ol er ance i n

di ver si t y, f or whi ch al l good men ar e l ongi ng.

I t i s t he busi ness of ever y Engl i shman who car es

f or t he gr eat nat i onal i nher i t ance t o whi ch he has

been bor n, and especi al l y of t he of f i cer s of t he Chur ch

of t he nat i on, t o l end a hand wi t h t hese necessar y

r ef or ms. The spi r i t i n whi ch par sons shoul d come t o

t he wor k cannot be bet t er def i ned t han by Pr i nce

Al ber t , who wr i t es t hat a bi shop shoul d be " meek

and l i ber al , and t ol er ant of ot her conf essi ons : but

l et hi m never f or get t hat he i s a r epr esent at i ve of

t he Chur ch of t he l and, t he mai nt enance of whi ch

i s as i mpor t ant t o t he count r y as t hat of i t s con-

st i t ut i on, or i t s t hr one. Let hi m be al ways consci ous

t hat t he Chur ch has dut i es t o f ul f i l , t hat i t does not

exi st f or i t sel f , but f or t he peopl e, and f or t he count r y,

and t hat i t ought t o have no hi gher ai m t han t o

be t he Chur ch of t he peopl e. "

Meekness, l i ber al i t y, t ol er ance of ot her conf essi ons !

These ar e gr eat vi r t ues, but har d, ver y har d t o pr act i se

i n such hur r yi ng, dr i vi ng, democr at i c, compet i t i ve

t i mes as our s, when r espect f or aut hor i t y seems t o

have al most di ed out . Never t hel ess, t hey must be

pr act i sed, i f t he Chur ch i s ever t o f ul f i l her gr eat

mi ssi on, and t o become i n a l ar ger and t r uer sense t han

she has ever yet been, " The Chur ch of t he Peopl e. "

M 2

1 64 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

VI I .

CONSERVATI SM OF CLERGY, et c.

Ther e ar e sever al mat t er s f r equent l y debat ed i n t hi s

cont r over sy, whi ch have ei t her been ent i r el y omi t t ed,

or onl y casual l y r ef er r ed t o as yet , i n t hese pages. I

have had, however , t o speak on t hem on di f f er ent

occasi ons ; so, wi t hout t r oubl i ng my r eader s wi t h mor e

addr esses, whi ch woul d be i n many r espect s onl y

r epet i t i ons of t hose al r eady gi ven, I subj oi n t he f ol -

l owi ng ext r act s, whi ch at any r at e r ai se t he poi nt s

suf f i ci ent l y t o " l et t he l i ght and ai r pl ay r ound t hem. "

Al l I desi r e i s, t hat my count r ymen and count r y -

women, especi al l y t hose who ar e Li ber al s, shoul d j ust

t ake t r oubl e enough t o know what t he poi nt s at i ssue

i n t hi s Chur ch quest i on ar e. The f act s upon whi ch

t hei r j udgment shoul d be f or med, l i e r ound on ever y

Page 97 of 132

si de, j ust as open t o t hem as t o me. I f t hey wi l l onl y

l ook at t hem and cl ear t hei r mi nds of cant , pol i t i cal

and r el i gi ous, on t hi s subj ect , t hat i s al l one can ask.

The f ear i s l est t hey shoul d l eap i n t he dar k.

Conser vat i sm of Cl er gy.

Let me now say a f ew wor ds on an ar gument whi ch

i s made t o do ser vi ce const ant l y on Li ber at i on pl at -

PROFESSI ONAL CONSERVATI SM. 1 65

f or ms, and whi ch appeal s speci al l y t o Li ber al s, I mean

t he Conser vat i sm of t he Chur ch cl er gy as a body. I t

i s sai d, t hat as a body, t hey have opposed ever y

popul ar r ef or m upon whi ch t he nat i on has set i t s

hear t , t hat ( t o use Mr . Chamber l ai n' s wor ds) t hey ar e

" par t of a vast mut ual assur ance agai nst change, t o

whi ch t he l andl or d, t he publ i can, and ever y vest ed

r i ght and pr i vi l ege, r eadi l y cont r i but e. " I wi l l not

quest i on t he gener al t r ut h of t hi s char ge, t hough i t i s

onl y f ai r t o r emar k t hat , as r egar ds one of t he vest ed

i nt er est s r ef er r ed t o, t hat of t he publ i can, t he Chur ch

cl er gy have shown t hemsel ves of l at e year s i t s most

power f ul and danger ous enemy. The Chur ch of

Engl and Temper ance Soci et y, wi t h t he f ul l bench

of bi shops at i t s head, and a br anch i n t housands of

par i shes, i s doi ng as much as al l ot her i nf l uences put

t oget her , t o gr appl e wi t h t he nat i onal si n : and I f or

one don' t see how t he nat i onal si n can be so wel l

conf r ont ed as by a nat i onal r el i gi ous or gani sat i on.

But on t he whol e I f r eel y admi t i t i s beyond di sput e

t hat t he Chur ch cl er gy have been, and ar e, as a r ul e.

Conser vat i ves, and t hat much of t hei r conser vat i sm,

such as t hei r opposi t i on t o t he Bur i al s Bi l l , i s of a ki nd

pecul i ar l y exasper at i ng, not onl y t o Nonconf or mi st s,

but even mor e so t o Li ber al Chur chmen. These l at t er

ar e apt t o get out of pat i ence, and t o say, or at any

r at e t o f eel , wi t h Mr . Hugessen, t hat t he par sons

wi l l soon make di sest abl i shment cer t ai n.

But , even on t he assumpt i on t hat t he Nat i onal

Chur ch cl er gy ar e, and ar e l i kel y t o r emai n, at any

r at e t i l l t he Chur ch i s r ef or med, i ncur abl y Conser vat i ve,

l 66 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

how f ar does t hat go t owar ds pr ovi ng t hat i t wi l l be

f or t he good of t he nat i on t o sever t hei r connect i on

wi t h t he St at e ? The ar my i s qui t e as Conser vat i ve as

t he Chur ch, and opposed t he r ecent mi l i t ar y r ef or ms,

upon whi ch t he nat i on was bent , at l east as r esol ut el y

as t he cl er gy ar e opposi ng t he Bur i al s Bi l l . Ar e we

goi ng t o abol i sh t he ar my because of t hi s ? Dur i ng

t he l ong di scussi ons on t he mi l i t ar y r ef or ms of t he

l at e gover nment , t he pr of essi onal opposi t i on was of t en,

and wi t h j ust i ce, denounced as f act i ous ; t he of f i cer s,

i t was sai d, wer e f or get t i ng t hat t hey wer e ser vant s of

t he nat i on, and act i ng as t hough t hey wer e a separ at e

cast e, who val ued t he i nt er est s of t hei r cast e above

Page 98 of 132

nat i onal i nt er est s. How wer e t hey met ? By t he

r esol ut e det er mi nat i on of t he nat i on t o asser t t he

nat i onal char act er of t he ar my, and t o r egai n t he

cont r ol of i t . And t he most st r enuous asser t er s of

t hi s pr i nci pl e wer e t hat sect i on of t he Li ber al par t y,

who ar e now mai nt ai ni ng j ust t he opposi t e pr i nci pl e

i n t he case of t he Nat i onal Chur ch.

They who saw most cl ear l y t hat t he ar my ought t o

be made t hor oughl y nat i onal , and t o t hat end must

be bought back agai n f r om t he sol di er s and t hr own

open t o t he nat i on, ar e now t aki ng t he opposi t e

si de, and st r i vi ng t o denat i onal i se t he Chur ch, and t o

nar r ow i t i nt o a sect , f r om whi ch t he nat i on i s t o be

excl uded. They cannot be r i ght i n bot h cont ent i ons.

Of t he t wo t he Chur ch i s t he mor e power f ul body, and

t hough by i t s const i t ut i on and char act er i t can never

be as danger ous t o l i ber t y as a st andi ng ar my, I f eel

t hat i t mi ght become, even i n Engl and, a ser i ous

THEOLOGI CAL LI BERALI SM. 167

danger . Ther ef or e, t he concl usi on seems t o me t o f ol l ow,

t hat Li ber al s at any r at e shoul d st r i ve t o make i t

nat i onal . The nat i on, by i t s own good nat ur e and

car el essness, has t o a gr eat ext ent l ost i t s cont r ol over

t he Chur ch, as i t had over t he ar my, and I say t hat we

Li ber al s shoul d t r y t o make i t t ake hol d agai n i n

ear nest of t he Chur ch, as i t has of t he ar my.

And I say f ur t her , t hat t he nat i on wi l l get st r enuous

hel p i n t hi s wor k of r ef or m f r om t he best of t he

cl er gy t hemsel ves.

For , Conser vat i ve as t he pr of essi on i s as a whol e,

t her e i s al ways a st r ong band of Li ber al s of t he best

t ype amongst t hem. I need onl y name hal f - a- dozen

under and wi t h whom I mysel f have wor ked, Ar nol d,

Maur i ce, Rober t son, Ki ngsl ey, St anl ey, and Davi es, i n

pr oof of t hi s. Scor es of ot her names wi l l occur t o any -

one, of men who i nvar i abl y st and on t he Li ber al si de,

t hr ough good and evi l r epor t , such as Fr aser , Templ e,

Pat t i son, Br adl ey, Fr emant l e, Jowet t , M. But l er ,

St opf or d Br ooke, Br ooke Lamber t , Hansar d, Har r y

Jones, and Per ci val . Why, I coul d r un on t o a hundr ed

of my own acquai nt ance, wer e i t wor t h whi l e. I don' t

know wher e you wi l l f i nd a hi gher and bet t er sampl e

of what Li ber al s shoul d be t han such men as t hese.

And i f I am t ol d t hat many, or , at any r at e, t hat t he

most di st i ngui shed, of t hem have been suspect ed — t hat

t he Chur ch ( meani ng t he domi nant sect i on of t he

Chur ch f or t he t i me bei ng) has t r i ed t o get r i d of t hem,

and woul d be onl y t oo gl ad t o do so st i l l — I r epl y t hat

t hi s, so f ar f r om weakeni ng, i s al l i n f avour of my ar -

gument . For t hese men have been abl e t o hol d t hei r

1 68 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

gr ound, t o speak t hei r mi nds, and t ake t hei r l i ne, f r eel y

and f ear l essl y, j ust because t hei r Chur ch i s nat i onal .

Page 99 of 132

The day t hat i t ceases t o be so wi l l be t he begi nni ng

of a t i me when such ser vi ce as t hey have done, and

ar e doi ng, f or t he nat i on, wi l l become mor e and mor e

di f f i cul t . I say " f or t he nat i on, " because, of cour se, t hey

wi l l be st i l l abl e t o do t he ki nd of wor k whi ch l eadi ng

Di ssent i ng mi ni st er s ar e doi ng f or sel ect congr egat i ons.

I am gl ad t o acknowl edge t he st r ong l i ber al sym-

pat hi es and t eachi ng of such men as Mr . Bal dwi n

Br own, Mr . Newman Hal l , Dr . Al l on, and ot her l ead-

i ng Di ssent i ng mi ni st er s. I bel i eve i t t o be t hor oughl y

genui ne and consci ent i ous, and t hat no congr egat i onal

pr essur e woul d i nduce t hem t o change i t . But , never t he-

l ess, t he f act r emai ns, t hat t hey ar e i n f ul l sympat hy wi t h

t hei r own congr egat i ons i n t hei r pol i t i cal Li ber al i sm

— t hat t hi s i s what t he peopl e who gat her r ound t hem

want t o hear , and t hei r at t ent i on i s mai nl y f i xed upon

t hese peopl e — and al l I mai nt ai n i s, t hat t he t heol ogi cal

( not t he pol i t i cal ) at mospher e i s f r eer i n whi ch t he

Chur ch par son br eat hes, and t he gr ound br oader and

f i r mer upon whi ch he st ands. Dr . Par ker or Mr . Dal e

may be j ust as good Li ber al pol i t i ci ans as Dean

St anl ey, f or i nst ance ; up t o a cer t ai n poi nt , ar e i ndeed,

f ar mor e cer t ai n t o be f ound on t he si de of popul ar

Li ber al cr i es : but , as Li ber al t heol ogi ans, t hey cannot

be compar ed f or a moment . I ndeed, as f ar as I am

awar e, t her e i s no man amongst Engl i sh Noncon-

f or mi st mi ni st er s ( al ways except i ng Mr . Mar t i neau)

who has any cl ai m — or i ndeed who has shown any

desi r e t o asser t a cl ai m — t o t hat t i t l e.

THEOLOGI CAL LI BERALI SM. 169

I do not suppose t hat any Li ber at i oni st woul d deny

t hi s as t o t heol ogy. The Soci et y, i ndeed, put s f or war d

as one of t he r easons f or bel ongi ng t o i t , t hat i t " ai ms

t o demol i sh gr eat hi ndr ances t o t hat f r eedom of t hought

and l oyal t y t o consci ence, whi ch ar e essent i al t o nobl e

l i vi ng, nat i onal and r el i gi ous. " But i t i s obvi ous t hat

t hese wor ds ar e not i nt ended t o cover f r eedom of

t hought on t heol ogi cal subj ect s, because one of t hei r

mai n ar gument s agai nst t he Chur ch i s f ounded on t he

( t o t hem) scandal ous l axi t y of her doct r i ne, and st i l l

mor e scandal ous f r eedom of her t hought . " The doc -

t r i ne of t he Chur ch of Engl and, " wr i t es Mr . Par ki nson

i ndi gnant l y, " gi ves r oom f or t he ut most pl ay of t heo-

l ogi cal l i mb. Wi t hi n i t s boundar i es al l phases of

f ai t h may di spor t t hemsel ves. " " The bel i ef of t he

cl er gy of t he Chur ch of Engl and at pr esent r anges

t hr ough ever y shade bet ween Ul t r amont ani sm and

At hei sm, " mour ns a Canadi an Li ber at i oni st . The

Li ber at or , cont r ast i ng t he Scot ch wi t h t he Engl i sh

Est abl i shment , sneer s at a Chur ch, " so br oad as t o be

pr act i cal l y cr eedl ess ; so compr ehensi ve t hat scept i cs

or unbel i ever s may f i nd i n i t an undi st ur bed home. "

" Tal k of an Act of Uni f or mi t y, " excl ai ms t he Rev. J. G.

Roger s, " why you wi l l f i nd as many di f f er ent shades

i n t he Est abl i shment as you wi l l i n al l t he Di ssent i ng

Communi t i es. " I mi ght mul t i pl y quot at i ons t o any

ext ent , pr ovi ng t hat t he " st r ai t gat e and nar r ow

way " i s pr ef er r ed by our Nonconf or mi st s, not onl y i n

conduct , but i n f ai t h ; but i t woul d be wast e of t i me.

Page 100 of 132

Now t hese f act s poi nt t o one or t wo concl usi ons

as t o t he Conser vat i sm of t he Chur ch cl er gy. Fi r st ,

170 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

t hat i t i s i n t he mai n pol i t i cal , and t her ef or e of com-

par at i vel y l i t t l e i mpor t ance. What i s of nat i onal

i mpor t ance i n r egar d t o pr of essi onal men i s, t hat

t hey shoul d be Li ber al on t hei r own speci al sub-

j ect s, whi ch t hey do, or ought t o, under st and, and

on whi ch, at any r at e, t hey ar e t he acknowl edged

aut hor i t i es, and not on subj ect s on whi ch t hey ar e no

gr eat er aut hor i t i es t han ot her men. Secondl y, t hat

t he Chur ch cl er gy ar e as a r ul e mor e Li ber al t han

Nonconf or mi st mi ni st er s on t heol ogi cal quest i ons, or ,

i f t hi s be deni ed, at any r at e t hat a sect i on of t hem

ar e mor e Li ber al , and Thi r dl y, t hat t hey ar e mor e

Li ber al because t hey ar e nat i onal of f i cer s.

For , i f i t be not t hat t he pr of essi onal at mospher e and

sur r oundi ngs i n t he Est abl i shed Chur ch ar e l ar ger and

f r eer t han t hose of t he Vol unt ar y Chur ches, i t must be

because t he men t hemsel ves ar e by nat ur e bi gger men

— mor e open t o new l i ght , mor e cour ageous, mor e t ol e-

r ant — whi ch I f or one do not f or a moment bel i eve.

