The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1885-11-03 00:00:00

Corrospono cure.

TU 011(111061 AN!) lIISEsTABLI.III.IIE.VT.
T. the Editor
Sir,—The privileged eircurnstancia in which a clergy-
maim preaches would pievent, I think, muy
hor-minded man from abusing thein. I
c•rtainly consider that the clergyman who
officiated in one of our Dorchester churches
last Sunday evening, did abut.. the privilege of his
position; and I ask you to publish in your welely.cir-
ciliated paper what, had it been said in that church
then, would have led to a "scene," and to my instant
removal sea "brawler." The rev. gentleman, whom
I never saw before, undoubtedly had the General
Klecation in his mind', eye, and he preached what
could not but be regarded .8 a political se . Ills
text was " Judas which betrayed hint,"
ILatthew xxvii., 3. Will it be believed that this
intolerant parson deliberately set himself, from finat
1,, het, to exhibit to his hearers a cot:gala.: parallel
between dissent and the apostate disciple! Incredible
as this mayacem, it is nevertheless tnie. In the out-
set he positively declared that, like Judas, dissenters
"by transgression fell" when they seceded from the
Church : and, in his conclusion, lae wanted them that,
when the calamity of Disestablishment had come, and
some whining dissenter approached them with the
espreasion of regret for what had been done, Church-
men would be able to say: "What is that to us! See
thou ho that." .

—.—
Nothing, naturally, could be too had to gay of a
Christian Communion represented under such symbol.
lam; and, indeed, this bigoted preacher opiike of all
the good dissenters thought they might be doing as
meredross. " Whatisit,"said he, "totherefinedgold of
the Church of England!" And he further distinctly
alleged that among diseenters there was neither learn.
ing or piety
Now, sir, I am a Churchman ; hot I think we
laymen ought to refuse to be hoodwinked and led by
the nose by such is foolish priest as this. It seems
to rue that he ought to have lived and died long ago.
The learning of the English clergy must surely be a
hindrance to them if at only supplies then' with inch
stuff an this for the semi ins which they deliver to a
oungregation if rational Englishmen. And what
of their piety? I ask you, sir, can there be piety
where there is no eign of the grace or humility ? And
where is the humility of the men who so loudly boast
of their piety and their learning ?
It will be • happy thing for this contemptible
parson if, while we continue to haves State Church,
ho can possibly manage to remain in England.
What would be his feeling* if he had to take up his
abode in some foreign country! Nay, if ho went
north of the Tweed, the change would render him
perfeetly mieerahle ; for, links, he abjure! his Elope
c"Palila notions, he would assuredly be esteemed •
diseellteti Wee I.c kr,ow it?
I hope the day is far distant when the Church of
England will be disestablished I feel as if I could
hope that it would never comm. It is the egregious
dilly of such • man as this that more than anything
elms will hasten ti bring is about. Why did he lit
rather tell that larg.• mon•tublagn what many of thorn
doubtless wont there in snnv measure to hear—Wird,'
that would strengthen them for tho proper die:barge
of the duties of the week ? del lie 11.1 epeak
encouraging yowls ti wane among them whii tiiisy have
felt that they wctri, porishiti4 for lack of knowlishre ?
It is for him to answer the question. —I am, yours,
et

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