The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-03-24 00:00:00

LECTURES ON THE CHURCIT OF ENGLAND.

(From the Morning Herald of Saturday.)

Yesterday the Rev. Mr. M`Neile delivered his fifth lec-
ture on the Church of England, at the Hanover-square
Rooms. The crowded attendance of the nobility and gentry
bore ample testimony to the deep and sustained interest
created in the public mind by the reverend and eloquent gen-
tlemen upon the subject matter of these lectures. Amongst
the principal nobility and gentry present we observed his
Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, the Marquis Chol-
mondeley, the Bishop of Chester, Lord Bexley, Lord Prud-
hoe, Lord Sydney, Lord Radstock, Lord Galloway, Lord
Bernard, Lord Kenyon, Hon. W. Duncombe, Hon. W.
Calthorpe, Hon. H. S. Maxwell, M.P., Hon. F. Bernard,
Right Hon. F. Shaw,M.P., Sir Thomas Baring, Sir Culling
Eardley Smith, M.P., Sir W. R. Farquahar, Sir P. Laurie,
Messrs. Pringle, M.P., Plumptre, M.P., G. Vernon Har-
court, M.P., Lockhart, M.P., Fector, M.P., and John
Hardy, Col. Armstrong, &c.

The Reverend Lecturer commenced by observing that it
had been his endeavour to exhibit, first, the scriptural cha.
racter of our national establishment ; and secondly, the
scriptural aspect of the Church of England regarded in its
connection with the state. The effects of this national
arrangement justified him in the expression which he had
used in reference to it,—namely, that it was strictly and
essentially a scriptural arrangement. He would appeal as
to his facts on this point to our national history. The rise
and progress of the arts and sciences alone bore ample testi-
mony to the prosperity enjoyed by this country, under the
Divine blessing, ever since our spiritual arrangement under
Elizabeth, when our glorious national poor law was esta-
blished, which, he firmly believed was the chief instrument
of our national Protestantism. (Cheers.) He would also
appeal to the more determined " No surrender" of Wm.
111. ; and lastly, to the times of Geo. 111., whose removal
from amongst us had opened that fatal doer into which when
a right hon. baronet entered, he uttered an acknowledgment
which was almost prophetic from its fatality. It was true
he might himself have recovered from the effects of that
fatal step, but he had still left a vulnerable tendon which had
been hit so often that his moral strength was weakened, di-
visions
and dissension were sown in the camp, and—
" Delirant reges, plectuntur Achivi." (Loud cheers.)
Of the course the church had suffered. (Her bitterest ene-
mies had been taken into her councils ;—(hear)—and one of
the consequences was that they had already chaunted a song
of triumph, by way of requiem over ten departed bishoprics.
(Cheers.) It was true that they had not yet ventured to
frame another strain in exultation over the appropriation of
the revenues of the church to their own purposes ; but there
was no telling how soon that would be the case, unless the
members of the church awaked out of that quiescent aversion
to agitation, which they had learned in the bosom of the
church herself, and spoke in a bold, decided, and positive
tone that it must not be. (Cheers.) The rev. lecturer then,
after some further preliminary remarks, proceeded to the
subject of the present lecture. He would first consider how
far the practical efficiency of the church was hindered by
limitation in extent, and this subject was to be considered
under two heads,—first, with reference to that part of our
population which had overgrown itself beyond the reach of
the instrumentality of the church; and 2dly, with respect to
that part of the population which was already supplied with
church accommodation and pastoral superintendence. The
first branch of the subject must be discussed with reference
to its extent, and the second to its working. It was plain
that the population of this country had largely overgrown,
not only the parochial provision heretofore made for its
spiritual instruction, but also every addition that had from
time to time been made to that provision, whether by national
grants or private benevolence. This was not a matter for
argument, but simply one of figures. The returns to par-
liament had clearly shown that there were hundreds, and not
merely hundreds but thousands of our population, utterly
destitute of the means of spiritual instruction. He repeated
that this was simply a matter of figures. It, indeed, must
have become perfectly known to all present from the state-
ments made to the public, from details laid before them at
public meetings, and from the charges of the bishops to their
clergy. In the Second Report of the Church Commissioners
it was reported that this state of things was rapidly growing
worse, and had already outrun all that could be done by the
utmost efforts of the church. He should not here repeat the
numbers, because his present inquiry was as to the cause of
this destitution, in order to suggest a remedy. Various so-
lutions of the difficulties with which this inquiry was sur-
rounded had been offered, and it was, therefore, of great
importance that the real cause should be ascertained. The
dissenters had put forward the voluntary principle, and had
demanded that the existence of the Church of England, as a
national establishment, should be put an end to. He found
it asserted by them, that the church establishment was not
only an evil in itself, but an hindrance to good in others.
They held, that the extension and support of the church
were her own concern, and that she was totally dependent on
her own efforts. They had described the voluntary principle
in lofty language, and made a very favourable statement of
its efficacy. Now, he had no wish to render that statement
unfavourable ; but as it seemed the dissenters were so ex-
ceedingly apprehensive that any legislative aid to church
extension would interfere with those cheerful contributions
and active exertions to increase His Name, which are made
under the inspiration of private zeal, he did ask how it was
that this principle, which was so loftily described, could be
so easily paralysed by a trifling " exaction ?" (Cheers.) But
it was wrong to call that an exaction which was, in fact, a
payment. Every individual possessing property was subject
to the charge, and every person purchasing or inheriting pro-
perty took that property subject to the charge annexed to the
tenure ; and if any person were to endeavour afterwards to
shift out of the charge, such conduct might, perhaps, be
allowable in the code of voluntaryism, but to him it would
appear to be very questionable honesty. (Cheers.) He
would be glad to know what was the hindrance that prevented
voluntaryism, with all its boasted capabilities, from coming
forward to assist in redeeming the country from its present
state? Many churchmen had attributed the present spi-
ritually destitute condition of our population to the refusal
of the legislature to vote adequate grants for building churches.
He feared, and indeed believed, that the cause lay much
deeper. The real cause was the want of real confidence in
Revelation on the part of our rulers. There existed a grow-
ing reverence for the scruples of man rather than for the re-
vealed will of God in matters of religion. lie feared that

