The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-01 00:00:00

e-
Is the Established Church by the change of circumstances that
had occurred within the last few years. He did not admit that
the secession had occurred to the extent that some Honourable
11_ !embers alleged—he admitted it to be large, but it was not
to such an extent es to
give any colour to the assertion that the
Church- only contained one-titir-,1 of the population. How-
e!ee, he admitted that a large separation and secersionhad taken
Face, and he was gratified, in common with his Right lion.
riend behind him ( sir James Graham), to hear the tone
in which the Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Fox Maule) had
spoken of the Church. He hoped these expressions and sen-
timents would have their effect and due weight in certain
quarters, but certainly he had seen much in the statements of
Parties who took a leading position with those who separated
themselves from the Church, which did not lead him to con-
clude that the Church was less exposed to danger from those
Parties than it was at -,the time the tests were established.
Yherefore• he thought it could not be said that the tests were
less necessary to protect the Church from present danger than
they were formerly to protect it from the danger ap-
prehended from Episcopacy. If he saw the spirit that
animated his Right Honourable Ft lend opposite ex-
tended among the parties to whom he referred, he
apprehended the danger would be less. But that was not the
scondition of matters now ; and it was because that danger
existed that the Church was deserving of protection. If they
were to have an Established Church, they ought not to remove
the safeguards that they had placed upon it just at the very
time when danger was strongest, and to prevent which danger
those tests and protections were applied. He saw, therefore,
neither in the fact that a secession had taken place,
nor in the character of the Church of Scotland, any reason
•to remove from it the protection of those tests. He was quite
aware that the effect of those tests at the time of their esta-
blishment, and now was to limit the field from which professors
were chosen to fill chairs in the Universities. That was a neces-
sary consequence. It had been said that those tests would have
Precluded many learned men—would have precluded Locke and
Newton from filling chairs in the Universities of Scotland ; hut
It, must be remembered that the application of similar tests in
England would have precluded Stewart and Playfair from tak-
ing chairs in the Universities of Oxford or Cambridge. The
result of those tests had been that in either end of the island
the Universities had not wanted most able and effective pro-
fessors to fill chairs in their respective Universities. That
being the result, he could not admit that any practical griev-
ai.ice had arisen from those enactments. He could not agree
that the continuance of those tests was oppressive. It was
S;tteerelhtinhs at a most eminent philosopher, who filled a situation
in. One of the Universities—a position in which he was placed
not
tminence had been established—in which he believed
titdid r
teach, but yet that he exercised considerable au-
-se tYt had been exposed to harrassing proceedings in con-
,eztaatteni.ngese of his secession from the Church. What those pro-
were, he (the Lord Advocate) was not in a po•ition to
6e
rge atslit seeing that those tests did not operate in prevent-
fn u erent number of professors being supplied to the dif-
of the niversities in either end of the island, and seeing that
the in Petitions presented to the House on this subject,
not th'ai"ifY are against the removal of these tests, he did
fit that they ought to feel themselves called upon to de-
tart
those safeguards which the wisdom of our ancestors
ad established for the protection of the Church.
After a few words in explanation from Mr. RUTHER-
FORD,
CHRISTIE thought that the proposal of the Right
Hon. Member for Perth was too reasonable and moderate, to
be defeated for any length of time by resistance from any Go-
vernment. He trusted that the conduct of the Government, in
this matter, would have the effect of uniting all seceders from
the Church and Dissenters in a comprehensive agitation against
the application of all religious tests in all universities. It
hadnot been denied that the law imposing those tests
nad not been complied with, and that in Edinburgh those
tests were not applied. The Lord Advocate had rested his
resistance to the motion, on the ground that no grievance
had been proved to result from those tests. But, could he
rove that any good had:resulted from them ? In Edinburgh
university, where they did not exist, had any injury been
caused by the non-application of them ? In that university
• there were many professors who had been Episcopalians at the
time of their entrance, and probably were so still. He
might mention the professor of logic, Mr. Hamilton,
sad Professor Wilson, who had both graduated in the
aeliversity of Oxford, and the professor of mathematics
in the Edinburgh University was a clergyman of the Church
°f England, and the Right Honourable Gentleman who
introduced this motion stated that the universities of Scotland
were in a great degree dependent upon the universities of
Oxford
,k, and Cambridge for professors of classical literature.
