The Express.
London, England, 1850-03-18 00:00:00

THE GORHAM CASE.

Mon the Dail Ka")

IN the worse of oar observations ea the Garbage
ease, we have been solicitous to avoid the theological
merits of the question in dispute and to °online oar
attention to its political sad social 'adduces. nese,
we believe, are nuttier few nor onimpirtast. Any one
who has perceived the great and growing influent*
which the churchless lately obtained. by the increased
zeal of thi inferior clergy, sad who bee else been in
a position to become acquainted with the fact that the
ranks of the clergy are constantly being recruited by
new levies of semi-tractariess from Oxford
to Cambridge, cannot but ecknowledge that
the theological storm in the upper regions must pro-
does its effects upon the surface of society. Among
the most prominent features of this commotion are the
protests of Mr. DENISON and Mr. BENNETT. Under
ordinary circumstances we should not have noticed
these productions—their authors are angling for a
martyrdom which we do not think it likely they will
obtain—it is simply that these protests mark the
existence of certain ter dencies amongst en icfiuential
portion of our social mystem, that they obtain
notice in our columns. The extravagance of trac-
t& ianism has died away; the retreating waves
have, however, left behind them a slime which
is fertilising the soil of the church, end rendering it
prolific in monstrosities. In separating the principles
of Mr. BENNirrr and Mr. Dampens from the mass of
verbiage in which they are enveloped, and finding
that these principles serve as watchwords amongst a
majority of the rising clergy, we moot help holding
them up to view to the ecclesiastical authorities, and
asking, is this a sample of the instruction which you
profess yourselves to be exclusively authorised is
giving to the nation ? We say as the king said when
he sent beck tte blood-stained armour of the traitor-
bishop to the Pope, "Are these your son's garments f"
The first remarkable feature in the new constitu-
tion as preeebed by Mr. BreNETT,and believed in by
so many of the younger clergy, is that u churchmen
they star.d in a peculiar position to the sovereign and
the state. Dissenters cannot occupy this position.

Tbe rats (says Mr. Bennett) is totally dirtact from the
person of the sovereign. Whatever politics may be, Chris-
tianity looks epos the rover. its a a religious person
anolated M the Lend. The churcA whatever the state may
do, glue tt the sivireign preeideney over all things eaten-
anneal as well as civil. Tee church is therefore blond to
render unto the sovereign not by her politics but
her religion, obedient's, bye sod loyalty—those who
are wot wahine of the church. suck as dassenters,
can not reomnim the higher duty of obs. log on the
prisciples of the church. Teo sovereign exercises hie *Mee
as coming from GOD, *he state as sousing from MAN. There
fon it might happen that while the church is fully unttegi
with the saverears as as anointed parson, being so anointed
the church and therefore in the cketreb, it might b • totally
separate tram the rate, which might be aa ungodly incorpo-
ration opposed to Christianity.

Now, we shoull like any traotarian doctor to ex-
plain to us in wrist manner the above doctrine differs
from any revolutionary theory promulgated by the
reddest of all republioars, in so far as its tendency to
cause a disruption in the body politic is copc:rned.
What becomes of the constitution when a devoted
and exclusive adherence to one of the three
estates is advocated not merely as a poli-
tical right, but a religious duty ? What is
the sustaining principle of every revolution
but the assumed right of one class to detach itself
from co-operation with the rest of the political body ?,
Who but the maddest revolutionist will assert the
right of individuals to choose one division of the
government as the object of its obedience and ignore
the others? What is the meaning of the govern-
ment of the kingdom minus the houses of parliament?
We would request all young lades who are working
their eves out in fabricating medieval altar cloths,
to ask-these questions of their spiritual advisers,
and nut to be agitated until they are assured that
the produce of their labours will not be need as
standards of rebellion by Anglican Montagnards.
Mr. DENISON is careful not to be behind his reve-
rend brother in the race of sedition. He writes:
Since the church of E.•g'snd possesses (•uhject to the
universal church) the power of interpretiag. &c., such defi-
'Wons as the universal church (which is the universal
church )) bee framed—sad sines a court constituted by let of
parliament alone chims ant exercises a power to confirm.
reverse, rtz., the d.cisionS of the courts of the elturch—and
sines no judgment pronounced by the Judicial Committee in
reap' et of matters of doctrine can be accepted by the church,
George Anthony Denison, clerk, &e , do enter my solemn
protest against the state of the law. &o.
. .