And so, t o r et ur n t o t he poi nt f r om whi ch we st ar t ed,

I mai nt ai n, t hat i n t he event of di sest abl i shment , t her e

i s ever y r eason t o f ear t hat t he wor k whi ch Li ber al

pr of essi onal t heol ogi ans have done her et of or e f or t he

nat i on woul d be done no l onger : f or , when t he Chur ch

has l ost i t s nat i onal char act er , and been nar r owed i nt o

a sect , we may expect t hat i t s cl er gy wi l l , gr adual l y

per haps, but cer t ai nl y, become mor e and mor e l i ke

t hei r Nonconf or mi st br et hr en — not mor e Li ber al

pr obabl y i n pol i t i cs t han t hey ar e now, and cer t ai nl y

l ess so i n t heol ogy.

So f ar as one can j udge f r om exper i ence, t he nat i on

RESI STANCE TO CHANGE. I / I

woul d l ose i t s Ar nol ds and Maur i ces, i t s St anl eys and

Jowet t s, wi t hout bei ng by any means sur e of get t i ng

Bi nneys i n exchange. I gi ve no opi ni on as t o whi ch

ki nd of men ar e t he mor e val uabl e t o t he nat i on. No

one quest i ons t he val ue of ei t her ; why not keep bot h ?

Chur ch Resi st ance t o Change.

But how do I r econci l e my vi ews wi t h t he f act t hat

t he hi st or y of t he Est abl i shed Chur ch has been one of

cont i nual r esi st ance t o whol esome changes, and t o t he

r emoval of unwhol esome r est r ai nt s. Wel l , I am not

concer ned t o deny t hat t her e i s much t r ut h i n t hi s

i ndi ct ment , i f we subst i t ut e t he wor d cl er gy f or Chur ch ;

but t hen t o do so woul d cont r adi ct t he ver y i dea of a

Nat i onal Chur ch. I t i s t he i ndol ence and apat hy of

t he nat i on, r epr esent ed by Par l i ament , whi ch has

Page 101 of 132

enabl ed a maj or i t y of t he nat i onal cl er gy t o r esi st

changes, and t o per pet uat e abuses. The nat i on has

t r i ed t o shuf f l e of f t he dut y of at t endi ng t o i t s own

hi ghest busi ness, and t he usual penal t i es have f ol l owed.

Let us t ake t he l ast , and most pr omi nent , i nst ance of

t hi s st at e of t hi ngs, t he dr aggi ng on year af t er year of

t he Bur i al s Bi l l cont r over sy. No doubt t her e has

been some excuse i n t hi s case f or i ndol ence and

apat hy on t he nat i on' s par t , because t he gr i evance i s

not one whi ch has any gr eat subst ance of r eal i t y i n i t ,

and Engl i shmen gener al l y don' t car e t o exer t t hem-

sel ves much when i t i s onl y a quest i on of gi vi ng a

t r i umph t o one or anot her set of somewhat nar r ow

and unr easonabl e pr of essi onal di sput ant s. But when

t he poor st r aw had been t hr eshed over agai n and

1/ 2 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

agai n, some modi cum of gr ai n was l ef t on t he f l oor .

Ther e r emai ns a j ust cl ai m on t he par t of Noncon-

f or mi st s who choose t o exer ci se t hei r r i ght as Engl i sh

Chr i st i ans of bur yi ng t hei r dead i n t he Nat i onal chur ch-

yar ds, t hat t hey shoul d be f r ee t o use a ser vi ce t her e

whi ch t hey do appr ove, and not one whi ch t hey do not .

The l ay Chur ch consci ence, i n a l azy way, has come

t o acknowl edge t hi s at l ast , and t o r esol ve t hat r i ght

shal l be done. But Li ber at i oni st s may say, t he l ay

consci ence has been ver y sl ow t o r ecogni se t hi s r i ght .

Tr ue. But how woul d t he quest i on st and, i f i t had had

t o wai t f or t he pr of essi onal consci ence ? Ther e i s no

si gn what ever t hat t he " No sur r ender " cr y has l ost i t s

power wi t h t he body of t he cl er gy, t hough a consi der abl e

number have been st aunch advocat es f r om t he f i r st of

t he nat i onal pol i cy of wel comi ng t hei r Nonconf or mi st

br et hr en t o a f ul l shar e i n t he common i nher i t ance.

Fr om t hi s, and ot her i nst ances whi ch mi ght be easi l y

added, but whi ch most r eader s wi l l be abl e t o suppl y

f or t hemsel ves, we may f ai r l y concl ude t hat Convoca-

t i ons, Synods, and ot her bodi es composed mai nl y of

Eccl esi ast i cs, wi l l shar e t he di sposi t i on of ot her pr o-

f essi onal bodi es, such as t he I nns of Cour t , t o t ake

nar r ow pr of essi onal , r at her t han br oad nat i onal , vi ews

of quest i ons whi ch t ouch t hei r own r eal , or supposed,

i nt er est s. And i t woul d seem t o be a st r ange ki nd

of r ef or m, l ooki ng t o nat i onal i nt er est s, t o pr ovi de t hat ,

f or t he f ut ur e, pr of essi ons shal l be l ef t mor e t o t hem-

sel ves, t he nat i on abandoni ng even t hat cont r ol whi ch

i t has hi t her t o exer ci sed. Pr eci sel y t he cont r ar y

met hod seems t o be t he t r uer and mor e whol esome

THE NATI ON AND PROFESSI ONS. 1/ 3

one, and, i ndeed, t he onl y one whi ch i s i n accor d wi t h

t he movement and t endency of moder n l i f e.

I n shor t , al l exper i ence i n Engl and, i f not el sewher e,

war ns us, t hat i f r esi st ance t o whol esome changes, and

t o t he r emoval of unwhol esome r est r ai nt , i n any depar t -

Page 102 of 132

ment of nat i onal l i f e i s t o be over come, i t must be

by t he nat i on. I t i s t he nat i on whi ch has kept t he

Chur ch of Engl and t he wi dest of al l r el i gi ous com-

muni ons, t he one whi ch has made mor e whol esome

changes, and r emoved mor e unwhol esome r est r ai nt s,

t han any ot her , j ust because t he nat i on has cont r ol l ed

t he pr of essi on on al l cr i t i cal occasi ons. Let me

r emi nd you of one mor e t ypi cal i nst ance, t he act i on of

t he pr of essi on and of t he nat i on at t he t i me of t he con-

t r over sy on ' Essays and Revi ews/ That cont r over sy

cul mi nat ed i n t he pr osecut i on of t wo of t he cl er i cal

aut hor s i n t he Ar ches Cour t , and af t er war ds, on appeal ,

bef or e t he Pr i vy Counci l . The nat i on, r epr esent ed by,

and act i ng t hr ough, t he hi ghest Cour t of t he r eal m,

di smi ssed ever y one of t he t hi r t y- t wo or i gi nal char ges,

al t hough car ef ul l y abst ai ni ng f r om any expr essi on of

appr oval of t he book, or of t he vi ews whi ch t hey had

t hus sol emnl y decl ar ed t o be l awf ul f or mi ni st er s of

t he Chur ch t o hol d. But , whi l e t he nat i on, scar cel y

conceal i ng i t s appr ehensi on of what i t never t hel ess

f el t i t sel f const r ai ned t o bear wi t h, st ood t hus f i r ml y

on t he si de of t ol er at i on and char i t y, no l ess t han

I i , ooo of t he cl er gy — a maj or i t y of t he whol e of t he

pr of essi on i n 1865 — j oi ned i n a decl ar at i on as t o

what " t he whol e Cat hol i c Chur ch hol ds wi t hout r e-

ser ve or qual i f i cat i on. " Thi s pr eci ous document , i f i t

174 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

coul d have been made bi ndi ng, woul d have dr i ven pr o-

babl y a t hi r d of t he cl er gy, and t wo- t hi r ds of t he l ai t y,

out of t he Nat i onal Chur ch f our t een year s ago. I t

was i gnor ed : and so Canon Far r ar , and ot her or t hodox

popul ar pr eacher s, ar e now pr ocl ai mi ng wi t hout r eser ve

or qual i f i cat i on, doct r i nes on " t he I nspi r at i on of Scr i p-

t ur e, " and " t he ever l ast i ng puni shment of t he cur sed "

( t he t wo cr uci al quest i ons bef or e t he Pr i vy Counci l

on t hat t r i al ) whi ch ar e qui t e abr east of anyt hi ng i n

' Essays and Revi ews, ' but exci t e scar cel y a mur mur

or r emonst r ance even i n r el i gi ous newspaper s.

And so, l ooki ng back over our eccl esi ast i cal hi st or y,

who wi l l be bol d enough t o asser t , t hat any of t he

whol esome changes whi ch have been made si nce t he

Tol er at i on Act , woul d have been made at al l , or any

of t he unwhol esome r est r ai nt s r emoved, by any eccl e-

si ast i cal convent i on or synod ? But does what hol ds

t r ue of t he Chur ch appl y wi t h anyt hi ng l i ke equal f or ce

t o t he sect s ? Has t he gover ni ng body of any of t he

vol unt ar y r el i gi ous denomi nat i ons of our count r y done

anyt hi ng i n t hese t r yi ng t i mes f or t he r el i ef of t he

consci ences of mi ni st er s or peopl e, whi ch can be named

wi t h t he Subscr i pt i on Act of 1865, by whi ch t he

Nat i onal Legi sl at ur e f r eed t he Nat i onal cl er gy f r om

t he " unwhol esome r est r ai nt s " under whi ch t hey had

l ai n si nce t he passi ng of t he Act of Uni f or mi t y ?

So f ar at l east as I am awar e, t he f r eedom whi ch

has t hus been gi ven by t he nat i on t o t he Chur ch, i s

l ooked upon r at her wi t h cont empt by t he Noncon-

f or mi st s, who r egar d t he " gener al assent " now r equi r ed

of candi dat es f or or di nat i on as t oo col our l ess and

Page 103 of 132

PROTESTANT I NFALLI BI LI TY. 1 75

vague t o be of any pr act i cal val ue, and i mmeasur abl y

i nf er i or t o t hei r own wi nnowi ng and si f t i ng pr ocesses.

Li ber at i oni st s ar e i n t he habi t , i ndeed, of boast i ng

of t hei r gr eat er f r eedom, but i t i s not easy t o di scover

i n what pr eci se sense t hey use t he wor d. For t hei r

cl er gy, i nst ead of havi ng t he publ i c l aw of t hei r

count r y t o r el y on, and gover n t hemsel ves by, ar e

bound t o consul t t he wi shes, and t oo of t en t he whi ms

and capr i ces, of bodi es, whose r esi st ance t o change i n

doct r i ne, di sci pl i ne, or r i t ual , i s at l east as st r ong as

t hat of t he cl er gy of t he Est abl i shment . No doubt

t her e ar e amongst t hem men st r ong enough t o make

changes, and t o def y t hei r deacons, el der s, or ot her

aut hor i t i es. Thus Mr . Spur geon can af f or d t o de-

nounce deacons i n l anguage at l east as ar r ogant as any

addr essed by t he Hi gh Chur ch newspaper s t o bi shops,

f or dar i ng t o obj ect t o a change made i n t he or der

of hi s ser vi ce, wi t hout t hei r appr oval , by a br ot her

I ndependent mi ni st er .

And, i n t hi s par t i cul ar . Ri t ual i sm no doubt l ooks

f ondl y t owar ds Nonconf or mi t y. Mr . Spur geon i s

pr act i cal l y as i nf al l i bl e as t he Pope ; can change t he

or der and met hod of hi s ser vi ces, and pr each and do

what he pl eases. And i t i s t hi s ki nd of f r eedom,

envi ed by Ri t ual i st s, whi ch makes t he Abbe Mar t i n

e5cul t t hat t he dogma of I nf al l i bi l i t y wi l l not pr ove

any gr eat st umbl i ng- bl ock t o t hem. " What i s t her e

i n i t whi ch can l ong wi t hhol d t hem . ?" he wr i t es, " an

i nf al l i bl e Pope ! Those amongst t hemsel ves whom

t hey deem i nf al l i bl e may be count ed by hundr eds. "

Whi l e t he Rock newspaper chaf es over t he same

176 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

phenomenon, " Mr . Mackonochi e i s i nf al l i bl e, so ar e

Mr . Bennet t , Dr . Lee, Dr . Pusey ; al l t he Ri t ual i st s

ar e i nf al l i bl e, i n spi t e of t he di f f i cul t i es whi ch di vi de

t hem. Each pr i est i s a pope t o hi msel f , and t o hi s

congr egat i on. "

The Li ber at i on Soci et y.

I have sai d t hat , wi t h al l t he r espect whi ch I

si ncer el y ent er t ai n f or many ar dent member s of t he

Li ber at i on Soci et y, I cannot l ook upon t hei r move-

ment as a t hor oughl y honest and bond f i de one, f or t hey

mar ch t o some ext ent under f al se col our s.

To begi n t hen : t ake t hei r name, and avowed obj ect .

They ar e Li ber at or s ; per sons who ar e banded t oget her

t o set some ot her per sons f r ee : f or , t o t al k about set t i ng

r el i gi on i n t he abst r act f r ee i s nonsense. Who ar e

t hese ot her per sons } Why, you ! t hey r epl y ; you, poor

ensl aved and del uded member s of what you ar e

pl eased t o cal l t he Nat i onal Chur ch. I t i s out of

Page 104 of 132

r egar d and consi der at i on f or you, and f or your Chur ch,

whi ch we val ue ver y hi ghl y, and whose wor k, especi -

al l y of l at e year s, we cor di al l y admi r e, t hat we desi r e

t o l i ber at e you.

Wel l , t hat i s ver y t hought f ul and ki nd of you

Li ber at i oni st s ; but f r om what ar e you goi ng t o set us

f r ee } Fr om t he i nt er f er ence and shackl es of t he

St at e, i s t he r epl y. Good. But suppose we don' t want ,

or ask f or , your hel p i n t hi s di r ect i on, but hol d i t t o

be bet t er f or t he Chur ch of whi ch we ar e member s, as

wel l as f or t he St at e of whi ch we ar e member s, t hat

t hi s i nt er f er ence, and t hese shackl es as you cal l t hem.

STATE OPPRESSI ON. 1/ 7

shoul d exi st , t hen as t hey don' t af f ect you, we woul d

r espect f ul l y ask when i t became t he mi ssi on of

advanced Li ber al s t o f r ee peopl e agai nst t hei r wi l l ?

Ther e has ar i sen, i ndeed, I admi t , i n t he Nat i onal

Chur ch wi t hi n t he l ast t wo or t hr ee year s, a par t y who

ar e cr yi ng out f or t he sever ance of Chur ch and St at e,

so t hat at l ast t he Li ber at i oni st s may pose wi t h some

sembl ance of t r ut h as del i ver er s, r escuer s of t he op-

pr essed. But t hese oppr essed ar e young pr i est s, bent

on def yi ng aut hor i t y, and asser t i ng t hei r pr i est l y cl ai ms

as a cl ass — not pr eci sel y t he per sons whom Engl i shmen

i n gener al desi r e t o see t aken f r om under cont r ol .

But wi l l Li ber at i oni st s ser i ousl y pr et end t hat t hey ar e

pai ned by t hese gr i evances of t hese ext r eme Ri t ual i st

cl er gy > t hat t hey cannot possess t hei r own soul s or

pul pi t s i n peace because of t he oppr essi on of t hei r

Ri t ual i st br et hr en of t he Est abl i shment , under t he

Publ i c Wor shi p Regul at i on Act ? When i t sui t s t hei r

pur pose, t her e ar e no such st er n denouncer s of t he

Ri t ual i st s as t hey. I do not car e t o pr ess t hi s poi nt ;

but when t hey ext end t hei r sol i ci t ude t o us poor

Chur ch- f ol k gener al l y, one f eel s i ncl i ned t o commend

t o t hei r consi der at i on Hosea Bi gl ow' s r emonst r ance

wi t h hi s nei ghbour s i n t he Amer i can ci vi l war , when

t hey cr i ed out agai nst Li ncol n' s pr ocl amat i on of f r ee-

dom t o t he sl aves :

" But why shoul d we ki ck up a muss

About t he Pr es' dent ' s pr ocl amat i on?

I t ai n' t a- goi ng t o l i ber at e us

Ef we don' t want no ' manci pat i on.

