The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1885-12-01 00:00:00

Comsponbenct.

Jr., ti sit r W.
the SUth day .1 Novriab.r, ISM.]

Tax VICAR ON CHURCH D.IFSNrg.

The Vicarag.., NVartnin..ter, Nov. 10th, 1085.

My dear l'earein,-1 should like to add a few words
to the conversation which we hail the other thy
the present political crisis. Surprise has been ex iiressed
h,y suit,of my itarishimiers that I have not, in common
with litany of my brethren. preached on Church I hifetice.
The lied neiesin is that I do not think the Pali!' us
the pl.ice for it. I believe that sermons are to hop
lii,, spiritual life of the simple, to arouse the careltwa,
and to aid the believer to grow in grace. TIN, *mind
reason is that I do not Iwilieve the Church is in danger.
Never had the Church iso strong a hol lon the affections
of the people if this country—never was she more
vigorous awl full of life. Tin. even her ilieinies
allow. 'l'si 1/isratablisli the Church would not be so
easy a task as some sup's.% It is cii interwoven,
through its lay patronage, it panichial machinery, its
schools auil clutritislile institutions, with the social life
of the pi4iple, that to attempt to sever the connection
Isitwetiti Church and State would almost, WS lewd
Ihrtington says, Itring a civil war. 1/isestablishment
will lit collie, until • stnitv; party in the Church
desire it. It was *toxinsl by mime a few years minor.
The relations between Church and State were
strained that a Wird Commission Ecclesiastical
Court WWI usiuis.iuiteil, With tile befits', tlvit something
twist be 11000. Tl..' Commissioners reported I Was
among the number ui there, wile ielviientegi legislation
oil the lined laid down by the Coisiiiiisaien.,m. I did
pe, both in sainvocatien niul the galislntry I4yn,sl.
Nothing has yet heels done. Tim day may some when
the Church itself fluty deeire
Churchmen eiglit to have a veto the appointment
of their bishop,. awl, as mime think, P4llllO VOIOO ill Chit
alio milli/ Of their own pastor... The traffic in hyalite
might to lie !note strictly nwilated, if not entirely
abolialted. The expensow attendant on the cornieti
erimin.ina clerks ought 11.1 t to rest solely ,in the
There are ',crudely many thing,' niseliffit
reform in this Cliiirclu. W,, should all of us labour to
titilitt reforms, 1111.1 I hope we oily obtain
ionise of them. I believe that ttttt id our (noels and
twighloottra are atirprised that psi and I intend to
vide five the I feel I Lint miteli reform is
twilled, am' that thins WM pent
affecting tit., welfare of tlie e‘fasgiim
I believe jialging trim, the past history of 'sir conetrY,
that tile leilaing party is the one newt likely
originate theist returns*. It is the party of pnigress.
I sin not content with things as they are. I believe
that litany champ. wmild 1,.. ii% 1....1ien'. I need
hydly my that I alit ion Itevolutioniat,
big believe that it mead be diam.trons if the Cfmrch was
to ally lierielf to ono party in the State ; that nothing
WOOl.l tend more to listen I ; that it
would he aliniot certain to bring it alv nit. A 4 to %Ir.
I anitstiiiie, I lielieve that no liiyinan has di. inure
for the welfare id the 13Iiiirch iii li.glaiuil, Ile has
aliPoint.el then great piety awl intellect to the high
in 0,0 Ili. n•osteil to the litilevit
lo 'wee 111, or.hili Ile is
it tirlsi I iii the gr. :it troths of llhristiviiity, and
is Isimielf a 01 01 0004alit at...101.111i at tho 1110111.
shall indeed iiiis,, him when he is taken
(ruin no. lei ttttt ot Ice to hear revile ,ins
. is, woltli.Y. I will now "lily iwld that, haring ao many
Warlit friends awl parialiimeem wit. are striinfCen•
ii I ivvistives, Whose fritoift.liii, value gimlet highly,
have puriamily kept abed (non the etede of 'mtgee all
around your,' truly.

E. hou.trs.
Tu the Rev. J. H. Name, the Vicarage, licher.