The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-04-24 00:00:00

him political power. Let all this be granted,
and still there -is something wanted, not only
" m.ore" but better. We ant something that
legislation cannot provide for, that the statute
book cannot record Urn its page. We want a
better appreciation of their duties to the classei
who labour for them, in the minds and hearts of the
richer portion of society. We want a willing spirit
—not mornentarilv-expressed by associated work
and then forgotten ; but particular and individual;
prompting an enduring sympathy, and leading toll
some amount of self-sacrifice in seizing the:
opportunities which superior wealth and position
confer. We know-Of nothing that could provide
so secure a basis for constructing a system of
satikaCtory relations between wealth and poverty,.
as a large-hearted and undalculating provision for'
the spiritual needs of the poor and their children..
He loveth,opr nation and hath built us a syna
gogno," was the commendation that the grateful
JEWS paid to the pious stranger. The rich man,
can give no greater proof, of a spirit of sympathy.
with his dependants, or his poorer neighbours,
than by furnishing them with a free house of
common worship. Nor would it be discerning to
doubt, that with however weak an appreciation
of • religious blessings, the recipients of this
bounty might, in the first instance receive it, yet
that in the end the true value of the gift would
impress itself in a manner not to be gainsayed
or resisted. The moral and social advantages
which march side by side with a well-ordered
church parish or district, the, useful appliances
that constant intercourse with parishioners soon
suggests and encourages, the various modes of
sympathy and benefit which of themselves come
up in a thousand shapes=these are too plain to
allow of a doubt, that it is not the people who
first desert and despise the church 'or. the pastor ;
that, as a rule, if they are met well; they will not
withhold a similor response.
Now what arc the members of the Church -of
England doing for the religious -aid ---m-Oria
amelioration of the working classes ? This one
fact, taken from the history of an Episcopate,
more than ordinarily zealous, and perhaps suc-
cessful, and following immediately, upon one
just as eminent in these particulars of progress,
will serve as an illustration of the mode in Which
the over-gorged 'traders of 'mighty cities, have
been wont to discharge their sacred duties to the
poor. The Bishop of London tells his laity that,
during his episcopate there has been an increase
in London alone of 60,000 souls over and above
those for whom any spiritual provisiopluts been
made. Not that this represents the true state of
the great Babylon. For the disparity between
population and church-hilding, before even these
efforts were made, was much more startling than
the relation between the two for a limited *Hod
of a year or two represents ; and let it be still
further recollected, that the country supplies—as
in our own town-.--instances very much more
extreme. . •

Now we say this is a poor man's question. The
greatest glory of the Church of England, which
her admirers have claimed for her is, that she is
the " Church of the poor." We admit, that in
theory she is so. tilt can anyone examine into
the.condition of our towns, and their ohurckes,
and declare that she is the church of the poor- in
practice ? For the propagation of Christianity
among the masses an almost missionary zeal is
needed, and there is only one way in which riches
Gan provide an avenue for this zeal. Churches
must ba'built and endowed-where the ministries
of religion can be afforded to the poor without
their .personal cost, or its being necessary to ask
more than what their piety may voluntarily give.
The Bishop of London touches on the true defect
in modern Church-bnilding, when he remarks
that' the' rich build Churches for theinsedvesi, and
therefore naturally impose a pecuniary value on
the accommodation. They use the bones and
sinews of the poor that their wealth'may fruCtify
and increase, for six days -out of seven. But
except.in the relations of business, they refuse to
have anything to do with the instruments of their
greedy prosperity, forgetting that they too are
human creatures. The country retreat with its
quiet associations, safely excludes from the me-
mory all trace of the cheerless hovels which hide
the i"ndig-ence of those who spend their energies
and lives in the capitalist's service ; while , the
cushioned pew, pressed perhaps once a Sunday,
just signifies the formal act: of religious respecta-
bility. We echo the Bishop's words. The only
way in which this evil can be remedied, is not
merely by the building, but by the sufficiently
endowing, of churches, where the poor can be
invited to take their rightfUl Place without •
and without price. Any other way of givirii the
Church to the poor, is a Mockery- and pretence.