The r i ght t o be a cussed f ool

I s f r ee f r om al l devi ces human,

And common as a gi n' r ' l r ul e"

To ever y cr i t t er bor n of woman. "

N

1/ 8 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

Page 105 of 132

I t i s no par t of any Li ber al pr ogr amme t hat I ever

hear d of t hat my " r i ght t o be a cussed f ool " shoul d be

meddl ed wi t h, unl ess, i ndeed, i t hi nder s my nei ghbour

f r om bei ng a wi se man. Wel l , t hen, i f t he Li ber at i oni st s

can pr ove t hat t hey ar e hi nder ed i n pr eachi ng, pr ayi ng,

or any act of wor shi p — f r om el ect i ng, payi ng, and di s-

ci pl i ni ng t hei r cl er gy and f l ocks i n what ever way seems

good t o t hem — l et t hem onl y make t hi s cl ear t o me,

and I as a Li ber al wi l l hel p t hem t o get t he hi ndr ance

out of t hei r pat hs, t o knock of f t hese " shackl es, " as t hey

l i ke t o cal l t hem ; onl y maki ng i t cl ear t hat i t i s of f

t hei r ankl es I am knocki ng t hem, and not of f mi ne. So

f ar t hey may f ai r l y r eckon on a uni t ed Li ber al par t y

wi t h t hem, as t hey have al r eady upon t he Bur i al s Bi l l ,

and, as I bel i eve t hey wi l l have i n t he f ut ur e, when

t hey cl ai m t he use of chur ches and cat hedr al s, under

pr oper nat i onal cont r ol .

But when t hey pose as t he del i ver er s of nat i onal

Chur chmen f r om t he cont r ol of t he nat i on i n eccl e-

si ast i cal af f ai r s, t he i r ony i s not of a ki nd whi ch i s easy

t o appr eci at e, or l i kel y t o l ead t o any good r esul t .

The f act i s, t hat t hi s pr of essi on of consi der at i on f or

t he Chur ch— t hi s sl i de whi ch t he l eader s of t he Li ber a-

t i on Soci et y ar e al ways r eady t o pul l out when i t

seems t o be t he r i ght one f or t he moment — i mpor t s a

di sagr eeabl e el ement i nt o t he cont r over sy. I don' t

pr et end t o l i ke Mr . Spur geon' s met hods of at t ack, and

wonder t hat so good- nat ur ed and abl e a gent l eman

( not t o say so el oquent and zeal ous a mi ni st er ) shoul d

al l ow hi msel f not onl y t o say, but del i ber at el y t o pr i nt

and ci r cul at e such t hi ngs f or i nst ance as t hese, t hat

LI BERATI ONI ST AMENI TI ES. 1 79

" t o r avi ne l i ke a wol f and t o pl under l i ke a f r eeboot er

has been t he pecul i ar pr er ogat i ve of t he Chur ch of

Engl and" " No Chur ch ever at e di r t mor e abundant l y

t han our bel oved Chur ch of Engl and ; her capaci t y f or

humi l i at i on i s i nf i ni t e. " &c. , &c. ,

But t hi s ki nd of t al k does no har m at al l t o any one

but t he speaker , and i s at any r at e st r ai ght f or war d and

above boar d, and t her ef or e t o my mi nd, even as a

mat t er of t ast e, i nf i ni t el y pr ef er abl e t o al l t he l abour ed

expr essi ons of anxi et y f or t he good of t he Chur ch,

i n whi ch ot her Li ber at i oni st l eader s ar e i n t he habi t

of i ndul gi ng.

And t hi s want of st r ai ght f or war d candour seems

t o col our a gr eat deal of t he act i on and speech of t he

Soci et y. — The subj ect i s an unpl easant one, and i t i s

wi t h r egr et t hat I have t o not i ce i t i n connect i on wi t h

t he names of ver y abl e and ear nest men, most of t hem,

t oo, mi ni st er s of t he Gospel . Nor do I f or a moment

bel i eve t hat t hey ar e consci ous of t he i nsi ncer i t y i n

t hei r advocacy whi ch st r i kes byst ander s. But when

we f i nd a man of t he char act er and r eput at i on of Mr .

Dal e, who, i n addr essi ng Chur chmen i s as sof t spoken

and compl i ment ar y as you pl ease, per mi t t i ng hi msel f

t o appeal t o t he cupi di t y of t he mob, i n hi s eager ness

Page 106 of 132

t o car r y t hem t o hi s concl usi ons, i t i s a sad pr oof of

t he l engt hs t o whi ch par t i sanshi p i n t hi s movement

wi l l l ead even t he best men.

Agai n and agai n Mr . Dal e has pr ot est ed t hat t he

Li ber at i oni st s " r epudi at e t he al l i ance of t he baser

passi ons, " t hat t hey have * ' no of f er s t o t empt t he

unscr upul ous or needy, " and yet he does not hesi t at e

N 2

l 80 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

t o suggest t o a gr eat publ i c meet i ng how much a head

t he r evenues of t he Chur ch woul d come t o i f di vi ded

amongst t he peopl e. I wi l l gi ve t he wor ds t o show

t hat I am not exagger at i ng. The speech was made

at Nor wi ch. Af t er al l udi ng t o t he di f f i cul t y of

est i mat i ng Chur ch r evenues, and t aki ng t hem as be-

t ween f i ve and si x mi l l i ons a year , he goes on, " as

Mr . Chamber l ai n sai d at Shef f i el d t he ot her day, t hi s

means t hat i f t he r evenues of t he Chur ch of Engl and

when t he pr esent vest ed i nt er est s expi r e wer e appr o-

pr i at ed t o l ocal pur poses, i t woul d amount t o about

f i ve shi l l i ngs a head f or ever y man, woman, and chi l d.

I am t ol d t hat a penny r at e i n Nor wi ch pr oduces about

i ^ i 200 a year , and i f you had t hese eccl esi ast i cal

r evenues f or t he ci t y t hey woul d equal t he sum r ai sed

by a I S. 6d. r at e. Thi s i s a pr act i cal r eason f or

get t i ng t hem. I don' t know what you woul d do wi t h

t he money i f you had i t , " &c. &c.

Mr . Dal e' s exampl e i s f ol l owed by ot her Li ber a- ,

t i oni st or at or s, whom I do not quot e, because, as he

pr obabl y woul d be al l owed i n al l r espect s t o st and

f i r st amongst t hem, t her e i s no need t o st r engt hen

t he case by t he exampl e of smal l er men. Any of

you who car e t o pur sue t he i nqui r y f ar t her may f i nd

t he subj ect f ul l y t r eat ed i n a pamphl et , ent i t l ed,

' The Cur i osi t i es of Li ber at i on Li t er at ur e, ' by t he Rev.

E. Whi t ehouse, wher e t he i nconsi st ent and cont r a-

di ct or y vi ews and ar gument s of t hei r wr i t er s and

speaker s ar e br ought t oget her , and r anged i n par al l el

col umns.

I onl y not e t hi s par t i cul ar i nst ance because i t bear s

LI BERATI ONI ST VI EWS. 1 8 1

on t hat par t of t he subj ect whi ch i s l i kel y t o exci t e

most i nt er est i n t he count r y, and shows how Li ber a-

t i oni st s ar e i n t he habi t of f i ght i ng t hei r bat t l e. They

have t wo or t hr ee vi ews as t o Chur ch pr oper t y, whi ch

i s r epr esent ed at one t i me as gi ven t o t he nat i on f or

r el i gi ous pur poses ; at anot her as gi ven by t he nat i on

t o a f avour ed sect ; somet i mes as havi ng a vol unt ar y,

at ot her t i mes a compul sor y or i gi n. But i t i s not on

di f f er ences of opi ni on upon such di f f i cul t subj ect s as

t he or i gi n of t i t hes, &c. , t hat we have a r i ght t o l ook

f or consi st ent vi ews. What we have a r i ght t o ask i s

Page 107 of 132

t hat t hey shal l not f i ght under t wo or t hr ee di f f er ent

f l ags, as t o t he appl i cat i on of Chur ch pr oper t y i n t he

f ut ur e. I t bel ongs t o t he nat i on, t hey say gener al l y,

so l et t he nat i on decl ar e what shal l be done wi t h i t ,

t o whi ch doct r i ne I f or one do not obj ect . But t he

Li ber at i on Soci et y i t seems i s t o be t he nat i on' s t eacher

i n t hi s gr eat busi ness. " We, " says Mr . Dal e, speaki ng

f or t he Soci et y, * ' mean t o pur sue our gr eat ent er pr i se,

unt i l t he t i me shal l come — i t i s not f ar di st ant — when

t he pr i nci pl es of whi ch i t i s our gl or y t o be t he

r epr esent at i ves and t he guar di ans, shal l cont r ol t he

l egi sl at i on and t he pol i cy of our count r y. "

Those who t ake such hi gh gr ound may sur el y be

asked t o say upon whi ch set of pr i nci pl es t hey mean

t o st and. When t hey cont r ol t he l egi sl at i on and pol i cy

of our count r y t hey may of cour se ei t her appr opr i at e

t he r evenues of t he Nat i onal Chur ch t o some ki nd of

r el i gi ous uses, or t o t he r el i ef of r at es, or ot her pur el y

secul ar pur poses. But as l ong as t hey t r y t o r i de

bot h hor ses at once, pl ai n f ol ks may wel l be excused

1 82 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

f or l ooki ng wi t h some di st r ust on t hem, and t he

movement t hey r epr esent .

Pol i t i cal l y, no doubt , i t i s not a bad posi t i on, because

whi l e occupyi ng i t t hey can hol d out one hand t o

secul ar i st s pur e and si mpl e, and t he ot her t o r ef or m-

i ng, or di scont ent ed. Chur chmen. But i t does not

commend i t sel f i n or di nar y men t o t he hi gh mor al

sense t o whi ch Li ber at i oni st s ar e i n t he habi t of

appeal i ng.

* * * * *

Si nce t hese pages have been i n t he pr ess an ar t i cl e

has been publ i shed by Mr . Gui nness Roger s, whi ch

i l l ust r at es i n a st r i ki ng manner what seems t o me t he

ext r aor di nar y i ncapaci t y of t he Li ber at i oni st l eader s

f or under st andi ng t he posi t i on of Li ber al Chur ch-

men. The ar t i cl e r ef er r ed t o i s a cr i t i ci sm upon,

and r epl y t o, Mr . W. E. For st er ' s speech at Br adf or d

i n December , 1877, and may, I suppose, be f ai r l y

t aken as an of f i ci al document , expr essi ng t he vi ews

and car r yi ng t he wei ght of t he Li ber at i on Soci et y.

I n t he cour se of t hi s paper Mr . Roger s f i nds

hi msel f conf r ont ed by t he par ochi al ar gument , whi ch

Mr . For st er ci t ed as one whi ch had had gr eat wei ght

wi t h hi msel f How, he had ar gued, except by a

nat i onal or gani sat i on cover i ng t he whol e count r y,

can you i nsur e t hat t he spi r i t ual needs of r emot e and

poor di st r i ct s shal l be met ? At any r at e t he Nat i onal

Chur ch does pr ovi de f or t hese.

Yes, r epl i es Mr . Roger s, t hat may be al l t r ue

enough. " Ther e may be f ew, i f any di st r i ct s i n whi ch

t her e i s not a cl er gyman accessi bl e t o al l ; but t her e

Page 108 of 132

CHRI STI AN WI LLI NGHOOD. 1 83

ar e hundr eds of cases i n whi ch he i s pr ovi ded by

Chr i st i an wi l l i nghood, not by publ i c t axat i on. "

( Ni 7t et eent h Cent ur y , p. 524. )

But how, one asks, i n ast oni shment , does t hi s af f ect

t he quest i on ? I t does not seem t o occur t o Mr .

Roger s f or a moment t hat " Chr i st i an wi l l i nghood "

can be possi bl e i n a r el i gi ous or gani sat i on, open t o

el ect and non- el ect al i ke, and suppor t ed ( as he some-

what i naccur at el y put s i t ) " by publ i c t axat i on. "

These hundr eds of cl er gy " pr ovi ded by Chr i st i an

wi l l i nghood, " must t hen, by some subt l e pr ocess

whi ch I am unabl e t o f ol l ow, be kept di st i nct f r om

t he nat i onal cl er gy. And I can qui t e see how

i mpor t ant t hi s i s t o Mr . Roger s' case ; f or , i f t he

Nat i onal Chur ch has a r i ght t o count t hem amongst

her of f i cer s, i t i s obvi ous t hat t he " Chr i st i an wi l l i ng-

hood " whi ch i s t he mai nst ay of t he sect s i s no l ess

pot ent i n t he Est abl i shment .

Possi bl y he mi ght r ef er t o t he next passage i n t he

same ar t i cl e as cont ai ni ng t he key t o hi s vi ew, and

expl ai ni ng i n what sense he woul d deny t he name of

Nat i onal cl er gy t o al l t hose who ar e not suppor t ed

by t i t hes ( t o whi ch I pr esume he r ef er s when he

speaks of " publ i c t axat i on " ) . " The St at e, " he wr i t es

( p. 524) , " has gi ven up t he at t empt t o wor k out t he

ol d i dea of an Est abl i shment , and t he pr act i cal out -

come i s t hat t he adher ent s of t he Chur ch of Engl and

suppl ement t he publ i c pr ovi si on. " The Chur ch has

gi ven up not hi ng. The ol d i dea of Est abl i shment

r emai ns pr eci sel y what i t has al ways been.

Cer t ai n i ndi vi dual Chur chmen have come f or war d t o

1 84 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

do t hi s good suppl ement ar y wor k, but t hey have

onl y been abl e t o do i t , or al l owed t o do i t , by means

of nat i onal machi ner y, and by pr esent i ng t he nat i on

wi t h t he l ar ge sums necessar y f or t he pur pose. And,

so f ar f r om i t bei ng t he f act t hat t he St at e has gi ven

up t he at t empt t o wor k out t he i dea of an Est abl i sh-

ment , we have onl y t o gl ance at what has been done,

and i s i n pr ogr ess, i n subdi vi di ng di oceses and par i shes,

and br i ngi ng t he nat i onal spi r i t ual machi ner y up t o a

l evel wi t h t he wor k, t o convi nce our sel ves t hat t her e

was never mor e " Chr i st i an wi l l i nghood " i n t he nat i on,

or a st r onger f eel i ng t hat Chur ch wor k i s of no pr i vat e,

but of a nat i onal char act er .

I f one, or a dozen, or f i f t y Engl i shmen j oi n t o-

get her , and f i nd f unds f or bui l di ng a chur ch, and

endowi ng i t , t hey cannot move a st ep t owar ds t hei r

obj ect except t hr ough t he machi ner y pr ovi ded by t he

St at e. They must compl y wi t h a number of con-

di t i ons pr escr i bed by st at ut e bef or e t hey can obt ai n

assi st ance or r ecogni t i on f r om t he St at e : but , when

Page 109 of 132

t hey have compl i ed wi t h t hem t hat assi st ance and

r ecogni t i on i s f or t hcomi ng. The ut most t hat t he

Li ber at i oni st s can mai nt ai n wi t h any t r ut h i s, t hat

t he St at e has gi ven up pr ovi di ng money by t axat i on

f or t hi s par t of t he nat i on' s publ i c busi ness. No

doubt , i f t hey coul d go on t o say, " t he St at e no

l onger suppl i es t he necessar y f unds, and so t hey ar e

not f or t hcomi ng, and never wi l l be t i l l you gi ve up

your f ool i sh i deal ; t hen you wi l l see what t he f r ee

hand of vol unt ar yi sm wi l l do f or you, " t he posi t i on

woul d be a st r ong one. But unl ucki l y f or t hei r case

CHRI STI AN WI LLI NGHOOD. 1 85

t he pr eci se cont r ar y i s t r ue. The ol d par ochi al

machi ner y i s st i l l vi gor ous t hr oughout t he count r y,

mai nt ai ni ng i t s pl ace i n t he const i t ut i on wi t h l ess

f r i ct i on t han al most any ot her par t of t he goi ng gear ,

and adapt i ng i t sel f easi l y t o new condi t i ons of l i f e,

whi l e, wher ever r eadj ust ment s of t hat machi ner y ar e

needed, t he ext r a bands, wheel s, and oi l ar e ei t her

al r eady i n hand ( i n t he shape of such f unds as Queen

Anne' s Bount y, and t he pr oper t y vest ed i n t he Eccl esi -

ast i cal and Char i t y Commi ssi oner s) , or ar e f ound by

" Chr i st i an wi l l i nghood. ' * I n ei t her case t he new ma-

chi ner y becomes a par t of t he nat i onal t r ust pr oper t y,

hel d by nat i onal of f i cer s, f or nat i onal pur poses.

