The Press.
London, England, 1858-12-11 00:00:00

. .
re ednot;
1204 THE PRESS, DECEMBER 11, 1858.
live system
hocaw
nsobiegreeamt
remedied. This
defect
Tinhoisurz, society of the worst kind, with ruffianism for its but, unfortunately for the Church, their ap-
wTheeconceive,wain two
tn ways, directly and '
means, with murder for its ends, and with social pointment to the office goes a great way to
direct
ruin for its results. Surely, when the Church of nullify the representative character inherent in
8 and
fie nndby importance,
a diocese. t
placeh the indirectly.
Rome is so pledged against secret societies, its their office. As a rule, the Bishops consider it a equate representa-
tion of the Church innrethsen
priests cannot stand by in philosophical indif- matter of etiquette to support by their speeches House of Commons
ference when Ribbonism spreads its horrible and their votes, either the party to which they
wvohtieen.
would be, in any plan for remodelling our
rce.epsr.esetinetaaitive system, to introduce an cc.
franchise, and to give to each
hands through a district accursed by its presence. owe their elevation to the Bench, or, if their
Surely, when the priests are so armed with the attachment to party be not strong enough, or the 1 1
onetollf etridiocese,tnev Nmv
someht looCrleceo
mrsodufeictnmhhgbe
principleet
clergy
ls e, its
rtg
yo eboxeft
wetenth. extent special
might
deriveda from
t the Confessional, exigencies of party too. exorbitant, the Govern-
th y g extinguish- ment for the time being. They do not repre-
ing the Ribbon Conspiracy. At present several sent the Church, because the Church has had no
priests in various parts of Ireland have denounced share in making them what they are. If ever
Ribbonism, and have written strong rhetoric the time shall come when the clergy and laity of the
od measure of
it . Parliamentary Reform to be
t.!
huc next session, rstn.otalforus to say; but,
in-
against it in the newspapers. But it is deeds, the Church shall have restored to them that voice
if
de principle
el ofan uca educational f franchise, which
not diatribes, resolute acts, not resonant rhetoric, in the appointment of their Chief Pastors which
I'
adopted, deservedly
.y obtained much favour, should be
which are wanted against Ribbonism. We do they had in primitive times, and of which they
it is obvious
tt_ that, among.. the not ask that the priests should betray the secrets have been despoiled by the centralizing despotism
consti-
of the Confessional, but we have a right to say of the Temporal Power, succeeding to the in- tuencies._ Nationalt be created on hat principle, the clergy
of fhe
that they could give valuable knowledge, without heritance of the Papal usurpation, then may the
the least violation of their duties, and that if they presence of the Bishops in the Upper House be their diocesan divisions, would have a first claim
were seen openly and actively aiding the magis- pointed at with truth,—though even then not Independently, however, of any such direct
tracy and authorities in helping to detect the with justice complained of,—as a " prominent " representation, the Church has it in her
Ribbonmen, and bring them to justice, there representation of the Church. own power to secure for herself; to a much
would soon be an end of the sanguinary con- Whether such a time is ever likely to come, greater extent than accident produces at
federacy. Surely they must see that considerable and by what means such a change in the method present, an indi-ect representation in both
responsibility devolves upon them, both on of episcopal appointments, and the consequent Houses of Parliament, and especially in
account of their knowledge of the peasantry and character of the Episcopate, may legitimately be the House of Commons, by calling in the co-
on account of the influence which they wield over brought about, are questions which we do not, for operation of the laity in the general administration
them. the present at all events, care to discuss. There of her affairs. There exists, we believe, an in-
Turning from these considerations, we am is a more pressing question, one of great practical tention to bring this matter formally under the
specially enabled to say that in some of the cases importance, which just now claims our attention consideration of the clergy at the next meeting
in recent years where criminals have not been —the question, namely, whether the Church is of the Convocation of Canterbury. The sugges-
brought to justice by the Executive in Ireland, properly represented in the House of Commons. tion to be made, we understand, is that the
it is not from any want of the knowledge of who 'ow, with regard to that branch of the Legis- clergy, meeting in archdeaconries or rural dean-
was the person that committed the deed, but for lature, so far from being, as Mr. BRIGHT alleges, cries, should, if not always, at least occasionally,
want of the required legal evidence to insure "prominently represented," the truth is that she invite certain of the laity of the district to meet
conviction. The murderer of Mr. CALLAHAN is can scarcely be said to be represented at all. them, in consulting committees, for deliberation
known to a moral, but not to a legal, certainty, With the exception of the Members for the and mutual consultation on Church affairs, both
and it would be no use at present putting him Universities, there are no Members that have local and general. As far as it goes, this sugges-
' upon his trial. So, also, in the case of the asses-
any official connection with the Church, or tion is not unworthy of consideration, though it
i sination of Mr. ELY, the murderer is known, but
he is " upon the run," and if caught, he will be any special call to represent her. Even in may, be doubted whether it is a step altogether
the case, of the Members for the Universities in the right direction. Laymen so called in by
probably hung. That murder bad nothing to
that connection and representation is only invitation
will labour under a twofold disadvan-
do with Ribbonism. °' If," said Mr. ELY to a
indirect, and might cease to have any Church tage. Being called in as a matter of favour
poaching rascal brought before him, "you are
character whatever, if the attempt to effla.e lila rather than of right, they will naturally feel
" again had up before me, I shall write to your distinctive character of the Universities as Church some hesitation to speak their mind fully and
" landlord to tell him that you keep greyhounds," Institutions should prove as successful in practice, freely; and this hesitation will be gready in-
and the atrocious scoundrel, through a hellish as it has hitherto been on paper. Whatever of creased by the fear lest their speaking their
spirit of revenge, shot the most inoffensive gen- the Church's mind, or of Church feeling, may at mind should be construed into an assumption to
tleman in the whole district ! That infamous any time find its way into the House of Corn- speak on behalf of their absent brethren of the
crime had nought to do with Ribbonism ; its mons, is there, accidentally, through the personal laity, who not only have not been invited, but
perpetrator cannot long remain uncaught, and opinions and predilections of individuals, certainly have had no share in sending them to these
the gallows will be his end. The murderers of not by way of representation. And as the informal Church councils.