NOW when those learned men performed the duties that were
Was
to them with fairness and ability, what necessity
there to inquire into their theological opinions ? He re-
Vetted that the Right Hon. Member for Perth had excepted
professors of theology from his motion ; for, judging of matters
i
they now presented themselves in the universities, he must
34 that if they could trust them as teachers of literature, they
mightc trust them in matters of theology, without any of these
u
ious tests. Those tests only strengthened religious disunion
iniftee all parties in Scotland; and he trusted the time was at
hand when all such restrictions would be abolished.
„ Sir G. CLERK was not surprised at the speech of the
tienourable and Learned Member, though not immediately
connected with Scotland, inasmuch as he had a motion
i?
y,t he paper for the abolition of tests in the universities
°c•nland. The question really at issue was this; were
theythat
to maintain .the principle which, on every occasion, had
;•.'he_en acted upon throughout the United Kingdom, namely,
eint of connecting the universities, through the medium of
A e Established Church of the country, with the State. It
as upon that principle that the University of Dublin was
established, and it was upon that principle that the Univer-
sities of Scotland were established. He knew of no tenable
ground upon which the removal of those tests could be ad-
vocated, at a time like the present, when the Universities of
Scotland were most anxious to maintain them. Much had
,`,.l.,een said about the secession which had taken place in the
Zeburch of Scotland lately, but he did not believe that it
t°,a4l gone to
soh great extent which had been represented,
NOW these tes ad been enforced in several of the Univer-
Wes for 150 years. The subjeCt had been carefully investi-
gated by a Commission, which made its report in 1813 ; and
ensat Commission had even recommended that the tests should
"e more rigidly enforced than they had been. The Comnais-
lion appeared to feel very strongly on the subject stating, as
they did, that no measure could be adopted which would be
more prejudicial to the interests of the Universities than
ene winch tended in the least degree to dissever them from
the Established Church. Some years after, a Commission
which visited the University of Aberdeen, made a similar
report. Under these circumstances, why should they be called
upon to take a step which would necessarily weaken the existing
eonneetion? They were told that a considerable number of
veryee eminent persons had left the Church of Scotland, many
".' whom had held professorships in the Universities. He
believed that there were many eminent and zealous Presby-
terians who had been members of the University of Oxford,
and had of course as such-signed the Thi: ty-nine Articles. A
rY learned judge in Scotland was, he believed, a member of
Linea College. It was here sought to alter a fundamental
article of the Scotch Uaion. He did not say that everything',
ttr-orftitev beenad
l,
?Tt ..ear done
in
1707 ought rigidly to be adhered
its )—but they ought at least to have high au-
The -10 , favour before they made this alteration.
beir?i'lltY of the petitions from Scotland were,
pro s Jieve4l_, against the Right Hon. Gentleman's
equi-jo--- He contended that they ought to have a most un-
adoweeating expression of opinion before they consented to its
testsPtPo• It must be recollected that there were no religious
ti,e for the admission of students into the Scottish Universi-
thLe ; and were they, because the Scottish Universities had
rocrn their doors open to students, to sever the only link
ee oh remained to connect the religion of Scotland with the
Establishedasi Church? He, therefore, called upon the House to
rder hew far it would interfere with the principles and feel-
enar of the Established Church of Scotland, from which the
of Right Hon. Gentleman had seceded, but to which the majority
hi_he people of Scotland were still attached. He should give
iktenost decided opposition to the motion.
et, BANNERNIAN thought that the Government ought
__allow the Bill to be introduced and printed, so that the people
.Scotland might have an opportunity of expressing their
cjenions upon it. He would vote for the motion of the Right
"°.,a. Member for Perth.
bens,. MACKENZIE was at a loss to understand upon what
7°Micis this motion was brought forward. It could•enly be
justified by a unanimous demand from the people of Scotland.
He had not heard of any such demand, and he would oppose
the motion.
