The Sun.
London, England, 1861-11-15 00:00:00

MR. DISRAELI ON THE PRESENT PO-
SITION OF TILE CII URCII.

AYLESBURY, THURSDAY.
The annual meeting of the Diocesan Church So-
cieties of Oxford was held in this town this after-
noon, the Bishop of Oxford presiding. A large
number of persons attended, it being known that
Mr. Disraeli would be present and address the
meeting.
On the platform were Archdeacon Bickersteth,
Mr. Hubbard, M.P., Mr. Smith, M.P., Mr. Ber-
nard, M.P., the Rev. Mr. Ouvry, Rev. Mr. Lloyd, ,
And other gentlemen.
The Bishop of OXFORD having opened the pro-
ceedings,
Archdeacon BICKERSTETU moved the following
resolution :—" That the efficiency of the work of
the Church in this diocese has, under the Divine
blessing, been promoted by the action of the three
diocesan societies, and that, therefore, this society
has the strongest claims to hearty support."
Mr. DISRAELI, who on rising, was received with
cheers, said—My Lord Bishop,—l have great plea-
sure in seconding the resolution which has been
proposed by the venerable archdeacon of the county.
Your lordship has with such comprehensive clear-
ness placed before the meeting the object and de-
sign of the society, and the venerable archdeacon
has with such lucid precision stated to us what are
results which have been obtained, that it will not
be necessary for me to weary the meeting by en-
tering into much detail. Although each of these
societies has an independent constitution, and pro-
poses to itself a specific object, yet, in fact, they
form one great whole. They propose to themselves
the three great objects which they always present
to the thoughts of Churchmen. They propose to pro-
vide the people of this diocese with education upon
those principles which they believe to be sound and
true. They propose to provide for the spiritual super-
vision of the people of this country, and to supple-
ment our parochial system where it is incomplete
and inadequate; and lastly, they propose to pro-
vide the population of this country a sufficient means
of worshipping Almighty God. These, therefore,
are the three great purposes which the Church of
England should ever aim to maintain—educations
spiritual aid, and public worship. (Cheers.) It will
be clear to all present that if these societies were
completely developed and powerfully supported,
they would in fact greatly increase the influence of
the Church of England. I conclude that there are
none here present who do not believe that increasing
the influence of the Church is a means of increasing
the welfare of its population, and leading them to
happiness both here and hereafter. (Cheers.) Are
these societies completely developed and properly
supported ? I apprehend that that is the question
which we are called upon to consider to-day. We
are assembled here not for the mere purpose of
passing a report and auditing an account, but to
consider and eonfer upon the condition of these
societies, to see whether they completely effect their
object, and above all whether it is in our power to
increase their efficiency. I will take, in the first
instance, the diocesan board of education. I look
upon the constitution of that board as most wise,
especially in introducing a good proportion of the
lay element in the management of the Church. I
look upon the board thus constituted as most admi-
rable and effective; yet what do I find? That the
efforts of that board are sustained by an annual sub-
scription clearly inadequate to its purposes, and of
that annual subscription I find that two-thirds are
supplied by the clergymen themselves. Now, the
von, archdeacon on this subject has referred to some
possible expression of mine to-day on the important
question of national education, and to some change
that has recently been introduced. (Hear, hear.)
Neither on that subject nor on any other to-day
shall I make any controversial remark, but will
content myself merely by repeating to-day the
opinion that I have so long entertained,
that it is impossible that the education of the
people of this country can be extended too
far if it be founded upon sound principles; and
that in proportion as it is extended the influence of
the Church of England will be extended. (Cheers.)
Now, let me look at the position of the other two
societies. Those societies are for the building and
restoring churches, and for supplying additional
spiritual aid to different parishes requiring it, I
find that there are demands upon both these socie-
ties, which they cannot supply by their resources,
and I am sorry to bear that those resources are an-
ticipated. That is not a position to my mind en-
tirely satisfactory when we consider the practical
object which these societies aro instituted to accom-
plish. 'We live—and I think there are none here
who will not be of this opinion—in a diocese re-
markable for its large parishes, its scattered popu-
lation, and its many hamlets. It is of all dioceses
in England the ono that most perhaps requires this
collateral assistance—this unusual aid. Wherever
there is a church, there there is a school. Wherever
there is a church, there there is at least one being
whose duty it is at once to solace and to civilise. I
am certainly not going to question the conclusions
which have been drawn by the venerable archdea-
con in the resolution which he has proposed. In-
deed, 1 have risen to second that resolution, and I
will not for a moment contravert the proposition
that the diocesan societies have greatly aided the
action of the Church in this diocese. The details
to which we have listened to-day satisfactorily prove
that ; but we are to consider whether the support
which these societies have given to the Church in
this diocese is sufficient ; not whether it is great,
bat whothei it is sufficient, and whether it cannot
be increased, and whether the advantages obtained
are not rather an example which should animate to
other and greater results, and accomplish greater
conclusions. (Cheers.) On an occasion like the pre-
sent, when we are not merely met to indulge in idle
phrases of congratulation, but to examine the con-
dition in which we are placed in respect to the per-
manency of these important societies, although I
feel perfectly justified in supporting this resolu-
tion, I should conceal my own convictions if I did
not confess that it does appear to me that the re-
sources of these societies do not bear that due relation
which they ought tobear to the wealth, to the intel-
ligence, and to the sound churchmanship of the
diocese. Now, my lord bishop, what is the cause
of this ? I apprehend that there must be causes for
consequences of that importance. There is no want
of Churchmen in the diocese, and oven in the pre-
sence of the lord bishop I cannot refrain from re-
membering with pride that of all the dioceses in
England it is one most remarkable, perhaps, for the
zeal and ability with which it is administered.
(Jheers.) There is no want of Churchmen in this '
diocese, but there is wanting in it what is wanting
in the country generally—namely, a union among
Churchmen. (Hoar, hear.) And until that union
among Churchmen is accomplished, I feel persuaded
that the action of these important societies, and I
what they can accomplish, will be restricted. The
good which they Can accomplish, in my opinion, is
incalculable, and
their influence should be illimit-
able ; but, unfortunately,
it can be calculated, and
will be limited until that
grbeat evil of want of 1 union among Churchmen can
I will to-day, with great brevity,
e remedied. Now,
endeavour to see
whether we cannot come to some satisfactory under-
standing on this important paint,
why there is a
want of unity among Churchmen what are the
feelings which
occasion it—are they sound
common
—and whether there is not a ground
which Churchmen of all sections and of all opinions
may unite. if we can come to some satisfactoir
conclusion upon that point, then I do not doubt but
that an increasing and a most powerful spirit will
be given to diocesan societies such as the right rev.
prelate in the chair so ardently desires to see, in
order that those grand results may be accomplished
which every sincere Churchman and lover of his
country will wish.. (Cheers.) I must say that it
appears to me that the want of unity among Church-
men of this county—and 1 apprehend that this
county is a very fair picture of the country at large
—arises from three feelings, which in a different

degree influence different bodies of Churchmen.
I would describe those three feelings as a
feeling of perplexity, a feeling of distrust, and
't feeling of discontent. A feeling of perplexitiy,
which has been mentioned to me by some in this
"Inl3', Appears to be entertained in consequence
fax What is txawaly styled the state of party lib,

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