The Sun.
London, England, 1870-06-30 00:00:00

THE LAITY AND THE CHURCH.

The Telegraph does not perceive that Lord Sandon's
scheme of parochial councils is necessarily a one-sided
measure. The powers which he desires to grant might be
used for or against either of the two chief ecclesi-
astical parties. There are many places in which the Ri-
tualists would be glad to accept the authority of elected
sidemen, because they believe themselves strong enough to
secure the election of men belonging to their own party.
Throughout the debate of Tuesday the admission came freely
from both sides of the House, that something should be
done to repress the miserable dissensions which even
minute changes of ceremony and decoration provoke
in a parish. The causes for which parson and people
are occasionally set together by the ears are incon-
ceivably trivial. Some Sunday morning, without
previous announcement, he appears in the pulpit
in a white surplice., Half of the congregation there-
upon rise from their seats in a rage, and quit the
church with noisy show of anger. The cause of
quarrel is pitiful in the last degree. The robe that was
good enough for the prayers may be accounted good
enough for the sermon ; while it is not the colour of the
garment that can much matter, one way or the other. Yet
many honest people work themselves into the belief that
in fighting for the black gown or the white surplice they
are bearing witness to some sublime truth.
The Daily News thinks the weak point of Lord San-
don's bill is that it makes no provision for the case of the
minority of a parish. At present, in towns sufficiently
large, a Churchman persecuted in one parish may flee to
another. But there are towns where there are laymen
enough to form a good congregation, whose preferences
are not shared by a majority of any one of the parishes
into which it is divided. It is idle to suppose that
they ►ill not take some measures for supplying what
they want ; but this bill does nothing for them. It is not
certain that the rule of a majority in a parish, perhaps a
narrow majority, which there may be a hope of supplant-
ing &Van early date, will be more tolerable than that of
an individual who has an interest in conciliating all
parties. Of course, a state of divided opinion cannot be
allowed to arrest all collective action ; and practical
decisions must be taken. But the News ventures to think
it would be well for Lord Sandon and those who agree
with him, to consider how far it is wise in these days of
divergent opinion to group Churchmen of the most oppo-
site views together according to a mere territorial circum-
scription ; or if the parochial system be deemed too valu-
able for administrative purposes to be abandoned, how far
the rights of minorities might be secured without greater
danger to unity than exists at present, by recognising a
modified congregationalism in the Church of England.
THE CONVENTUAL AND MONASTIC INQUIRT.

Commenting on the evidence given before the conven-
tual and monastic committee the Dublin Freeman of to-
day (Thursday) says :—" The courtesy of the committee
to the witnesses called on behalf of the religious orders
could not be surpassed. These orders are specially aimed
at by the fanatics who would not extend to
them the common rights of British subjects.
The committee know well the legal difficulties of
their position, and never insist on any questions being
answered by the witnesses for the orders which they ex-
press an unwillingness to answer, on the ground that it
might commit their clients. So far as we can judge there
is no intention mi the part of the committee to examine
ally members of convents or monasteries, so that if Mr.
N wdegate should fail to rebut the evidence already given,
the committee will probably report that they have had all
the evidence they see their way to obtain. So far the
evidence is all in favour of religious orders."