The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-09

Lords, and the presumption now is that IL
will be passed in time enough TO allow Lords
and honorable gentlemen to 90 to their shoot
ing quarters early in August.
This Irish Church bill is one of the great
facts of modern times. Nothing in these late
years--not the Pacific Railroad which is
finished nor the Suez Canal which is not
fnished-reveals in 80 remarkable manner
the progressive character of this age. 1t is
sight, sufficient to give fame to a century, to
see the descendants of the proud old Norman
barons deliberately striking Mt the foundations
on which for so many ages they have so
securely rested. This is what we now see;
for the pillars of privileged Church and the
pillars of privileged aristocracy are one and
the same The Protestant Ecclesiastical Es-
tablishment of Ireland which has lasted for
more than three hundred years, may n ow be
considered at an end. The axe has been laid
to the root of the tree somewhat unsparingly;
but, away from those more or less directly
interested, no one regrets its fall. Through
out its entire history it has been barren
tree, extensively cumbering the ground, and
Ireland and the world are well rid of it.
But the fate of the Irish Church esta-
blishes a dangerous precedent. 1t proves
that disestablishment and disendowment are
possible. We may take it for granted that the
Liberation Society, which has for it's object
the Liberation of the Church from State
patronage and control, and which for SO
many years has seemed to labor in vain, now
feels that toll and expense have been amply
rewarded We may also take it for granted
that they will not slacllen their endeavors.
The fight which has been fought in Ireland
has to be fought over again in Scotland and
in England. The fight, in truth, is already
beginning in Scotland. The two largest
dissenting bodies, the United PRESBYTERIAN
Church and Free Church, like our Old and
New School Churches, are making arrange
ment1 for union The United Church will
represent very nearly two-thirds of the popu
lation of the country Such a Church flour
ishing on the voluntary support of the peo-
pie will be dangerous rival to the Scottish
establishment The leaders of the establish
ment have already taken fright, and the in
telhgence has Just reached us that deputa-
tion has waited upon the Prime Minister ask
ing him to lend his powerful help in abolish
ing lay patronage and otherwise bringing the
Church into harmony with the times-their
object being to prevent this threatened union
by thus opening the door of the establish
ment to the Free Church brethren. We have
no idea that this artifce can succeed. The
fact, however, is interesting, as it shows that
the combctants are already preparing for bat
tie. Ten years hence, and il will not be Won
derful if the Scottish establishment shall have
gone the way of its sister of Ireland tits at
least certain that the forces which have
worked so well in Ireland will forthwith be
applied in Scotland and with even greater
prospects of success. The English establish
ment is stronger, richer, more effectualy in
| terwoven with the constitution. 1t will, in
consequence, be more difficult to overturn
| But 1t, too, must perish.
The sentence has gone forth against eccle-
siastical establishments, and sooner or later
the Church of England must fall. The conta-
gion will spread the world over, and religion,
if it is to live and thrive, must live and thrive
in the hearts of men, and by means of their
voluntary givings. Patronage, State sup
port, and forced contributions have had their
day.
We cannot look at this Church question,
which must more and more disturb the ma
tions, without paying a compliment to the
wisdom and foresight of the founders of this
republic. Our history will reveal no such
ecclesiastical warfare. Under the broad ban
ner of the republic all religions are tolerated
and all religious property is protected. The
churches fear no frown they look for no
favor 1t is not unnatural for us to fee
proud when we see our example coming into
universal favor.