The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-03-07 00:00:00

"OPINIONS OF THE PRESS" ON THE
BURIALS BILL

It id because we desire to see the Establishment main-
tained that we deplore not only the line adopted by
the Government, but the arguments produced in its
support. 'What useful purpose, for example, is *erred
by identifying the Church with the churchyard, and
insisting that if the dead are buried with Dissenting
rites in the (pen enclosure, they must also be similarly
interred within the edifim ? Is it not a rash admission
, to place both on the same level? And it is still worse
to argue that churchyards attached to fabrics provided
by voluntary contributions are to be retained for the
exclusive use of one persuasion, because the argument
implies that these edifices and their appurtenances,
when handed over, are not subject to all the liabilities
of a state church—are not, in fact, thomughly incor-
porated with it. Mr. Crows asked whether Dissenters
would permit burials in their cemetries? Yet the
query, which looks telling, 6 really ',pointless, for the
reason that Dissent is not established and endowed
is not, in short, national. Arguments like these, if
logically followed out, lead straight to Disestablish-
meet, because they surrender the very base upon
which the church 6 founded Equally unfortunate is
the line whict almost scoffs at the allegation that
millions of Her majesty's (subjects feel no grievance,
but have fabricated one to assist a party. Even if it
were true that twenty years ago little was heard of
"this terrible oppression, " it would not follow that the
thing did not4aiL The Legislature cannot be
stopped from d with actual evils because remedies
were not demand at an earlier date. A statesman
must be deaf and blind to whet Is going on around
him who neither hears or sees symptoms of a rising
storm like those so plentiful in the land. If the strong
feelings entertained and displayed were confined to
Dissenters, a rigorous disregard of their remonstrance.
would not be wise, although it might be excusable on
the ground of political exigencies. But when the area
of disoontent Is not limited to those who suffer an
injustice • when it is so extended as to include a host
whose attachment to the Church is indisputable—
then, on considerations of prudence alone, a Govern-
ment which neglects the legitimate claims preferred
hazards something of far-greater moment than its own
safety—it Place* in ive_paroly the ancient institution so
unwisely defended. Last night Ministers chow to
resist kdr. Morgan's resolution; they forced the con-
test to aettnne • party aspect; they implied, if they
did not assert, a policy of "no surrender'" but in the
end the onnoeurion insisted on mud be granted, and it

...

will then be for the enlightened and tolerant members
of the Church to " save her from her friends," and
see that she suffers no detriment from their mistaken
and deplorable line of action. —Daily Telegraph.
-

A measure to compel all parishes at once to provide
cemeteries is inconceivable. So Ion; as the Church-
yard can be used without injury to health or to
decency it would be an extravagant addition to local
burdens to tax the ratepayers for a cemetery. During,
perhaps, the next 20 years there will remain a good
many parishes, though a continually diminishing
number, in which Nonconformists must be buried in
the Churchyard; and the question is whether during
this period of transition they are or are not to be
allowed the right of sepulture in accordance with the
principles and practice of their own faiths. Let the
natural necessity of burial be once admitted, and the
necessity of according religions freedom in the satis-
faction of it must inevitably be allowed. From this
issue no compromise can polisibly extricate the Govern-
ment, the Conservative Party, or the Church, and the
owger they refuse to make the inevitable concession,
the more unwelcome will be the form in which it must
finally be extorted from them.— Timm

The public, we believe, will entirely agree with Mr.
Cross, and so far from Mr. 0. Morgan having advanced
his cause by last night's adventure he has severely
damaged it.. The "strategic movement" upon which
his friends congratulated him has led to &decisive defeat.
His bill was defeated last year by a majority of four
teen. His resolution, which was adopted to catch
votes, has been rejected by a majority of thirty.one.
We congratulate the country and the Conservative
CiYupon the signal success which has attended
bold, clear, frank policy of the Government.—
Standard.