The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-01-29 00:00:00

BRIERLEY HILL LIBERAL ASSOCIATION,

On Wednesday evening Mr. J. Fisher, of London,
lectured in the Town Hall, Brierley Hill, on "The
present condition of the Church of England; an
argument for disestablishment.'"lhe lecture was
under the auspices of the the Brierley Hill branch
of the Dudley Liberal Association, and was tho
third which the lecturer, has delivered in connection
with that association during Ore week.. There was
a moderate att,ndance, Mr. H. Carder presided,
beiug supported by the Lev. W. B. Bliss, Messrs.
J. Addison, W. Macmillan, C. Ford, G. Hastings
(local agent to the Liberation Society), &c.
The Chairman, in his opening remarks, referred
to the present state of affairs in the Church of
Eneland, and said when they looked upon the fact,
that one part of the clergy were .prosecuting, and
being the means of putting the other to prison, and
thus causing a disgrace to the times, a general
knowledge of the question to be brought before
them that evening ought to claim the serious
attention of every one, whether Nonconformists or
Churchmen—(applause). It was no use disguising
the fact hat the Esteblished Church was heco:ning
somewhat effete. A census would show that one-
half of the population was attached to Noncon-
formity, and the other half, which might be
attached to the Church of England, was so divided
into sections—Broad, High, and Low Churchmen—
that it -Was quite an anomaly to say it was the
Church of Eneland, and he thought the audience
weuld agree that the present condition of the Church
of England was an argument in favour of its ells-
' establishment—(hear, hear).
Mr. Fisher then delivered his I.cture, At the
commencement he expressed his belief that it w 49
now generally conceded that if there was no State
Church at preSent exiting in this country the idea
of estaqishing one would not be eat, veined for a
mem, nt—(hear, hear). Speaking of Church patren.
age he said the Churchmen of the present day felt
that unless they could deal with that subject it was
b quid to swamp the Establishment. Ile did not
hesitate to declare that they were to-day as f r
from arriving at a solution of that difficulty s when
they commenced. He condemned the principle of
the sale of livings and dealing with the wealth of
the Church, criticised the salaries paid to the
Bishops, and the disparity between the diffierent
livings, and although he admitt-A that there was a
disparity in the salaries of Dissenting ministers,
the difference was not so great as in the Church,
and he held that in every institution, whether
spiritual or secular, a man should rise or fall accord-
ing to his desserts--(hear, hear). He then dealt
with the question of Ritualism in similar terms to
those he employed the previous night at Dudley,
aserving that anyone looking upon the state of
things in the Church of England to-day would say
it supplied the most powerful argument for dis-
establishment. In conclusion he urged that the
state of things he had described as existing within
the Church of England was most disastrousiasiar as
the clergy and the people were concerned. Ttie
clergy, instead of being examples to the peoP:e in
everything pertaining to peace and righteousness,
were engaged in strife with one another, and their
sympathies were being withdrawn from the masses
of their countrymen as was exemplified year by
year. When however, the Church was free these
men would no longer have class interests to main.
tarn, but would be one with each other, and would
lead the people on in every great agitation to
promote tee national weal.
The Rev. W. B. Bliss moved" That the present
condition of the Church of England, as explained
by Mr. Fisher is an unanswerable argument for
diseetablishment."
Mr. J. Addison seconded the resolution, wim ich
was carried unanimously.
A vote of thanks to the chairman closed the
meeting.