The Express.
London, England, 1868-02-17 00:00:00

THE DEAN OF WESTMINSTER ON THE CON-
NEXION OP CHURCH AND STATE.
Aflfie• • —•---

A very interesting and somewhat novel ffillte
foresee was held in the chapel of Sion College on nuns.
day evening. Dean Stanley had engaged to read a paper
cre the above subject, and the President—the Rev. Wil-
liam Rogers, rector of St. Botolph's, Bishopegete—had in-
vited Mr. Edward ma, the Rev. James Martineau, and
other gentlemen to be present on the occasion. The
hall was well fined, chiefly with clergymen of the
city ; but we noticed. in addition, the Revs. Johli
James Taylor, J, C. Means, T. L. Marshall, and Mr.
Hodgson Pratt. The Bishop of London and Mrs.
Tait, Lady Auguste Staeley, and other ladies at-
tended. Tea and cedes wee* served about half-Pad 7
o'clock, but it was upwind* of an hour later before the
special business of the evening began.
The Delo , at the outset of his paper, referred to the
opposite quarters from which the 0021011 ion of church and
state was opposed ; and instanced the am • of the burgher
and anti-burgher controversy in Soothe:se, d the non-
juren of the last century, and that at the presett time
pertaining to the colonial bishops. In all the es cases the
opposition of the Nonconformist was based ram n a transi-
tory sentiment, not an abstract principle. A ad If the
attitude towards the connection of church and a tate was
somewhat different now, the change Gould be see ousted
for by two facts, which, properly regarded, were ex. tenor
to the subject, namely, the atrocious Act of 1G62, anal the
existence of the Papal Church. On these two exceptiesia/
points the modern liberationist suspended his argument
with some semblance of force; but the connection of'
church and state which he (the dean) supported was e
totally different matter. The establishment, as we
and it, involved not one but one hundred acts,
and it thus presented a wide surface to hostile
I attack. Bat the accidents of a state church should
be earefolly separated from its essence. It was important
to bear in mind (1) that it did not necessarily involve en-
dowments ; (ti) thet it did not necessarily impose an ex-
elusive system either of theological doctrine or cycle/earth
cal polity ; and (3) that it did not mean the delegation of
power to a clerical body. These were accidents—aeljunote
that could be separated from a date church, however they
might be parts of any existing arrangement ; bat that this
essence lay in tees° two obvious pointa,namelv,(l)thit the
state recognise the religious expression, the religious aspira-
tion of the community; and (2) that this religious
expression be so controlled that excess or fanaticism may
be avoided—such as would justly be a social offence. The
dean proceeded at some length, and with much ability, to
propound his theory, the same as is generally held by
broad churchmen. They would make the church as in.
elusive as the nation ; abolish all subscription to creeds cm
formulas, except perhaps the Apostles' creed, and recog-
nise every man sea ladder who was capable of rendering
good service to the comumnity. For himself he gloried ine
being a servant of the state ; it had no servitude for him ;
he vindicated the religious character of judges, magis-
trates, and all public officers of every kind; repu.
dieted tho sharp distinctions so often drawn between
things secular and things spiritual ; and main.
twined that there was far more likelihood of freedom
end justice being respected under state superin-
tendence than under the narrower surveillance of party
sects or individuals. MI things human were imperfect
under the best arrangement, and secular government
formed no exception ; tut as great cruelties, as much
wickedness, as much misery led been inflicted upon the
world by sc:ealled churches and spiritual name as by any
statesmen or politicians whatever. Calling thins
spiri-
tual did not make them so, and oven the boasted headship
of Christ meant frequently the self th domination of some
tradesmen in the next street. His model itatc-man was
Genie, who had boon often reviled as a careless libertine,
but who showed the true judicial attitude towards the
petty meter ian squabbles of which ho could take no cogni-
zance. l'eul appealed to the tribunal of Cesar. and than
recognised the supremacy of the state over the pried-
booL The Queen, as the embodiment of English law,
was the supreme ultimate authority for Fofil,:h Inca ; and
the glory, the progress, Cm welfare of England were far
dearer, far bigher objects to seek than the advancement of
any church or sect whatever. The advent-ere of asserting
this principle were various. (I.) It secured to the church
the supremacy of just and equal laws. (2.) It afforded
scope and me ertunity for the growth within it of various
opinions, and favoured the changes which from time to
time it might be agreeable to the State to effect. (3.) It