I n t he case of a l i ke ef f or t on t he par t of Wes -

l eyans or Bapt i st s, t he new machi ner y al so becomes

t r ust pr oper t y, but t he t r ust s ar e l i mi t ed t o cer t ai n

speci f i ed per sons, and cl asses of per sons, whi l e

t he nat i on i s car ef ul l y excl uded f r om any shar e i n t he

benef i t s ; and, as f ar as possi bl e, f r om any cont r ol

over t he admi ni st r at i on or di sposi t i on of t he pr oper t y.

" Chr i st i an wi l l i nghood " i s an admi r abl e t hi ng i n

bot h cases, but sur el y not l ess so wher e i t wor ks f or

a di st i nct l y nat i onal obj ect .

A Br oad Chur chman.

( Ext r act f r om Addr ess on Char l es Ki ngsl ey, del i ver ed

t o t he Mi dl and I nst i t ut e^ December 3, 1877. )

But t her e ar e ot her si des of hi s mi ni st r y of mor e

i mpor t ance at t he pr esent moment ( and especi al l y i n

t hi s pl ace) t o whi ch I must devot e t he shor t t i me t hat

1 86 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

i s l ef t me. A t i me of t r i al i s at hand i n Engl and f or

t he f ai t h whi ch Ki ngsl ey hel d so f i r ml y, and f or t he

Chur ch of whi ch he was so l ovi ng and l oyal an of f i cer .

I t shoul d, I t hi nk, be t he f i r st dut y of one who i s asked

t o speak of t he man t o such an audi ence as t hi s, t o

br i ng out as wel l as he can hi s vi ews upon t he gr eat

i ssues whi ch, t hr eat eni ng i n hi s t i me, ar e now ap-

par ent l y upon us i n ear nest .

Page 110 of 132

The f i r st of t hese i s t he quest i on of a Nat i onal

Chur ch. I s i t f or good, or f or evi l , t hat t hi s nat i on

has f or a t housand year s mai nt ai ned what we cal l

an est abl i shment of r el i gi on } What di d Char l es

Ki ngsl ey hol d as t o t hi s }

I am awar e of cour se t hat I am speaki ng i n a ci t y

whi ch i s t he st r onghol d of t hose who answer t hat

quest i on wi t h a conf i dent and passi onat e, " Cut i t

down ; why cumber et h i t t he gr ound. " But I cannot

bel i eve t hat wher e so much has been done t o honour

t hi s man, and t o per pet uat e hi s t eachi ng i n ot her

di r ect i ons — wher e, as i s pr oved by my own pr esence

her e t hi s eveni ng, and t he audi ence whi ch f i l l s t hi s

hal l , men and women ar e anxi ous st i l l t o dwel l on

hi s memor y, and keep i t al i ve, — t her e wi l l be any

unwi l l i ngness t o hear and consi der what he had t o

say upon a subj ect , whi ch he had t hought on as

car ef ul l y, and whi ch was even near er hi s hear t , t han

sani t ar y r ef or m. Fi r st , t hen, l et me gi ve you one or

t wo quot at i ons, whi ch wi l l , I t hi nk, put you at once

i n a posi t i on t o under st and hi s vi ew of t he mat t er .

Wr i t i ng t o Thomas Cooper t he Char t i st ( of whom he

had made a st eadf ast f r i end by gener ous ai d i n hi s

CHARLES KI NGSLEY. 1 8/

sor est need, and who had sent hi m a copy of hi s

* Pl ai n Pul pi t Tal k ' ) , Ki ngsl ey says : " I see i n i t t he

t hor ough, r i ght ol d mor al i t y — common t o Pur i t ans,

ol d Angl i can Chur chmen, apost l es and pr ophet s — t hat

you hol d r i ght t o be i nf i ni t el y r i ght , and wr ong i n-

f i ni t el y wr ong ; t hat you cal l a spade a spade, and

t al k t o men about t he r eal pl agues of t hei r own

hear t s. My dear f r i end, go on and do t hat , and,

whet her you cal l your sel f Bapt i st or Buddhi st , I shal l

wel come you as one who i s doi ng t he wor k of God,

and f i ght i ng i n t he bat t l e of t he Lor d, who makes

war i n r i ght eousness. But mor e — you ar e no Buddhi st ,

not even an Uni t ar i an. I happen t o be, f r om r eason

and sci ence, as wel l as f r om Scr i pt ur e and Cat hol i c

t r adi t i on, an or t hodox t heol ogi an, and t o val ue or -

t hodoxy mor e t he mor e I t hi nk, f or i t s own sake.

And i t was a sol i d pl easur e t o me t o f i nd you or -

t hodox. But my dear f r i end, what ever you do, don' t

advocat e di sest abl i shi ng us. We ar e t he most l i ber al

r el i gi ous body i n t hese r eal ms. I n our pal e men can

meet who can meet nowher e el se. Woul d t o God

you bel onged t o us, and we had your power s, as we

mi ght have wi t hout your al t er i ng your cr eed, wi t h us.

But i f we — t he one r emai ni ng r oot of uni on — we

di sest abl i sh, and become a sect l i ke t he sect s, t hen

compet i t i on, not Chr i st , wi l l be God, and we shal l

bi t e and devour one anot her , t i l l at hei sm and M.

Comt e ar e t he r ul er s of moder n t hought . " Thi s

was t he mat ur e j udgment of hi s l ast year s, wr i t t en i n

1872. Fi f t een year s ear l i er he wr ot e t o Mr . Evan

Fr anks : " As t o your bei ng an I ndependent , si r ,

1 88 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

Page 111 of 132

what ' s t hat t o me, pr ovi ded you — as I see wel l you

do — do j ust l y, and l ove mer cy, and wal k humbl y wi t h

your God ? I don' t t hi nk you wi l l ever f i nd t he

f r eedom i n your communi on whi ch you woul d i n our s,

t he f r eest , t hank God, i n t he wor l d; but I shoul d be

a second Ham i f I had no r espect f or t he I ndependent s.

For why ? My f or ef at her s wer e I ndependent s, and

f ought by Cr omwel l ' s si de at Naseby and Mar st on

Moor ; and, what i s wor se, l ost br oad acr es by t hei r

Pur i t ani sm. "

Agai n, t o one who had wr i t t en t o hi m on t he

abuses and anomal i es i n t he Nat i onal Chur ch, he

wr i t es : " I f you ar e di ssat i sf i ed wi t h t he Chur ch of

Engl and, so am I . St ay i n i t , t hen, and t r y t o mend

i t . But l et your emendat i ons be consi st ent wi t h t he

par t t hat i s yet pur e. To Romani ze t he Chur ch i s

not t o r ef or m i t . To unpr ot est ant i ze i t i s not t o

r ef or m i t . ' *

Thus you see he was per f ect l y t ol er ant of and i n

sympat hy wi t h what he r ecogni sed as honest and

f ai t hf ul Chr i st i an pr of essi on, by what ever name i t

mi ght be cal l ed. I ndeed, i t was onl y agai nst Phar i -

sai sm, agai nst any at t empt t o l i mi t or appr opr i at e t o

a f avour ed f ew , what was meant f or manki nd, t hat

hi s whol e soul r ose up i n st er n, of t en i n f i er ce, pr ot est .

The one t hi ng he coul d not away wi t h, was t he

doct r i ne, whi ch he sor r owf ul l y r ecogni zed t o be

cr eepi ng i nt o Cal vi ni st i c and Evangel i cal , as wel l as

i nt o t he hi gh Chur ch pul pi t s i n t hese days, " t he

message, " as he put i t , " t hat t he devi l and not Jesus

Chr i st i s t he Lor d of t he pr esent wor l d, t hat men ar e

CHARLES KI NGSLEY' S TOLERANCE. 1 89

sent i nt o t hi s l i f e t o get t hei r soul s saved i n t he next ;

t hat t he soi l i s not Chr i st ' s but man' s ; t hat t he St at e

has not hi ng t o do wi t h r el i gi on, or par sons wi t h

' pol i t i cs ; t hat pr oper t y has no absol ut e and essent i al

dut i es t owar ds Chr i st ( why shoul d i t i f i t be not t he

Lor d who gi vet h t he power t o get weal t h) , but onl y

wor ks of super er ogat i on i n t he shape of al ms or

char i t y, and di st r i ct vi si t i ng" ; t hat God i s not t he

f at her , or Chr i st t he Lor d of al l men, but onl y of a

chosen f ew, whet her ' epi scopal l y bapt i zed ' ones, or * t he

conver t ed ' or * t he el ect ' mat t er s l i t t l e, i n pr act i ce

or i n spi r i t ual t r ut h — i n a wor d, al l t hat Mani chaean

pr act i cal at hei sm of whi ch Rome i s t he syst emat i zed

embodi ment , and whi ch i s now pr ovi ng what i t s

unconsci ous par ent age was, by l eadi ng peopl e, t he

chi l dr en of Evangel i cal s especi al l y, t o Rome f r om

whence i t came. "

Thi s " pr act i cal at hei sm of Romi sh bi r t h, " was t o

be met by t he asser t i on of t he hol i ness of " t hat

spi r i t ual one body cal l ed t he Engl i sh nat i on, " and

t hat asser t i on coul d onl y be made ef f ect ual l y by * ' t he

nat i on or gani sed f or spi r i t ual ; pur poses, " or , i n ot her

wor ds, by a nat i onal Chur ch. Ther ef or e ( as hi s l ast

Page 112 of 132

cur at e t el l s us) , he was never t i r ed of quot i ng t he

wor ds, " as by l aw est abl i shed, " and gl or i ed i n t he

f eel i ng t hat he was a nat i onal of f i cer — a sol di er i n

Engl and' s spi r i t ual ar my.

Thi s i nt ensel y nat i onal spi r i t was not i ncompat i bl e

wi t h t he l ongi ng f or a l ar ger , or Cat hol i c, uni t y, an

aspi r at i on ( as he t el l s Mr . Maur i ce) whi ch he at t i mes

t hr ust away even f i er cel y — when he t hought of what i t

I QO THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

had come t o i n Rome — as i mpossi bl e and a phant om,

and t hen f ound hi msel f so much meaner , mor e car el ess

of ever yt hi ng wor t h havi ng, t hat he al ways went back

t o t he ol d dr eam.

But never t hel ess a dr eam he f el t t he i dea of a

uni ver sal Chur ch t o be, f or any pr act i cal pur pose, so

f ar as he and hi s gener at i on wer e concer ned ; wher eas

t he nat i onal i dea was t her e bef or e hi m, a pr act i cal

f act . I n t he Nat i onal Chur ch, of whi ch he was a

member and of f i cer , he r ecogni zed a per f ect uni t y i n

t heor y, and a ver y r emar kabl e uni t y i n f act . As he

poi nt ed out t o Thomas Cooper and ot her Noncon-

f or mi st s, t he Engl i sh Chur ch, j ust because i t i s

nat i onal , because i t i nher i t s and r epr esent s t hat f or m

of Chr i st i ani t y whi ch t he nat i on has accept ed, and

of f er s t o ever y Engl i sh chi l d as i t s bi r t hr i ght , because

i t i s not an eccl esi ast i cal l y but a nat i onal l y gover ned

body, i s t he onl y or gani sat i on whi ch can asser t and

uphol d t he hi ghest l i f e, of " t hat spi r i t ual one body

cal l ed t he Engl i sh nat i on. "

I t was t hi s whi ch he val ued above al l ot her t hi ngs,

t hi s consecr at i on, not of one or anot her sel ect por t i on,

but of t he whol e body, t o t he ser vi ce of hi s mast er .

Not hi ng pai ned hi m mor e t han t o be mi sunder st ood

i n t hi s mat t er , as so of t en happened t o hi m, at t he

hands of f r i endl y, as wel l as host i l e, cr i t i cs. To one

of t hese, a per sonal f r i end, who had used t he wor ds

" muscul ar Chr i st i ani t y " i n speaki ng of hi s wor ks, he

wr i t es : " My dear Si r , I know of no Chr i st i ani t y save

one, whi ch i s t he l i keness of Chr i st , and t he same f or

al l men, vi z. , t o be t r ansf or med i nt o t he l i keness of

CHARLES KI NGSLEY' S TOLERANCE. I 9I

Chr i st , and t o consecr at e t o Hi s ser vi ce as f ar as may -

be, al l t he power s of body, soul and spi r i t , r egener at e

and pur i f i ed by Hi s Spi r i t . " And as he st r ove t o

make each man and woman r eal i ze t hat no par t of

t hem i s unhol y, t hat t hei r f l esh, as wel l as t hei r

i nt el l ect and spi r i t , i s r edeemed by Chr i st f or Hi s

ser vi ce, so he st r ove and pl eaded wi t h and f or t he

nat i on, t hat i t shoul d not cut i t sel f up i nt o nat ur al

and super nat ur al , secul ar and r el i gi ous, sect i ons, but

shoul d f r ankl y and wi t h open eye acknowl edge, t hat

ever y por t i on of i t i s r edeemed f or God' s ser vi ce, " who

t akes car e not of chur ches onl y but of st at es, not of

Page 113 of 132

r el i gi ous onl y but of pol i t i cal and sci ent i f i c event s. "

And so, t ol er ant as he was of r el i gi ous di f f er ences,

he never f l i nched f r om mai nt ai ni ng t hat t he sect

pr i nci pl e, vi z. , " we have bound our sel ves t oget her on

opi ni ons as t o Chr i st , " i s t he nat ur al ant agoni st t o t he

t r ue pr i nci pl e, of Chur ch as of nat i on, vi z. , " God has

bound t hi s whol e peopl e t oget her i n one di vi ne

soci et y. " And, r epugnant and pai nf ul as t he i dea of

t he separ at i on of t he Chur ch f r om t he nat i on was t o

hi m i n hi ^ l i f e, I am sur e i t woul d be t en t i mes mor e

so now, when t hat separ at i on i s cal l ed f or , not onl y

by t hose who avowedl y pr ef er t he sect pr i nci pl e —

who desi r e t o see t he Chur ch t ur ned i nt o a sect

l i mi t ed t o t hose who agr ee i n opi ni ons, and t he nat i on

l ef t t o mi nd i t s own busi ness of pr ot ect i ng body

and goods, wi t hout i nt er f er i ng i n hi gher mat t er s —

but by t hose who, hat i ng t he sect pr i nci pl e, ar e r eady

t o r i sk t ur ni ng t hei r own Chur ch i nt o a sect , f or t he

chance of asser t i ng f or i t super nat ur al gi f t s and gr aces

192 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

as an uni ver sal body, whi ch, i f t hey coul d be mai n-

t ai ned, woul d br i ng f ami l y and nat i onal l i f e bound

and suppl i ant t o i t s f eet .

Agai nst t hi s put t i ng asunder what God has j oi ned,

hi s whol e l i f e was a f ai t hf ul and ear nest pr ot est .

I t r ust t hat i n t hus endeavour i ng t o put bef or e you

t he posi t i on whi ch Char l es Ki ngsl ey occupi ed on t he

quest i on of t he connect i on of Chur ch and St at e, I

have not undul y t r espassed on t he gr ound of par t y

pol emi cs, f r om whi ch I shoul d desi r e, even mor e

anxi ousl y t han he hi msel f woul d have done, t o keep

hi s name cl ear . I f I have i n any r espect f ai l ed, l et

t he bl ame r est on me, and not on hi s memor y.

Laxi t y OF Doct r i ne.

Ever y r eader who i s at al l f ami l i ar wi t h t he l i t er a-

t ur e of t hi s gr eat cont r over sy wi l l have r ecogni zed how

much I am i ndebt ed t o t he wr i t i ngs of Dean St anl ey f or

many of t he pr i nci pl es and vi ews whi ch ar e mai nt ai ned

i n t hese addr esses. I desi r e her e, and al ways, t o

acknowl edge t hi s obl i gat i on i n t he f ul l est manner , and

as t he quest i on of t he l axi t y and vagueness of t he

pr esent f or m of subscr i pt i on i n t he Nat i onal Chur ch,

and what i s of t en r epr esent ed as t he consequent

danger ous and scandal ous l at i t udi nar i ani sm of her

mi ni st r y, has been r ef er r ed t o mor e t han once i n t hese

pages, I vent ur e t o r epr i nt , f or t he benef i t and pl ea-

sur e of r eader s, a f amous passage f r om t he Dean' s

wr i t i ngs, f i r st publ i shed t went y- ei ght year s ago, but

whi ch cannot be t oo of t en r epeat ed, or t oo car ef ul l y

FI RST SANCTI ON OF LATI TUDI NARI ANI SM. 1 93

Page 114 of 132

consi der ed, by al l t hose who can r i se above par t y

mi st s and sect ar i an squabbl es, and ar e l ooki ng f or

some br oader and f i r mer gr ound t o st and upon as

Chr i st i ans and as Engl i shmen, t han Li ber at i oni st s or

Ri t ual i st s can of f er .

