The Express.
London, England, 1853-05-27 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 27, 1858.

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LONDON., FRIDAY MAY 27.

Ma. P1111.1.1310RE asked for leave, last evening, to
bring in a bill to alter and amend the law respecting
Church Rates. In other words, the question which
has hitherto been the subject of squabblrs in vestries
and of arguments iu the law courts, was formally
removed to that higher tribunal, the Mouse of Com-
mons. Perhaps, for arguing a point of great import-
ance like this, there could not be a better time than
the present. The agitation which the intermittent
local opposition to Church Rates called forth, has
almost died away, anti there is an increased spirit of
energy and self.devotion amongst the working
clergy of the Established Church. Many persons
who, while a clergyman did nothing in
his parish but receive the tithes, would
have telt it not merely a duty but a pleasure to
ventilate the subject of Church Rates, are unwilling
to agitate what they feel to be a very momentous
question, when they see the clergyman performing
till the functions id. his office. The atmosphere,
both political and religious, is calm, and this season
is therefore peculiarly fitted for the consideration of
a proposition like that of Mr. PUILLIMOItIi, and a
discusbion upon its merits. It is much better to
mend one's house in a calm, said the proposer,
than to set about doing so in • storm. It
cannot fail to be remarked also that there

are other circumstances which render an in
vesti;pition of the church-rate question peculiarly
opportune at the present moment. A building
erected by the state, and devoted to the purpose of
Roman Catholic education needs repair. It appeared
natural that those who erected the building and con-
tributed to its support should be asked to pay the
ex of repairing the dilapidatiops. The House
dOwtststias refused, however, to be answerable for
these expenses, and Maynoota College must either
tumble down or be repaired by voluntary contribu-
tions. Whether we suppose the Anti-Maynooth vote
to have been decided by those who considered that
the crumbling walls of the College did not deserve to
be preserved because heresy was taught there, or by
those who went upon the broad principle that
the state ought not to contribute to any religious
endowment whatever—is immaterial. The same
House which has decided that it is unfair for one
class of citizens to be taxed for the support of a
religious edifice belonging to another class, cannot
consistently consent to the perpetuation of a law
which binds dissenters of every denomination to
contribute to the support of an English church. The
present House of Commons is on the horns of a
dilemma. It must either repudiate its late vote, or
confess that the law of Church Rates is unjust.
Hie vote also on the Clergy Reserves re-
pledged the house to the principle that a
state in its collective capacity has the sole right to
the control over property entrusted to the state for
religions purposes. It is as competent, therefore,
for the Legislature to interfere with existing. regula-
tions with respect to church property as with any
other state possessions.
The House of Commons being thus pledged upon
every principle of fairness to remodel or abolish the
law of Church Rates, it remains to consider how
far the interests of Churchmen are involved in
the matter. We want to know why the
Church of England man should be the
@sly person empowered by law to levy
contributions from people of other denominations to
support his place of worship? The dissenter repairs
his own chapel ; why cannot the churchman repair
his own church ? Is he too poor? The whole re-
taws of the Establishment is about 5,000,0001. a
year. Is he unwilling? The new churches lately
erected in a great measure by voluntary contribu-
tions count by hundreds. Are the sums levied upon
dissenters annually so large that they cannot be
well spared? The whole amount is less than
100,0001., or one-fiftieth of the whole revenue of
the Church. Is the churchman intolerant? Does
he wish to show his belief in the right of
his church to the solo possession of power, by pro.
serving the miserable privilege of levying a paltry
tax on others ? The process of his legislation for the
last fifty years has consisted in a gradual relin-
quishment of every obnoxious privilege in matters of
religion that he once possessed. In fact, the English
Churchman does not need the dissenter's money—he
does not desire it—he shows every capability of'doing
without it—and he is the last person in the world to
wish to retain a right to it, as a mere badge of
power. He is the most tolerant of sectarians. Is it
possible that better grounds than these can be urged
for the abolition of a vexatious impost?
Mr. Pittulsoax's history of the Church Rate
question, from the time when the Church was co-
extensive with the State unto the present day, was
accurate and impartial, and is full of interest to those
who were not acquainted with the facts, and desire
to know them. It may be doubted, however, whe-
ther the substitute which he proposed for the present
system does not in one of its parts involve a great
injustice. His proposal to free dissenters from
the liability to pay Church Rates was just
enough, but the proposition to deprive them
of privileges which they possess—not as mem-
bers of an Church, but as members of the
State--is unjust. If dissenters, in order to be
relieved from the imposition of Church Rates, are at
the same time required to give up all right to appear
in perish vestries, they are asked to give up their
political right for a very sorry mess of pottage. Die-
'enters are an integral portion of the State as much
as Churchmen. 'f he property of the Church be-
longs to the Establishment solely because the
State guarantees it. It holds that property
under obligations of performing certain duties,
and the State, represented by the Uotteg and Perlis-
meet, is the sole judge of the manner in which then
duties are performed. The dissenters must not be
asked to divest themselves of their share of national
*Ohs of supervision over this national trust pro-
petty. In many parishes there are large funds &-
islet to parochial purposes,. of which the disposal'
loslooss to the parishioners in vestry assembled. Is
a dissenter to give up his rights as a parishioner is
inch cases u these? It this be so, it may as well be
geed that all members of the House of Commons,
unposed as it is of men of all denominations—that
all who are dissenters—should divest themselves
of the power of legislating upon church matters of
any kind, and the great national church property
'be left at the sole disposal of a minority of church-
men. Of the importance of the dissenters as a por-
de. of the state, some idea may be formed from the
hit that from 1688 to 1852 no lees than 64,804
dheeuting places of worship were certified. Is it
politic that a body of this magnitude should be tared
to suffer a continual grievance ? Is there any right
to suppose that now when, by means of the psisso
information on all subjects of political importune
is diffused throughout the entire land, a wrong
of this nature can be long endured ? So far from the
abolition of Church Rates being calculated to pro.
duce disunion and disorder, it will tend—u Mr.
PIiiLLIMORe said be conscientiously believed—to the
religious peace of the Church. By getting rid of an
obnoxious impost, which scarcely produces any benefit
to the body receiving it, we shall do away with a
cause of discontent and division. All classes of re-
ligionists will be brought nearer together, and all
will be better able to act unitedly for the common
interest.

GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY LITERARY SOCIETY.—
A report, embracing a variety of interesting details respect.
ing this newly formed institution, has just been issued by
the committee. It is gratifying to find that the facts die-
closed reflect no less credit on the ensployja of the company
than on the directors, and that while the latter not only
sanctioned but tffectively promoted the formation of the
society, the former have eagerly availed themselves of the
advantages placed within their reach. The society started
in March, 1852, with 113 members, and it now possesses
178. At that time the library contaired 730 volumes, bat
it has since been gradually increased to 1.375 volumes.
The funds of the society aro also stated to be in a very
flourishing state, and the circulation of the books has
steadily iccreased. The report contains a long list of dona-
tions in money, books &c., received by the society in
response tolin appeal from the committee W gentlemen COW
'acted with the company.