The Express.
London, England, 1864-11-26 00:00:00

MR. DISRAELI AND MR. CARDWELL ON
CHURCH MATTERS.

OXFORD, FRIDAY.

A meeting of the Ain:elation for Augmenting
Poor Benefices is the Dienes of Oxford wu held this after
soon is the Sheldonian Theatre, the Bishop of OXFORD in
the chair. The attendance, which wu very large, included
the Right Hon. E. Cardwell, M.P., the Right Hon. B.
Disossii, ALP., Mr. Walter, 11. P., Mr. Hubbard, M.P.,
Ocakeel North, )1.P., Mr. Beresford Hope, the Vice-Chan-
cellor and several other leading members of the university.
The Right Rev. CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings,
end that the object of the society was to move the diocese,
end the friends of the church generally, to mist in amend-
ing the small endowments in the diocese. His lordship
entered into a variety of statistics for the purpose of slow-
Jag that, even if all the livings were lumped together, and
then divided, they would not produce more than 2701.
siege each. It could not be expected that a clergyman of
the church of England, educated as • gentleman, with
gentlemanly feelings, could maintain his position, educate
his family, and perform the functions appertaining to his
office, with the small amount which he received for hie
labours, and he trusted that such an effort would now
be made as would place him in a much better position.
(Chien.)

Mr. Wstrea, M.P., moved the first resolution —" That
t►e very small endowment of so many small livings through-
out the 000ntry is injurious to the beet interests of the
church, and a reprcsch to the wealth and civilisstion of the
arL"

Mr. 11.Bsgyerr seconded the motion, which was adopted.
Mr. DISRAELI, on rising, was greeted with enthusiasm
by the undergraduates. He spoke for an hour and ten
minutes. The interest of his audience heightened as he
proceeded and emerged from the consideration of minor
objects of the Diocesan Society, into the discussion of the
great questions which are now agitating the minds of church-
men. The measures Mr. Disraeli suggests for the mart-
Von of the nationality of the church are-1. The =into
mace of the present position of the church in reference to
the education of the people. 2. A temperate and moderate
extension of the episcopate. 3. The co-operation of the
laity in all ecclesiastical matters not strictly of • spiritual
character. 4. A more practical assertion of the rights and
duties of churchmen as they exist by law in our parochial
constitution. 5. The support of diocesan institutions.
& The formation of convocation on • broader Maim and
with a fuller representation of the parochial clergy. 7.
Rte improvement of the relations of the colonial church.
& The formation of • new court of Sod appeal in spiritual
matters. " It appears to me," said the right has. gentleman,
speaking on the latter suggestion, "that the circumstances of
the day imperatively demand this. I know the difficulty,
I know the delicacy of the question. Still, after giving
it that consideration which its importance deserves, lam
ma to believe that difficulties may be overcome, and that
the most delicate circumstances connected with it may be
treated iii a happy manner. I do believe that, with that
due and geometry full consideration of the principle of the
royal supremacy, which I trust may never be lost sight of
for an instant, it is possible to reconcile the requirements
of the state with the conscience of the church. (Cheers.)
Now, allow me to repeat what on • previous occasion,
setae years ago, I had the honour of mentioning to you,
that the object of this messure is to restore the church
to its inatural and, I may my, original efficiency, by
mesas which I think are essentially practical, and which
inn in toneand in harmony with the spirit of the age in
which we live, and I cued but believe that. with cordial
co-operation—or rather, I would my 1 could not but believe
that with cordial • among churchmen—them
eight measures might carried. My lord, they form
a church policy perfectly complete, perfectly practical,
and perfectly efficient. I see no argument that can
fairly be urged against them, and it appears to me that
if these eight objects were attained the church in this
gauntry would occupy a position of peat influenceand
salutary power, which it has not for a hog period ful-
find and occupied." (Cheers.) Mr. Dana then proceeded
to common upon the broad church party. He said :—Now
this party is not founded upon the principle of authority—
es which all church parties hitherto in this country, and in
all countries to some degree, have been founded. Bat it is
founded upon a very angular principle. It is
founded upon the principle of criticism. Now,
doubt is an element of criticism, and the tendency
of criticism is neossearily sceptical. I use the epithet
is • philosophical, and not in a popular or odious mom.
It is quite possible, for example, that • party which is
founded upon the principle of criticism may arrive at
scnclnsions which may be monstrous. They may, for
example, reject inspiration as • principle, and miracles as a
practice. That is possible. Aod I think it is quite logical
Mat, having arrived at that conclusion, they should repu.
aide creeds and reject articles of faith, because creeds and
articles of faith cannot exist or be sustained without as.
knowledgiog the mincipte of inspiration and the practice of
miracles. (liear.) All that I admit ; bat what Ido not
endentand, and what I wish to draw the attention of this
assembly and of the country to is this, that, having ar-
rived at this oiste/usioa—baying arrived conscientiously
sa the conclusios that with these opinions such a party
most repudiate creeds sod reject articles, that they should
sot carry their principles to their legitimate wa-
ded." but that, repudiating creeds and rejecting
mild they are still the sworn supporters of the ecele-
sistial establishments—(loud cbeers)—ferveot upholders
et the dignitaries of the church—aeon of the rectors,
vista and curates. (Laughter.) Now this is a matter of
most serious importance, not merely for us to louder
se churchmen, but for the country generally to con-
sider, whatever may be its opinions on forms of faith—
for the position may be very critical. If it were true,
as lam told it is, that the age of faith has pates& then
the position of laving • hierarchy, • vast haraschy,
apparently supported by men of Inglt cultivation, bril-
lied talents and eloquence, and perhaps some ambition,
with no distinctive opinions, might be a very harmless
gate of affairs, and it would not certainly be • very per-
manent one. But thee, my lord, instead of believing that
Ys age of faith lea passed, when I observe what is passing
monad me--what is laicise place in this eountzy, and not
only in this country bat in other countries and hemispheres
—instead of believing that the age of faith has passed, I
hold that the characteristic of the present age is a
craving credulity. (Laughter.) Why, my lord, man is a
being born to believe. (Cheers.) Aod if you do not come
forward—if no church comes forward with its tale
deeds of truth, sustained by the tradition of maid ages,
and by the conviction of countless geserations to guide
him, he will form altars and idols in his own heart and his
own imagination. (Cheers.) But observe this. What
meat be the relations of • ;ovoid church, without dis-
tractive creeds, with a being of that nature? Why, of nouns
the great pram* of political economy will be observed.
Whirs there is a great demand there will be a proportionate
supply ; and commencing, as the sew school may, by reject.
fag the principle of inspiration, it will end by every priest
hong a prophet ; and beginning as they do by repudiating
the practioe of miracles, before loam rest assured we shall
he living in • flattering some of spiritual phantasmagoria.
{Chem and laughter.) There are no Mesta, however ex-
travagant, and no practices however objectionable, which
will not in time develop under such • state of affairs ; °M-
aims the most absurd, sail ceremonies the most revolting.
" Qualia demote
..f.gyptus portents colat,"

