The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1878-04-16 00:00:00

DISISTABLISHMENT.

The Reir. T. Nene, of Dorchester, addressed an
I.dia.C.n.t the Baell'huildings Chapel, on Tue.day night,
on the present position of the question of "Religious
Equality."—Mr. Heave laid down re Principle that what
was right for Ireland la right tor England, as a matter of
abstract logic. It was thought that the Liberationist
principle had hewn put down by an eloquent speech of
Mr. Gladstone'. on Mr. Midi's motion; but it led to the
incontinent putting down of Mr. GiadsWne. The Liberal
party had been disorganised, and when it wan to be
reorganised he did not know, nor did be very much care.
But the Lib -ration party was the least dieomanised of
the whole Petty. and sines the Tories had Wren office,
the policy and party of Ltheration were =eking program,
So that they might way of their opponents, as did the
Inmaides Croui twell—" The Lard bath delivered them
into or baud." Somiand is the key of the position on
the Disestablishment qoettion, an-I the next inatatanent
oi religious equality will come to Scotland. So be united
them to be prepared he rive to Scotchmen, when they
C tn. knocking at the door of the House, a measure of
that freedom, which the Scotsmen would be ready in
turn to give to the English Caurch. The Scots never
tilted patronage, they always stood up for civil and
religious freedom, and for the right of the churches to
elect their own miniaters, and in ISIS • noble band of
them went out from the "land of Canaan," as the
Established Church was called, to the " wilderness of
voluutarvisos," as it was ealb d in the Tiuve news-
paper. For thirty years they have maintained them.
selves, and have become one of the noble religious
bodies in the world. Thum who are &Min croaking
hoot the destitution of the rural neighbourhoods and
population.' should notice what the Free Church of
Scotland has done by voluntaryism in poor neighbour-
hoods, as in the wilds of the Hebrides. A deputation had
gone to Mn. Gladstone to ask him to abolish patronage in
the establishment; but M. Gladstooe asked them what
they would do about the property? for, said he, "If you
are right now, the Free Church was right at Lb. time of
the Disruption. So the deputation went off with its tail
between its legs. When Mr. Disraeli came into office,
they thought the time of their redemption had corn.,
went to Mr. Disraeli, and the Duke of Richmond's Bill
was passed to abolish patronage in the interesla of the
Establishment. The result had been to kindle up the
fervour of the Scottish people in favour of Disestablish.
ment, and the overwhelming majority of the Free Church
have decided to coin for the dieestaililisbment and direst.
downiout of the Established Scottish Church, and when
the Scottish Church is disestablished, we may write on
its tornbet wie—" Hurried to its end by the kindness of
the C inservatires." The Public Worship Regulation Bill
came next; but It was unfit to put down Ritualism, for
that aims at the propagation of the doctrine of S icerdo-
talism, a doctrine detested by the people of England.
(Hear.) The result of the Bill has been to advance
Ritualism to a higher point; it has male the nnition of
the Bishops very ; the English Church Union had
actually Joined large nunihenuf members in the very ynr
the Bill was weed, and they were prepared to support
any clergy man who it determined to resist the law in
the intereets of the Catholic faith," and etpectally
to resist Lori Penzoice's Bill The Ritualistic party
have formed a Liberation party among themeless
using the Literationut's arguments, and speaking their
language, and the likelihood is that, If the Tonees nay in
office another ten year., the work of Liberationists will be
done far more efficiently than by themselves. The Tories
who are so fond of leapporting the rights of property,
confiscated the rights of property when thee abolished
patronage in the Scotah church. Earl Granville ale had
said he doubted whetaer the Church held property as a
church. Lord Harengton has virtually slid to the
Scotch pe ittle—" Mails up your mind at to disestablish-
.
..a , and when you have made up your mind, the
Literals of England will help you. The parochial
system, beloved by Mr. Foster, has been entirely a
failure and if the people are to be evangelised, the
parochial system must be got rid of. He (Mr. Neave) had
men a men come in, riding on horseback, enquiring for
Mr. Davis, the Baptist evangelist, the mans son was
dying, and he had left his own parish ant his own
minister to seek for another and a dissenting minister.
Some people say they would vote for Disestablishmcnt
of the Cnurch of Rituslisai became predominant But
most we wait till It tualism is predominant before we dis-
ntsblish 1 If a system is °pureed to all religious liberty
let us crush it in the bud. (Auplause.) It will tea grand
day for England and for Protestantism, which shall
witness the enfranthisensent of the Scottish and the
nlanh church. Applause.) The Pastor (Ear. Mr.
Bailey), Rest. W. Leal., atri Itn. F.. Bolton, expressed
thanks to Rev. Mr. Neave. and Mr. Bolton demanded for
Christians and Coristi ill ministers perfect equality. with
Christians and Christian ministers of any other denomina.
liOOS. (Applause.) The meeting was closed with prayer.