afforded a refuge and a protection to humble, dose at souls,
who otherwise might be borne down by the current of •
local or transitory clamour. The objeceons on the
other hand, could not be overlooked. The supremacy
of law ieipeded the free action of individuals; but
Cue explosion of ecclesiastical conflict which was
with difficulty repressed at the present time only by law
would be a counterpoise to freedom. There were also the
corrupting influences of worldly position, amid the social
disparagement and exclusiveness that e; ose out of it.
These were street and admitted evils wherever tier existed,
and he could only leave them to the reprobati m of all
Christian minds. Dr. Stanley concluded amid hearty
applause. Such is hot a very sue:tyre outline of a lecture
which, considering all the circumstances under which it
was delivered, was remarkable, and forma an event in
our ecolesiestical annals.
Mr. MULL, at the call of the chairman, rose to reply.
He felt he had a trying duty &Epos form. and threw him.
self upon the indulgence of the meeting. lie acknowledged
the very great ability and liberality of the addreas they
had just heard from the very rev. ,lean, and the admirable
spirit in which it was all conveyed, but the views Mel!.
cated were so novel to hint, and the atmosphere nltogetber
was so new, that ho could not at the 0011.:nt adequately
collect his houghts in a reply, though a reply ho felt in-
stinctively was possible. He, however, would take as •
starting point to a few iliacennected rein:Like en extract
from the dean's letter on subscription to the Bishop
of London, the principle of which be could not
quite reconcile with the doctrine just enunciated
in the lecture. He claimed to les equally in the
'mice of the state. and thought the clergy bad ne
monopoly of good deeds, though law gave them exclude*
privileges. To his mind religion was an reeked spiritual
principle, and to apply force to the maintenance or preen.
ration of religion was wrong: on this single ground—that
of appealing to foroe—he was opposed to state churches.
Ho did not object to the establishment for its tie ology or
iM ministrations, but solely because it rendered to Creme
the things that belonged to God only' and that if the
church of England knew her own true interests. end re.
lied on her spiritual there:acre-sport altogether from
emoluments—she would be a more efficient and fsitbful
church of Christ. His remarks were received with the
utmost attention, and he act down amid applause.
The 131,110 P thanked Mr. Miall for appearing amongst
them, and so moderately stating hie views. He could
make allowance for his embarrassment in what be might
call the penetrant' of the Church of England, for the Dean
had somewhat outflanked him ; but good must arise from
the comparison of their differences when so much concilia-
tion was preserved. He thought Nonconformists were apt
to fall into mistakes. They accepted the old my of
"Church and " as a symbol of pereeention ; but
strange changes had happened, and sow Churchmen were
raising the old banner of party and exclusion u the
symbol of national liberty. In each an age of controversy
we most go hack to first principles, and the Divine institu-
tion of the Family he held to be the germ of the Church.
Church and State were only developments of the
We must have order in the family even for the daily act
of worship ; hence the necessity of law in the Church as
the basis of order. Without the connection of the State,
the church in Italy would be a source of endless anarchy ;
and in Americo it was found that the freest thought, the
highest culture of that country, bad drifted away from
Christianity and become Unitarian. He did not want
England to become Unitarian, but he feared that that or
something enamor would mat if the conneothe of
church and state were severed.
The Rev. Janis Ifemnintee next responded to the call
of the chairman. He expressed his acknowledgment for
the op unity
iof being peewit on each an interesting
ocoadon, nerdn the main agreed with the Dean's able
address. He was a nonconformist, but very unwillingly •
and notwithstanding the bribe held out to him by the
Lord Bishop. in the prospect of the revolted of his
opinions if church and state were severed, he was yet as
Englishman, and preferred the welfare and_ ha of
his country to the prevalence of say nee as
opinion whatever. His too brief speech was received milli
marked attention, and concluded amid applause.
Two other speakers followed, one upholding the sew high
'buret theory of spiritual freedom from date arra
if a rupture was to be avoided, and the other—as Hem
Auberon Herbert—maintaining that the era of Stele
Churches bad pared ; that the idea of religious
had now ars the public mind ; and that this =lll3
the question the lecturer bad wholly evadscl.—lngsfor.

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