The Press. — London, England, 1858-12-11 00:00:00

. . re ednot; 1204 THE PRESS, DECEMBER 11, 1858. live s ys t e m ho ca w nsobiegreeamt remedied. This defect T in h o is urz, society of the worst kind, with ruffianism for its but, unfortunately for the Church, their ap- w Th e e conceive, wa in two tn ways, directly and ' means, with murder for its ends, and with social pointment to the o ffi ce goes a great way to direct ruin for its results. Surely, when the Church of nullify the representative character inherent in 8 and fie nndby importance, a diocese. t placeh the indirectly. Rome is so pledged against secret societies, its their o ffi ce. As a rule, the Bishops consider it a equate representa- tion of the Church in nre th s e n priests cannot stand by in philosophical indif- matter of etiquette to support by their speeches House of C ommons ference when Ribbonism spreads its horrible and their votes, either the party to which they w vo h t ie e n. would be, in any plan for remodelling our r c e .e p s r . ese ti n e t a a i tive system , to introduce an c c . franchise, and to give to each hands through a district accursed by its presence. owe their elevation to the Bench, or, if their Surely, when the priests are so armed with the attachment to party be not strong enough, or the 1 1 onetollf etri d iocese, tnev Nmv someht l oo C rl e ce o mrsodufeictnmhhgbe principleet clergy ls e, it s rtg yo e bo x ef t w e te n th. extent special might derived a from t the Con fessional, exigencies of party too . exorb itant, the Govern- th y g ext i n gu i sh- ment for the time being. They do not repre- ing the Ribbon Conspiracy. At present several sent the Church, because the Church has had no priests in various parts of Ireland have denounced share in making them what they are. If ever Ribbonism, and have written strong rhetoric the time shall come when the clergy and laity of th e od measure of it . Parliamentary Reform to be t . ! h uc next session, rs t n . ot al forus to say; but, in- against it in the newspapers. But it is deeds, the Church shall have restored to them that voice if d e principle el of an uca educational f franchise, which not diatribes, resolute acts, not resonant rhetoric, in the appointment of their Chief Pastors which I' adopted, d eservedly . y obtained much favour, should be which are wanted against Ribbonism. We do they had in primitive times, and of which they it is obvious tt _ that, among .. the not ask that the priests should betray the secrets have been despoiled by the centralizing despotism consti- of the Confessional, but we have a right to say of the Temporal Power, succeeding to the in- tuenc ies._ N a ti onalt be crea ted on hat principle, the clergy of fhe that they could give valuable knowledge, without heritance of the Papal usurpation, then may the the least violation of their duties, and that if they presence of the Bishops in the Upper House be their diocesan divisions, wo uld have a first claim were seen openly and actively aiding the magis- pointed at with truth,—though even then not Independently, however, of any such direct tracy and authorities in helping to detect the with justice complained of,—as a " prominent " representation, the Church has it in her Ribbonmen, and bring them to justice, there representation of the Church. own power to secure for herself; to a much would soon be an end of the sanguinary con- Whether such a time is ever likely to come, greater extent than accident produces at federacy. Surely they must see that considerable and by what means such a change in the method present, an indi-ect representation in both responsibility devolves upon them, both on of episcopal appointments, and the consequent Houses of Parliament, and especially in account of their knowledge of the peasantry and character of the Episcopate, may legitimately be the House of Commons, by calling in the co- on account of the influence which they wield over brought about, are questions which we do not, for operation of the laity in the general administration them. the present at all events, care to discuss. There of her affairs. There exists, we believe, an in- Turning from these considerations, we am is a more pressing question, one of great practical tention to bring this matter formally under the specially enabled to say that in some of the cases importance, which just now claims our attention consideration of the clergy at the next meeting in recent years where criminals have not been —the question, namely, whether the Church is of the Convocation of Canterbury. The sugges- brought to justice by the Executive in Ireland, properly represented in the House of Commons. tion to be made, we understand, is that the it is not from any want of the knowledge of who 'ow, with regard to that branch of the Legis- clergy, meeting in archdeaconries or rural dean- was the person that committed the deed, but for l ature, so far from being, as Mr. BRIGHT alleges, cries, should, if not always, at least occasionally, want of the required legal evidence to insure "prominently represented," the truth is that she invite certain of the laity of the district to meet conviction. The murderer of Mr. CALLAHAN is can scarcely be said to be represented at all. them, in consulting committees, for deliberation known to a moral, but not to a legal, certainty, With the exception of the Members for the and mutual consultation on Church affairs, both and it would be no use at present putting him Universities, there are no Members that have local and general. As far as it goes, this sugges- ' upon his trial. So, also, in the case of the asses- any official connection with the Church, or tion is not unworthy of consideration, though it i sination of Mr. ELY, the murderer is known, but he is " upon the run," and if caught, he will be any special call to represent her. Even in may , be doubted whether it is a step altogether the case, of the Members for the Universities in the right direction. Laymen so called in by probably hung. That murder bad nothing to that connection and representation is only invitation will labour under a twofold disadvan- do with Ribbonism. °' If," said Mr. ELY to a indirect, and might cease to have any Church tage. Being called in as a matter of favour poaching rascal brought before him, "you are character whatever, if the attempt to effla.e lila rather than of right, they will naturally feel " again had up before me, I shall write to your distinctive character of the Universities as Church some hesitation to speak their mind fully and " landlord to tell him that you keep greyhounds," Institutions should prove as successful in practice, freely; and this hesitation will be gready in- and the atrocious scoundrel, through a hellish as it has hitherto been on paper. Whatever of creased by the fear lest their speaking