The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-05-21

ment that unites the Church and State is no,
desired to be revolutionized! The system that
rewards aristocratic and Luxurious prelates 70,
doing nothing, and starves humble and pious
curates who perform their duties. is not intend
ed to be changed. The system the Times
wishes to see annihilated forever is simply
some little arrangement in the disbursing ope
rations Of the government, which that journal
fancies could be greatly bettered by the enact
ment Of bill shortly to be introduced by the
Marquis Of BLANDFoRD. con Episcopal and
Capitular estates," the main object of which,
we are told, is to transfer their management
from their administrators to other bodies.
The system that tempts the most brilliant
men of the world to profane the calling of tho
Christian ministry, and to bring discredit upon
the institutions of religion, will remain UNI
touched by the hand of the reformer so long as
the aristocratic institutions of that country con-
tinue, and so long as religious Journalism occu-
pies the place of spiritual christianity; and the
rellgionist who reverences the principle of piety
in his church, we care not what his creed, must
seek for its existence in purity beyond the con-
fines of the realm in which that church is up
held by the political power of the land, whose
embrace is more baneful to its vitality than
the fiercest opposition and the bitterest perse-
cuton it is possible for it to encounter.
Happily we are free from such evils, as we
trust ever to continue; and from the degrade
ton of the pulpit, by making it the tempting
pathway to fortune and worldly ambition, we
are almost equally exempt, the exceptions only
serving to enforce the important admonition
that the example of others should be adequate
to Impress upon u.s. That the teachers of re-
ligion should live in comfort, and exempt from
anxieties respecting the means of their support,
we readily consent; but he who, in that office,
manifests an inordinate love of gain, or who is
ever ready to depart from its restraints in the
pursuit of riches, gives warrant to the world
to conclude, without the just imputation of
unchartableness, that in ever entering upon
Its momentous responsibilities he was guilty of
an error of the darkest hue That such instances
are unfrequent, and that the Christian ministry
IN the United States bears testimony to the
wisdom of the policy that leaves the institu-
tons of religion free alike from the hand of
partial legislation and oppression, is crafty
ing result of the great experiment of 1.-THE
REPUBLICAN MODEL OF GOVERNMENT" which
we would rejoice to see made profitable unto
others. But my Lord Bishop of Durham is no
doubt we'll convinced that the responsibility
of the church requires that its prelates
should live in a manner worthy of their posi-
ton as elevated teachers Of religion, and of the
obligations imposed upon them as peers of the
realm; and if an ecclesiastical commission is
niggard enough to bubble about the apostolic
APPENDICES of gamekeepers, and watchers,
and parks, and manors, and gardens, and
lawns, and to restrict my Lord Bishop to
the niggardIy pittance of forty thousand dol
lars year, what is my Lord Bishop to
do? Is he to permit 1.-The Establishment"
to be be disgraced by his poyerty2 Clearly
not, while the opportunity exists of embezzling
for such holy purposes the little matter of nine
teen thousand more in the year. My Lord
Bishop has not forgotten what is due to Epis-
copal dignity, if the Commissioners have. We
marvel that the Times has no more regard for
the essential props of royalty than to acknow-
ledge that prelate who may expend forty
thousand year for the credit of the church
can be guilty of any lndiscretion in sequestering
half as much more to promote the same holy
cause. In other positions man might be sus-
pected of selfish and unholy desires; but in the
church the righteous end should be kept in
view, and regarded as hallowing means that do
not altogether partake Of its exalted nature!