The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-11-01 00:00:00

THE BISHOP OF GLOUCESTER ON
NONCONFORMITY.

Bishop Ellicott delivered his charge at Stroud cs
Monday, taking as his general subject, " 80-1111 kin
f Nonconormity."
. . . - . . . .

After briefly alluding to the opposition of Diameters
to the Church of England, be said it migla be
safely warmed that a better feeling was sprngine
up between the Church and Nonconfortni/y. If
substantiation of this were required, it world be
only neceseary to point to the increased readiness
bo co.operate, not only in philanthropic and chart.
table undertakings, but even in strictly religious
works, such as tee revision of the Scriptures, or the
setting forth of the evidences of the Christien faith.
But then arose the inter; ting and thoroughly prac-
tical question, Was this improved feeling pointing to
anything like reunion, or to any inch authoritative
recognitions on each side as to lead them to think that
Churchmen and Dissenters would ever form parts of
one organic syetem, be that system as comprehensive
and elastic as could reasonably be conceived? Many,
it seemed to him, were to possessed with the idea of
a g od time coming in reference to the reunion of
Cnurch and Dissent that they appeared ready, out o
a superabundance of sympathy, to cmcode roan,
vital points before oven the question had been di.
posed of whether such concession had been lurked fw,
or whether, if gratuitously ma le, it would have 011
effect whatever on the future relations of Charon
and Dissent. 'ni, form of putting the cart before the
horse and of conciliating before really rattling whither
conciliation could do anything in bringing about a re-
union, was so serious that they could not do better
than consider the prof:ability of any ultimate return to
the Church even of thoee most nearly allied to it, and
whose departure was the most recent His Lordship
alluded to the relations between the Chureh and the
Wesleyan body, and distinctly recognising the fact
that there warn a separation clear and complete between
them, dealt with the plain, practical question—Are
there any grounds for thinking that thst separation
can ever cease to exist? Are there any hopes of re- '
union? He answered—sadly enough, God knew—
no. none. Individuals might return, even in gra
dually increasing numbers, but Methodism would
never formally re-unite with the Church of England
until that blessed day when all should be gathered
together in Chriat. He arrived at this opinion because,
in the first place, there had been no indications what. ,
ever, direct or indirect, that the Wesleyan body hai, '
any esire for re-union with the Church; secondly,
because all the more eminent men of their body who
hscl diecneeed the question had expressed themselves
most distinctly in the negative, thirdly, because the
pre ient organization of Methodism pointed clearly to •
maintenance of its present position; and, lastly, because
he had heard from the lips of men of high tone endemi-
pence in the Methodist bodytheir unreserved judgment
on the question. If these considerations were just, it fol-
lowed as a mere matter of course that they could never
expect any of the other Dissenting communities to re-
turn to the Church. What, then, was the Church's
duty at the present time? First, faithfully and
earnestly to do their own appointed work without
harm/song themselves with frottlees efforts to harden
that which, speaking humanly, would never come. A.
further thought was that though they might never
bring about a reunion, nor ever hope to see corporate
return, they might do much by kindness and Christian
c,urtesy towards thoee who dissented from the
Church, but who might love, honour, and adore
Christ crucified as earnestly as themselves. It
was in some respects a humiliating statement to
make, but it was true, that social relations had much
to do with this question. Nothing, he bad ob-
served, in any free ffiminuaications be bed had with
these separated from the Church, was dwelt upon with
more obvious pain, and even bitterness than the want
of consideration which it was alleged was often shown
by the clergyman to the Dissenting minister. This,
ho ventured to think, was the estimate of over semi-
tivenese, and due rather to the memories of the past
then ti the fairly regarded circumstances of the
present. However that might be. he asked them to
follow the plain counsel of two Apostles, and, while
faithfully holding that which was committed unto
them, love as brethren and be patient until all men.