perhaps to be followed by the incantation of Canidia and
the Gory biuitian howl (Great cheering and laughter.)
Bat consider the country is which all this may take place.
Dangerous in all countries, it would be yet more dangerous
in England. Our empire is now unrivalled for its extent;
bat the base—the material bans—of that empire is by means
equal to the colossal superstructure. It is not our iron
shipa It is not our celebrated r te. It is not these '
things which have created, or inded really manage maim-
**. It is the character of the people. (Much applause.) And
want to know where that famous character of the English
pagile will be, if they are to be influenced and 'aided by a
starch of iTOO3OOIIO talent and greet wealth and power
without any dialectics creed. (Hair, bear.) You have
in this country accumulated wealth that probably never
has been equallee, end probably it will still increase.
You have • luxury that will sours Jay probably rival
even your wealth ; and the union of such circumstances
with a church without a distinctive creed will lead, I
believe, to a disrolutenees of mothers and of morals that
lies been seldom equalled in the history of man, but
which furoialies the tombs of empires. (Cheer.. here
is another point in connexion with this subject which I
cannot help noticing ou the present occasion. It is the
common blunder—the common cry—that articles of faith
and religious creeds are the arms of the clergy, sod are
red to ttrauuise over the land. They are exactly the
reveres. The precise creed and the strict article are the
title deeds of the laity to the religion which has &goaded
to them. (Hear, hear.) And whenever these questions
have been brought before parliament I have always op-
posed alterations of creeds, articles., and subscriptions on
this broad principle—that the security sad certainty which
they furnish are the spacial privileges of the laity, sod that
you cannot tell in what position the laity will be if that se-
curity is withdrawn. (Cheese.) I must apologise for having
touched upon this subject; but it appease to me—l know
It from my own experience—to be one vitally connected
with the subject that has called us here to-day,
because the opinions of the new schools are paralyeiag the
efforts of many who ought to be our friends. Before I
coaclude I cannot but ask myself this question. Will
these opinions succeed ? Is there a posaibility of their
swoons ? My conviction is that they ea fa. (Cheers.) I
do perfect justice to the great Week the great know-
ledge, sod the considerable information which the sew
party command ; but I believe they will fail—for two yea-
rns. In the first place, having examined all their
writings, I believe without any theeption—whether they
etheist of fascinating eloquenoe, diventhed learning, or plc-
taneque sensibility—(lat:lshtar) —I speak seriously what
I feel—and that too thareased by one honoured in this
aniversity, and whom to know is to admire and regard - or
whether you bed them in the erode °occlusions of prelates
who appear to me to hart coeuneeced their theological

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