The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-03-18 00:00:00

ME, GLADSTONE ON DISESTABLISH-
MENT.

The following correspondence has passed betweii
Ihe Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, M.P., and Mr. G.
"One from the Ploik‘h" :
"To the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, 31.1"., cto,l

"Dear Sir,—May I request you, on behalf of ti e agri-
cultural labourers of several districts, to present petitions
from public meetings? Permil me to say, sir, that cur
eyes are upon you, and that it is our fervebt prayer that
you may speedily be made an instrument in the harries of
God to remove this cruel, monstrous, crying evil—a State
Church. We know, sir, and these poor men know, who are
their enemies ; and though there are individual clergy-
men who are humane and kind-hearted Christians, yet I can
assure you, from an intimate acquaintance with &large num-
ber of rural parishes, that many of the clergy of the Esta-
blished Church are tyrants of the worst class—cruel, hypo-
critical, selfish, and empty-headed. This could not continuo
If the Church were disestablished—if there were no 'royal
road' to the pulpit; for then men would have to preach to
live, and would have to conciliate their parishioners, and not
be their autocrats.
"Our grand annual demonstration on Ham-hill, Yeovil,
Somerset, takes place next Whit Monday. May I ask yoll
to come and address 15,000 to 20,000 persons in the oid
Roman Amphitheatre? Or, if that be impossible, pray write
us a letter to let the world know that you are the friend of
the poor, oppressed, under-fed agricultural labourer.—l have
the honour to be, dear sir, yours faithfully,
"G. MITCHELL, One from the Plough."
"4, Carlton-gardens, March 11th, 1876.

"Dear Sir,—With regard to your intended meeting on.
Ham-hill, I do not now attend any public assemblages, ex-
cept in cases with which I have some special connection.
So far, however, as it aims at the improvement of the condi-
tion of the agricultural labourer, and most of all in the
south and west, I heartily wish it well, and I hope the means
adopted or favoured may be as effective and judicious as the
end is laudable and beneficial I may repeat here
what I have publicly said elsewhere—that, of all the
economical changes I have lived to witness, the
increase of agricultural wages is that which gives
me the most lively and unmixed satisfaction. Un-
mixed, I mean, with any fear of injustice to others. It it be
ever found to press upon the means of the employer, he will
find his remedy in more careful inspection of work, in general
economy of methods, in the extension and improvement of
machinery, and in further transition from arable to pasture;
but he will not, I trust, seek for them in any attempt to in-
terfere with liberty of action on the part of the labourer. I
need hardly add tharl continue to be heartily favourable to
his political enfranchisement.
"With regard to the petitions which you wish me to pre-
sent, I have no objection to do this with reference to such
as do no more than pray for the disestablishment of the
Church, or set forth reasons for it in terms not involving in-
justice; but I cannot promise concurrence in their prayer.
In my opinion, the Establishment of England (not of Soot-
land) represents the religion of a considerable majority of
the people, and they do not seem to desire the change you
recommend. This being so, the only other question I need
now ask myself is whether the civil endownaent and status of
the Church are unfavourable to the effective maintenance
and propagation of the Christian faith. If and when lam
convinced that they are so, I shall adopt your conclusion,
but not before.
"I hope you will take my plain speaking as a proof of
attachment to the plain dealing which Englishmen love,
and of real respect for those on whose behalf you write.
Advancing a step further in this direction, I must tell you
that I cannot undertake to present those of the petitions
which denounce the Establishment as idolatrous,' and
likewise pray that the arrogant Popish priests of the
Anglican Church may no longer use Governmental
powers to persecute and insult.' In my opinion the con-
ception of the clergy expressed in these petitions and in
your letter is unfounded and unjust. Among the classes
of our mixed society, I hold that the clergy are, with refe-
rence to their training, manners, and social station, as a
class, rather under than over-paid; and that they are also,
as a class, the most self-denying and the most devoted to the
education, consolation, and elevation of their poorer
brethren. Within this description there is plenty of room for
the exceptional faults and foolish language of individual%
which, in certain cases, no language can be strong
enough adequately to condemn. Nor do I deny that
more generally the clergy may exhibit some desire for
power. Bat in this case they resemble most other classes
and professions, only with more excuse, and with this
guarantee for the welfare of the community, that the other
classes are sufficiently ready upon occasion to combine
azainst them; and the love of liberty is too stron-r, and haa
too much place in the laws and histitution of the Church it-
self, to leave room for any generAl or serious encroachment
within her communion. I think it therefore my duty to show
them reasonable respect and deference, to abstain from any-
thing that resembles railing accusation, and rather to esteem
them highly for their works and their Master's sake.
"The petitions to which I refer are returned herewith, and
I remain, dear sir, your faithful servant,
"George Mitchell, Esq." "W. E. GIutdDSTONE.