Af t er cr i t i ci si ng t he act i on of t he Hi gh Chur ch

assai l ant s of Mr . Gor ham, and al l udi ng t o t he Fr ench-

man' s r emar k, t hat , whi l e al l Eur ope was r ocki ng and

t r embl i ng under t he shock of gr eat i deas, t he onl y

r evol ut i on whi ch seemed t o have any i nt er est f or

beni ght ed Engl and was t he r evol ut i on of ' * l e per e

Gor ham, " he goes on : " We have dwel t on t he hi st or i cal

cer t ai nt y of t he f act t hat t he Chur ch of Engl and was

meant t o i ncl ude, and t hat i t al ways has i ncl uded,

opposi t e and cont r adi ct or y opi ni ons, not onl y on t he

poi nt now i n di sput e ( bapt i smal r egener at i on) but on

ot her poi nt s as i mpor t ant or mor e i mpor t ant t han t hi s.

We have dwel t al so on t he i nest i mabl e val ue, i f not

absol ut e necessi t y, of r et ai ni ng t hi s posi t i on, as t he

best means of deal i ng wi t h t he pecul i ar mi ssi on of a

Nat i onal Chur ch, especi al l y of a Nat i onal Chur ch i n

Engl and i n t hese t i mes. But we f eel t hat t her e i s a

yet hi gher gr ound t o be t aken, t hat t her e i s a sanct i on

and an exampl e of our posi t i on al most t oo sol emn t o

be i nsi st ed on i n a t empor ar y ar gument , wer e i t not

f or t he gr eat ness of t he i nt er est s at st ake, and f or t he

si ncer i t y, i n many i nst ances, of t he scr upl es whi ch such

a posi t i on exci t es i n t hose who have not consi der ed i t

f r om i t s t r ue poi nt of vi ew.

" I n t he second of t hose vi gor ous, t hough mi st aken

l et t er s, whi ch have dr awn down upon Mr . Maskel l t he

o

194 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

anger of hundr eds l ess pl ai n- spoken or cl ear - si ght ed

t han hi msel f ; af t er an exami nat i on of t he var i ous

poi nt s on whi ch he t r ul y concei ves t he Chur ch of

Engl and t o have expr essed no dogmat i c opi ni on, t her e

occur s' t hi s ( i n hi s vi ew) f i nal and f at al quest i on : Has

t he wor l d ever seen — does t her e now exi st anywher e —

anot her exampl e of a r el i gi ous sect or communi t y

whi ch does not t ake one si de or t he ot her cl ear l y and

di st i nct l y, upon at l east a ver y l ar ge pr opor t i on of t he

doct r i nes of whi ch we have been speaki ng ?

" Yes, t he wor l d has seen one exampl e, at l east , of a

r el i gi ous communi t y, whose hi ghest aut hor i t i es di d

r ef use t o t ake one si de or t he ot her cl ear l y and

di st i nct l y on t he quest i ons whi ch wer e br ought f or

t hei r deci si on. Ther e was once a Counci l i n whi ch,

* af t er much di sput i ng, ' i t was det er mi ned ' not t o put a

yoke on t he neck of t he di sci pl es, whi ch nei t her t hei r

f at her s nor t hey wer e abl e t o bear , ' and t o whom

* i t seemed good t o l ay upon t he Chur ch no gr eat er

bur den t han t hese necessar y t hi ngs, f r om whi ch i f t he

Page 115 of 132

br et hr en keep t hemsel ves t hey shal l do wel l ' Ther e

was once a Conf er ence of ' t hose who seemed t o be t he

pi l l ar s of t he Chur ch, ' t o deci de t he cl ai ms bet ween

t he t wo r i val sect i ons of t he Chr i st i an communi t y, of

whom we ar e t ol d t hat when t hey per cei ved t hat ' he

who wr ought ef f ect ual l y on one si de, t he same was

mi ght y al so on t he ot her si de, t hey gave t o bot h t he

r i ght hand of f el l owshi p, t hat each shoul d go unt o hi s

own pecul i ar spher e. ' Ther e was once a Cont r over sy

whi ch di st r act ed t he Chur ch wi t h ' doubt f ul di sput a-

t i ons, ' and t he answer whi ch came f r om an aut hor i t y,

THE CHURCH OF THE APOSTLES. I 95

now r ever ed by t he whol e Chr i st i an wor l d, was a

deci si on whi ch deci ded not hi ng, except t hat each par t y

mi ght be l ef t t o i t s own convi ct i ons, however opposi t e

and cont r adi ct or y t hey mi ght be. * Let ever y man be

f ul l y per suaded i n hi s own mi nd. He t hat r egar det h

t he day, r egar det h i t unt o t he Lor d ; and he t hat

r egar det h not t he day, t o t he Lor d he dot h not r egar d

i t . He t hat eat et h, eat et h t o t he Lor d, f or he gi vet h

God t hanks ; and he t hat eat et h not , t o t he Lor d

he eat et h not , and gi vet h God t hanks. ' I t i s t o t he

pr i nci pl e, not t he subj ect - mat t er , of such deci si ons,

t hat our at t ent i on i s di r ect ed. The cont r over sy t o

whi ch t hey r el at ed, di f f er ent as i t was t o t hose of

moder n t i mes, agi t at ed t he ' Apost ol i c Chur ch no

l ess f i er cel y, and was i nvest ed by t he cont endi ng

par t i es wi t h no l ess i mpor t ance. I t i s enough f or

our pur pose t o l ear n t hat t he Chur ch of t he f i r st

cent ur y gl or i ed i n t he f r eedom whi ch i s now r e-

gar ded as a di sgr ace, and di r ect ed i t s ear l i est and

most ener get i c ef f or t s, not t o t he enf or cement of a

r i gi d conf or mi t y, but t o t he t ol er at i on of wi de di ver -

si t i es. I t was, i ndeed, no empt y f i gment of speech

whi ch i n t hat ear l y age of Chr i st i ani t y r ecal l ed t he

i mage of t he ar k pr epar ed agai nst t he f l ood. I t i s

not an empt y boast t hat we have now wi t hi n our

r each, and i t wi l l be no i magi nar y gui l t i f we, of our

own accor d, r ef use t o mai nt ai n, a syst em whi ch shar es

i n however i mper f ect a measur e, one char act er i st i c

at t r i but e of t hat per f ect Chur ch, whi ch was t o f l oat

vi si bl y on t he st or my wat er s, and gat her wi t hi n i t sel f

t he char act er s of var i ous condi t i ons, opi ni ons, and

O 2

196 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

t emper s, who f l ed t o i t f or shel t er f r om t he waves of

t hi s t r oubl esome wor l d. The Chur ch of Engl and,

however , i n t hi s r espect , unl i ke t he chur ches of Rome

or Geneva, may consol e i t sel f wi t h t he r ef l ect i on t hat

i t pr esent s a l i keness, however f ai nt , t o t he Chur ch of

t he Apost ol i c age. "

Di sest abl i shment not Denat i onal i zat i on.

Page 116 of 132

I t i s wel l t o l ook al l cont i ngenci es i n t he f ace, so

l et us suppose t he cr y f or di sest abl i shment and di sen-

dowment t o be successf ul , and consi der whet her , even

i n t hat case, t he Chur ch need abandon her nat i onal

char act er and become a sect . Her di st i nct i ve mar k

hi t her t o has been, t hat she has a message, not f or

t hi s or t hat sect i on, but f or t he whol e nat i on ; t hat

she has, apar t al t oget her f r om mat er i al pr oper t y,

cer t ai n possessi ons, such as her Or der s and her

Common Pr ayer , whi ch she hol ds i n t r ust f or t he

nat i on. How f ar , t hen, can t hi s be al t er ed by any

possi bl e l egi sl at i on }

The ai m of a di sest abl i shi ng Par l i ament wi l l be

t o r educe her t o an exact equal i t y wi t h t he sect s.

How, t hen, i s t hi s t o be done . ?

The f i r st st ep wi l l be t o pl ace her mi ni st r y i n t he

same posi t i on as t hat of t he sect s. The St at e cannot

say t her e shal l be no bi shops, but onl y t hat t hey

shal l not , as bi shops, si t i n t he House of Lor ds. I f

t hi s change wer e made, t he Houses of Par l i ament

must r emai n open t o t he cl er gy of t he Chur ch, as

ci t i zens, as t hey ar e now open t o Di ssent i ng mi ni st er s.

POSSI BLE CHANGES. 1 9/

l awyer s, sol di er s, mer chant s, and ot her s : i n whi ch

case bot h t he nat i on and t he pr of essi on woul d be

gai ner s. One of t he st r ongest i nf l uences whi ch t end

t o keep t he cl er gy a separ at e cast e woul d di sappear .

The bi shops woul d, as a r ul e, be l ef t f r ee f or t he

hi gher par t of t hei r wor k, i n t hei r own di oceses ; whi l e

t he count r y woul d pr obabl y get t he ser vi ces i n

pol i t i cal l i f e of a most val uabl e cl ass of men — t he

cl er gy of i ndependent means. Ther e woul d be

not hi ng i n such a change as t hi s t o af f ect t he nat i onal

char act er of t he Chur ch.

The Eccl esi ast i cal Cour t s must ei t her be abol i shed,

and t he j ur i sdi ct i on over Chur ch t r ust s and di sput es

t r ansf er r ed t o t he Cour t of Chancer y, whi ch al r eady

exer ci ses j ur i sdi ct i on over Di ssent i ng t r ust s : or t he

Eccl esi ast i cal Cour t s must be r ef or med, and t he

j ur i sdi ct i on over Di ssent i ng t r ust s t r ansf er r ed t o t hem.

I n nei t her case woul d t he nat i onal char act er of t he

Chur ch be af f ect ed.

The quest i on whet her t he use of t he chur ches

shoul d be al l owed t o Di ssent i ng bodi es woul d r ai se a

di f f i cul t poi nt . I n t he case we ar e cont empl at i ng, of

an ef f or t t o pl ace t he Chur ch and t he sect s on an

exact equal i t y, t he wel l known pr i nci pl e woul d come

i n, t hat t hey who seek equi t y ( or equal i t y) must do

equi t y, and, t r i ed by t hi s t est , t he cl ai m of Di ssent er s

wi l l , scar cel y st and. I t i s unf ai r and unequal , t hey

say t o t he l egi sl at ur e, t hat one sect i on onl y of t he

nat i on shoul d have t he cust ody and use of nat i onal

bui l di ngs ; open t hem t o us. I n t he supposed case,

t he l egi sl at ur e woul d r epl y, t hese bui l di ngs ar e hel d

Page 117 of 132

i qS t he est abl i shed chur ch.

as nat i onal pr oper t y, and t he use of t hem i s gi ven t o

al l t hose who wi l l accept i t , subj ect t o t he cont r ol of

t he nat i on i n Par l i ament , and t o such condi t i ons as

t he nat i on may f r om t i me t o t i me i mpose on t hei r

use. Ar e you r eady t o accept such nat i onal cont r ol ,

and t o conf or m t o such condi t i ons ? I f so, we wi l l

ar r ange f or your admi ssi on : i f not , you ar e kept out ,

not by t he nat i on, but by your sel ves. I shoul d be

gl ad mysel f t hat t he sect s shoul d answer , Yes, we

wi l l conf or m t o such condi t i ons ; but , unt i l t hey do, i t

i s i dl e t o t al k of equal i t y bei ng out r aged i n t hi s

mat t er .

Wi t h r espect t o r at es, t he Nat i onal Chur ch and t he

sect s ar e on an equal i t y al r eady. We al l pay r at es

t hat chapel s, as wel l as chur ches, may be exempt f r om

t hem. Thi s exempt i on woul d seem scar cel y com-

pat i bl e wi t h Nonconf or mi st pr i nci pl es, but Li ber al

Chur chmen wi l l not car e t o i nqui r e how t hi s f or m of

St at e ai d i s l ess obj ect i onabl e t o t hei r Nonconf or mi ng

br et hr en t han any ot her . They wi l l r at her r ej oi ce t o

see al l t he Vol unt ar y Chur ches accept i ng Est abl i sh-

ment i n t hi s f or m, at any r at e, and cont ent t o al l ow

t he nat i on t o r ecogni ze t hem i n t hi s pr act i cal way,

even t hough t hey r ef use i n r et ur n t o acknowl edge t he

nat i on.

The same di f f i cul t y woul d conf r ont Par l i ament at

once i n deal i ng wi t h endowment s as wi t h bui l di ngs.

How ar e t hey t o be equal i sed as bet ween denomi na-

t i ons, when t he Nonconf or mi st s r ef use t o t ake any

par t i n t hem . ? Ther e woul d be obvi ous i nequal i t y

and i nj ust i ce i n r ef usi ng t hem t hei r pr opor t i on, i f

I NEQUALI TY OF THE ESSENCES OF DI SSENT. 1 99

t hey cl ai med i t , and wer e r eady t o submi t t o Par l i a-

ment ar y cont r ol , and t o br i ng t hei r own endowment s

" i nt o hot chpot " t o obt ai n i t . Ther e i s none unt i l

t hey do t hi s.

And so on, t hr ough ever y br anch of t he quest i on

t he same pr i nci pl e r uns, and t he mor e i t i s st udi ed, t he

mor e cl ear l y i t comes out , t hat i t i s not t he nat i on, or

t he Chur ch whi ch t he nat i on cont r ol s, but t he Non-

conf or mi st s t hemsel ves, who make equal i t y i n t hi s

sense i mpossi bl e. The St at e, or nat i on, hol ds cer t ai n

mat er i al pr oper t i es of di f f er ent ki nds i n t r ust f or

Spi r i t ual uses, and l ays down cer t ai n r ul es and condi -

t i ons under whi ch t hose pr oper t i es ar e t o be hel d and

enj oyed by t hose who wi l l vol unt ar i l y conf or m t o t he

r ul es and accept t he condi t i ons. Those who wi l l

not , t hemsel ves make t he i nequal i t y of whi ch t hey

compl ai n.

Our supposed di sest abl i shi ng Par l i ament mi ght no

doubt cut t he Gor di an knot by sweepi ng away al l

r el i gi ous endowment s of ever y ki nd, and appl yi ng

Page 118 of 132

t hem t o secul ar pur poses : but t hen, as gr eat par t of

Chur ch endowment s, t hough nat i onal , ar e ear mar ked

as pr eci sel y as Nonconf or mi st endowment s, t hese l ast

woul d have t o go t oo i f t her e i s t o be absol ut e

equal i t y.

Fi nal l y, t o make t he di ssol ut i on per f ect , so f ar as

Par l i ament coul d do so, I pr esume t hat t he Chur ch

woul d have t o be i ncor por at ed and di smi ssed wi t h

some speci es of t r ust deed, def i ni ng her const i t u-

t i on i n f ut ur e, as t hat of t he Wesl eyan communi t y i s

def i ned. But , af t er al l t hi s, and when Par l i ament had

200 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

done al l t hat even Par l i ament has power t o do, I f ai l t o

see how equal i t y i n t he Li ber at i oni st sense woul d have

been r eached, or t he Chur ch t ur ned i nt o a sect .

Suppose t he l aw al l owed a man who had l i ved

wi t h hi s wi f e hi t her t o, and been ver y l i ber al t o her i n

t he mat t er of al l owances and pi n money, t o t ur n her

out of door s, and say. Hencef or t h you ar e no wi f e of

mi ne, and I never wi sh t o see your f ace, or hear your

voi ce, agai n. Her e ar e t hese odds and ends of pr o-

per t y t o whi ch you ar e possi bl y ent i t l ed, and w^ hi ch I

her eby decl ar e by t hi s deed of di vor ce t o be absol ut el y

your own t o deal wi t h pr eci sel y as you pl ease ; so

now al l bond bet ween us i s at an end. Even i n such

a case t he wi f e mi ght r epl y : You cannot ef f ect your

pur pose. I t t ook my consent as wel l as your s t o

make us one, and wi t hout my consent as wel l as your s

we can' t be made t wo. I mean t o r emai n l oyal t o

you i n wor d and deed, and t o hol d t hese shr eds of

pr oper t y, and any I may become possessed of her e-

af t er , on t he same t r ust s f or you and your chi l dr en, as

t hough I wer e st i l l acknowl edged by you and l i vi ng

i n your house. Under such ci r cumst ances i t seems

obvi ous enough t hat not hi ng t he man coul d do woul d

r eal l y ef f ect hi s obj ect ; no human wi l l or decr ee coul d

al t er f act s, and t he woman who had been hi s wi f e

coul d never be made t o hi m pr eci sel y as ot her women.