there was a want of confidence of heart in the majority of those
in high places. Matters of faith were treated as matters of
human sincerity, rather than of Divine Revelation. Sincerity !
The sincerity of man ! " Beware of men," said Jesus, " for
they shall put you out of the synagogues ' • yea, the time cometh
when he that killeth you shall think that he doeth God a
service." And no doubt they would sincerely think so.
(Cheers.) Such was the sincerity of him who aided and
abetted in the murder of St. Stephen. There was another
cause which lay at the root of the evils under consideration,
and that was a want of confidence of right. Had there not
existed a strong and unshaken confidence of right, could the
great scheme of negro emancipation have been carried in de-
, fiance of the powerful interests, and influence, and opposition
of the West India planters ? If there now existed the same
confidence of right in respect to the claims of Christianity as
there did in those of humanity, the claims of Christianity
would be sure to be carried. (Hear.) The reverend lec-
turer went on to show that so long as this want of confidence
of right existed nothing great could be accomplished, because
every trifling scruple or objection would be made available as
an excuse, on the score of a tender regard to the feelings of
others. Nothing, he observed, was so agreable to individuals,
but at the same time nothing was so disastrous to the country
in the aggregate. (Cheers.) On the other hand, if a confi-
dence of right existed, something must be done. It might
not, perhaps, be agreeable to all, bat some plan would be
struck out, and under such circumstances the objectors, as a
lesser evil, would be obliged to submit. For instance, the
churchman asked for the instruction of the people upon a
known principle—a principle whose good efiects have been
abundantly proved wherever it has been tried, while the dis-
senter claimed it upon the independent voluntary principle.
If a confidence of right existed in our rulers, we could ask
the Legislature, respectfully but most earnestly, to adopt
the one or the other, and that it would do it boldly and de-
cidedly. We could then say to the Legislature, "If the
dissenter be right, let no trembling apprehensions of differ-
ences of opinion, no lingering to systems, no vested rights,
no deference to conscientious scruples of churchmen—let
nothing interfere with the plan, but carry it out boldly and
effectually, in order that you may extend the religion of
Jesus Christ—(applause)—but if, on the other hand, the
creed of the church be scriptural in letter and its discipline,
be scriptural in foundation, let your confidence of right be
acted upon, and nothing then can prevent a grant, not of
thousands but of millions." (Cheers.) The rev. lecturer
then reverted to his argument, that the real cause of the apa-
thy and indifference of the legislature to the spiritual desti-
tution of the people of this country, was the want of real con-
fidence in revelation, and said, that if our legislators would
apply themselves to the examination of the evidence afforded
by the Bible, with the same industry as they occasionally
sift evidence on human affairs—if, instead of making the
Sabbath a period of busy preparation for the ensuing week,
they made it a period of rest for the glorifying of God, it
would soon I. manifest to the nations of the world that it
was the interest of our rulers that there should be no differ-
ence of opinion amongst them as to the mode of adjusting
this question, and that the period would not be long deferred
when they would take decided steps ; for then there would be
a will, and there would soon be a way. (Cheers.) The sub-
ject narrowed itself into this simple question—Are we to have
a church establishment or are we not ? and upon the affirma-
tion of that question, the question of church extension stood
identified. The rev. gentleman here read an extract from
