The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1877-03-27 00:00:00

BIOADWAY.

•
Tile REV. ARTHUR TOOTH AND THR EATADumniva.
A Lecture on the above suoject was delivered at the
Independent Chapel on Tnesday evening by the Rev. T.
Neave, of Dorchester. The following are only extracts
from the lecture which was lengthy, and of the meet
exhanstive nature. After introducing the subject, and
referring to Mr. Tooth's imprisonment the lecturer said :
I think I shall eousult your wishes if I pass over any
kind of description of the lamentable and disgraceful
wene.s, by whomsoever enacted both inside and outside of
Mitcham Church ; and if theee scenes were originated
andirlireeted by Protestant seal, the greater the dishonour
and disgrace to Protestantism •, which can never be
honoured by scenes of tumult and disorder, more especially
when Men and women are, in however, mistaken a
manner, worshipping God in the most solemn arts of
their devotion. It was 'simply melancholy to road the
report of f
ill to inllirt deeenapctieinlotwryee,k. afr:leigriownee
ak h
n'ool,l nut en,
owrahliicy.
As Nonconformists we have no interest in, far less.
re 'poet, for acts, which, however, fitted to forward results
after which we aim, infliet In the meantime injury and
ilkhomer in our 'common christianity whose interest
whether in establishnients or out of them, are with in
paramount To us a. Nonconformists there is a peculiar
interest attaehing to these entire proceedings. Our fore-
fathers irnot we, were very familiar with such scenes.
It was no anemial thing for them to be interrupted and
assaulted in their religious services. There are Noncons
formats still living, who either underwent such tie;
or were familiar with those who did. They had even to
build their chapels in out f the woe places to escape the
mires, of the attic. in,l never built spire,, or too Ma.
tinetly itelirated their ,existence. Our ministers acre
not unfamiliar with prison life. hut to them it WM II very
real thing, and something which, unlike Mr. Tooth's,
gave them the real dignity of Martyrs. Well, it
is altogether strange to us, that matter+ should he
710 reversed as to see the church which thus treated
our Nonconformist forefathers, compelled to turn upon
'her own ministers, and similarly commit then, to prison
for the infraction of her own lens s, which they have sworn
to obey. And strangely enough, it has been through laws
enacted for consutuacious Dissenters, that Mr. Tooth
has found himself in !whom, Anil also out of it. What is
the real question at issue I Ritualism it will he answered,
at il 30 far correctly, and yet that is not the real imestion.
Mr. Tooth has been found guilty of practising certain
ceremonial, which has been conileiuned by the Privy
Council, and in which there is no dispute' such
as the elevation of the thered elements during
the paver of consecreaton. above hls head, the
tolling of the great bell of the church at
the time of consecration, singing the Apia. Doi,
the use of lighted candles and unauthorised processions.
Writing from prison to his sympathisers, he tells then,
that thereat tint:ll64l at issue in the intrinion of the civil
pswer into matters which are purely spiritual, and Over
u high acconlituly they (the State) have n control, but
which belong alone to the I %arch. While diselaiming
any kind of synipathy with Rite distil, we do profess the
dement interest in the earnest advocacy and estalilish-
ment of the principle of the spiritual freedom of the
Church aud of the right of its :umbers to govern them-
selves independent of all State control or authority.
Wile differences of opinion would be found to exist
between ourselves and the Ritualists in the full declare-
thin of this --piritual itidependence of the Church; in our
view it involves niucli more than in theirs With them it
loraiii the I ree,l.,iii of the clergy with in it means equally
the freedom of the laity. Still With the 'woad principle
of spiritual independence we Isar. the profoundest sym-
pathy by whomsoever proclaimed. The question which
We have to ask ourselves is are the rirconistancee in
which Mr. Tooth is placed such as to justify his contest-
tion / We have no dOUllt •as to the justness of the
principle ; is Mr. Tooth jostilied in fighting for it in Isis
seention t To this qUeStioll, WO think, there Can 1/0 but
one answer. As a minister of the State Church, our
111 l ion is that Mr. Tooth and all who belong to it are
bounil to obey its laws out -the decisions of its legally
appointed judges : and, if these lows are adverse to
spiritual independence, the July course which is open to
Mr. Tooth is either to knee his spiritual independence
and retain the benefit of the State, or to refuse the
benefit of the State anil get his spiritual independence.
To us there is no other course open, and we fail to be con-
vinced by such arguments as the Ritualists, have advanced.
It seems strange, indeed, that, with the history of the
Eitablishment before them. the Ritualists can urge a
claim so utterly devoid of foundation as that of the
spiritual independence of the Church. Why from the
Reformation downwards the civil authority has always
try to silently alter the order of Ritual was to expose
asserted its supremacy; and for • clergyman to than
himself to trial at the amine by a judge ann jury, and if
convicted three linens was liable to be inaprisonedfor life.
This was according to the statutes of King Edward Vl.'s
priyer, and also Queen Elizabeth's. Thus the claims put
forth at present by the Ritualists are simply imaginary
aid l ridiculous. The ounnion sense of the people perceive
at me the false position taken up by Mr. Tooth. They
see that he is a member of the Established Church, which
by law has determined his parish boundaries, and has
given to him full jurisdiction within it, with the power to
forbid another clergyman officiating in any part of it, bas
given to him the use of the building, for by whomsoever
built it was given over to the State for State purposes. It
h., also given him power to collect tithes, if there he any,
and to enforce payment to laW ; and for all this the State