And so i n t he case of t he Chur ch and t he sect s. I n

t he supposed case, af t er t he St at e had gi ven t he Bi l l

of Di vor ce, i f t he Chur ch r emai ned l oyal , and decl ar ed

t hat what ever scr aps of mat er i al pr oper t y mi ght be

t hr own t o her , t oget her wi t h t he spi r i t ual pr oper t y of

TRUSTS OF THE CHURCH. 201

her Common Pr ayer , her Ser vi ces, Or der s, and t he

r est , she woul d cont i nue t o hol d, as her et of or e, upon

t r ust f or ever y par i sh i n Engl and, and f or ever y

par i shi oner i n each par i sh — f or ever y man, woman,

and chi l d i n t he nat i on, whet her t he St at e consent ed

or di d not consent , she woul d r emai n st i l l t r ul y

nat i onal , not i ndeed i n Est abl i shment , whi ch i s ac -

ci dent al , but i n obj ect whi ch i s essent i al .

Page 119 of 132

An Est abl i shed Chur ch may be ( as of ol d i n I r el and)

an Est abl i shed sect . A Di sest abl i shed Chur ch mi ght

wel l r emai n t r ul y nat i onal , unl ess i t made i t sel f i nt o

a sect by vol unt ar i l y nar r owi ng i t s own t r ust s. And

I woul d f ai n hope and bel i eve, t hat , under no possi bl e

ci r cumst ances, wi l l t he Chur ch of Engl and ever be

gui l t y of such a pi ece of f ol l y and st upi di t y.

202 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

VI I I .

CHURCH CONGRESSES.

The Rel at i ons bet ween t he Chur ch and

Di ssent .

At t he l ast , and most i mpor t ant , of our Annual

Chur ch Congr esses, I was asked t o speak on t he

subj ect of t he Rel at i ons bet ween t he Chur ch and

Di ssent . The t i me al l owed was onl y t en mi nut es,

and I must admi t t hat my t en mi nut es wer e i n gr eat

measur e wast ed, f or I was l ed asi de i nt o pat hs whi ch

I had no i nt ent i on of t r eadi ng, and so had t o l eave

unsai d al most al l t h^ t I came pr epar ed t o say. I

r epr i nt t he speech her e, however , par t l y because i t has

been t he subj ect of much comment , and I desi r e t o

say del i ber at el y t hat t her e i s not hi ng i n i t whi ch, af t er

al l t hat has been sai d agai nst i t , I wi sh t o r et r act ; but

mai nl y, because I am per mi t t ed t o append t o i t t he

best speech, whi ch, so f ar as I know, has yet been

made on t he subj ect of Chur ch Congr esses. I am

gl ad t o be abl e t o l eave my r eader s at t he end i n a

hi gher and heal t hi er at mospher e t han t hey have had,

of necessi t y, t o br eat he i n t he ear l i er pages of t hi s

book.

chur ch congr ess. 203

Speech at t he Chur ch Congr ess at

Cr oydon.

I n or der t o make cl ear what I have t o say about

t he r el at i ons bet ween t he Chur ch and Di ssent , I must

endeavour i n t he f i r st pl ace t o st at e di st i nct l y t he

st andpoi nt f r om whi ch I and t hose who agr ee wi t h me

l ook upon our s, as a nat i onal Chur ch. I t has been,

of cour se, and i s, i n one sense, a Cat hol i c Chur ch.

I f we mean by t hat a por t i on of t he gr eat body of

Chr i st i an wor shi pper s t hr oughout t he wor l d i t i s t o

ut t er a t r ui sm ; but t he moment we get beyond t hat

none of us can agr ee. [ " No, no. " ] Wel l , at any r at e,

we can al l agr ee t hat i t i s a nat i onal Chur ch ; and

your Gr ace knows, as wel l as anybody, per haps, t hat

t hose amongst whom I have been educat ed and br ought

up hol d t hat t o be a ver y nobl e name. We have l ear nt

t hat t he nat i on i s hol y as wel l as t he Chur ch ; t hat

God car es about t he nat i on j ust as He car es about

Page 120 of 132

t he Chur ch ; t hat Chr i st i s t he Ki ng of t he nat i on

as wel l as t he Head of t he Chur ch. Bel i evi ng t hi s,

as I do, you may i magi ne t he ast oni shment — I may

al most say t he di smay — wi t h whi ch per sons who

concur i n t he vi ews I have j ust st at ed, must r ead some

of t he r emar ks whi ch appar ent l y have been r ecei ved

wi t h appl ause i n t hi s hal l . I hol d i n my hand a

st at ement whi ch was made yest er day i n a paper r ead

by a di gni t ar y, who was supposed, I pr esume, t o r e-

pr esent t he st r ongest body i n t he Chur ch of Engl and.

He sai d t hat t he st andar d of pr osper i t y of Chur ch and

St at e i s essent i al l y di f f er ent ; t hat t he St at e pr osper s

204 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

when i t s member s i ncr ease and ar e weal t hy ; t he

Chur ch when i t s di sci pl es ar e conf or med t o t he

exampl e of i t s gr eat Head. [ Cheer s. ] Wel l , my

f r i ends, I do not per haps i nt er pr et r i ght l y what t hat

appl ause means, but i f i t means t hat t he st andar d

of pr osper i t y of t he Chur ch and St at e ought not

t o be t he same, I conf ess t hat appl ause st ar t l es

and ast oni shes me. Why, I have al ways bel i eved

t hat t hi s war ni ng t he wor l d t o keep i t s di st ance, i s

pr eci sel y t he st andar d of t he sect s, and not of t he

Chur ch. I have under st ood t hat i t i s sect s t hat di vi de

t hi ngs secul ar and r el i gi ous, and t hat t hey say t he

nat i on i s not hol y, t hat God i s not car i ng f or t hi s

Engl i sh nat i on as He car ed f or t he Jewi sh nat i on of

ol d. I have al ways bel i eved t hat t hi s was t he t ouch-

st one of t he posi t i on of t he sect s and not of t he

Chur ch. I have been t aught by gr eat di vi nes t o

r egar d t he Chur ch of Engl and as t he nat i on i n i t s

r el at i ons wi t h t he i nvi si bl e. I bel i eve i t t o be t he

or gani sat i on of t he hi ghest nat i onal l i f e. I may be

asked how does t hi s t heor y t al l y wi t h t he f act t hat

t hose sect s of whom I am speaki ng and f or whom

I ent er t ai n gr eat r espect , al l deny i t as much as

t hi s di gni t ar y of t he Chur ch deni ed i t i n hi s paper on

Wednesday l ast } The deni al , I am t ol d, comes f r om

al l si des ; but , my f r i ends, t he deni al wi l l not al t er

t he f act . Supposi ng t hat al l of us choose t o deny t hat

we ar e Engl i shmen, can t hat al t er t he f act of our

nat i onal i t y ? Because I do not choose t o be cal l ed an

Engl i shman, and r ef use, so f ar as I can, t o submi t t o

t he condi t i ons of Engl i sh ci t i zenshi p, can t hat make

THE DUTY OF THE CHURCH. 20$

me l ess an Engl i shman ? I see at once, f r om i ndi ca-

t i ons of f eel i ng i n t hi s hal l , t hat my vi ew i s not

shar ed by many of you ; but i t i s never t hel ess, a vi ew

whi ch I can vouch t o be, f r om my own knowl edge, hel d

by many who bel ong t o t he Chur ch, and who ar e not

l ess ear nest member s of i t t han you your sel ves. Whi l e

t he Engl i sh Chur ch l ast s. Engl i shmen, what ever we

choose t o say, cannot t ake t hemsel ves out si de i t . So

l ong as t her e i s a nat i onal Chur ch, sur el y my f r i ends

on t he pl at f or m, and al l of you i n t he hal l , wi l l agr ee

t hat , i n t heor y, at al l event s, i t shoul d embr ace t he

Page 121 of 132

whol e . of t he nat i on ; and t her ef or e, I say, whi l e i t

exi st s i t i s no mor e possi bl e f or peopl e t o unmake

t hat uni t y because t hey wi sh t o unmake i t t han i t i s

t o unmake t hei r nat i onal i t y t o whi ch t hey wer e bor n.

They may r et ur n t o i t and acknowl edge i t , but t hey

cannot unmake i t .

What i s t he dut y, t hen, of t he nat i onal Chur ch under

t hese ci r cumst ances ? Sur el y i t i s t he dut y of t he

nat i on and t he Chur ch t o make t he r et ur n t o uni t y as

easy as possi bl e t o al l t hose who ar e out si de. Ar e we

doi ng t hat } My f r i ends on t he pl at f or m say " Yes. "

I wi sh I coul d agr ee wi t h t hem wi t h any t r ut h ; but I

conf ess t hat t hat i s not t he convi ct i on whi ch has come

home t o me f r om an anxi ous st udy of t hi s subj ect .

The nat i on i n past t i mes has set t l ed t he f or m of

Chr i st i ani t y whi ch i t t hi nks best f or t hi s peopl e of

Engl and. [ " No, no. " ] At any r at e, t hat i s my vi ew ;

and I woul d onl y ask, i f t he nat i on has not done t hi s,

who has . ? The nat i on has f or mul at ed t hat Chr i s-

t i ani t y i n i t s Ar t i cl es and i t s Pr ayer Book. I f t he

206 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

nat i on has not done i t , I shoul d Hke t o know who has ?

I shoul d l i ke t o know what i s t he meani ng of t he

Common Pr ayer Book at al l , unl ess i t i s t he Pr ayer

Book t hat has been r ecogni sed by t hi s nat i on ? The

nat i on has pl aced chur ches and nat i onal of f i cer s i n

ever y par i sh. My f r i ends cr y " No, no ! " Wel l , I

shoul d l i ke t o know who has pl aced t hem i n t he

di f f er ent par i shes of t hi s count r y i f i t be not t he

nat i on ? At any r at e, t hat i s my bel i ef ; and t hose

who t hi nk wi t h me hol d t hese t o be t he most

pr eci ous char act er i st i cs of our nat i onal Chur ch. The

cl er gy ar e t he of f i cer s and guar di ans of t hat nat i onal

Chur ch, and how ar e t hey doi ng t hei r dut y ? I

admi t t hat t hey ar e doi ng t hei r dut y nobl y i n many

ways, and I speak as one who i s not onl y cor di al l y

but most i nt i mat el y connect ed wi t h t he cl er gy, t he

nat i onal of f i cer s of t he Chur ch, f or my gr andf at her

was a cl er gymen, my br ot her i s a cl er gyman — I have

ver y many r el at i ons who ar e cl er gymen. Al l t he

most i nt i mat e f r i ends I have had i n my l i f e, whom I

have at pr esent , ar e amongst t he cl er gy ; and no one

honour s t hem or t hei r wor k mor e hi ghl y t han I do ;

but f or al l t hat I am bound t o acknowl edge t hat t hat

i nher i t ance of whi ch I am speaki ng i s i n danger , and

t hat danger i s mai nl y due t o t he conduct of t he

cl er gy i n t hei r r el at i ons wi t h t he Di ssent of t hi s

count r y. They have become t oo pr of essi onal i n a

nar r ow sense, t hey ar e separ at i ng t hemsel ves t oo much

f r om t he nat i on i n gener al , and par t i cul ar l y f r om t hat

por t i on of i t whi ch i s out si de t hei r own l i nes, I mean

t hei r Nonconf or mi st br et hr en. They seem t o f or get

SEPARATI ON OF CLERGY. 20/

t hat af t er al l t hey ar e ser vi ser vor mn Dei ; t hat t hey

ar e t o mi ni st er not onl y t o t hei r own i mmedi at e con-

Page 122 of 132

gr egat i ons, l i ke t he Di ssent i ng mi ni st er s, but t o ever y

Engl i shman who may desi r e t hei r ser vi ces. I speak

f r om my own consci ent i ous vi ew of what i s t he r eal

st at e of t he case. Let me by a coupl e of i l l ust r at i ons

show what i s t he pol i cy pur sued by t he cl er gy, whi ch

I t hi nk i s endanger i ng t hi s most pr eci ous par t of our

i nher i t ance. I woul d r ef er t o t wo quest i ons whi ch

have l at el y come under t hei r consi der at i on. Ther e i s

t he t i t l e of " Rever end " — t he t i t l e whi ch has been

appr opr i at ed by t he nat i on t o t he mi ni st er s of Chr i st

i n t hi s count r y. A Nonconf or mi st mi ni st er cl ai med

t hat t i t l e, and you al l know what happened. I nst ead

of t he cl er gy of t he Chur ch of Engl and sayi ng, " By

al l means, you ar e a mi ni st er of t he Chur ch of Chr i st

— and we ar e onl y t oo gl ad t hat you come f or war d

and cl ai m t he nat i onal t i t l e set apar t by t he nat i on f or

t hat mi ni st r y. " [ " No, no. " ] I t ol d you, my f r i ends,

t hat I l ooked at t hese quest i ons f r om t hi s poi nt of

vi ew as a l ayman, and I am onl y l et t i ng you know

what I as a l ayman t hi nk you cl er gy ought t o have

done i n t hi s busi ness.

Then t ake t he bur i al s quest i on. I conf ess, when

t he r ever end gent l eman r ead t he f i r st paper j ust now,

and t ouched on t hat subj ect , I was ast oni shed at t he

r esponse wi t h whi ch hi s r emar ks wer e r ecei ved. I t

seems t o me and t o al l l aymen [ " No, no " ] — t o al l

l aymen whom I know — t hey may not be known t o

you, but t her e ar e many mor e t han you appear t o

i magi ne — at any r at e, t hey l ook on t hi s bur i al s

208 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

quest i on as vi r t ual l y set t l ed. We t hi nk you ought t o

wel come Engl i shmen who come f or war d and cl ai m

t hei r por t i on i n t he nat i onal bur yi ng- gr ounds of t hi s

count r y, and j oi n i n maki ng easy condi t i ons f or t hei r

admi ssi on. [ " No, no. " ] I ant i ci pat ed t hat r esponse

t o such a st at ement . I f t he cl er gy or t hi s assembl y

t hi nk t hat t he opi ni on of t he count r y i s wi t h t hem, I

bel i eve t hey wi l l f i nd t hey ar e gr i evousl y and sor el y

mi st aken. Let me i l l ust r at e my vi ew i n anot her way.

