The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1875-03-30 00:00:00

his; it all.

To ilfow eitlier lindb.;rd or tenant

to put aside the measure by notice, was to
render it inoperative in the very cases where
. . .

it is most needed. This is plain speaking, and
we are glad to find the view we expressed last
week endorsed by so experienced a judge in
agricultural affairs as Mr. Damon. Permissive
legislation is a novelty, but novelties in such
matters are prima facie worthless, and in this
case it indicates administrative weakness. Mr.
Howard objected to the Bill in toW, as one in
which its benefits would be outweighed by its
disadvantages,. and that it would place tenants
in a worse position than they occupy at present
in the great majority of cases. Some of the
elders, while hoping good would come of ths
Bill, manifested a strong predeliction for 14
years leases, a system which Mr. Homer ampli-
fied to comprise ten years' freedom of cropping
with the remaining four according to a regular
course. This is, no doubt, the preferable system ;
and, failing that, the present Bill does not seem
calculated to ensure more, if so much, equity as
has the system of Tenant Right the Illandford
Farmers' Club framed 20 years ago, and which
the late Mr. Sturt, Mr. Fbiyer, and other landed
proprietors of the county have long adopted.
The loosely drawn clauses of the Bill, and the
omissions of profitable acts of husbandry in
tenants' compensation—even so important a
matter as tillages—may prove a delusion to the
farmer who relies on it; while the unlimited
liability it creates for " wasting" the land will
ensnare the confiding, and lead to endless
litigation. Mr. Fowler, a member of the
Central Committee, that has long advocated a
measure of Tenant Right, expressed mild
approval of the Bill; after long experience, he
had come to the conclusion that it was about
the best they could expect from a Parliament
mostly of landlords. But this is "damning
with faint praise," and even the cursory criticism
the Club were able to bestow on the Bill, for it
is only just printed, shows that unless its pro-
visions are very largely amended the enactment
ot such a measure will not be accepted as one of
the "small mercies" for which Mr. Fowler and
the agricultural body at large are prepared to
be thankful.
The agenda paper for the next Salisbury
Diocesan Synod to be held on April Bth and 9th,
has just been issued. It consists of 37 items of
varying importance and interest. The Rev. A.
Gad will propose a "Board on Special
Missions" for" promoting special ministrations
of the church where called for" in the diocese.
As to the best method of conducting revival
services there is a wide divergence of opinion,
and the uniformity a Board would foster does
not seem desirable, nor would it be generally
acceptable. In such matters the parochial
incumbent seems to us the best judge both as to
nude and management, and in most cases he
would find no difficulty in getting the aid of
willing co-workers. A Board, such as is suggested,
might weaken individual efforts, besides being
an infringement on that liberty which is the
strength of the parochial system. Two <notions
are aimed against the sale of next presentations,
but such bargains are so great a scandal that the
time for mere deprecation is passed. The Earl
Nelson will propose a "Diocesan Spiritual Aid
Board" as Chairman of thecommittee on Church
accommodation ; but, knowing his views on this
subject from his connection with the mis-called
Free and Open Church -ement, we distrust
him altogether, as one who would revolutionise
the existing parochial system, which has the
sanction of long use and the approval of wide
experience. The Rev. Dr. Harding has a motionl
for the practical recognition of thu London '
Society for Promoting Christianity amongst the I
Jews. ' Letters of commendation " foremigrants
will be suggested by the Rev. C. F. ilyde. Earl
Nelson proposes another new organisation—that
of Lay agency, " under episcopal direction."
But has not a partial trial of this failed in the
diocese I and what can be better than the present
organisation of Sunday School Teachers and
District Visitors They are not under
" episcopal direction" it is true ; and for
our part we think them better without it. We
do not want any more Deaconesses after the in-
stitution of the Lady Superior" at Salisbury,
and believe that the present unpretentious way I
in which teachers and visitors do their work ,
under the guidanceof the parochial clergy simply I
and solely as Christian men and women, is an j
infinitely better and more wholesome system. In j
the matter of fees the Rev. A. Codd wants vested I
rights to be respected, and Archdeacon Lear will
endeavour to get the Agricultural Children's
Act enforced. Of course the rubrics conic in for
a good share of attention. Earl Nelson leads
with a motion that it is inexpedient to restrict I
any liberty now allowed: Mr. It. M. Wilson
proposes a declaration that the surplice and 1
academical hood are sufficient vestments ; the
Rev. It. M. Chatfield gravely protases "that
this Synod dues not regard a distinctive Euchar-
istic Vestment, as worn by the minister, essential j
to the validity of the Sacrament, or universally
enjoined by the Church," and would amend the
omaments' rubric in that sense: the Rev. It.,
IFtarkums deprecates any legal sanction to a dis-
tinctive vestment in the administration of the
Lord's Supper • and the Rev. Dr. Harding offers
a motion conaemning tho eastward position.
Mr. Raikes wants a coininittee to counteract the
designs of the Liberation Society; the Rev. C.
F. Hyde asks for a triennial Diocesan Clerical
Synod, and the Rev. Dr. Harding has a motion
the last but one—" That this Synod
recogMses the desirableness of shortening the
present Sunday morning service." We have
indicated the chief umtiuni on the agenda
paper ; and who impartially examining them
can hope for any real good to arise out of their
discussion 1 Propositions for new Boards to
reduce the whole Diocese to dull uniformity
under epuieupal direction, aad the airing of
crotchets of infinitesimal initortance are the
prevailing characteristic.s the proposals made.
(picketing the spiritual
incregsmg Christian charity
If we found the Sy-m..1
life of the Diocese,
to fellow-ivorLors, and tenting to a larger
-ifestation ef religion in common life, we
' ite work with ; but, so
•••iiipg and tln pronicAlon of
-4inea that emasculate the
have been
`-•eetilp of
w c.rit

colirso.

should At..

far, solemn .
occhmiastical °Nous..

principles of all who bel,u,
its chief iasum. The practical ,
the age receives no ainelioraC from to..
of the Synod, and we hear nothing of its force
being employed to declive mote emphatically
and earnestly that message of Redeeming Love
which, whether preached by the Apostle Paul,
or by Mr. Moody, or by any other devout
Christian, will sanctify the heart tnd renew the
life of all who accept it. This is the great
minion of the Church ; and if the Synod is in
any way to coimimnaiicl rupect it can only be by
devoting itself with femur to prmwting this
work of evangelisation.