And in soother protest he warns all Christian
people of his parish to beware of slowing themselves
to be moved or influenced by the 'sentence of the
judicial committee of the Privy ConneiL As the said
committee forms the highest court of appeal in the
realm, this warning sounds to us as something much
more seditious than any of the chartist proclamations
whilt startled the loyal cit4ens of London two years
ago: If Mr. DENtsox has any chartists in his
parish, we are drain that his exburtations to them in
future on the duty of the preservation of good order,
will be likely to tall upon deaf ears. He will be
told that there is no patent mould for sedition. and
no exclusive right to a monopoly of rebellion. Some
classical consp.rator may possibly twit him with the
well-known line :

(leis tal rit Graeae@ de eeditinne querestee ?
It may be asked why pay attention to two extrava-
gant exceptions from the ordinary rule of submission
to a legal decision in the church P What is there in
these protests to er title them to notice? Are butter-
flies worth breaking upen wheels? Perhaps not.
But the reason which confers on theme two gentlemen
a glory which they do not possess in their own per-
sons is, that although there may not be many bene-
ficed clergymen who are likely to follow their
example, still it is no less true that the lower ranks
of the church are being filled with young and ardent
enthusiasts, who are anxious for the honour
of martyrdom in such a cause. The principle
of these protests is in fashion at the universities.
More than two-thirds of the caodidatet for ordination '
who graduate at Oxford, and more than one-half of
those who graduate at Cambridge, hold opinions on
church matter, similar to those held by Mr. BENNETT
and Mr. DENISON. As the whole life of the church is
at the present day concentrated in its inferior orders.
we cannot help thinking that these phenomena are
significant; and at a time when reaction seems the
rule in f .reign pelitics, it would be well for liberals in
England to watch closely the operation of reactionary
elements at home.

Meantime, whilst we call on the public to mark
:hese doings, the hearis of the church, as well as of
the law, have, we understand, not been inattentive.
There is said to be rank treason in these protests. It
is, however, the treason of a madman, whom it would
not be wise to promote into a martyr.

EXTINSIVE FIRS Ile WEIIIIIIIIITZIL—ShortIy bu-
ten Wight o'clock List Batavia, sight, a fire broke oat on
the ostensive premises of MINIM Rigby, the builders and
sow-mills proprietor., in Holywell.strest, Millbenk street,
Westminster, which prop?rty catered a large extent of
ground, and comp, s. d ream sawmill., timber-yard, and a
range of carpenters' wo-klkops, the letter nearly 200 foot
long, end of great width. The houses in Kensington-pier,.
IlolywelLstrest, and Barl-atreet, abated on the burning
premises ; while the extensive brewery of Merin. Thorne
and Sas was separated by the carriage road in Earl street.
The firs was discovered by us persons wku lived opposite
the works, and who perceived a large body of flame suddenly
shoot threegh the roof of the buildings tither of the saw-
mills or further cad of the carpenters shops. The times
quickly travelled through the ViTi,llll shops, and muted
through the roofs into the air, illuminating the sky la all
directions. The stables being und aaaaa th the premises situa-
ted in Berl street, the greatest expedittho had to be need
in getting out the horses, carts, fie., which was, however,
happily sleeted. Tn. enrines of the Brigade and West of
England, es well en that from Messrs. Thorne'e brewery,
were quickly on the spot, and a luge body of police roe-
dead essential wistaria in keeping back the immense crowd
that collected. The firemen wire enabled to attack the eon•
Rarities at every point, but at was not until ten o'clock that
a mastery was at length obtained over it, and the fire was
prevented from extending to the countise?houre, dwelling-
houses, and other buildings fronting Holywell street. In
the other directions a large body of fire continued to burn,
bet its fury was fast relaxing. The Ices will prove very
heavy. The saw-mills are destroyed, with their valuable
machinery. ela the contesters' shops, fie., wen some
valuable fittings for Mill Burdett Coetts'e church in Boehm-
ter-row, Westminster, whim, the firm are building. It is