The Sun.
London, England, 1869-04-17 00:00:00

FOMETIIING NEW ON AN OLD SUBJECT.

One of the Roman Emperors used to reward the
man who invented a new pleasure. Politicians
ought to reward the man who says anything new
on the Irish Church. The Archdeacon of Lindis-
farne should be the first to be so honoured. In
his charge, just delivered, he said that the
Irish Church felt just as Daniel felt when he was
going down into the lion's den. How he felt
the Archdeacon did • not say, though, as we had
always thought Daniel had full confidence that he
would come out again no worse than ho went in, the
analogy does not quite answer its purpose. We ven-
ture to suggest an emendation, viz., as Jonah felt
when he was gong into the whale's belly.
THE PRESBYTERIANS OF trLsTr.n.

The Presbyterians of Ulster are becoming dissatis-
fied with the Irish Church Bill. Though at first they
seemed well pleased enough with it, they are now
complaining that they are not being fairly dealt with.
The Irish Church is to get glebes, manses, and funds ;
but they are to be given merely fourteen years' pur-
chase of the Regium Donum. The London corre-
spondent of the Manchester Guardian states that the
Moderator of the Synod of Ulster, together with
several other prominent members of
.the body, are
trying to advance their views with politicians. They
ask for more money, so that they may be put more
on an equality with their Anglican competitors.
With the Conservatives, says our informant, they are
likely to have litt"e difficulty; for every concession in
the nature of endowment of any creed upon any excuse
harmonises with Conservative policy. A plan, not
wholly irreconcileable with this idea, has indeed been
long under the consideration of Government, one for
setting apart a considerable portion of the resumed
property of the Church, to be used as a species of
capital to be lent out to parsons, priests,
and Presbyterian ministers, in turn, at mode-
rate interest, for the purpose of enabling them
to build manses and purchase glebes. Several mem-
bers of the Cabinet are said to be in favour of the
project on a tolerably extensive scale ; and if
brought forward on the Liberal side, it would obviously
stand a great chance of being carried; but it wears
an aspect of conciliation and concession that would
make it attractive in the eyes of many men of both
parties. Its merit in the eyes of the Conservatives
would be that it contains the germ of further endow-
ments in common, while in the eyes of some of the
strongest opponents of Church and State it is free
from the objectionable elements of political and
parochial ascendancy.

MAYNOOTII ENDOWMENT.
The Archdeacon of Rilmore writes to the Rock on
the subject of Maynooth, and considers how far the
pledges have been fulfilled which were made respect-
ing this college. He states that Mr. Glad-
stone has estimated the life-interests of
Church incumbents at eleven years' purchase,
but that three commissioners, who may be Roman
Catholics, can declare the compensation which seems
sufficient to them; while, under the_bill, fourteen
times the annuity of £26,360 will be paid at once
to the trustees of Maynooth as compensation for all
persons now interested. The ArChdeacon declares
that the bill gives to Maynooth £240,380 more than
the compensation it is entitled to, and hence tho
Church of Rome in Ireland will virtually receive a
perpetual endowment of £lO,OOO a year. Other acts of
injustice towards the clergy of the Church are contem-
plated by the bill, such as the loss of their incomes if
incapacitated by ill-health, and the deduction of the
salaries of curates from their incomes. Again, the
commissioners may pay nothing for glebe-houses
built by incumbents out of their private moneys,
and yet may claim for them, when dilapidated,
large sums from the disendowed Church. Injus-
tice will also be done to incumbents and
curates' assistants as compared with the Protestant
Dissenting ministers now receiving annuities from
the Regium. Donum and their assistant successors.
The object of this letter is to notice the violation of
pledges in the details of the bill and the injustice
and favouritism exhibited therein in behalf of May-
nooth College as compared with the bishops and
clergy of the Church in Ireland. Mr. Gladstone has
already answered the objection by stating that he has
taken the mean between the two extreme terms which
have been selected as the basis of compensation for
the Protestant clergy.
THE Minitel' OF TIIE LATE LORD PALMERSTON.
Some sad news comes from Romsey. The church
which Lord Palmerston used to attend is in a sad
state. A. correspondent describes a state of
affairs which ought to exist in no church in
the kingdom. At a vestry meeting last week,
as the incidentals of the church were nearly
£llO in aprear, both churchwardens resigned
their oflie, and declined to be re-elected.
The " clock winder," whose account was unpaid,
refused to continue his duties; and sufficient cash
was not forthcoming to retain the services of the
bellringers. Even the gas was threatened. Sunday
morning appears; the clock has stopped at 12.5, no
bells are heard, and the gem: ci_7.7;::',"an assures his
small flock tha, service will be held in the evening
as usual, ac he had engaged to pay for the gas him-
self until some arrangement coma be come to. This
is really a disgrace to the jr..tal Churchmen, and
hardy creditable to the friends of the "jolly
Prerraia."