claims, and has always claimed, and will always, jurisdic-
tion and supremacy. If Mr. Tooth does not see this the
vast majority of the English people do, awl they regard
his claim for spiritual independence as nothing less than
his right to set himself aleive the laws of the realm. After
further dealing with Mr. Tooth, the lecturer said
we come now to look at the actual state of the Establish-
ment ill connecion with the Ritualists, and the means of
meeting the real difficulty. There are the Ritualists pro-
claiming their defiance of the law. Mr. Tooth has shown
his sincerity and earnestness by going to prism rather
than to submit to the decisions of the Court. Consequent
on Mr. Tooth's imprisonment, meetings in London and in
the provinces have been held by his sympathisers, protest-
ing against the action of the state, and passing resolutions
pledging their adherents to the most vigorous efforts to
receive the spiritual freedom of the Church. API to the
zeal and sincerity of these men there cal be no question.
There is a large body of the clergy, and it most be
admitted a very numerous body of the laity, who are of
Mr. Tenth's opinion that the Church must be freed from
the control and tyranny of the state- so they regard it. If
these men mean what they my, and I cannot doubt their
sincerity, there is evidently a warn, time in store for our
rulers in aurch and State. Of course if the Ritualists,
notwithstanding all their Protestantism, yielded up their
point, or accept some contemptible compromise which our
pious riders will he only too willing to offer, and may he
'cute enough in discovering, matters will go on very differ.
ently. In that case the difficulties may he plastered for
a little, although the size may continue to run. What,
then, we ask ourselves is to be the action of the State I
Will it, as the Ritualists are demanding, repeal the Church
Regaation Bill I Will it give free scope to the action of
the Ritualists to conduct the services in the Protestnnt
Church after the wanner of the Church of Rome I Will
It allow the clergy of the Church to symbolize doctrines
which are simply Romish i It may safely be affirmed that
any ouch act on the part of the legislature would kindle
such a teinpeat of indignation and l'rotestant zeal on the
part of the overwhelming body of the people that the
legislature would shrink from any such act, and would a
hundmil.fold rather face the difficulties of Ritualism than
affront the Protestant feelings and prejudices of the
nation. We may therefore clearly lay it down that any
repeal of the Church Regulation Bill is not possible.
Whether that bill was wise or otherwise. it is perfectly
clear that the conscieuce of the nation demanded some
such legislature. Already the Ritualists 110 e what is
cooling. They all know how hard their position is. "The
chains have been deeply revetted," says the Chairman of
the Church l'nion, "and it must take time to unloose
them"; a notch longer time we think than be or the
Ritualista will he willing to grant, and as apprehending
what will have to be done at last, he is
preparing the minds of lax friends for it.
Whatever be the action of the Protestant party of the
church, and their action does not reflect much credit in
them, our duty as Nonconformists is clear. We must not
cease to work on behalf of a moverneut which in our
judgment represents the best interests of the nation,
and pre-eminently those of religion. We must be instala
in season and out of season in dissiminating by the plat-
form and the press, correct views on this question. We
have done much, the harvest will ere long he gathered in,
but it is not time to be idle. Much still waits to be done'
,
and as the lint struggle approaches, an effort will he forced
to the very uttermost, for there is just the danger that
u hen the crisis comes, the parties in the church, who
Live not ehown over !ouch regard for principle in the day
of their ordinary trials, may possible be tempted to risk
all differences to defend their favoured institution. We
isheuld do well therefore to put faith in ounelves, and
work RR if the issue depended on ourselves, independently
of all other allies within. Let us educate the nation, and
we tuay rest assured a hearty and sublime response will be
given to 116 short Even if the terristerial aristocracy, and
the commercial aristocracy have joined hand in defence of
their nen interest, there is a mighty public opinion
beyond, the opinion of the industrial class., and when we
chow theta the justice and the national character a our
mune, they will rally to our standard and at the -ballot
boxes nettle this title/Hulk Let us be earnest, true
hearted, courageous, and the battle of religious egnality,
which has been long waged by a comparatively small, but
noble army, will speedily be Inscribe.)in the statute hook
of the realm. •
WAIMEA/111
HIGH Coußt or Re tiCE CHANCLIIT Drensiog.—
Before Vice Chancellor Sir It MalMs, Ward v.
Drar, M.P. Mr. Higgins, Q.C., applied to the Court
for an order of committal aminst John Samuel Wanley
Sawbridge Erie Dmx, M.P. for the Borough of
Wareham, for sending annoying port cards to a tenant
named Ward, containing offensive demands for rent,
in a matter pending before the Court, Mr. Glasse, '
,
for the defendant estimated the Court could make no
order. His Lordship said of course he could not, but it
was a very improper thing to send such pried sair4 and
if Mr. Drax had any eommon sense
,he would dis-
continue them.—Weady Dispatch.
.WIIIIIORNIL
Bonocoll Poucg.—Before Mr. C. J. Parke.
John Brine, a miserable-looking vagrant, was charged
by Mr. George Purnell with wandering abroad and
lodging in an outhouse at Cranborne at two o'clock on
Friday morning. The deputy-chief constable stated that
the prisoner was a professional mendicant, and was sent
to prison for 21 days on the 19th ult., for having made a
false statement for the purporie of obtaining relief, and he
was known at Wunborne previously to that data—Mr.
laParke now sentenced bun to one calendar month b
bour.

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hard