The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-04-03 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL CHURCH REFORM
UNION.

A number of gentlemen interested in this Union
and the reform of the Church generally met at break-
fast on Saturday morning in the Grosvenor Gallery,
under the presidency of Mr. Albert Grey, M.P.
Amongst those present were Mr. E. S. Howard, M.P.,
Ur. Shirley, M.P., Mi. Mclver, M.P., Sir R. An-
struther, M.P., Mr. Hardcastle, M.P., Mr. Gardon,
M.P., and Canon Bradley. The Chairman explained
the manifesto issued by the National Church Reform
Union, which showed that it had been organised for
the purpose of bringing the Church into fuller con-
tact with the nation, which was alone the reasonable
alternative to Disestablishment. To effect this the
Union proposed the constitution of Church Boards,
the electors of which should consist of all who were
entitled to vote at Vestries. Such Boards would have
nothing to do with the doctrines of the Chi.rch, and
would in everything be restricted within the limits
allowed by law. Their powers would be: To prevent
any changes being made in the forms of service
without their consent; to cause such changes to be
made in those services as were desired by them, and,
in case of dispute, were sanctioned by the bishop; to
control the expenditure of such parochial funds as are
collected in church, or may be placed at their disposal;
to have a veto upon the appointment of any new
clergyman, thus tending to abolish the evil of the sale
of livings; to have the power of taking legal action
for the removal of an incapable or crimonious clergy-
man, and to co-operate in all activities calculated
to make the Church the centre of Christian civilisa-
tion for the parish. Out of such boards would gra-
dually grow larger organisations and movements
generally representing the mind of the people on
Church questions. Mr. Howard, M.P., moved the
first resolution: "That this meeting heartily approves
of the proposals for Church reform as set out in the
manifesto of the National Church Union.' He said
the members of the Union believed the Church was
an immense engine for good, but that at the same
time it could be made more powerful than it was at
present by giving the laity more control over their
churches. Mr. Winterbotharn, M.P., in seconding the
proposal, said that as a Churchman he was anxious to
postpone Disestablishrnent by making such necessary
reforms as the abolition of bishops from the House of
Lords and the equalisation of livings. The Rev. Mr.
Reaney, the Rev. Dr. Percival, and Colonel Bridgman,
M.P., also spoke, and the motion was agreed to. Mr.
E N. Buxton, M.P., then moved a resolution pledging
the meeting to support the Union in its endeavours
to promote its objects throughout the country. In
the course of his remarks he suggested that a body of
preachers should be formed, as at present we suffered
not only from a great deal of bad preaching, but from
too much preaching. After addresses from Mr. Pitt-
Lewis, M.P., the Rev. F. Williams, Colonel Waring,
M.P., Mr. Gibb, M.P., and Sir Harry Verney, the
resolution was unanimously agreed to, and the busi-
ness terminated.