Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-09-06
IRISH CHURCH.
Reasons for It's DisestabIIsh-
ment.

The London Times puts the reasons for
the disesta ablishment Of the Irish Church
in a nutshell, as follows:
We can all Of Us realiZs the position Of
the Irish Catholic by concaiving what
we should feel il the religious endow-
meDts Of England were devoted to the
maintenance of the Roman Catholic
faith. The history of Ireland down to
the present moment sttests the invinei-
bic opposition OF Irishmen to the exis-
tence Of an establishment which was
created by the stubborn wilfulness Of tbs
Tudors, sud has been upheld by the des-
potic vOlitiOu Of English rule. The
barest statement of the case is so strong
that we sre impressed anew with the
strength of the convictions which drive
men TO defend it. Mr.. Forster finds the
secret repuguance Of many honest men
to the disestablishment of the Irish
Church in their attachment to the
English Church, and their zeal for Pro-
testantism. II Is difficult to understand
how it can be believed that the existence
of the Irish Establishment is anything
but 8 source of weakness to the English
Church. Let Us weigh fact in history
which is not without its bearing upon
this. The Episcopal Church was estsb-
lished in England, and Charles I. re-
solved upon establishing it IN Scotland
also. What was the consequence? It
was overtbrown In both countries. Had
Charles been content to respect the re-
Ugious convictions Of his own country
men, had he neutrslizsd the Scotch, he
might have overcome the English Pres
Oyterians and Independents, and saved
the Church and his throne. He weighted
the English Church with q Scotch
Establishment, and sank both. Again
II we could eonceive-hsppjly it Is
almost ineonceIvable-that an Epis-
eopal Church was established in
Scotland now, is 1t not plain that the
Scotch members would be pslled to 3
man against all establishments, instead
of being, as now, divided upon the sub
ject? Upon the lowest grounds of STRAIT
egy the friends of the English Church
ought to free their cause from its perilo1s
alliance with the Irish Establishment.
The alien establishment in Ireland has
failed entirely to recommend itself to
the Irish nation, and to bind the English
and Irish churches together is TO bind
the living to the dead. In the same way
it is impossible for any one who will can
didly consider the facts OF the case to
deny that the Irish Church is hindrance
to Professionalism Ireland is the only
Catholic country In Europe, except Spain,
where the uItrsmontsne party Is su-
prsme. The establishment Of the Pro-
testant Church in Ireland makes eonver-
sion to it appear desertioa from the
weaker side, and thus arrays the senti-
ment which is especially strong In the
Irish people against any disposition to
admit Protestant ideas. II we turn to
America we find 3 constant complaint
from the priests that the Irishman In
the second or third generation ceases to
be Catholic, and We are driven to the
irresistible conclusion that the Irish Es-
adjustment, through the antagonism it
has hindered rather tnaa as
sisted Professionalism. It is, indeed, q
mockeFy to those who understand that
the essence Of Professionalism Is the inde-
pendence Of religious belief, to believe
that Il can be propagated by an institu-
ton which is founded and maintained
on the idea Of compulsion. The Irish
Is . practical denial Of
the faith il Prsaehes. tits not supported
By the free Judgment Of the Irish nation,
but by the absurd power of Great
Britain.