Ther e i s a nat i onal ar my i n Engl and. That nat i onal

ar my has t he char ge of t he par ade gr ounds, r anges,

and t he ot her mi l i t ar y machi ner y i n t he count r y. A

gr eat ar my of vol unt eer s has come f or war d and ar e

desi r i ng t o shar e t hese r anges and t hese mi l i t ar y pr o-

per t i es wi t h t he nat i onal ar my of t hi s count r y. Thi s

movement has been goi ng on now f or ei ght een year s. I

happen t o have seen a good deal of i t ; and I can onl y

say t hat wher e t her e have been wi se nat i onal of f i cer s

who have put t hose f aci l i t i es and advant ages as f ar as

possi bl e at t he di sposal of t hose who come f or war d as

vol unt eer s i n t he same cause as t hemsel ves, t hey have

ent i r el y car r i ed wi t h t hem t hose vol unt eer bodi es, and

have been abl e t o do al most what ever t hey pl eased i n

educat i ng t hem pr of essi onal l y. Let me show how t hat

bear s upon t he r el at i ons of t he Chur ch of Engl and

wi t h Di ssent . Ther e i s a cl er gyman — I wi sh I coul d

cal l hi m a f r i end — wi t h whom I have t he honour

of a sl i ght acquai nt ance, who was appoi nt ed t wo

year s ago t o a t own i n t he nor t h of Engl and, whi ch

Page 123 of 132

was al most ent i r el y f i l l ed wi t h Di ssent er s. I t

was, i ndeed, a st r onghol d of t he Li ber at i on Soci et y,

THE CHURCH I DEA. 209

and t hi s aut umn t he Soci et y pr oposed t o hol d a

meet i ng i n t hat t own. But t he di f f er ent Noncon-

f or mi st congr egat i ons sent t o t he Li ber at i on Soci et y,

and sai d i f t hey came none of t he congr egat i ons

coul d at t end, because t hey woul d t hi nk i t di sr e-

spect f ul t o t hei r vi car , of whom t hey wer e ver y pr oud,

t o do so. I t was not by t aki ng t he l i ne, whi ch

seems t o be t he popul ar l i ne her e on t he Bur i al s Bi l l ,

t hat t hat r esul t was obt ai ned. Whi l e t hi s Congr ess

has been si t t i ng t her e has been a si mi l ar gat her i ng of

one of t he gr eat Nonconf or mi st communi t i es of t hi s

count r y — t hat of t he Bapt i st Uni on. I t i s now si t t i ng,

I bel i eve, at Newpor t I was r eadi ng t he r emar ks of

t he Rev. Hugh St owel l Br own, i n a ser mon whi ch he

pr eached at t he openi ng of t hat meet i ng. He t her e

ur ges, t hat denomi nat i onal i sm f or ms t he st r engt h, and

not t he weakness, of t he Chur ch. Wel l , of cour se, I

cannot mysel f agr ee wi t h t hat ; but , at any r at e, I do

say t hat const ant , f r i endl y r el at i ons wi t h t he Noncon-

f or mi st bodi es woul d act as a spur t o zeal . The i deal ,

of cour se, i s uni t y. Wi l l t hese bodi es come back t o

t he Chur ch ? I am sor r y t o say i t seems as t hough

scar cel y anybody i n t hi s r oom, except Mr . Har wood and

mysel f , has t he sl i ght est hope of such a r esul t as t hat ,

and I qui t e admi t t hat consi der abl e changes wi l l have

t o be made, and gr eat cour age shown, by t he Chur ch

i f t hat uni on i s t o t ake pl ace. I , f or i nst ance, bel i eve

t hat we must al t er our Ar t i cl es i f t he Uni on i s t o be

br ought about . [ " No, no. " ] I hear di ssent t o t hat , but

I shoul d f eel gl ad i f i t wer e done, because, i n r eadi ng

t hem t hr ough, I r ecogni se t hem as a vener abl e and

P

2I O THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

most val uabl e document — a document whi ch was of

t he gr eat est ser vi ce at t he t i me i t was pr epar ed by

t he wi se Chur chmen of t hose days — but f or us, I must

say, i t i s cer t ai nl y obsol et e. I wi l l ment i on onl y one

Ar t i cl e, and ask any Chur chman i n t hi s hal l whet her

he cor di al l y and bond f i de accept s i t s t eachi ng. I

mean t he Thi r t eent h, whi ch says t hat wor ks done

bef or e t he gr ace of Chr i st , and t he i nspi r at i on of Hi s

Spi r i t , have no doubt t he nat ur e of si n. I do not

bel i eve t her e ar e many per sons i n t hi s r oom who do

not t hi nk t hat , i f we ar e t o get back t o t he uni t y we

ought t o desi r e, we shal l have t o al t er not onl y t he

Ar t i cl es, but al so ot her por t i ons of t he Pr ayer Book.

I do not bel i eve t he al t er at i ons wi l l be at al l ext ensi ve,

and I t hi nk t hat , wi t h wi sdom, t hey may ver y wel l be

made. Wi sdom and cour age wi l l be necessar y ; and

wi sdom and cour age we must have, i f we ar e t o r et ai n

t he nat i onal Chur ch i n t hi s count r y. I bel i eve t hat

we ar e qui t e as compet ent as our f at her s t o r ef or m i t ,

Page 124 of 132

and t hat God i s j ust as much wi t h t he nat i on now

as He was t hen. I f we set t o wor k i n t he spi r i t

i n whi ch t hey set t o wor k, I bel i eve we shal l , by God' s

hel p, be abl e al so t o pr ovi de, once mor e, a new f r ame-

wor k f or t he Chur ch, whi ch wi l l make i t agai n, as i t

once was, t he wor t hy nat i onal Chur ch of t he peopl e

of Engl and.

( 211 )

I X.

THE BODY OF CHRI ST. *

' ' He i s t he head of t he body, t he Chur ch: ' — Qo\ . . i . i 8.

The annual " Chur ch Congr ess, " hel d dur i ng t he

l ast f ew days, has at t r act ed publ i c at t ent i on mor e

st r ongl y t han t he si mi l ar meet i ngs of f or mer year s.

Thi s Congr ess, i t shoul d be cl ear l y under st ood, i s a

pur el y vol unt ar y gat her i ng. I t does not even r epr e-

sent a per manent associ at i on, as ot her congr esses

gener al l y do. A l ocal Commi t t ee, under t he pr esi -

dency of t he Bi shop of t he Di ocese, makes al l t he

ar r angement s, and has t he ent i r e r esponsi bi l i t y, f or

t he meet i ngs of t he Congr ess week. The meet i ngs

ar e at t ended by any per sons. Chur ch peopl e or Non-

conf or mi st s, who pr ocur e t hemsel ves t i cket s of ad-

mi ssi on. Those who at t end t hem hear shor t addr esses

on sel ect ed t opi cs by sel ect ed r eader s or speaker s.

The f eat ur e whi ch gi ves i t s speci al i nt er est t o a Chur ch

Congr ess i s t hat car e has al ways been t aken by t he

l ocal Commi t t ee t o br i ng t oget her r epr esent at i ves of

* Pr eached at Chr i st Chur ch, St . Mar yl ebone, Oct ober 14t h, 1877,

by t he Rev. J. Ll ewel yn Davi es,

P 2

212 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

t he di f f er ent par t i es or school s i n t he Chur ch of

Engl and. The at t r act i veness and success of t he

meet i ngs depend t o a consi der abl e ext ent on t he

t hor oughness wi t h whi ch t hi s pol i cy i s car r i ed out ;

and t he chi ef usef ul ness of t he Congr esses, i n t he eyes

of t he Bi shops and ot her emi nent per sons who pr omot e

t hem, i s under st ood t o consi st i n t hei r t hus br i ngi ng

t oget her on t he same pl at f or m, and on t er ms of mut ual

cour t esy and Chur ch f el l owshi p, t hose whom par t y

conf l i ct i s apt t o di vi de ver y much f r om each ot her .

I t i s obvi ous t hat , havi ng t hi s vol unt ar y and i r r e-

sponsi bl e char act er , i t i s onl y i n a ver y qual i f i ed sense

t hat a Chur ch Congr ess can be hel d t o be r epr esent a-

t i ve of t he Chur ch of Engl and as a whol e. But i t i s

so, i n r espect of t he choi ce of speaker s and t he f r ee

publ i ci t y of t he meet i ngs ; and t he pr esi dency, t hi s

Page 125 of 132

year , of t he hi ghest di gni t ar y of t he Chur ch, and of a

man so compr ehensi ve i n hi s vi ews as Ar chbi shop

Tai t , has gi ven t o t he Congr ess at Cr oydon mor e of

t he char act er of a r epr esent at i ve assembl y t han any

pr ecedi ng Congr ess has been abl e t o cl ai m.

I r ef er t o t he Congr ess now, as t hus br i ngi ng

t he Chi cr ch bef or e our mi nds. Those who occupi ed

i t s pl at f or ms wer e l ooked upon as r epr esent i ng t he

Chur ch of Engl and ; ' t hey spoke much about t he

Chur ch, — about i t s nat ur e, i t s pr er ogat i ves, i t s danger s,

i t s t asks. The Chur ch of Engl and, t hey woul d al l

have agr eed i n sayi ng, i s a br anch of t he Chur ch of

Chr i st . But what i s t he Chur ch of Chr i st 1 When

t hi s quest i on i s asked among Chur chmen or Chr i st i ans,

gr eat di ver gences of opi ni on begi n t o appear . I t

THE BODY OF CHRI ST. 213

evi dent l y was so at Cr oydon ; and we may t ur n t o

account t he name and t he di scussi ons of t he Chur ch

Congr ess by aski ng t he quest i on f or our sel ves, and

t r yi ng t o see how t he Apost ol i c t eachi ng woul d st ar t

us on t he way t o t he most scr i pt ur al vi ews on t hi s

subj ect .

The Chur ch i s t he Body of Chr i st , — we ar e al l

agr eed i n accept i ng t hi s st at ement , whi ch we f i nd

gi ven r epeat edl y i n t he New Test ament .

Ther e ar e t hose who go on t o say t hat t he Chur ch

has t her ef or e a super nat ur al char act er . They i nsi st

st r ongl y on t hi s t er m super nat ur al , — a wor d unknown

t o Hol y Scr i pt ur e, and whi ch i t has been no gai n t o

t heol ogy t o add t o t he scr i pt ur al vocabul ar y. Thi s

super nat ur al body, t hey say, i s an or gani sed soci et y,

l i vi ng on f r om age t o age, wi t h of f i cer s and i nst i t ut i ons

and f unct i ons bel ongi ng t o i t by t he condi t i ons of

i t s cr eat i on, and i nt r ust ed wi t h gi f t s and gr aces whi ch

i t al one has power t o di spense. I t f i nds i t sel f pl aced,

super nat ur al as i t i s, i n a nat ur al wor l d. Human

bei ngs as l i vi ng t oget her i n ci vi l bonds f or m, i t i s hel d,

a nat ur al soci et y. What a di f f er ence t her e must be,

t hen, bet ween t he Chur ch and t he wor l d ! I magi ne

t he super i or i t y whi ch a super nat ur al soci et y must

have over one t hat i s mer el y nat ur al ! When mi nds

have become t hor oughl y i mbued wi t h t hi s f eel i ng, i t

i s no wonder t hat t hey come t o l ook on al l human

t hi ngs t hat ar e not eccl esi ast i cal wi t h a sor t of di sdai n.

The Chur ch i s super nat ur al , t he St at e i s nat ur al .

What an i nt ol er abl e i nt r usi on and usur pat i on i t must

be, i f t he St at e asser t s any r i ght wi t hi n t he pr ovi nce

214 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

of t he Chur ch ! A mer e aggr egat i on of mor t al men

assumi ng t o cont r ol Chr i st and hi s body ! And t hi s

i s pr eci sel y t he l i ght i n whi ch many per sons ar e now

t r ai ni ng t hemsel ves t o r egar d much t hat has been done

and i s goi ng on i n t hi s count r y under our exi st i ng

Page 126 of 132

const i t ut i on i n Chur ch and St at e. That a Judi ci al

Cour t appoi nt ed by aut hor i t y of Par l i ament and t he

Cr own shoul d deci de on di sput ed poi nt s of r i t ual i s,

i n t hei r eyes, t he nat ur al body di ct at i ng t o t he super -

nat ur al . The Body of Chr i st i n t hi s count r y, i t i s

t aken f or gr ant ed, i s t he Chur ch of Engl and. But i t

has been of l at e year s a cause of gr eat and i ncr easi ng

di st r ess t o t hose who hol d t hese vi ews, t hat t he Chur ch

of Engl and, as a super nat ur al Body, i s at t he pr esent

t i me wi t hout a voi ce. I f onl y t he Body coul d f ashi on

f or i t sel f a sat i sf act or y mout h, i n t he shape of a cor r ect

synod, t hi s ver y gr ave def ect woul d be r emedi ed.

Then t he Chur ch mi ght speak f or i t sel f and j udge

f or i t sel f and decl ar e i t s own mi nd wi t h aut hor i t y.

The voi ce of t he Chur ch, l i ke i t sel f , woul d be super -

nat ur al .

Ther e ar e many obvi ous di f f i cul t i es beset t i ng any

vi ew l i ke t hi s, agai nst whi ch t he hol der s of i t can onl y

ar m t hemsel ves f or t he most par t wi t h what seems t o

t hem t o be f ai t h. We ask, supposi ng t hat t her e i s t hi s

di st i nct i on bet ween t he Chur ch and t he Wor l d, t hat t he"

one i s super nat ur al and t he ot her nat ur al , how ar e we,

l i vi ng at t hi s day, t o know t he Chur ch t Per haps

some answer l i ke t hi s may be gi ven, — " Any or gani zed

soci et y whi ch has t he Apost ol i cal Successi on, and t he

Thr eef ol d Mi ni st r y, and t he Sacr ament s, and t he

THE BODY OF CHRI ST. 21$

Cr eeds, may r i ght l y cl ai m t o be a par t of t he Super -

nat ur al Body, wi t h t he power of di spensi ng t he

super nat ur al gi f t s and gr aces. " Ar e we obl i ged t o

hol d t hen t hat Sout h Amer i can Romani sm, f or

exampl e, i s super nat ur al , and t he Met hodi st Soci et y

mer el y nat ur al ? Or , l ooki ng on each si de of us at

home, ar e we t o say t hat we of t he Chur ch of Engl and

enj oy super nat ur al gi f t s and gr ace, and t hat Non-

Chur chmen have t o do as wel l as t hey can wi t hout

t hem } And t he St at e, — i s t hat a mer e nat ur al

cr eat i on ? We shoul d be l ed on t o ask what t hose

who use t hese t er ms nat ur al and super nat ur al mean

by t hem. When t hey cal l men and t hi ngs out si de

t he Chur ch nat ur al , do t hey mean t hat t hey ar e wi t h-

out God ? • I mpossi bl e. They ar e compel l ed t o be

i ndef i ni t e, t o empt y t he wor ds of an i nt el l i gi bl e mean-

i ng. But none t he l ess do t hey r ever t t o t hei r or i gi nal

posi t i on, and conj ur e wi t h t he wor d super nat ur al as

i f i t meant al l t hat i t appear s t o mean, and af f i r m

t he Chur ch of Engl and as di st i ngui shed f r om t he

ci vi l soci et y t o be t he Body of Chr i st , and t her ef or e

ent i t l ed by Di vi ne r i ght t o spi r i t ual i ndependence.

To t hi s pol i cy t hey pl edge t hei r l oyal t y t o Chr i st .

They t hi nk t hey woul d be denyi ng Chr i st , i f t hey

di d not cl ai m Di vi ne pr er ogat i ve as gi ven t o hi s

Body.

But i s not t hen t he Chur ch t he Body of Chr i st . ?

I s t her e not some soci et y upon ear t h whi ch Chr i st

f ounded t o be per manent , and t o t he of f i cer s and

member s of whi ch he assi gned cer t ai n power s and

gr aces i n per pet ui t y ?

Page 127 of 132

2l 6 TI I K ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

Let US see what t he Chur ch was, when St . Paul

decl ar ed i t t o be Chr i st ' s Body.

No doubt i t was f r om t he f i r st a soci et y of per sons

cal l ed out f r om t he wor l d. I t was f or med by t he

Apost l es, who pr ocl ai med Jesus Chr i st as a Li vi ng

Lor d and Savi our , and i nvi t ed men t o r ecei ve f or gi ve-

ness of si ns t hr ough hi m. Those who wer e per suaded

t o do so wer e bapt i zed wi t h wat er and j oi ned t o t he

exi st i ng company of bel i ever s. The Hol y Ghost , as

a power of war mt h and l i ght and ut t er ance, was gi ven

t o t he soci et y at i t s begi nni ng, and i t was assumed

t hat ever y one who came i nt o t he soci et y dr ank

of t he same Spi r i t . Besi des t he Bapt i sm at t he

ent r ance i nt o t he Chur ch, t her e was one ot her

or di nance used by t he soci et y, t he common par t aki ng

of br ead and wi ne, as of t he Body and Bl ood of t he

Savi our , on t he Resur r ect i on Day.

The gover nment of t he soci et y was i n t he hands of

t he Apost l es. Ther e was no di st i nct i on at f i r st

bet ween t he mor e secul ar and t he mor e st r i ct l y

spi r i t ual pr ovi nces of t he common l i f e of t he Chur ch.

But , as t he need ar ose, of ^ cer s cal l ed deacons or

mi ni st er s wer e appoi nt ed t o r el i eve t he Apost l es of

such wor k as t he di st r i but i on of f unds amongst t he

needy. Af t er a t i me, t he Chur ch spr ead t hr ough t he

pr eachi ng of Chr i st beyond Jer usal em and Judaea.

St . Paul , when hi s Apost ol i c car eer had begun, went

f r om ci t y t o ci t y, f oundi ng smal l br anch soci et i es

wher ever hi s wor d was r ecei ved. Each of t hese

soci et i es was cal l ed a Chur ch, and i t was assumed

t hat ever y one who j oi ned t hem became a par t aker of

THE BODY OF CHRI ST. 21/

t he Hol y Spi r i t , or Spi r i t of Jesus Chr i st , whose power

was mani f est ed i n t he f er vour and f ai t h of t he Chr i st i an

body. Al l St . Paul ' s Chur ches r emai ned under hi s

per sonal gover nment , and ever y di sput e and quest i on

t hat ar ose i n t hem was r ef er r ed t o hi m. But he

appoi nt ed el der s or over seer s i n ever y ci t y, t o exer -

ci se past or al car e over t he bel i ever s ; and no doubt

t her e wer e deacons al so, as a r ul e, i n ever y Chr i st i an

communi t y.