a speech delivered by Lord J. Russell, in which that noble
lord supported the principle of an established church, because
that principle was, that the burden of supporting it was thrown
upon the whole community, and that he (Lord J. Russell)
should be sorry to see the time when the established church
of this country depended for its support upon the voluntary
principle. (Cheers.) He (Mr. M'lsTeile) agreed with Lord
John Russell, not only as to his view of the voluntary
principle, but as to the principle of an established church.
The reverend gentleman then proceeded at some length to
examine and refute the objections urged to church extension,
and advocated with great eloquence and consummate ability
that cause. In order to render the scheme of church ex-
tension effectual, there should be a subdivision of parishes
in large towns and villages ; anything short of that would be
tbr
ot t an
system
abortiveas palliation.ineffectual,
unjust, anti stronglyand objectedoppress ve to;
atihlde dis-
pro-
ceeded to point out how that system was so. It was ineffec-
tual, because the minister appointed to each district had no
legal right to go among the people, but was subject to be
checked and controlled by the rector, and because it. deprived
the people of the benefits of the personal ministrations
of the
clergymen, and subjected them to payment of double fees •
and it was unjust and oppressive to the clergyman himself'
because it operated in many cases to a practical hindrance
of his usefulness, and in cases of a refusal to accede to an
unjust
demand upon his rector, exposed him to the unme-
rited obloquy of an undiscerning world. He suggested, there-
fore, that an appeal should be made to the bishops to abolish
the district system and to adopt, immediately, the parochial
subdivision plan. In carrying this into operation due consi-
deration would of course be paid to the vested rights of the
present incumbents, but at the same time, in order to prevent
that consideration from retarding or defeating altogether the
adoption of the parochial system, it should be borne in mind
that the people of England had vested rights, he said, and it
was the duty of a parental legislature to see that they were pro-
tected. Was it to be said that the government of a Christian
country could build gaols for thieves, provide hulks for felons,
and erect gallows for murderers, and yet refuse to provide the
means of education for the hundreds of thousands of English
men wbo were decent, honest. and industrious labourers?
(Applause.) Let, therefore, the district system be at once abo-
lished, and the parochial system established. He admitted,
that to carry out this plan would require an increase of
funds ; first, fur the building of churches, and next, for the
indispensable endowment of every new parish church. And
where was the money to come from ? In his opinion, there
were four sources available. 1. By yielding up to the state
the property now in the hands of appropriators ; 2. the like
with respect to the property in possession of impropriators ;
3. voluntary contributions ; and 4. national grants. The
rev. gentleman then proceeded to state his view of the prac-
ticability of obtaining an increase of funds from these sources.
If the first two were accomplished in a proper spirit, who
could guess their effect on the public'
mind? Who could
carrying guess the effect produced by the • yino. of such a measure
as that of imposing a tax upon all b
clerical property above
£3OO per annum, especially if such a bill should be brought
in by Mr. Baines and Sir R. Inglis? (Hear.) The other
two would follow as an almost natural consequence of the
exhibition of suck a spirit of Christian liberality.—The rev.
gentleman concluded a most able and interesting
lecture by
an affecting and truly eloquent appeal to Englishmen on
behalf of Ireland ; and at the termination was greeted with
loud and enthusiastic applause.