the late Mrs. KELLY have not yet been brought Church laity take scarcely any part in the prac-
This
, to justice ; but in all its features that was a most tical working of the Church—which, on other mostT
es manifest ife st
obviated. inconvenience
I f
it Nve,
ve
thought however, mayproper
extraordinary case, and experienced officials do accounts, is much to be regretted—they are not and practicable—and we see nothing to prevent
not believe that Ribbonmen killed Mrs. KELLY. sufficiently acquainted with either her theory or it—to make arrangements for a joint consultation
But the worst thing about Ribbonism is the her practice to sustain her cause with effect of the clergy and laity, say within each rural
terror which it causes. It spreads here and there against the incessant attacks directed against her deanery, why should not the clergyman of each
in so mysterious a way; one time it is quiescent, in the popular branch of the Legislature. The parish or district, at the request of the bishop
and seems extinguished, and then suddenly it only persons who, by professional training and conveyle communicantsed to him b
of his flock, and ask them
the rural dean, call together
springs up with bloodthirsty activity. It is a thorough acquaintance with the Church's system, the ma
society which has existed during two genera- are really qualified to defend her cause, and to
to select one from among themselves who is to
tions ; it has its officers, its affiliated branches, give sound advice in matters affecting her wel- accompany the parochial clergyman to a ruri-
:ts commanders and its servants, its secret-service fare—the clergy,—are as a class disqualified from
ill .--•decanal meeting of clergy and lay representative?.
money, its concerted plan for attack, defence, and sitting in the House of Commons. This ex-
The laymen thus deputed would give their
escape, its class-feelings and its Cain-like in-
be elusion, though it may accounted for, is cer-
p
counsel with greater freedom and with greater
stincts, and, worse than all, its assumption of tainly not compensated, by the constitutional
weight, because sbut the mindseaking not only their own
" Justice "! Against this diabolical association representation of the clergy in the Lower House mind
we hope that effective means will be at last of Convocation, considering the total suppression s, of those, or of a majority of
those, by whom they were selected. To
employed to crush its purposes, confound its formerly, and even now the virtual suspension, give to the Church, however, the full benefit
authors, and utterly ruin those who aid and abet of the active functions of that assembly ; and it pr in-
it
't in any matter whatsoever. is rendered all the more glaringly unjust by the ciple
of such a system of lay co-operation, the i
laity
unrestricted admission to the use of Commons of representation of the communicant
LAY CO-OPERATION IN THE CHURCH. of the rivals
.and. opponents of the Clergy, the merely ruri-decanal or even diocesan
...
would have to be carried a step further than
gather-
Dissenting Ministers, several of whom, and those ings. There is no reason why the two provincial
AMONG the fallacies and misstatements which of the bitterest school of political dissent, have, c 1 4 their character as
•Convocations—even though, in
constituencies,
constitute the staple of Mr. BRIGHT'S famous by the favour of' Radical . obtained ecclesiastical synods, they should still be kept
seats for the express and scarcely disguised par- in one National
political manifesto, not the least remarkable is the distinct—should not be combined •
e of making a series of onslaughts on the
complaint
that " the Established Church is pro- p°
Chs
urch. No impartial mind, conversant with astical divisions elect their proctors in Convoca-
Synod ; and, as the clergy of the several ecclesi-
" minently represented in both Houses of Parlia- our
Parliamentary
history for the last quarter of tic
n,
ment." The opinion of Churchmen, on the a century, can doubt that if the Church had communicant' laity of the several parishes might
contrary, is, that not only she is not promi- been, we say not prominently, but fairly, repre- nso the lay representatives chosen by the
I\' nently, but that she is not even fairly represented. soeunrteecdc liens itahse t House of Commons, not only would
legislation have been kept free deputies to represent them in the National Synod
becalled upon to elect out of their own number
In the Upper House of Parliament, indeed, it from the reproach of exhibiting a series of deplor- of the three orders, b• 'shops, clergy, and y:
or Convention, which would thus be composed
.t
cannot be denied that there is a remarkable show able half measures and egregious blunders, but In an assembly of this
of Church representation. A striking
recognition questions many deeply affectin the • interests of with the administration of the Church would
than
of the Church is involved, to all outward the Church, and through her the welfare. of the assuredly be discussed to greater advantage
nation, would have been discussed in a very the
kind, questions connected
appearance, in the display of clerical habili- either in a purely clerical assembly. or in
ments on certain benches. But the notion different spirit, and brought to a very different at by
either
House of Commons. The conclusions arrived
that the wearers of these habiliments represent issue. the National Synod or Convention
. would
the Church, is a myth in which, we apprehend, With these facts before our eyes, it is a matter be such as might be carried out by voluntary
few of the 818 • hops themselves believe. That of the greatest moment, not only as a question
of action within the Church, or they would require
ical effect to
their very office constitutes them repre- justice to the Church, but as a question of sound the sanction of law to give pract .
. that the
sentatiyes of the Church, is doubtless true ; State policy, affecting the welfare of the whole ' them. In the former case, it is obvious
ved
l', -