St . Paul del i ght ed t o cont empl at e t he or gani c uni t y

of t hi s associ at i on of bel i ever s i n Chr i st . The i dea of

i t exci t ed hi s ent husi asm ; he dwel l s upon i t , bl esses

God f or cr eat i ng i t , exhor t s t he i ndi vi dual bel i ever t o

appr eci at e i t , t o use i t s pr i vi l eges and t o conf or m

hi msel f and hi s l i f e t o i t . You r emember t he passage

i n whi ch t hi s f eel i ng f i nds i t s most r emar kabl e ut t er -

ance. " Ther e i s one body and one Spi r i t , even

as ye wer e cal l ed i n one hope of your cal l i ng ; one

Lor d, one f ai t h, one bapt i sm, one God and Fat her

of al l , who i s above al l and t hr ough al l and i n al l . "

Page 128 of 132

Wi t h t hi s uni t y, t her e ar e di st i nct i ons of f unct i on ;

and each member , St . Paul hol ds, has hi s own gi f t of

endowment t o enabl e hi m t o f i l l hi s own pl ace. Chr i st

i s t he gr eat Gi ver , and besi des t hese gi f t s t o t he

sever al member s of t he body, he gave t o t he body as

a whol e t he apost l es, pr ophet s, evangel i st s, past or s,

and t eacher s, by whose var i ous mi ni st r i es si nf ul and

sel f - wi l l ed men wer e t o be moul ded i nt o t r ue member s

and t he ul t i mat e per f ect i ng of t he body t o be accom-

pl i shed. St . Paul l ooked f or war d i n hope t o t he t i me

when t he Body of Chr i st mi ght be not onl y i deal l y

2l 8 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

per f ect , but act ual l y per f ect al so, i n i t s adul t gr owt h

and i n t he har moni ous co- oper at i on of al l i t s par t s.

Sur el y, i t may be sai d, t hi s i s a super nat ur al

cr eat i on of whi ch St . Paul speaks. I t cannot be

doubt ed t hat t he Apost l e hel d t he Chur ch of hi s own

days t o be i n cl ose r el at i ons wi t h t he l i vi ng Chr i st i n

hf eaven, and t o have pr eci ous gi f t s and pr i vi l eges.

Tr ue, t hat cannot be doubt ed. But St . Paul appear s

t o me t o be i n a compl et el y di f f er ent at mospher e of

t hought f r om t hat i n whi ch t he eccl esi ast i cal or gani za-

at i on i s exal t ed i nf i ni t el y above t he ci vi l , or a Chur ch

or gani zed i n one way set i nf i ni t el y above a Chur ch

or gani zed i n anot her way.

I f we supposed t hat St . Paul was at t r i but i ng a

Di vi ne aut hor i t y t o a par t i cul ar or gani zat i on, we

shoul d have t o concl ude t hat t he hi er ar chy of t he

Chur ch ought t o consi st , not of bi shops, pr i est s, and

deacons, but of apost l es, pr ophet s, evangel i st s, shep-

her ds, and t eacher s. No doubt , i n nami ng t hese

agent s of Chr i st i n t he bui l di ng of t he body, St . Paul

was not t hi nki ng of a Di vi nel y- appoi nt ed per manent

or gani zat i on of t he Chur ch. But i f Chr i st i ans f r om

t he f i r st age have been r i ght i n bel i evi ng t hat St .

Paul was not i mposi ng t hese or der s upon t he Chur ch,

at al l event s he does not name t he or der s of bi shops,

pr i est s and deacons. The Chur ch had not yet r e-

cei ved t he f ul l or gani zat i on whi ch i t af t er war ds ac -

qui r ed. The Apost l es hel d an except i onal posi t i on

i n t he Chur ch, and t he pl ace of St . Paul was st i l l

mor e uni que. Hi s gover nment was a per sonal one,

exer ci sed by hi m because he was t he act ual f at her of

THE BODY OF CHRI ST. 219

hi s Chur ches. I n t he Chur ches under hi s gover nment ,

t he t wo names, bi shop ( over seer ) , and pr esbyt er ( el der ) ,

wer e gi ven t o t he same per sons. I t was onl y by

degr ees, af t er t he Apost l es wer e gone, t hat t he name

of bi shop was appr opr i at ed t o t he pr esbyt er who was

appoi nt ed t o pr esi de over ot her pr esbyt er s. Not hi ng

can be cl ear er , I t hi nk, t han t hat St . Paul ' s f ai t h i n

t he Di vi ne cal l i ng and const i t ut i on of t he Chur ch

does not at t ach i t sel f t o any def i ned or gani zat i on.

We see i n t he New Test ament t he admi ni st r at i ve

Page 129 of 132

syst em of t he Chur ch gr owi ng under our eyes ac-

cor di ng t o i t s ci r cumst ances and i t s needs. Chr i st

gave what ever sor t of agent s wer e want ed f or t he

bui l di ng up of t he body.

Obser ve, i n t he next pl ace, t hat i t i s not i n t he

out war d r eal i zed shape of t he Chur ch, t hat St . Paul

sees t he Di vi ne cr eat i on whi ch he gl or i f i es. Ther e

may be ever y sor t of def ect and i r r egul ar i t y i n t he

men and women whom Chr i st has cal l ed t o be hi s

member s. The uni t y i s not made by t hem, and does

not depend upon t hem. Thei r busi ness i s t o keep t he

uni t y, t o conf or m t hemsel ves t o i t . The super nat ur al

Body of Chr i st i s t he i deal one, and i t i s r eal i zed wi t h

var i ous degr ees of i mper f ect i on wher ever men acknow-

l edge Chr i st as t hei r head.

The t r ut h i s, t hat t he Chur ch of Chr i st i s mor e

super nat ur al i n t he New Test ament t han i t i s t o t hose

who ar e now war ni ng of f t he ci vi l soci et y f r om pr e-

sumi ng t o i nt er f er e i n i t s domai n. We Chr i st i ans of

t he Chur ch of Engl and ar e a par t of t he Body of

Chr i st , i n t hat God has cal l ed us t o be i n f el l owshi p

220 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

wi t h hi s Son and has gi ven us t o dr i nk of hi s f i l i al

Spi r i t ; and we ar e a par t of t he Body of Chr i st ,

agai n, i n so f ar as we on our si de yi el d our sel ves t o

be God' s chi l dr en and submi t t o t he mot i ons of hi s

Spi r i t . The i nst i t ut i ons of t he Chur ch ar e means,

mor e or l ess sacr ed and i mpor t ant , f or br i ngi ng

us al l i nt o our r i ght spi r i t ual pl aces and condi t i ons.

Thi s i s t he Scr i pt ur al account of t he Chur ch. I n

or der t o t ake i t i n, we must t hi nk f i r st and st eadi l y

of what t he per f ect spi r i t ual soci et y of Chr i st ' s mem-

ber s woul d be, i n ear t h and heaven ; and t hen we must

see i n t he var i ous pr ocesses, eccl esi ast i cal and ot her ,

by whi ch t hat per f ect i on i s pr omot ed, God' s gi f t s

or ener gi es accompl i shi ng t he uni t y whi ch i s hi s

ai m.

What gui dance may we get , t hen, f r om t he New

Test ament wi t h r ef er ence t o t he eccl esi ast i cal di f f i -

cul t i es of our t i me . ?

We f i nd not hi ng what ever , I t hi nk, i n t he New

Test ament , t o t el l us di r ect l y what t he r el at i ons

bet ween t he Chur ch and non- Chur chmen, bet ween

t he Chur ch and t he St at e, ought t o be i n ci r cumst ances

such as our s. The Apost l es wer e occupi ed wi t h t he

condi t i ons i n t he mi dst of whi ch t hey l i ved. They

wer e not specul at or s, but Apost l es. They di d not

dr aw up r ul es f or a wor l d al t oget her di f f er ent f r om

t hat i n whi ch t hey wer e wor ki ng. Ther e was not hi ng

i n t hei r day at al l answer i ng t o t he condi t i on of our

Chr i st i an Engl and ; not hi ng anal ogous t o our Chur ch

and Di ssent , not hi ng anal ogous t o our Chur ch and

St at e, i n t he r el at i ons of t he smal l Chr i st i an com-

Page 130 of 132

THE BODY OF CHRI ST. 221

muni t i es of t he f i r st age t o t he heat hen and Jewi sh

wor l d ar ound t hem.

But i t does not t her ef or e f ol l ow t hat t he t eachi ng

of t he Apost l es wi l l gi ve us no hel p i n deal i ng

pr act i cal l y wi t h t he pr obl ems of our own age. We

may st udy t hei r pr i nci pl es, and seek t o ent er i nt o

t hei r spi r i t .

( i . ) They t each us t o keep i n vi ew t he i deal per -

f ect i on of t he Body of Chr i st . Not St . Paul onl y,

but al l t he Apost l es and Evangel i st s, wer e cont i nual l y

cont empl at i ng t he heavenl y gl or y of a br ot her hood

of men i n f ul l har mony wi t h each ot her because al l

j oi ned t o Chr i st , of men wal ki ng i n humi l i t y and

meekness and l ove, endeavour i ng t o keep t he uni t y

of t he Spi r i t i n t he bond of peace. Ther e i s not hi ng

i n such an i deal l ess sui t ed t o us t o- day t han t o t he

Chr i st i ans of t he f i r st age. For our sel ves, and f or

our nei ghbour s and f el l ow- men, t hi s hope shoul d be

i n our hear t s, t hi s Di vi ne i deal bef or e our eyes.

Let us bel i eve t hat i t i s t he Di vi ne pur pose, and t hat

we ar e cal l ed t o t he f ul f i l ment of i t .

( 2. ) They t each us, f ur t her , t o subor di nat e means

t o t he end. I s i t not an expr ess pr i nci pl e i n t he

t eachi ng of our Lor d Hi msel f and of hi s Apost l es,

t hat means and i nst r ument s and agenci es ar e not t o

be wor shi pped i n t hemsel ves but t o be est i mat ed wi t h

r ef er ence t o t he end t hey ar e t o pr omot e . ? Thi nk,

f or exampl e, what i s i mpl i ed i n t hat pr egnant sayi ng,

" The Sabbat h was made f or man, and not man f or

t he Sabbat h. " Means and i nst r ument s ar e not di s -

honour ed by t hi s pr i nci pl e. I f t he end t hey ser ve

222 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

i s hi gh and pr eci ous, t hey al so wi l l deser ve t o be

val ued. I f t he spi r i t ual f r eedom of man i s i mpor t ant ,

t hen t he or di nance of a Day of Rest , whi ch mi ni st er s

t o i t , may wel l be sacr ed. But i t i s of t en appoi nt ed

i n t he Pr ovi dence of God t hat an appar ent di shonour

shoul d be cast on means, t hat t he mi nds of men may

be f or ced away f r om r est i ng upon t hem. And means

may be var i ed, accor di ng t o ci r cumst ances, whi l st t he

same per mament end i s t o be sought . Now t he

or der s of a sacr ed mi ni st r y, and a hi st or i cal successi on

of Bi shops, and an anci ent Chur ch, and consecr at ed

bui l di ngs, can cl ai m t o be not hi ng bet t er t han means

f or t he bui l di ng up of t he body of Chr i st . I t i s r i ght

t o pr i ze t hem, but i t i s equal l y r i ght t o r egar d t hem

st eadi l y as subor di nat e t o t hei r end. And we mi ght

expect t hat God woul d make i t pl ai n t o us by

f act and hi st or y t hat t he end i s hi gher t han t he

means and i ndependent of t hem.

( 3. ) They t each us agai n, t o st r i ve t o be spi r i t ual

r at her t han eccl esi ast i cal . By t he eccl esi ast i cal di s -

posi t i on, I mean t hat whi ch makes much of t he

di gni t i es and r i ght s of a Chur ch. I n t he New Test a-

Page 131 of 132

ment , t hi s di sposi t i on appear s t o be i l l ust r at ed i n

t he char act er of t he Jews and t he Judai zi ng Chr i st i ans.

They wer e al ways t hi nki ng of t hei r excl usi ve r el i gi ous

pr i vi l eges, of t he sacr edness of t he Templ e and of t he

Law, and of t he quest i onabl e and danger ous posi t i on

of t hose who wer e out si de t he covenant . Now t hi s

habi t of mi nd, undoubt edl y r el i gi ous as i t was, i s not

hel d up t o our admi r at i on i n t he New Test ament ,

but t he cont r ar y. I t i s denounced as bei ng t he

THE BODY OF CHRI ST. 223

Opposi t e of a t r ue spi r i t ual i t y. I t i s shown t o us as

associ at ed wi t h i nt ol er ance, bi got r y, har dness, cr uel t y,

as most of f ensi ve t o t he Fat her of our Lor d Jesus

Chr i st and f r ui t f ul of mi schi ef i n t he wor l d. St . Paul

had t o under go t he r epr oach of bei ng di sl oyal t o t he

r el i gi on of hi s f at her s, because he cont ended agai nst

t hi s eccl esi ast i cal spi r i t . But t he r epr oach was as

unj ust as i t was pai nf ul t o hi m. He l oved t he hol y

ci t y and t he Templ e and t he or di nances of t he Law

and hi s ki ndr ed accor di ng t o t he f l esh ; but he knew

t hat t he pr oper ai m of a devout man was not t o hedge

r ound an or gani zat i on, but t o gl or i f y and bear wi t ness

t o t he Di vi ne Spi r i t .

( 4. ) Agai n, t he Apost l es t each us t o r egar d ci vi l

soci et y as a Di vi ne cr eat i on, and ci vi l aut hor i t y as

havi ng a Di vi ne sanct i on. I t i s ext r emel y i mpr essi ve

t o r emember t hat when St . Paul wr ot e, * * The power s

t hat be ar e or dai ned of God, " t he hi ghest ear t hl y

pot ent at e was t he Emper or Ner o — not onl y a Pagan,

but one of t he m^ ost odi ous and cont empt i bl e of men.

What woul d he, who t r eat ed t he Roman admi nst r at i on

wi t h such r espect , have t hought of t he ci vi l aut hor i t y

of a Chr i st i an count r y l i ke Our s ? Wi t h what aver si on

woul d he have t ur ned away f r om t he l anguage whi ch

cal l s i t mer el y " nat ur al , " and seeks t o f ost er an

i r r ever ent and def i ant spi r i t t owar ds i t !

( 5. ) And l ast l y, l et me r emi nd you wi t h what

ear nest ness t he New Test ament ur ges us al l t o seek t o

be gover ned by t he gr aci ous and consi der at e Spi r i t of

Jesus Chr i st . Wher ever t her e i s good, i n what ever

Samar i t an or heat hen we may see ki ndness and t he

224 THE ESTABLI SHED CHURCH.

f ear of God, t her e we ar e t o wel come i t and r ej oi ce

i n i t i n our Fat her ' s name. Ther e i s no r espect of

per sons wi t h God, no accept ance of any man on

account of hi s r el i gi on or hi s pr of essi on ; under what -

ever r el i gi ous gar b, he t hat l ovet h i s bor n of God, he

t hat doet h r i ght eousness i s bor n of God. Ther e i s no

danger i n bei ng r eady t o appr eci at e si mpl e goodness

and t o r ef er i t t o t he wor ki ng of t he Di vi ne Spi r i t

wher ever we may f i nd i t ; t her e i s t he gr eat est danger

i n f ai l i ng t o appr eci at e i t . Thi s i s doct r i ne of un-

quest i onabl e Di vi ne aut hor i t y, whi ch we may of t en

have oppor t uni t i es of put t i ng i nt o pr act i ce. Let us

Page 132 of 132

r emember t o cher i sh i t i n al l our deal i ngs wi t h t hose

who do not bel ong t o our own Chur ch. Let us be

af r ai d l est nat ur e and t he f l esh shoul d make us i n-

t ol er ant and unsympat het i c ; l et us be sur e t hat

Chr i st and t he Spi r i t woul d wi n us t o modest y and

r ever ence and sympat hy.

I do not depr ecat e at t achment t o t he Chur ch of

our f at her s. God f or bi d. How can we be t hankf ul

enough f or t he pr i vi l eges of whi ch by God' s mer cy

we ar e i nher i t or s . ' ' But l et us l ear n t o set Chr i st

above t he Chur ch. Then we shal l not , I t hi nk, l ove

our Chur ch t he l ess ; but we shal l l ove i t mor e wi sel y,

and be mor e abl e, per haps, t o dr aw ot her s i nt o t he

f el l owshi p of our l ove.

THE END.