The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-08-30
Adapting Institutions 10 Facts-The Church
Yesterday and To-Day.
From the London Times, August 1911


From the London Times, August 1871
The speakers at the Crystal Palace on Monday
would be set down BY regular polemics as q rather
motley assemblage, but in one respect they were
neither better worse than the bulk Of the learned
and sharp-witted gentlemen figuring In the Irish
latitude OF expression as to the essential idea the
thing, the institution, the doctrine or the pOy for
which they are supposed to be contending sum,
down, not to this country alone, but to the whole
civilized world, should be ineligible, distinct,
phrases which, even in the mouth OF one man. are
seldom harmonized or compatible. Sometimes
Is sne rrotesant sSvere sometimes h Inc
OF England and Ireland. Sometimes it is the
Protestant constitution, sometimes the Protestant
religion in q wider sense, sometimes the union OF
Church and State, sometimes simply the ACT OF Set
Element rasa y IN great and glorious 9ps
since the tenth year Of Elizabeths reign. Then we
find comprised in the same resolution an alliance be-
and the union OF the State with the Church Of the
Reformation: Mr. Newdegate introduces some new
varieties o. lie stands up for the union
rally brings him to the Bill Of Rights He further ex
plains that his union is that which exists between
State OF England, and to the full I'm.
derstandng and enjoyment Of which Protestant
upon it that freedom and Professionalism are nsepar-
BILE and that neither can hold its ground without the
Others SO that ours is the only free Church. ours the
Protestant. The speaker who followed conceived
the object Of the demonstration to be none OF these
churches and States, but to be simply that England
should maintain her position among the nations OF
the earth as pre-eminenty honoring God and uphold
ing His pure Gospel Under all this variety OF prn-
ciple and phrase there was one proposal common to
all the speakers, being the very object of the de-
monstrati0n and the actual bond Of agreement for
the day. 1t is to maintain things as they are. A
demonstration which denOunces all change, except,
perhaps, some trifing matter OF internal arrange-
test In favor OF the status quo. It amounts
to an allegation that the existing State. with
claims reason, justice and our reverence.
1t means that we as bound to maintain II as, we
% pc an@ me n ees e"e 20 o s IRE
DiUine government. Though lords gentlemen and
ministers of religion, collected from all parts Of Eng
land, Ireland and the colonies would OF course, ex
press themselves somewhat differently, here was
common ground the substratum Of all their Argyll
nded against many millions Of Their w
1t was the present happy state Of things In these
islands and in the whole Of Or Maesty's dominions
something tangible. II we cannot always under
stand we can see IL and believe it, This is no alb
but things just as they are Use your eyes and you
will see 1t.
Is the ,trtng policy Of the country ,cn.ch is cortfnM-
ally adapting Institutions to Facts. We are self
governing country, and we make laws to suit our
selves, far as the several sections into which
are divided have power to overcome or to persuade
the rest. The Church of England has made very
FEAST, Is under great Obligations to it. But the
Church Of England cannot help having only about
half the population Of England only an eighth Of
Ireland, and hardly percentage OF Scotland 1.-THE
course OF legislation Is to go by the proportion Of
figures she cannot expect much exceptional kind
for ali OF us, Sr reid ana no oor, and have no
to regret It, But this course OF legislation is
part OF the actual state Of things Do the good PRO.
this national habit and characteristics, or do
they wish to put 1t out Of their thoughtsi When
posed spiritual invader, ready to rob OF our best
hopes and liberty do they feel that they de-
notions Of equty9 Professionalism they regard as
inseparabe from freedoms and the free, they think,
cannot but be Protestant But in ,chat does freedom
consist unless IN the pO,cer OF people to gooerra
themselves and TO make laos for Themselves, IN con-
Jormitv tctth their Ocn opinions ana Feelings
with were Continental nation, bent on repeating
the Norman invasion, and compelling us TO accept
and ,ef ray At the the CRYSTAL Palace would be most
reasonable movement. The object would be to
destroy the enemy as fast as they landed, or
But the present case liz very different. The sup
posed foe part OF ourselves with equal rights in
the same constitution, under the same sovereign
and the same laws, and animated by that spirit OF
independence and sefgovernment on which we
justly pride ourselves. We can no longer invoke
against them the supposed spirit OF q constitution
united against the errors and pretensi0ns
OF Popery. In respect of these five millions the con-
stituton - no longer Protestant the Legislature s
longer Protestant, the laws no longer Protes-
tant, the British empire is no longer Protestant.
Were anybody to say that the religion OF England
was the Church OF England, he would be immedi-
ately brought to book and confronted with returns
showing that the Church can hardly claim more than
half the population So also when anybody chooses
to describe this united realm as Protestant. Either
the statement has no meaning at oil or 1t has to be
qualified with distinct recognition OF five millions
In Ireland under the same sovereign, constitution
and laws, but who are Roman Catholics, animated
with all Engsh spirit OF freedom, and also with
an intense hatred OF our religion.