The Sun.
London, England, 1869-06-29 00:00:00

VOLUNTARYISM.

The opponents of State Churches do not like the
way matters seemed to be tending a day or two back •
—towards concurrent endowment. The Rev. J.
Baldwin, the eminent Congregational minister,
writes answering the attacks which it has recently
been so much the fashion to make on voluntaryism.
He recounts the virtues of an Established Church—
order, dignity, propriety, sweetness} and light—
and admits that there is something to admire
in them. But he is charmed more by vigour, vivacity,
and vitality.' He loves life better than order, and he
thinks that dislikers of voluntaryism sacrifice the
former to the latter. But though Christian politicians
and spiritual peers do not care to adopt voluntaryism,
he protests that they should not speak of it with scorn,
seeing that it was the plan upon which the Church
was first promulgated. Mr. Baldwin, moreover, con-
tendi CIA the age of endowment is passing away.
"The end aimed at by the establishment of religion is
already attained ; society is fairly leavened by Christian
ideas— that is, the substratum of Christian thought and
purpose which is the common heritage of all the
Churches—and it no longer needs clerical influence in
Convocation, in Parliament, or anywhere else, either to
represent or to defend it. We are coming to disendowment
simply because we have become a Christian people in a
far deeper sense than can be expressed by the establish-
went of religion. What is needed now is not a great
national organisation (which once, I believe, was in a sense
needed) to keep Christian ideas before the intellect and
conscience of the Slate, but rather Christian men and
women, who will addict themselves wholly to Christian

work."

THE RELEASE OF THE FENIAN PRISONERS.

The promised meetings of the advocates for the
release of the Fenian prisoners took place on
Sunday. At Cork, Limerick, Ennis, Mullingar, and
other places demonstrations were held, and each of
the assemblages passed a resolution declaring they
had no confidence in any message of peace which
was not brought by the men now held in
prison for political offences by the - British
Government. The most important of these
protests was made at Cork by some 5,000 persons.
The trades of the city marched in procession,
headed by three bands. Mr. Healy, a publican,
presided. Mr. Merriman, of London, sup-
ported the resolution. He said English people
desired the release of the prisoners, and charged Mr.
Bruce with misrepresentation. Mr. O'Sullivan,
another publican, said if the Government did not
grant a relase now, they would be c:bliged to do so
when the opportunity came. In Dublin, on the same
day, the funeral of the wife of one of the Fenian
prisoners was attended by sonic 2,000 persons.

THE ORANGE FESTIVALS IN THE NORTH OF

IRELAND.

The apprehensions of a disturbance in the north
of Ireland during the July anniversaries of the
Orange body seem to be shared by Orangemen
themselves. It is creditable to them that they are
taking means to prevent any uproar. All their
organs counsel moderation of demeanour ; and the
question is raised whether all banners and scarves
shall not be abandoned for the time. An address to
the Orangemen of Pomeroy, a a:strict in the
county of Tyrone, has been issued, in which
the . writer advises his brethren—because "in
these times it is most necessary to exercise forbear-
ance "—to abstain from any vain display of colours
cr music. Ile counsels them to meet in numbers to
-protest and to spew determination ; he warns them
that they may yet have to light for the temples of
their God, but he calls upon them to meet in humi-
lity, to be cautious, and to drop at such a time the
" vaunting emblems of triumph."