The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-12-11 00:00:00

CHURCH AND STATE.

A GRAND battle must soon be fought, involving
an issue of no less importance than the recogni-
tion and maintenance of the principle which binds
Church and State together in one sacred and har-
monious compact, to the infinite advantage of

both. The battle ground upon which this vital
contest is to be waged,—the Church-rate ques-
tion—has been selected, not by the Church, but
by her enemies. Had it been left to the champions
of the Church to choose the field on which to
debate the principle of State support to religion,
one less beset with difficulties might have been
found, without in any way prejudicing the fair-
ness of the discussion ;—in the circumstances,
however, there is no help for it but to take up the
gauntlet where it has been thrown down. The
dangers of defeat arise not from any inherent weak-
ness in the eause to be defended, but from the want
of union arid organisation in the army of defence,
The disruption of political parties, and an acrimo-
nious diversity of opinion among clergy and laity on
Matters of ritual; and even, in some degree, of
doctrine; have produced a temporary disunion in
the ranks of Churchmen, This source of weak-
ness has been laid bare, and must speedily be
removed. In the face of a common foe, all parties
must now so far agree to differ, and, marching
shoulder to shoulder in the glorious struggle for
the existence of our National Church, never per-
mit the breath of Minot dissensions to Mar their
efforts eir paralyse their arms until victory is
announced, and the enemies of the poor man's
Church have been scattered in dismay. There
must be no surrender, no compromise, no traffick-
ing in details; so long as the principle involved is
not only contested; bust ebeii tuJeeted; by a majo-
rity of the House of Commons. The Church-'rate
question may in a double sense be said to be only
on " the outward walls" of her defences—but even
there must her faithful soldiers "hang out their
banners," for there, " the cry is still they
conie:" /t May be that behind these outworks
there are impregnable to*ers of strength from
which they ruay laugh to scorn the thight
of all assailants ; but that is no reason for sur-
rendering even a hair's breath of territory to the
enemies of our national Zion: 'these are troublous
and threatening times, iii vireil as in
politics ; and it is impossible to tell what ruinous
consequences mig,ht flow to religion from a
triumph to the foes of the Church of England on
this bulwark of her possessions. Already, greatly
emboldened by the passing divisions among
Churchmen, they have come boldly to the attack,
and hilt confidently of success. Victory to the
assailants on the eitorch-rate qiiestion; would
undoubtedly strengthen them in their scarcely
concealed intention of immediately thereafter
Seizing -Upon the *holt property of the Church.
Let there, therefore; be na lukeWarmriess, half-
heartedness, or indifference abed this matter.
Let those who have hitherto been kept somewhat
apart by smaller differences, and those who have
allowed themselves' to be seduced by temporising
schemeS of the enemy under the disguise of
" Compromises;' tint,* aside every hindrance,
and buckle on their armour fora conflict of
principle—not of details. Whenever Churchmen
are united, the Church and all her rights are
safe.

The friends of the Church have great reason to
be grateful to Mr. DISRAELI for his noble speech
on this stiblect at a recent meeting of the clergy
and laity of the rural deanery of Amersham,
Bucks. Referring to the advantage gained by
the Church party during last session, he pro-
nounces it to have been not merely a happy
casualty g he looks upon it as the break of dawn
The majority hi the Commons against Church-
rates, which had for so many years sat like an
incubus on the Church, has virtually disappeared,
and her supporters now occupy a most command-
ing position, "It is now in their power, if they
chose it," said the right hon. gentleman, "to
close this controversy for ever, not by feeble con-
cession, but by a bold assertion of public right,"
Here then is a powerful call upon the clergy
and laity to come forth in full panoply against
the piratical fillibusters, who would plunder even
the Sanctuary. If such a summons from so able
a leadear does not quickly marshal, in irre-
sistible phalanx, the forces of the most sacred
of our institutions, we know not what other
chieftain can call forth and assemble the faithful
champions of a pure and national faith in these
lands. Mr. DISRAELI'; advice is plain and practical.
Ist. Petition, petition, petition. There is no greater
mistake than to suppose that petitions produce
little effect on the House of Commons ; they pro
duce great effeet, Every parish should have its
petition. They must not be signed merely by the
incumbent and the churchwardens, as they were
in some instances, or by ratepayers merely, as in
many cases, but by as many persons as can be
obtained, It is the cause of all. We must not
wait the attack. We must send in our petitions.
as soon as Parliament meets, on a broad issue, in
favour of maintaining the union between Church
and State; and, incidentally, in favour of Church
rates, 2nd. We must also encourage and esta-,
blish Church Unions in every part of England.
We must .habituate the laity to act with the
clergy in all matters of public moment to the
Church. 3rd. The clergy, if they want to sue
eeed, must bring their influence to bear on the
members of the House of Commons. The clergy
never extensively move in this manner without
exercising great influence. These, then, are three
easily followed lines of action. There is nothing to
lose. The thing should be set about at once.
Certain victory waits upon instant and unceasing
activity betwixt this and February next.
This question is not one between Whig and
Tory, Conservative and Liberal. It lies between
those who would maintain our present well-
balanced Constitution from the inroads of those
whose object is revolution and anarchy. A
political question it is, no doubt, but certainly
not one of party. Our political constitution is
built on our parochial system—the parish is one
of the strongest securities for local government,
--and on local government political liberty mainly
depends. The Church of England is thus an
essential part of England itself
.as now consti-
tuted, and the principle involved is one upon
which, if: a large measure, depend the liberty,
the prosperity, and the unequalled greatness of
this country, Let there be no mistake on this
point, Let the careless be aroused. The present
is a period of trial, if not also of danger, not
merely to the Church, but to the State and
Constitution consecrated by her alliance, and to
that civil and religious freedom and independence
of which every true-born Briton is most proud.