Air- P. M. STEWART considered that it was a great
ant of courtesy towards the people of Scotland on the
Part of the Government and its supporters, to give a direct ne-
gative to the measure of his Right _Hon. Friend. The test,
thee Shad been so long inoperative, was now to be enforced,
tinlereby excluding two-thirds of tbe people of Scotland from
e„e Position of teachers in the Universities. He was himself
audio of those who had been compelled to leave the Establishment
°r caste
oin the Free Church, but he would never lift his hand
his voice to injure the Established Church. He had
p:aYs used his privilege as a patron with a view to support the
tablished Church. He urged the House and the
4:eminent to allow this Bill to proceed, and to
14,5; the people of Scotland an opportunity of
House, newt
opinions upon it. On the other side of the
ita:etnew-born zeal in favour of the Union had displayed
ee , Which he had in vain invoked last year. He had not
1)-.Pected the opposition which was now offered to the Bill, but
ieated the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite to allow the
aeonst° go through the first reading, and then to take the opi-
ef the people of Scotland upon it.
otimio:rr.arCyOLQUHOUN would not have addressed the House
ha 'ols subject had he not once had the honour to occupy an
situation in a Scotch University, similar to that
anr Was now held by the Right lion. Gentleman opposite;
hi- he was very anxious lest the vote he was about to give
ash-niti• be misinterpretesl. One thing had been admitted
Ntr:mughout the discussion by all the Aletnbers who had spoken.
1,-"iine exception, they all said that it was necessary too have
14;etest in the Scottish Universities as well as in the Eng-
• universities, in order to prevent the professors of a
ileretsity connected with the State from becoming declaimers
ea gitators against a Church also connected with the State.
nefr. flight Hon. Gentleman had proposed to substitute a
for
test, for the positive test at present provided by the
fne Now, the lion. Member for Leith, the Hon. Member
ethe-een,frew, and other Hon. Members who had spoken on the
tee side, had told them that they never touched the Presby-
itte,:"n Church of Scotland without doing it an injury ; that
of -eer had an Episcopalian Parliament meddled with the Church
e'eceitland without doing it harm ; and yet the Right. Hon.
ntleinatwished them to deal with this question by chsplac-
ee
, le; the old test for a new one. lie would be prepared to fol-
case the Right Hon. Gentleman's lead if he could show any
'hee-enf persecution, or wiring, or grievance. Many cases had
- exec !lied, but there was no instance of any one who had been
ern- tined by this test. They had heard of one of the most
141hent scimlars of the University of Oxford (Sir D. K.
Thr iird) who had been removed to a chair at Glasgow.
had heard of eminent members of the University
yo,ituibridge who had been elected to professorships in Gies-
,tl same was the case in Edinburgh. All these gen-
oper!'n were Episcopalians—they made no secret of their
tud'ins—they continued in the free exercise of their religion,
telt yet to them the test was not applied. It as
snoattluarnadi
41.4 after the recent excitement which
,har existed in Sc
kt 'UK polemical discussions should arise. The case of
Ittrt, ev.ster was mentioned. Why, it appeared that the
e, est that the Presbytery of St. Andrew's could do would be
excommunicate him, ay sentence which probably would not
fro very heavily upon him, but they could not remove him
tin,_nrieProfe3sors-hi, 'from his office of Principal of the
enito e say of St. Andrew's. Again, the Right Hon. Gentle-
! Lord Rector of Glasgow, had proposed to hold a
biult,—"°n, mid some member of the Senate had defied him,
the-t he had held his visitation. They had threatened him
firing he should not be Loed Rector, he had threatened them to
teeee„i; ,t" the before Parliament. He had carried his threat into
Its " ; they had not been able to do so by their threat.
ne,fe-se nsg as these tests were merely used to prevent scientific
to "3 front mixing in unseemingly theological discussion,
the rent them from going about haranguing on the subject of
ti,,,roe, Church, he could' see no harm in retaining them, but
°fMould ever be used as an instrument of oppression, or
time hiviiinal persecution, then lie should be of opinion that the
isetehr~d come for re-considering the Act by which they were
Aare
H.e
.thought that if the R. ight Hen. ccretary of
ersie to s 0 opinton that the introduction of this Bill would do
to he the Presbyterian Church of Scotland, and that it ought
the gosteistnt.marily disposed of, he was perfectly right in having
e. ion dismissed at once.
eeerr„ Heys._
litisinte'imir. thought that all tests, such as those to which
oew
Wn.ad, been. wade in the debate, ought to be abolished.
'eclat o„reic possible to know what individuals this test had
"r The Universities of Scotland were national institu-