their spirit of revenge, shot the most inoffensive gen- the Church's mind, or of Church feeling, may at mind should be construed into an assumption to tleman in the whole district ! That infamous any time find its way into the House of Corn- speak on behalf of their absent brethren of the crime had nought to do with Ribbonism ; its mons, is there, accidentally, through the personal laity, who not only have not been invited, but perpetrator cannot long remain uncaught, and opinions and predilections of individuals, certainly have had no share in sending them to these the gallows will be his end. The murderers of not by way of representation. And as the informal Church councils. the late Mrs. KELLY have not yet been brought Church laity take scarcely any part in the prac- This , to justice ; but in all its features that was a most t i ca l wor ki ng o f t h e Ch urc h— w hi c h, on other mostT e s manifest ife st obviated. inconvenien c e I f it Nve , ve thought however, mayproper extraordinary case, and experienced officials do accounts, is much to be regretted—they are not and practicable—and we see nothing to prevent not believe that Ribbonmen killed Mrs. KELLY. sufficiently acquainted with either her theory or it—to make arrangements for a joint consultation But the worst thing about Ribbonism is the her practice to sustain her cause with effect of the clergy and laity, say within each rural terror which it causes. It spreads here and there aga i nst t h e i ncessant attac k s di recte d aga i nst h er deanery, why should not the clergyman o f eac h in so mysterious a way; one time it is quiescent, in the popular branch of the Legislature. The parish or district, at the request of the bishop and seems extinguished, and then suddenly it on l y persons w h o, b y pro f ess i ona l tra i n i ng and conveyle communi cantsed to him b of his flock, and ask them the rural dean, call together springs up with bloodthirsty activity. It is a t h oroug h acqua i ntance w i t h t h e Church's system, th e ma society which has existed during two genera- are rea ll y qua lifi e d to d e f en d h er cause, an d to to select one from among themselves who is to tions ; it has its officers, its affiliated branches, give sound advice in matters affecting her wel- accompany the parochial clergyman to a ruri- :ts commanders and its servants, its secret-service fare—the clergy,—are as a class disqualified from ill .--•decanal meeting of clergy and lay representative?. money, its concerted plan for attack, defence, and sitting in the House of Commons. This ex- The laymen thus deputed would give their escape, its class-feelings and its Cain-like in- be elusion, though it may accounted for, is cer- p counsel with greater freedom and with greater stincts, and, worse than all, its assumption of tainly not compensated, by the constitutional weight, because s but the min d s eaking not only their own " Justice "! Against this diabolical association representation of the clergy in the Lower House mind we hope that effective means will be at last of Convocation, considering the total suppression s, of those, or of a majority of those, by whom they were selected. To employed to crush its purposes, confound its formerly, and even now the virtual suspension, give to the Church, however, the full benefit authors, and utterly ruin those who aid and abet of the active functions of that assembly ; and it pr in- it 't in any matter whatsoever. is rendered all the more glaringly unjust by the ciple of such a system of lay co-operation, the i laity unrestricted admission to the use of Commons of representation of the communicant LAY CO-OPERATION IN THE CHURCH. of the rivals . and . opponents of the Clergy, the merely ruri-decanal or even diocesan ... would have to be carried a step further than gather - Dissenting Ministers, several of whom, and those ings. There is no reason why the two provincial AMONG the fallacies and misstatements which of the bitterest school of political dissent, have, c 1 4 their character as • Convocations—even though, in constituencies, constitute the staple of Mr. BRIGHT'S famous by the favour of' Radical . obtained ecclesiastical synods, they should still be kept seats for the express and scarcely disguised par- in one National political manifesto, not the least remarkable is the distinct—should not be combined • e of making a series of onslaughts on the complaint that " the Established Church is pro- p ° Ch s urch. No impartial mind, conversant with astical divisions elect their proctors in Convoca- Synod ; and, as the clergy of the several ecclesi- " minently represented in both Houses of Parlia- our Parliamentary history for the last quarter of tic n, ment." The opinion of Churchmen, on the a century, can doubt that if the Church had communicant' laity of the several parishes might contrary, is, that not only she is not promi- been, we say not prominently, but fairly, repre- nso the lay representatives chosen by the I\ ' nently, but that she is not even fairly represented. s o e u n r t e e c d c l i e n s i t a h s e t Hou se of Commons, not only would legislation have been kept free deput ies to represent them in the National Syn od becalled upon to elect out of their own number In the Upper House of Parliament, indeed, it from the reproach of exhibiting a series of deplor- of the three orders, b• 'shops, clergy, and y : or Convention, which would thus be com pos ed .t cannot be denied that there is a remarkable show able half measures and egregious blunders, but In an assembly of thi s of Church representation. A striking recognition questions many deeply affectin the • interests of with the administration of the Church would than of the Church is involved, to all outward the Church, and through her t he welfare . of the a ss uredly be discussed to greater advantag e nation, would have been discussed in a very the kind, questions connected appearance, in the display of clerical habili- either in a purely clerical assembly . or in ments on certain benches. But the notion different spirit, and brought to a very different at by either House of Commons. The conclusions arrived that the wearers of these habiliments represent issue. the National Synod or Convention . would the Church, is a myth in which, we apprehend, With these facts before our eyes, it is a matter be such as might be carried out by voluntary few of the 818 • hops themselves believe. That of the greatest moment, not only as a question of action within the Church, or they would require ical effect to their very office constitutes them repre- justice to the Church, but as a question of sound the sanction of law to give pract . . th at the sentatiyes of the Church, is doubtless true ; State policy, affecting the welfare of the whole ' them. In the former case, it is obvious ved l', -